COM 096 Foundations of Writing (3)
Foundations of Writing prepares new students to make the transition from high school to college writing with intensive writing practice and feedback. It helps them to write more confidently and purposefully and to develop ways to clarify and edit their writing for a college-level audience.

COM 100 Spoken Word (3) C
Spoken Word develops students' understanding of interpersonal, small group, and public communication principles, processes, and practices, and focuses on enhancing students' overall communication competency. Emphasis is placed on developing effective and ethical listening and speaking strategies needed in personal, academic, civic, and professional life.

COM 101 Written Word (3) C
Written Word introduces new college students to academic writing with intensive writing practice and feedback. It guides them in developing strategies for communicating clearly, effectively, ethically, and creatively in a college setting. It emphasizes critical reading, writing, and thinking. It teaches students to discover and create knowledge by generating questions, investigating issues, and forming their own opinions.

COM 200 Introduction to Communication Theory (3)) LAS
Prerequisite(s): COM 100+101/Equiv
Introduces students to the field of communication as a distinct area of study and practice, including theoretical approaches, methods, content areas, and rationales for scholarship commonly found within the field, and a survey of major communication theories and research findings. Emphasis is placed on application of theories to particular contexts as a way of illuminating possibilities for improving human communication practice.

COM 210 Mass Media and Contemporary Culture (3) LAS
Prerequisite(s): COM 100 + 101 or equivalents; COM 200 recommended.
Develops students' knowledge, understanding, and critical analysis of mass media (including books, newspapers, magazines, film, radio, television, and the Internet) and their relationship to contemporary culture. The course deals with the history of mass media, including economic, technological, and cultural aspects; the political, psychological and sociological impacts of mass media; and related ethical implications.

COM 300 Advanced Composition (3) LAS
Prerequisite(s): COM 101/Equiv
Crosslisted ENG 300
A course on writing nonfiction. While most of the work is practical, some theoretical considerations are made regarding style and methods of adapting discourse to meet the needs of a variety of audiences. Writing assignments involve descriptive, expository and persuasive writing.

COM 310 Visual Communication (3) LAS
Prerequisite(s): COM 100, 101, and 200 recommended.
Develops students' visual literacy and understanding of visual communication theories and their application. Students learn how to engage in critical analysis of the visual world around them and have opportunities to create well-designed, meaningful visual messages using various media.

COM 315 History of the Motion Picture (3) LAS
Prerequisite(s): COM 100 and 101/Equiv
Crosslisted ENG 315
A basic survey of film history. The course focuses on the development of the narrative feature film as an international medium and on the historical and cultural significance of major social, industrial, technological, and stylistic trends that evolved throughout the history of the medium.

COM 320 Advanced Oral Communication (3) LAS
Prerequisite(s): COM 100 or equivalent; COM 200 recommended.
An applied speech communication course that focuses on developing students' public speaking skills, particularly in professional, organizational, civic, and other structured contexts. Students study and apply principles of effective and ethical public speaking, and have opportunities to develop, deliver, and critique different types of oral presentations. They develop their skills in gathering and conveying information, persuading others, and preparing and delivering group presentations.

COM 330 Rhetorical Foundations of Human Communication (3) LAS
Prerequisite(s): COM 100 + 101 or equivalents; COM 200 + 320 recommended.
This course is an introduction to major theories and perspectives in the rhetorical tradition, from the classical era to the contemporary period, with emphasis on recurring philosophical and ethical controversies surrounding the nature and role of rhetoric. A central theme is the tension between the promise of rhetoric for constructing a rich, just, and meaningful civic life and the dangers of its use as a tool for manipulation, oppression, and demagoguery.

COM 340 Intercultural & World Comm (3) LAS
Prerequisite(s): COM 100 + 101 or equivalents; COM 200 + 320 recommended.
This course explores and examines communication within various cultures; the ways in which communication constructs cultures; and the role of communication in creating and/or reducing cultural biases. The course further helps students explore the relationship between communication and cultural identity, experience, and meaning within and across a variety of cultures, including national cultures, ethnic groups, racial groups, economic classes, genders, and others.

COM 350 Specialized Topics in Communication (1-3) LAS
Courses are offered under this number depending upon the need and interest. Independent study program, guided readings and individual projects may also be included under Specialized Topics.

COM 350K New Media and Society (3) LAS
New Course
Prerequisite(s): COM 100, COM 101
This course examines the interrelationships between new media and society. New media is defined as mobile and Web based technologies, platforms, and texts - both user generated (blogs, YouTube videos, Wikipedia entries) and mainstream (news, entertainment, advertising). Issues course examines include: intellectual property rights and creative freedom, privacy and surveillance, the political economy of New Media, telecommunication law and policy, open source development, information justice (access and education), activism on the Internet, distance education, and new forms of participatory culture and social media.

COM 350L Persuasion in Marketplace (3) LAS
Prerequisite(s): COM 100 and 101/Equiv
This course focuses on the philosophical and ethical dimensions of persuasion and helps students to acquire skills of the art of persuasion. Students learn the foundations of argumentation coupled with the skills of public speaking in order to become effective speakers in the marketplace of ideas. Topics include theories and practice of persuasion, influence (science and practice), the art of framing, the significance of metaphors, and public speaking.otheÑŵW

COM 350M Organizational Communication (3) LAS
Prerequisite(s): COM 100 and 101/Equiv
Introduces students to the concepts and theories relevant to the study and application of communication in various types of organizations. The course explores the reciprocal influence between communication and organizational structures and between communication and managerial styles. Course topics include organizational theories, socialization of employees, the role of the individual in the organization, communication and leadership, group and individual decision making processes, and conflict.

COM 350N French Cinema (3) LAS
New Course
Prerequisite(s): COM 315 or COM 359
An overview of stylistic tendencies and narrative structure of French Cinema from 1895 to the present. Representative films of major French filmmakers will be examined and placed within historical, sociological, and cultural contexts. Major film movements in France will also be examined with particular attention paid to the films and filmmakers associated with the French New Wave (1958-1964). We reflect on the influence of French cinema on American and international cinemas, and consider the continuing legacy of French cinema in the 21st Century through a survey of contemporary French films.

COM 350U Human Rights in the Digital Age (3) LAS
New Course
Prerequisite(s): COM 100 and COM 101
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), negotiated and affirmed by governments of the United Nations, stand as a firm commitment to uphold and protect fundamental human rights, the dignity and worth of each person and the equal rights of men and women. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs present tremendous opportunities to enable individuals, communities and peoples to achieve their full potential in promoting their sustainable development and improving their quality of life. This course explores each section of the UDHR as applied to the Internet, to examine how the Internet can evolve in a way that further expands and supports these rights.

COM 353 Health Communication (3) LAS
New Course
Prerequisite(s): COM 100 and COM 101
This course explores, from a humanistic, narrative perspective, the impact of communication on health and conceptions of health in various contexts. Emphasis is on exploring the relationship between narratives/stories/representations of health and personal and cultural conceptions and experiences of health. Topics include doctor-patient communication, differing cultural conceptions of health and illness, family communication surrounding health, issues related to managed care (e.g., HMOs), public health campaigns, the impact of media messages on health, ethical issues, patient empowerment, and communication surrounding pregnancy and birth, infertility, chronic illness, disability, sex education, risk-taking behaviors, mental illness, aging, and death and dying.

COM 355 Introduction to Public Relations (3)
Prerequisite(s): COM 100 and 101/Equiv
An introduction to the principles and practice of public relations. Topics covered include the definition of public relations, public relations for profit and nonprofit organizations, planning and budgeting a public relations program, preparing communications, media relations, special events, community relations, and how to gain top management support for public relations programs.

COM 359 American Film Authors (3) LAS
Prerequisite(s): COM 100 and 101/Equiv
Crosslisted ENG 359
An in-depth study of major American feature film directors. The styles and major traits of directors will be stressed through close examination of representative films. The course also addresses filmmaking as a collaborative art, examining the role of stars, writers, producers, and studios. Films and filmmakers will be placed within historical, sociological, and cultural contexts.

COM 380 Newswriting I (3) LAS
This course in newswriting introduces students to literary forms common in today's news media and to basic interviewing and reporting techniques, and to ethical issues in journalism.

COM 385 Newswriting II (3) LAS
Prerequisite(s): COM 380 or equivalent.
This is an advanced course in newswriting. It is designed to develop the skills and values necessary to report effectively and ethically on a wide range of contemporary issues.

COM 388 Feature Writing (3) LAS
This course stresses the craft of newspaper and magazine feature writing, with attention to leads, structure and polished prose, and ethics.

COM 390 Drama Workshop (3) LAS
An introduction to play production, this course considers some of the principles of acting, directing and staging. Participants produce scenes and short plays in a laboratory theater.

COM 396 Cooperative Education Work Experience: Parallel (1-3)
Prerequisite(s): CED 220.
A communication-related work experience supervised by department faculty coordinators in collaboration with the cooperative education staff. Credit is awarded upon successful completion of the work experience, documentation of predetermined Learning Agreement and evaluation of work performance. Evaluation is on pass/fail basis. The course may be repeated up to six credit hours. COM 400, Internship may be substituted for the co-op work experience.

COM 400 Internship (3)
Internships provide the student with the opportunity to gain practical experience in an appropriate segment of the communications industry. While there is some variation, typically the student will spend approximately 135 hours in a work environment. Enrollment is limited to majors in communication studies. Registration by permission of the department only. Co-op work experience may be substituted for the internship.

COM 496 Cooperative Education Work Experience: Alternating (1-3)
Prerequisite(s): CED 220.
A full-time communications related work experience supervised by department faculty coordinators in collaboration with the cooperative education staff. Credit is awarded upon successful completion of the work experience, documentation of predetermined Learning Agreement and evaluation of work performance. Evaluation is on pass/fail basis. The course may be repeated up to six credit hours. COM 400, Internship may be substituted for the co-op work experience.

COM 499 Communication Studies/Capstone (1) CAP
Prerequisite(s): 40 hours of Core curriculum completed.
Individual application of communication theory and methods to a special problem in a manner that demonstrates integration of concepts and methods of the liberal arts and sciences and those of the major. Permission of department required.