Communication core courses
The Elliott School of Communication offers an integrated major in communication leading to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. All communication students must complete the following common core (21 credits), in addition to the courses in the chosen emphasis area.
Take all:
130 Communication and Society or 190 Intro to human communication (3)
301 Writing for the Mass Audience (3)
305 Visual Technologies (3) or 306 Introduction to Multimedia (3)
325 Speaking in Business and the Professions (3)
535 Communication Analysis and Criticism (3)
Choose two:
430 Communication Research and Inquiry (3)
630 Communication Law and Responsibility (3)
631 Historical and Theoretical Issues in Communication (3)
Core course descriptions
130 Communication and Society (3 credit hours)
Introduces the functions, processes and effects of individual and mass communication
in American society. Explores economic, social and governmental impacts of such communication.
Includes a survey of the media and communication industry.
190 Intro to human communication (3 credit hours)
Explores several alternative frameworks by which humans cope with and control the communication environment. Uses observational and experiential opportunities to discover the variety of patterns used by humans to symbolically interact with themselves, each other and entire cultures. Uses multimedia instructional procedures. Course includes diversity content.
301 Writing for the Mass Audience (3)
Introduces the technique of writing for the mass audience, emphasizing approach necessitated
by technology in dealing with print, broadcast, advertising and public relations.
This is the foundation writing course for all emphasis areas. Prerequisites: ENGL 101, ENGL 102 and COMM 130, with a grade of C or better in each, pass departmental
Grammar, Spelling & Punctuation Test and departmental consent.
305 Visual Technologies (3)
Examines the importance and meaning of visual symbols in modern society. Explores
the methods by which visual images inform, educate and persuade consumers.
306 Introduction to Multimedia (3)
Examines appropriate multimedia formats for telling stories and presenting information.
Focuses on understanding effective publication of communication via audio, video and
web.
325 Speaking in Business and the Professions (3)
Studies the basic concepts of public speaking and discussions as they apply to the
business and professional person. Emphasizes public presentations, group leadership
and interpersonal communication as appropriate to business and professional oral communications.
Prerequisite: COMM 111 with a grade of C or better.
430 Communication Research and Inquiry (3)
General education further studies course. Introduces the process of research and inquiry
across the discipline of communication. Helps students in communication become more
intelligent consumers of research and investigative inquiry and to become more adept
at designing their own research projects. Includes information gathering, structuring
inquiry with qualitative and quantitative research designs and processing and reporting
information.
Prerequisites: Junior standing and COMM 130 or instructor's consent.
535 Communication Analysis and Criticism (3)
General education further studies course. Introduces the methods used for the analysis
and critique of various linguistic, pictorial and aural elements of communication
for the purpose of becoming more discerning consumers of the various forms of public
and mass-mediated messages. Analysis includes print advertisements, radio and television
messages, newspaper features and public speeches.
Prerequisites: Junior standing and COMM 301 with grade of C or better or instructor's consent.
630 Communication Law and Responsibility (3)
General education issues and perspectives course. Emphasizes both oral and written
aspects of communication law and responsibility. Addresses general functions of the
law including the right to communicate, broadcast law and law of the press. Includes
discussion of the first amendment rights, libel, privacy, copyright, advertising,
obscenity, pornography and corporate communication concerns.
631 Historical and Theoretical Issues in Communication (3)
General education further studies course. Examines the development of various issues
in communication in historical context. Emphasizes different humanistic and scientific
theories of communication and the historical development of mediated communication.
Uses selected theories to generate critiques of specific communication events.
Prerequisites: Junior standing and COMM 130 or instructor's consent.