Communication Program > Courses
Courses
Listed below are courses offered by the Communication Studies Department. Degree Plans are listed on the Mission Statement Page.
Introductory Courses
S121 Public Speaking (3 cr.) Prerequisites (P): W131 or concurrent enrollment in W131. Theory and practice of public speaking, training in thought processes necessary to organize speech content, analysis of components of effective delivery and language.
S122 Interpersonal Communication (3 cr.) Practical consideration of spontaneous human interaction in face-to- face situations. Special attention is given to perception, language, and attitudes in dyads and small groups.
Advanced Courses
C205 Introduction to Oral Interpretation (3 cr.) P: Sophomore standing. S121 or T120, or consent of instructor. Basic principles and practice in analysis and reading of selections from prose, poetry, and drama. Lecture and recitation.
C300 Practicum in Speech Communication (1-6 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Practical experience in various departmental areas as selected by the student prior to registration, outlined in consultation with the instructor, and approved by the department May be repeated.
C310 Rhetoric and Public Address (3 cr.) P: S121 and junior standing. Historical survey of theories of rhetoric and their application to great issues in American culture.
C325 Interviewing Principles and Practices (3 cr.) P: Sophomore standing. Study and practice of methods in selected interview settings; emphasis on the logical and psychological bases for the exchange of information and attitudes.
S205 Introduction to Communication Studies (3 cr.) P: S121, S122, W131, 30 credit hours, and 2.3 grade point average. Overview of the theories and principles of effective communication in interpersonal, group, organizational, and public settings. Fall Sem., Spring Sem.
S223 Business and Professional Speaking (3 cr.) P: Sophomore standing, S121, S122, or consent of instructor. Preparation and presentation of types of speeches and oral reports appropriate to business and professional occupations; group discussion and parliamentary procedure.
S228 Argumentation and Debate (3 cr.) P: S121 and sophomore standing. Reasoning, evidence, and argument in public discourse. Study of forms of argument. Practice in argumentative speaking.
S229 Discussion and Group Methods (3 cr.) P: S121 or S122. Leadership and participation in group, committee, conference, and public discussion; logical and psychological aspects of group process.
S322 Advanced Interpersonal Communication (3 cr.) P: S122 and junior standing. Advanced consideration of communication in human relationships. Emphasis given to self-concept, perception, verbal language, nonverbal interaction, listening, interpersonal conflict and communication skills in family, social, and work situations. Fall Sem.
S323 Speech Composition (3 cr.) P: Junior or senior standing, S121, and W231 or W290. Advanced speechwriting; theories of style, written and spoken language; logical proofs; and emotional and ethical appeals. Practice in composition and delivery.
S324 Persuasion (3 cr.) P: Junior standing, S205, or P320 or P327 or consent of instructor. Motivational appeals in influencing behavior; psychological factors in speaker-audience relationship; contemporary examples of persuasion. Practice in persuasive speaking. Fall Sem.
S325 Voice and Diction (3 cr.) P: S121 or T120. R: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor. Anatomy and functions of vocal mechanism; background for teaching normal speech patterns.
S333 Public Relations (3 cr.) P: Junior standing, S121, W290 or W231 or consent of instructor. Introduction to the principles of contemporary public relations, including ethics of public relations, impact on society, and uses by government, business, and social institutions for internal and external communication. Public relations as a problem-solving process utilizing theoretical and applied communication strategies.
S336 Current Topics in Communication (3 cr.) Extensive analysis of selected problems in contemporary speech communication. Topics vary each semester and are listed in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated once for credit.
S380 Nonverbal Communication (3 cr.) P: S122. Exploration of communicative interaction that is not linguistic in nature. Emphasizes the communicative aspects of personal space, physical environment, body movement, touch, facial expression, eye contact, and paralanguage.
S398 Independent Study in Speech Communication (1-3 cr.) P: Junior standing and approval of instructor. Independent study or practicum experience. Projects must be approved by faculty member before enrolling. May be repeated for up to a total of 6 credits.
S405 Human Communication Theory (3 cr.) P: Senior standing, S205, and S322 or S324. Survey of contemporary theories of human communication with emphasis on the nature of theory construction; contributions of allied disciplines to communication theory. Spring Sem.
S407 Historical Development of Rhetorical Theory (3 cr.) P: Junior standing, S205. Survey of ancient through contemporary thought on the art of rhetoric; identification of leading trends in the history of rhetoric and the assessment of those trends in light of surrounding context. Spring Sem.
S421 Speech Criticism (3 cr.) P: Junior standing and S205. Rhetorical criticism exemplified by selected studies, ancient and modem; development of contemporary standards and methods of appraisal.
S424 Empirical Research Methods in Speech Communication (3 cr.) P: Junior or senior standing and S205. Focuses on the objective appraisal of behavioral data in the study of speech communication. Introduces the theoretical foundation of empirical social science and offers guidelines for conducting descriptive and experimental studies. Spring Sem.
S427 Cross-Cultural Communication (3 cr.) P: Sophomore standing. A survey study of national, cultural, and cross-cultural persuasion in theory and practice.
S440 Organizational Communication (3 cr.) P: Senior standing and S205. Examination of internal and external communication in business and other professional organizations, with emphasis upon theory, techniques, practices, goals, and the social environment in which such communication exists. Fall Sem.
S450 Gender and Communication (3 cr.) P: SI22, W131 or consent of instructor. Exploration .of the communication between males and females from psychological, social, and cultural perspectives. Emphasizes interpersonal interaction between males and females in friendship and romantic contexts as well as educational, organizational, and mediated contexts.
