2022-23 Undergraduate Academic Catalog

COM-3550 Advocacy Communication –Fa 3 hours This course studies advocacy as it relates to social and political change. Advocacy communication requires unique practices that rely on public speaking skills and analysis of advocacy discourse. Students will think critically about current social, political, and ethical issues and will develop persuasive and strategy skills as they practice how to mobilize the public, influence public opinion, and negotiate policy decisions. These skills are useful to those anticipating careers in politics, consulting, speechwriting, law, sales, nonprofits, and religion. COM-3650 2 hours Clinical Methods in Teaching Speech –Fa, Sp Students seeking certification for teaching speech will gain classroom experience. One credit hour equals 20 classroom hours. Department staff members will supervise all assignments. Credit/no credit. COM-3710 Narrative and Cultural Literacy –Sp 3 hours An examination of early New Testament and American cultural narratives helps students examine current communication practices using biblical, critical, and theological perspectives. COM-3810 Speechwriting for the Professional –Sp 3 hours This course focuses on the skills necessary to research for and effectively write a variety of public messages. Students will practice using the skills necessary for effective communication in organizational, political, and nonprofit contexts. Theory that enriches the understanding of speech writing will be presented and applied. Prerequisite: COM-3100 Advanced Public Speaking. COM-3840 Media Analysis –Fa 3 hours Overviews the study and application of theories that analyze and critique news, and film media. Theories of media criticism will be presented, along with a Christian view. Students will produce critiques of media using the theories presented and integrating a Christian worldview into their analysis. COM-3901 Rhetoric of Abortion Ethics –Su 3 hours This course helps the student to enter the serious intellectual discussion about the foundation for human rights and the value of life. Course material will review the basic pro-life case and examine the underlying worldview assumptions that both academic and lay people bring to debates over abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and cloning. The course will also discuss why the Christian worldview in particular does a better job accounting for intrinsically valuable human beings, fundamental human rights, and objective moral rules. (even year) COM-3902 Public Advocacy in Bioethics –Su 3 hours This course provides students with a thorough understanding and mastery of the often difficult public conversation concerning life and abortion. Through a rigorous workshop environment, the student will learn to quickly evaluate a question or subject, research it sufficiently, and then prepare and deliver a speech or remarks on the matter at hand. Course material will establish best practices for public discourse from a Christian perspective and provide the student with a thorough knowledge of reasoning, persuasion and fallacies. The course will also prepare students to network into their communities by identifying and preparing target audiences for engagement and by training others to become successful advocates as well. (even years) COM-4060 Organizational Leadership –Fa, Sp 3 hours Leadership as a societal role is addressed through analysis of theory and observation of practitioners. A chronology of methodological approaches to the study of leadership is presented. Students observe and evaluate leaders in a variety of disciplines. COM-4110 History of Public Address –Fa 3 hours Classical rhetorical systems and theories are studied from the perspective of the rhetorical critic. The development of rhetoric is traced from the Greek period to the present. Analysis is made of the part rhetoric has played in the development of philosophies and nations. COM-4120 Contemporary Rhetoric –Sp 3 hours A survey of rhetorical theory that has developed since WWII. Selected representative, contemporary rhetorical theories will be studied and applied to U.S. political communication. Seeks to integrate the study of political messages and the current political culture. Prerequisite: COM-4110 History of Public Address or permission of instructor. COM-4610 Communication Ethics –Sp 2 hours Seminar focuses on how to reason biblically about ethical issues. Surveys contemporary Christian ethicists; examines issues of concern to the Christian community; suggests communication dynamics that build Christian social ethics. COM-4640 Special Topics –Fa, Sp 2–3 hours Topics of important interest are examined on an as-needed basis. COM-4710–4760 Independent Study 1–3 hours COM-4710–General Communication –Fa, Sp 1–3 hours COM-4720–Organizational Communication –Fa, Sp 1–3 hours COM-4750–Media –Fa, Sp 1–3 hours COM-4760–Forensics –Fa, Sp 1–3 hours Taken to secure an in-depth background in one of the areas of communication. Repeatable to a total of eight credit hours in the field. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. COM-4850 Senior Seminar –Sp 1 hour A transitional seminar to provide students with the opportunity to culminate their academic program and begin the orientation to the professions of communication. The course will prepare students for employment demands, revise resumes, develop interview skills, and establish networking techniques for success in their communication profession. COM-4900 3–12 hours Internship in Communication –Fa, Sp, Su Students are placed with professional organizations to gain experience in actual career situations. Internships depend upon availability. COM-4950 Applied Capstone –Fa, Sp 3 hours This course is the culmination of the major in Communication. It provides an opportunity for students to bring together the academic training and professional skills in a focused application. Students work with an advisor to develop a project culminating their program of study in one of four options selected with approval of the capstone coordinator and the faculty advisor. All capstone projects will be presented in written and/or public forum. Prerequisites: COM-2050 Communication Theory and COM-2220 Quantitative Research or COM-2225 Qualitative Research. (Fee: $15) Journalism (JOUR) JOUR-1000 Multiplatform Journalism I –Fa 3 hours This intensive writing course prepares students to write news copy for print, online, and broadcast video and radio. Students learn basic journalistic practices and writing formats and will progress from exercises to original reporting. (Fee: $75) JOUR-2000 Multiplatform Journalism II –Sp 3 hours This course builds on the primary journalistic skills and theories learned in JOUR-1000. Students will begin to polish interviewing, writing, and reporting skills for print, video, audio, and social media through original reporting of stories in deadline and non- deadline situations. Prerequisites: JOUR-1000 Multiplatform Journalism I. (Fee: $75) Page 252 2022–23 Undergraduate Academic Catalog Course Descriptions COM-3550 – JOUR-2000 COMMUNICATION