Communication 200-Level Courses (COMM)

200 Public Speaking Basics. (2)

This course is intended for education majors who need to fulfill the state requirements in oral communication. It is also appropriate for any students seeking to develop or improve their public speaking abilities. Communication majors or minors should take COMM 111 -Introduction to Public Speaking, rather than this class. Through the study of theory and through applications, students will learn to understand the basic concepts of practical public speaking situations, including the development and delivery of informative and persuasive speeches.

205 Interpersonal Communication. (4)

Introduces students to basic principles and theories of interpersonal communication. Readings, discussion and exercises facilitate understanding of interpersonal communication processes. Topics may include perception, self-concept, verbal competence, listening, conflict, nonverbal cues, gender roles, family communication, culture, and relationship development.

225 Argumentation and Advocacy. (4)

Provides the theory and practice necessary for students to analyze and construct effective arguments. By developing skills as critics of argument, students will be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses in claims. Examines how advocates use and misuse statistics to bolster arguments. Skills in research, organization, argument anticipation and refutation are developed through participation in debates. Note: No previous debate experience is required. Prerequisite: 101 or 111 or permission of instructor.

245 Introduction to Media Writing. (4)

A course in the methods of gathering information for the purposes of maintaining an informed public. Studies the reporting and writing of news stories and the writing style used in the news and public relations professions. Includes learning Internet skills, conducting interviews, and reporting and writing news articles. This course is heavily centered on learning journalism as it has developed into an American institution. Prerequisite: Completion of First-year Symposium or the equivalent and basic keyboard skills.

250 Effective Listening. (4)

Introduces students to basic principles and theories of listening. Approaches listening as a critical component in the communication process. Readings, discussion and exercises facilitate understanding of effective listening and development of individual listening skills. Topics include discriminative, comprehensive, critical, therapeutic and appreciative listening.

251 Communication and Conflict. (4)

Introduces students to principles and theories of conflict. Examines causes of conflict and a variety of approaches to managing conflict. Emphasizes conflict in various interpersonal or intercultural contexts.

252 Listening Basics. (2)

Focuses upon the central role of listening in the communication process. Introduces students to the basic principles and various purposes of listening. Uses readings, discussion and exercises to heighten awareness of barriers to effective listening and to develop students' listening skills. Topics include cultural attitudes toward listening, costs of ineffective listening, listening in various contexts, and ethical responsibilities of listening. This course is intended primarily for secondary and elementary education students seeking to teach in the communication/language arts.

253 Non-Verbal Communication. (2)

This course focuses upon non-language aspects of communication. Topics include: distance, touch, body posture and orientation, expression of the eyes and face, movement, vocal characteristics, clothing and artifacts, physical environment and time. We will consider characteristics of non-verbal communication, the relationship between verbal and non-verbal communication and some of the difficulties in interpreting non-verbal messages, as well as the relationships between discussion and observation to enhance students' understanding of non-verbal communication.

265 Group Communication. (4)

Examines the theory and practice of group communication. Includes such topics as group dynamics, decision making, power, norms and roles, conflict, groupthink and communication theory.

271 Individual Learning Project. (1-4)

Supervised reading or research at the lower-division level. The proposed project must be grounded in previous relevant coursework in the discipline. Permission of department chair required. Consult department for applicability toward major or minor requirements. Not available to first-year students.

286 Introduction to Film. (4)

This course offers an introduction to film as a medium of communication and representation. Topics may include a survey of the development of film and the movie industry, techniques of acting, directing, cinematography, narrative style, and film theory. The vocabulary of cinema and representative films of the first one hundred years of filmmaking will be covered. Fall or spring. Cross listed with ENGL 286.