Examines theories, principles and methods of small group communication. Focuses on such topics as: leadership, problem solving, roles, norms and climate. Takes a systems approach to groups and students have hands-on experience in a decision-making group.

Stresses communication theory and current research related to interviewing. Provides in-class practice with interchanging roles as interviewer/interviewee in several types of interviews. Current research in interviewing techniques, assistance in resume preparation and legal guidelines for questions are among the topics for discussion.

Provides students with the opportunity to explore and develop the presentation skills necessary for success within the context of business through a study of communication and theory. Includes informative, persuasive, and small group presentations, as well as an emphasis on critical thinking, listening, non-verbal and technological presentation skills. Students may not receive credit for both CMST 2300 and COMM 1100.

Explores the role of argumentation and public speaking in public engagement in contemporary society. Includes analysis and application of various theories and methods of argumentation in public settings through oral and written communication. Areas include identification of fallacies, refutation, forms of argument and formal and informal logic. Criticism and critical listening skills are also emphasized.

The LeaderShape Institute challenges participants to lead with integrity while working towards a vision grounded in their deepest values. Participants explore not only what they want to do, but who they want to be. Dynamic, challenging and exciting, the week is intended to produce a breakthrough in the leadership capacity of participants—benefiting them individually, as well as their respective communities and the organizations they go on to lead and serve in the future. Students accepted into the C-Lead concentration participate in a week long seminar, along with students from engineering and business, where they are exposed to multiple aspects of leadership and team building.

Surveys major theoretical approaches to communication studies, reviews the history of the discipline and introduces students to basic research methods in the field.

Examines person-to-person communication with a focus on such topics as social roles, conflict management, relationship development, perception, communication effectiveness and relevant theories.

Presents historical and current perspectives on the origins and usefulness of organizational theories as they relate to communication issues. Emphasizes the relationship between organizational life and communication principles. Ultimate goals, assumptions and cases relating to organizational communication theories are developed and discussed.

Surveys theories, principles, and practices of persuasion. Special emphasis on the social, psychological and cultural study of influence.

Students are assigned a mentor who is in an established leadership role. Students shadow that individual during scheduled opportunities during the spring and fall terms. Students document their experiences and work with their leader mentor to explore the concept of leadership and leadership styles.

Examines major theoretical perspectives and concepts relevant to interpersonal communication in close personal relationships. Using a lecture-discussion format, focuses on the development and testing of interpersonal communication theory through research. Multiple theoretical, conceptual and methodological approaches geared toward understanding interpersonal communication are studied. Focuses on integrating research, theory and skills to recognize and claim the personal agency interpersonal communication affords us in shaping our quality of life.

Introduces communication phenomena in the family setting. Examines how communication affects the development, maintenance and enhancement of family relations.

Examines the relationship between gender and communication. Includes discussion of verbal and nonverbal communication patterns of males and females, various explanations for these patterns, perceptions of gender differences and the implications these perceptions have for people in several contexts (public, interpersonal and organizational).

Investigates communication about urban families, the communication links between urban families and institutions and communication practices within urban families. Emphasizes the diversity among urban families as well as the stressors and strengths found in the urban context.

Introduces communication phenomena from across generations and within the family setting. Focuses on the role of communication in intergenerational interactions within a wide variety of contexts including: interpersonal, workplace, familial, health and mediated technology; also examines how communication affects the development, maintenance, and enhancement of family relations.

Communication and conflict explores theoretical and experiential avenues to conflict management, resolution, and regulation through communication styles and methods. The communicative contexts for investigation are interpersonal and organizational (profit and non-profit). Exercises and case studies provide an opportunity to implement theoretical learning from the course.

Communicating through humor can be an important way to make conversations more memorable, group interactions more compelling and causes more accessible. Introduction to theories and research of how comedy and humor function in communication. Analysis and application of comedy to interpersonal communication, conflict resolution, organizational communication, group identity, politics and persuasion.

The communication relationship between managers and employees involves a set of circumstances not often found in everyday communication with friends and colleagues. The differences in power, knowledge, job description, and life experiences create many unique and challenging interactions. Takes an in-depth look at the circumstances which affect communication between managers and their employees as well as at a number of theories and strategies for improving communication in the workplace.

A forward-looking assessment of the role that communication plays in the spread of new ideas. Examines the influence of technological and social innovation in individual, organizational and societal contexts. Investigates the effects of innovation when dealing with progressive change and managing social interactions.

Explores communication variables involved when leaders attempt to influence members to achieve a goal. Topics include: power, credibility, motivation, research on leader traits, styles and situations and current models of leadership such as transactional, transformational, charismati, and functional approaches. The different leadership challenges posed by community and institutional settings are also explored.

Explores theoretical and practical ethical questions of importance to responsible communicators in personal and public contexts. Discussion of ethical theories in communication studies provide an opportunity to explore case studies and contemporary communication dilemmas critically, while heightening personal sensitivity to the underlying ethical implications of human communication.

Discusses contemporary theoretical and critical approaches to the description, analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of public discourse. Examines and applies principles established by such theorists as Kenneth Burke, Ernest G. Bormann, Chaim Perelman and Stephen Toulmin, among others.

Cross-cultural communication offers a comparison of communicative behavior phenomena across national cultures and examines the influence of national group identity on communicative practice among groups in the United States, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Global in scope, with a social justice emphasis, this course addresses a dynamic and mobile world as it seeks to provide an analytical framework for dissecting and understanding issues of hegemony, equity, and conflict management in cross-cultural exchanges.

Intercultural communication in the United States explores the dynamics of interpersonal interaction and obstacles to those interactions between U.S. co-cultures. Examines the impact of identity on intercultural relationships; as well as the interpersonal patterns of selected co-cultural groups within the United States with the aim of improving individual communication competency and cultural understanding.

Provides an introduction to the field of health communication. Examines the role of communication in health care with a focus on provider training and the provider-patient relationship. Theoretical models for developing effective health communication programs are discussed and applied within a variety of health care settings.

Designed to enhance student understanding of theories that guide health communication campaigns with a particular focus on message design principles. Discuss issues related to social, emotional and interpersonal influences on health risk perception and behavioral outcome. Particularly relevant to students interested in topics including health message design, social influence on health behaviors and emotional appeals in health communication.

Provides an understanding of the importance of patient-centered communication skills. Topics include components, benefits and barriers of good communication; empathetic listening; verbal and non-verbal assessment cues; patient involvement in care coordination; interpersonal and intergenerational variations that affect the patient-provider relationship; managing patient-provider conflict; having difficult conversations about health; managing difficult patients; and getting patient buy-in with electronic communication.

Prepares students to work in a health-related field by learning to successfully communicate with medical practitioners/providers and patients from diverse populations. Sensitizes students to the issues and concerns of cultural context and resulting potentials for unequal or disparate health care among co-cultural groups and vulnerable populations, and ensures successful communication among all parties striving for patient wellness.

Introduction to communication consulting and the design implementation of communication audits for corporate and non-profit settings. Surveys various models of consulting. Learn to design and implement a communication audit that includes needs assessment, interpretation, and recommendations. Methods of audits include survey design, interviews and focus groups.

Theory and practice in the organization and management of co-curricular speech activities in high school and college.

Topics vary. Topics of seminar to be announced in the Schedule of Classes.

Project in Communication Studies to be determined by the instructor.

Provides students with the opportunity to apply theories, skills and techniques in communication as believed appropriate within specific organizational settings. S/U grade assessment.

Faculty-supervised, independent study/research of a specific area or topic in Communication Studies. 1-3 credits.

A capstone experience for Communication Studies majors. Examines communication theories and principles in the context of contemporary events and social issues. Students conduct original communication research and apply theories to specific communication contexts and practices.

The application of rigorous methodology in developing and writing a thesis under the direction of an adviser.

Introduces communication phenomena in the family setting. Examines how communication affects the development, maintenance and enhancement of family relations.

Examines the relationship between gender and communication. Includes discussion of verbal and nonverbal communication patterns of males and females, various explanations for these patterns, perceptions of gender differences and the implications these perceptions have for people in several contexts (public, interpersonal and organizational).

Investigates communication about urban families, the communication links between urban families and institutions and communication practices within urban families. Emphasizes the diversity among urban families as well as the stressors and strengths found in the urban context.

Introduces communication phenomena from across generations and within the family setting. Focuses on the role of communication in intergenerational interactions within a wide variety of contexts including: interpersonal, workplace, familial, health and mediated technology; also examines how communication affects the development, maintenance, and enhancement of family relations.

The communication relationship between managers and employees involves a set of circumstances not often found in everyday communication with friends and colleagues. The differences in power, knowledge, job description, and life experiences create many unique and challenging interactions. Takes an in-depth look at the circumstances which affect communication between managers and their employees as well as at a number of theories and strategies for improving communication in the workplace.

Explores communication variables involved when leaders attempt to influence members to achieve a goal. Topics include: power, credibility, motivation, research on leader traits, styles and situations and current models of leadership such as transactional, transformational, charismati, and functional approaches. The different leadership challenges posed by community and institutional settings are also explored.

Cross-cultural communication offers a comparison of communicative behavior phenomena across national cultures and examines the influence of national group identity on communicative practice among groups in the United States, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Global in scope, with a social justice emphasis, this course addresses a dynamic and mobile world as it seeks to provide an analytical framework for dissecting and understanding issues of hegemony, equity, and conflict management in cross-cultural exchanges.

Intercultural communication in the United States explores the dynamics of interpersonal interaction and obstacles to those interactions between U.S. co-cultures. Examines the impact of identity on intercultural relationships; as well as the interpersonal patterns of selected co-cultural groups within the United States with the aim of improving individual communication competency and cultural understanding.

Provides an introduction to the field of health communication. Examines the role of communication in health care with a focus on provider training and the provider-patient relationship. Theoretical models for developing effective health communication programs are discussed and applied within a variety of health care settings.

Designed to enhance student understanding of theories that guide health communication campaigns with a particular focus on message design principles. Discuss issues related to social, emotional and interpersonal influences on health risk perception and behavioral outcome. Particularly relevant to students interested in topics including health message design, social influence on health behaviors and emotional appeals in health communication.

Provides an understanding of the importance of patient-centered communication skills. Topics include components, benefits and barriers of good communication; empathetic listening; verbal and non-verbal assessment cues; patient involvement in care coordination; interpersonal and intergenerational variations that affect the patient-provider relationship; managing patient-provider conflict; having difficult conversations about health; managing difficult patients; and getting patient buy-in with electronic communication.

Prepares students to work in a health-related field by learning to successfully communicate with medical practitioners/providers and patients from diverse populations. Sensitizes students to the issues and concerns of cultural context and resulting potentials for unequal or disparate health care among co-cultural groups and vulnerable populations, and ensures successful communication among all parties striving for patient wellness.

Introduction to communication consulting and the design implementation of communication audits for corporate and non-profit settings. Surveys various models of consulting. Learn to design and implement a communication audit that includes needs assessment, interpretation, and recommendations. Methods of audits include survey design, interviews and focus groups.

Theory and practice in the organization and management of co-curricular speech activities in high school and college.

Topics vary. Topics of seminar to be announced in the Schedule of Classes.

Explores historical, contemporary and ideological approaches to the study and practice of organizational communication. Topics include: organizational culture, workplace relationships, participation and decision-making, organizational change, organizational justice, and organizational communication consulting.

Designed to acquaint students with significant issues pertaining to the design, implementation and assessment of communication consulting projects. Students are introduced to communication consulting and the design and implementation of consulting in various settings and industries. Students learn how data is gathered, analyze real organizational communication data and use their knowledge to offer theory-grounded recommendations to a client. Addresses ethical issues connected with consulting work. Students work on their own and with a team to complete a consulting project for a client.