Course Level Objectives and Artifacts
Department of Performing and Fine Arts
Program: Communication
Course Descriptions
COMM 205 Introduction to
Communication: The study of
communication in expediting
learning, affecting social
interaction and effective change,
and an exploration of the
components of interpersonal, small
group, public and organizational
communication.
COMM 210 Introduction to Mass
Communications: A survey of the
role of mass media in modern
society. The process, functions,
responsibility and effects of
various forms of mass
communication will be analyzed.
Prerequisite: COMM 205
Course Objectives / Outcomes
Artifacts / Evidence
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COMM 235 Public
Relation/Advertising: This course
provides an introduction to the
basic principles of public relations
and advertising. Student will study
the history and trends of the public
relations and advertising industry
focusing on principles, tools,
techniques, practices, and ethics.
Accepted standards used in public
relations and advertising will be
presented.
COMM 385 International
Communication: This course
surveys the communication
systems of the world focusing on
major newspaper networks,
broadcasting and film consortia,
and the Internet. Theories of
international communication are
used to compare and contrast the
communication systems of
different nations.
Prerequisite: COMM 210
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SPEE 210 Interpersonal
Communication: A study of the
process of communication,
including functions, models, and
theories, with an emphasis on selfdisclosure, empathic listening,
relational communication, and
conflict management.
SPEE 250 Presentation
Technologies:
1. Understand the principles of perception,
listening, self-disclosure, diversity, conflict
management, and dialogue.
1. Exams 2, 3, and 4/Numerical scores.
Class discussion/ Rubric
2. Understand the model of communication used
in interpersonal communication.
2. Exam 1/ Numerical scores.
Class discussion/Rubric
3. Analyze personal communication practice by
synthesizing results from communication
surveys.
3. Paper 1/ Rubric.
4. Evaluate theoretical essays written by
interpersonal scholars.
4. Presentations 1 and 2/ Rubric.
5. Apply concepts and terms from interpersonal
communication scholarship to an analysis of
communication practice.
5. Paper 2/Rubric.
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SPEE 332 Problems in Media
Communication: This course will
examine contemporary problems
of mediated communication,
including gatekeeping,
propaganda, agenda setting,
cultural transmission, regulation
and censorship, regulation and
censorship, and commercialization.
Students will examine the
discursive implications of
newspaper, radio, television, film,
computer, polling, and advertising
technologies. Students will assume
a rhetorical perspective to evaluate
the role of these technologies in
shaping public opinion and our
perceptions of reality.
Prerequisite: SPEE 200
SPEE 390 Communication Theory:
Theoretical paradigms within the
communication discipline are
surveyed with attention given to
the assumptions that undergird
theoretical traditions and the types
of research questions that can be
studied from within different
theoretical perspectives. Several
traditional theoretical perspectives
are presented, including
Aristotelian analysis, symbolic
interactionism, pragmatism, and
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1. Demonstrate knowledge of a variety of
theoretical approaches towards the study of
communication.
2. Compare and contrast different theoretical
approaches in terms of a set of attributes.
1. Midterm Exams 1, 2. Final Exam/ Numerical
scores.
Class discussion/Rubric
2. Midterm Exams 1,2. Final Exam/Numerical
scores.
Class discussion/Rubric.
Paper 1/Rubric
3. Midterm Exams 1,2. Final Exam/Numerical
Scores.
Class discussion/Rubric.
Paper 1/Rubric.
3. Categorize specific research papers within a
general theoretical perspective.
technological determinism, along
with modern theoretical
approaches such as constructivism,
discourse theory, and critical
cultural approaches.
Prerequisite: COMM 205
SPEE 430 Intercultural
Communication: The course
provides basic principles and rules
for understanding intercultural
communication and provides
instruction on how to apply the
principles when communicating in
intercultural situations. The course
also provides a wide range of
examples and cases of
communication practices in
different cultures to increase the
student¿s knowledge base about
communication diversity in the
world.
Prerequisite: SPEE 200 and
COMM 205
4. Learn and use some of the resources available
on-line to do communication research.
5. Evaluate theories according to given criteria.
4. Paper 2/ Rubric.
1. Comprehend the nature of intercultural
communication including perception,
worldviews, verbal and nonverbal
communication.
1. Midterm/Numerical scoring.
Class discussion/Rubric
2. Apply principles of effective intercultural
communication.
2. Final Exam/Rubric
Class discussion/Rubric
3. Categorize and synthesize different
communication practices from different cultures
in the world.
3. Final Exam/Rubric.
Class discussion/Rubric.
Paper 1/Rubric.
4. Evaluate media practices in terms of concepts
and terms from intercultural communication
theory.
4. Paper 1/Rubric
5. Analyze personal intercultural identity using
terms and concepts from intercultural
communication theory.
5. Paper 2/Rubric.
5. Paper 2/Rubric.
Class discussion/Rubric.
Choose 1 of the following: COMM 490 or SPEE 490
COMM 490 (3-3-0) Mass
Communication Theory and
Research: The development of
mass communication theory is
studied with attention given to the
emergence of major paradigms of
theory including the development
of process and effective
perspectives, the development of
social learning perspectives, the
development of uses and
gratifications perspectives, and the
development of critical and
cultural perspectives.
Prerequisite: COMM 205 and
COMM 210 and SPEE 210 and
SPEE 390
1. Comprehend the different theoretical
approaches towards the study of mass
communication including: mass society theory ,
the limited effects tradition, moderate effects
tradition, critical and cultural theories
2. Demonstrate an understanding of different
methodologies for the study of communication
including the experimental method, survey
methodologies, and modern qualitative
approaches.
3. Conduct library and online literature reviews
to survey the field for answers to research
questions.
4. Analyze media sources including newspapers,
documentaries, radio and television news and
informational programs as foci for media
criticism
5. Design and implement an original research
program to be written up as a research paper to
be presented to the Communication faculty at the
end of the semester.
1. Midterm exam/Numerical scores
Final Exam/Rubric
Class discussion/Rubric
2. Midterm exam/Numerical scores
Final Exam/Rubric
Research Paper/Rubric
Class discussion/Rubric
3. Research Paper/Rubric
4. Research Paper/Rubric
5. Research Paper/Rubric
SPEE 490 Communication
Research Methods
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Concentration: Mass Communication (Select 18 Credits from the following)
COMM 320 Audio Production I:
An introduction to the planning
and production of audio in mass
media, including practical studies
of the uses of sound and the
planning, scripting, rehearsing, and
directing process of audio
production.
Prerequisite: COMM 210
COMM 330 Writing For Mass
Media: A survey of the various
forms of written expression in
mass media.
Prerequisite: COMM 205 and
ENGL 120
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COMM 350 Telecommunications
Management: A course exploring
management functions in a
telecommunications environment.
Economic support patterns,
programming, promotion,
advertising, determination of
community needs and facility
operations will be covered.
Prerequisite: COMM 210
COMM 360 Video Production I:
An introduction to the elements of
television production, including
cameras, audio, staging, lighting,
graphics, recording, and special
effects.
Prerequisite: COMM 210
COMM 375 Organizational
Communication
Provides the student with a
background in theory and
research about communication
within organizations. The
course focuses on interpersonal
communication within
organizations, small group
communication within
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1. Understand the major organizational theories
that comprise the study of organizational
communication.
2. Understanding the process of communication
within organizations including
interpersonal, small group, leadership and
management communication, and
communication conflict.
3. Devise an observational study of an
organization.
1. Midterm exam/Rubric
Final exam/Rubric
Class discussion/Rubric
2. Midterm exam/Rubric
Final exam/Rubric
Class discussion/Rubric
3. Research paper/Rubric
organizations, leadership and
management within
organizations and
communication conflict within
organizations.
4. Conduct and analyze surveys and interviews
of organizational members.
5. Write an original research paper about
organizational communication.
4. Research paper/Rubric
COMM 380 Non-Broadcast
Telecommunications Systems: An
introduction to the use of
telecommunications media in
corporate, industrial, medical,
educational, military,
governmental and public service
institutions.
Prerequisite: COMM 210
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COMM 390 Cable
Communications: An examination
of the cable television industry
including technical aspects,
franchising, programming, and
government regulation.
Prerequisite: COMM 210
COMM 410 Mass Media
Internship I: A course providing
students with opportunities for
combining theory and practice by
their arranging, outlining, and
engaging in a program of practical
experiences under the joint
supervision of a communications
organization or agency and the
course instructor.
COMM 420 Mass Media
Internship II: A second course for
students to further their
experiences in communications
media by continuing their program
from COMM 410 or arranging a
new program under the joint
supervision of a communications
agency and the course instructor.
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COMM 430 News and Public
Affairs: A study of the principles,
techniques, and forms of
journalism, with students gaining
experience in preparing, editing,
and delivering news and public
affairs materials for a variety of
media.
Prerequisite: COMM 330
COMM 440 Audio Production II:
An advanced course in audio
production techniques including
remote setups, studio operations,
and multitrack recording.
Prerequisite: COMM 320
COMM 450 Telecommunications
Law: Principles and case studies in
communications law including
constitutional guarantees, libel,
privacy, contempt, privilege,
copyright, and governmental
regulatory agencies.
Prerequisite: COMM 210
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COMM 460 Video Production II:
An advanced course in video
production techniques providing a
laboratory experience in
production and direction of video
projects.
Prerequisite: COMM 360
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Concentration: Speech (Select 18 Credits from the following)
SPEE 211 Phonetics: A study of
the production and transcription of
phonetic symbols used in the
International Phonetic Alphabet,
with attention to general American
speech and Career speech.
Prerequisite: SPEE 200
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SPEE 240 Introduction to
Communicative Disorders: A
survey of communicative
disorders, their manifestations, and
the strategies used by professionals
in working with persons with
communicative disorders.
Prerequisite: SPEE 200
SPEE 310 Public Speaking: A
study of the principles of effective
public communication, focusing on
speech preparation and design,
audience analysis, and speech
presentation in a variety of public
situations.
Prerequisite: SPEE 200
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SPEE 315 Computer-Mediated
Communication: ComputerMediated Communication: A class
designed to initiate students to the
field of study known as computermediated communication (CMC).
Computers, their networks, and the
content on them have significantly
influenced our political, religious,
commercial, personal, and
professional lives. Students will
explore both qualitative and
quantitative scholarship that
focuses upon the implications of
online media in these settings.
SPEE 321 Group Discussion:
Training and practice in the
effective exchange of opinions on
selected topics, with emphasis on
studying group interactions during
the process of discussion and
observing the effects of
parliamentary procedures on the
conduct of groups in discussion.
Prerequisite: SPEE 200
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1. Comprehend theories of small group
communication processes.
1. Midterm exam/Rubric
Class discussion/Rubric
2. Apply principles of effective small group
discussion techniques in ongoing discussion.
2. Small group discussions/Journal/Rubric
3. Analyze small group communication in terms
of concepts from small group communication
theory.
3. Midterm exam/Rubric
Journals/Rubric
Research paper/Rubric
Class discussion/Rubric
4. Design and implement an original research
project on small group discussion.
4. Research paper/Rubric
5. Write up small group research in standard
research paper.
5. Research paper/Rubric
SPEE 340 Language Development:
A study of the development of
speech and language in young
children, with emphasis on theories
of speech and language
development and on the acquisition
and refinement of speech patterns.
Prerequisite: SPEE 200
SPEE 401 Argumentation and
Debate: A study of the process of
argumentation, with special
attention to the structure of
argument, reasoning, and the
nature of evidence.
Prerequisite: SPEE 310
SPEE 402 Basic Speech and
Hearing Science: Basic Speech and
Hearing Science: A study of sound
and speech production,
transmission, interference, and
reception, with emphasis on the
physical attributes of sound
duration, intensity, frequency, and
on psychological auditory
phenomena.
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SPEE 413 Anatomy and
Physiology of the Speech and
Hearing Mechanism: A study of
the anatomical structures and the
physiological processes required in
the production and reception of
speech.
SPEE 425 Rhetorical Theory and
Criticism: This course focuses on
basic rhetorical theory and a
variety of rhetorical criticism
methodologies. Students will study
the importance of rhetoric as the
field of study that investigates all
forms of public persuasion.
Students will learn about rhetoric
as one of the oldest public
professions and academic fields of
study, the evolution of thought
regarding rhetoric in society, how
to conduct research in the field of
communication using a rhetorical
approach to communication, and
how to apply these basic concepts
in their own communication
activities.
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SPEE 435 Communication,
Technology and Society: This
reading and discussion course is
designed to examine the
connections among
communication, technological
development, and society. Students
will explore a rhetorical
perspective in their study of how
persuasive communication has
affected our perception and
employment of technology in
society and how those technologies
have, in turn, affected public
discourse and interaction. Students
will adopt a rhetorical perspective
in evaluating and understanding
classical primary and secondary
readings in technological and
scientific discourse.
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Internship (3 Credits)
Select 1 of the following: Mass Communications Internship I or Mass Communications Internship II
Mass Communications
Internship I
Mass Communications
Internship II
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