Our students are interested in communication theory and practice, as well as how media technologies influence local, national and international communities. We emphasize the technological, social and interpersonal aspects of communication and how they relate to democracy, leadership and social justice.
Our students visit local sites like the Newseum and National Public Radio and attend lectures by professionals working at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, A.B.C. News and the Gannet Corporation as well as by staff members with advertising companies, local television stations and public relations firms.
Featured CoursesCOM 201 Interpersonal CommunicationOffers an introduction to the fundamental theories and principles of interpersonal communication with emphasis on analyzing and assessing the communication skills necessary to create and sustain effective communication in personal and professional relationships.
Core Area II: Understanding Self, Society, and Nature COM 290 Public SpeakingExamines theory and practice of public speaking. Students will prepare and present informative and persuasive speeches. Audience analysis, research, speech organization, delivery and effective persuasive strategies will be covered.
FLC Area I
Core Area I: Skills for Work and Life COM 305 Minority Images in American MediaExamines how minorities (racial, ethnic, sexual, etc.) and other categories of the socially marginalized (the poor, the homeless) have been portrayed throughout the twentieth century in American entertainment media, from being made "invisible" to being stereotyped, and the impact of these images. Combines theoretical approaches and insights with a historical overview to increase students' awareness of the ideological nature of media images.
3 credits COM 365 Advocacy and ArgumentProvides opportunities for critical analysis and development of argumentative and rhetorical skills. Students engage in active and formal debate on a variety of policy and value propositions.
Prerequisite: PHI 103 COM 370 Publicity and Media RelationsExamines the role of the publicist in various organizations. Also looks at the basics of media relations, testing and evaluating publicity, and using publicity as a tool. Students are expected to produce publicity campaigns.
Prerequisite: COM 250 COM 383 JournalismFocuses on writing and editing for newspapers and magazines, paying particular attention to the development of news concepts, news gathering, and feature stories.
3 credits COM 392 SpeechwritingConcentrates on the preparation of speeches for other people to deliver, emphasizing the need to adapt to another person's ideas and style.
Prerequisite: COM 290 COM 450 Women In OrganizationsFocuses on the dynamic relationship among gender, power, race, sexuality and class in women's organizational lives. Provides an in-depth exploration of critical feminist theory and research in organizational communication. Emphasis is on the perspectives of diverse women in multiple contexts. Topics include Women in Leadership, Sexual Harassment and Feminist Organizational Theory.
FLC Seminar II
- Public Relations Specialist
- Advertising Associate
- Technical Writer
- Associate Producer
- Customer Relations Manager
- Teacher / Professor
- Sports Information Director
- Internet Consultant
- Market Research Analyst
- Marketing Representative
- Television Producer
- Communication Specialist
- Foreign Correspondent
Dr. Matthew Bates, Assistant Professor of Communication
Dr. Raúl Tovares, Associate Professor of Communication