Communication Studies

COM ST 9 highly recommended

See the full list: Required Elective Course from "List C" below

This introductory course in rhetoric emphasizes clear, effective written communication and preparation of the research paper.

This course provides an exploration of intellectual, psychological, social and physical factors that impact lifelong learning, well-being and success. Topics include motivation and self-efficacy; critical thinking, academic integrity and active study strategies; health issues and lifestyle choices; relating to others as a global citizen; written and oral communication; time management; career exploration; and educational planning.

This is a course in public speaking for students learning to prepare and deliver platform speeches. Assignments include speeches of description, exposition, and persuasion. Techniques for controlling tension, building self-confidence, and effective listening are emphasized.

COM ST 35 recommended

See the full list: Required Elective Course from "List A" below

MATH 54 recommended

See the full list: IGETC Area 2 Course

US History recommended

See the full list: IGETC Area 3B Course

This course helps students to develop their critical thinking and writing skills beyond the level achieved in English 1. The course emphasizes the application of logical reasoning, analysis, and strategies of argumentation in critical thinking and writing, using literature (both fiction and non-fiction) and literary criticism as subject matter.

COM ST 12, 30 or 37 recommended

See the full list: Required Elective Course from "List B" below

COM ST 20, 31, or 36 recommended

This course focuses on the identification and analysis of processes and challenges of communication as affected by small group interactions. This course helps students develop competence and confidence as a group member and leader through a combination of theoretical and practical knowledge of small groups in everyday life. The course focuses on the principles of communication theory as they apply to the small group setting with an emphasis on practical application through study and practice in various group activities.

Principles of argumentative discourse applied to contemporary issues are studied in this course. An analysis of the relationship between evidence and the process of reasoning is included.

Techniques for effective interpersonal communication are studied with emphasis on developing awareness of one's own actions and their impact on relationships. Verbal and nonverbal communication styles are analyzed and practiced in one-to-one and small group situations. Lecture, discussion, and class participation are utilized to demonstrate a variety of skills including listening conflict resolution, and the effective use of language in personal and professional interactions. In addition, exercises in body language, role playing, and self-disclosure and positive/negative thinking help students understand the power of the communication process.

This course focuses on the development of persuasion in rhetorical perspective, with an emphasis on balancing logic, emotion and credibility in public speaking. The history of classical rhetoric in Ancient Greece and Rome, as well as great speakers in American history, are emphasized.

This course focuses on the oral interpretation of poetry and prose, with a special emphasis on literature by and about cultural groups in the United States including African-Americans, Asian-Americans, European-Americans, Jewish-Americans, Latino/a-Americans, Arab-Americans, Indigenous peoples of the United States and others. Through the process of oral interpretation, students will analyze works of literature, discover a personal connection to the material, and share their emotional and intellectual creation - using voice and body - with an audience. By studying and performing multicultural literature, students will learn to appreciate the similarities and differences among cultures and how culture affects the author's voice.

This course introduces the major theoretical approaches to, applications of, and issues in Communication Studies. Examining and analyzing theories from the various areas of the field, such as interpersonal, group, organizational, rhetorical, intercultural, mass, and health communication, students will apply communication theories and concepts to everyday communication phenomena.

This course focuses on the identification and analysis of processes and challenges of communication as affected by different cultures, especially as it affects communication among the various cultures found within the United States (e.g. African American, Asian American, Latino/a, Middle Eastern, Native American, European American and Gay/Lesbian cultures) and among the various cultures throughout the world. The course focuses on the principles of communication theory as they apply to the intercultural setting with an emphasis on the effects of differences in beliefs, values, attitudes, socio-political organization, role expectations, language and nonverbal behavior, etc.—all of which are interrelated.

This course helps students to develop their critical thinking and writing skills beyond the level achieved in English 1. The course emphasizes the application of logical reasoning, analysis, and strategies of argumentation in critical thinking and writing, using literature (both fiction and non-fiction) and literary criticism as subject matter.

This course will introduce the art, technology, language, and appreciation of film, exploring the varieties of film experience, film and the other arts, and the ways of viewing. Students will learn about the basic cinematic techniques and structures, including mise-en-scene and montage, use of cinematic time and space, the image, soundtrack, and the script. Consideration will also be given to analyzing the fundamentals of film production, directing, acting, and editing; how the elements of the production process are analyzed separately, then brought together to show how they create the emotional and intellectual impact of the film experience. Film examples will be screened in class.

This course covers concepts and procedures of descriptive statistics, elementary probability theory and inferential statistics. Course content includes: summarizing data; computation and interpretation of descriptive statistics;; classical probability theory; probability distributions; binomial, normal, T, Chi-square and F distributions; making inferences; decisions and predictions. This course develops, analyzes, and interprets confidence intervals for population parameters, hypothesis testing for both one and two populations, correlation and regression, ANOVA, and test for independence. This course develops statistical thinking through the study of applications in variety of disciplines. The use of a statistical/graphing calculator and/or statistical analysis software is integrated into the course.

This course introduces aspects of communications and the impact of mass media on the individual and society. The survey includes newspapers, magazines, radio, television, cable, motion pictures, online media, advertising, public relations, theories of communication, and mass communication modes, processes and effects.

This course emphasizes the study of psychological processes involved with the construction of communication including perception, motivation, learning, and emotion. The course will cover issues involved in giving, receiving, and interpreting verbal and non-verbal behavior in a variety of interpersonal situations. Attention will be given to the intersection of gender, culture, and social identities and how these factors shape how we communicate with ourselves, with other individuals, and via mass communication and technology. Experiential exercises, including role-playing and small group interactions, provide opportunities to increase awareness of personal communication styles and to develop more effective communication skills including active listening, conflict resolution, and assertive language.

Cultural Anthropology is the study of human society and culture, analyzing both similarities and differences amongst cultural groups. This course will introduce students to important socio-cultural concepts used by cultural anthropologists including material culture, social organization, religion, kinship, ritual and symbolic systems, race, ethnicity, and language amongst others. Students will examine how cultural anthropologists understand the notion of culture in the study of human behavior in different regions of the world. The ethnographic method as a key methodology will be stressed throughout this course.

This course is a survey of the discipline of communication studies that emphasizes the history, interest areas, major theories, and contemporary and emerging issues in the field. This course will specifically cover public speaking, interpersonal, group, intercultural, mass and other emerging areas in the study of communication.

This course focuses on improvement in voice and articulation. It features analysis of the student's voice and articulation problems and offers specific strategies for improvement. Techniques in relaxation, breath control, articulation, vocal variety and pronunciation are emphasized. In addition, students learn skills in oral interpretation, public speaking, and transcription of the International Phonetic Alphabet.

This course introduces the tenets and methods of social science research in general, and communication research in particular. The course provides an overview of both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Particular attention is given to experimental design, survey research, content analysis, and field research. The goal of this course is to prepare students for reading empirical research reports as well as prepare them for upper division research.

Exploring the role, influence, effects, and significance of gender on our everyday communication interactions, this course critically analyzes issues of gender and communication by examining the theoretical perspectives used to explain gender phenomena, gender socialization, and male and female interactions and stereotypes. With an emphasis on improving communication skills, we will explore the relationship between gender and communication as it pertains to the nature of gender(s), the language of gender, and gender differences in verbal and nonverbal communication.

This course helps students to develop their critical thinking and writing skills beyond the level achieved in English 1. The course emphasizes the application of logical reasoning, analysis, and strategies of argumentation in critical thinking and writing, using literature (both fiction and non-fiction) and literary criticism as subject matter.

This course surveys the development of Western Civilization from its beginnings in the valleys of the Tigris-Euphrates and Nile Rivers to Europe of the 16th century. It addresses cultures of the Near East, Greece, and Rome; the medieval period; the Renaissance; and the Reformation, introducing the social, economic, political, intellectual, and artistic transformations that shaped what came to be known as the West.

This course surveys the transformations of Western Civilization from the 16th century into the 21st century. It addresses social, economic, political, intellectual, and artistic transformations that relate to the development of nation-states, industrialization, imperialism, and international conflicts and migration.

An introductory course in planning stories, news gathering, organizing and writing news across multiple platforms. Students learn to report and write news stories based on their own reporting, including original interviews and research, and how to use AP style. Stories include both news and features, and may include covering events, public lectures, meetings and other local stories. Students will be made aware of legal and ethical issues related to journalism.

This course is an introduction and general survey course in psychology. This course grounds the student in the epistemology of psychology as a scientific discipline, research methods, and critical analysis of research findings. Substantive psychological content includes the biological bases of behavior, perception, cognition and consciousness, learning, memory, emotion, motivation, development, personality, social psychology, psychological disorders and therapeutic approaches, and applied psychology.

This course introduces the study of society and human social interaction. Both macro and micro sociological theory are discussed, as well as methods of sociological inquiry, culture, socialization, deviance, social change and social stratification--particularly in the areas of social class, race and ethnicity, and gender. Students are highly encouraged to complete Sociology 1 prior to enrolling in other sociology courses.

By relying heavily on the instructional method of service-learning, this course introduces the study of society and human social interaction. Both macro and micro sociological theory are discussed, as well as methods of sociological inquiry, culture, socialization, deviance, social change, and social stratification--particularly in the areas of social class, race and ethnicity, and gender. Students are highly encouraged to complete Sociology 1 or 1s prior to enrolling in other sociology courses. This course requires students to engage in learning outside the classroom in conjunction with various community-based organizations.