Elective Courses
In addition to required courses, you must take one professional elective. The following courses are currently offered as professional electives:
| Course # | Title |
| 0535-316 | Qualitative Research Methods |
| 0535-410 | Computer-Mediated Communication |
| 0535-411 | Health Communication |
| 0535-414 | Interpersonal Communication |
| 0535-415 | Organizational Communication |
| 0535-416 | Newswriting |
| 0535-420 | Argument and Discourse |
| 0535-421 | Public Relations |
| 0535-422 | Ethics in Technical Communication |
| 0535-426 | Archival Research |
| 0535-452 | Uses and Effects of the Mass Media |
| 0535-460 | Copywriting and Visualization |
| 0535-461 | Principles of Advertising |
| 0535-463 | Campaign Management and Planning |
| 0535-464 | Public Relations Writing |
| 0535-465 | Rhetoric of Political Campaigns |
| 0535-470 | Law and Ethics of the Press |
| 0535-471 | History of Journalism |
| 0535-472 | News Editing |
| 0535-473 | eJournalism |
| 0535-474 | Reporting in Specialized Fields |
| 0535-483 | Small Group Communication |
| 0535-484 | Rhetoric of Race Relations |
| 0535-490 | Persuasion and Social Change |
| 0535-502 | Speechwriting |
| 0535-520 | Intercultural Communication |
| 0535-525 | Special Topics: Communication |
| 0535-550 | Film and Society |
| 0535-580 | International Media |
0535-316 - Qualitative Research Methods
Introduction to the methods and ethics of critical research, participant observation, naturalistic study, and focus group interviewing. Qualitative research methods rely on the researcher's observational, analytic and critical skills and seeks to understand the behaviors, beliefs, values, attitudes, assumptions, rituals and symbol systems that characterize relationships between the source, message, media and audience of specific communication acts. Students develop a research proposal suitable for implementation as the Senior Thesis in Communication. Required course for professional and technical communication majors.Prerequisites: 0535-200, 445
You are required to take Quantitative Research Methods and Qualitative Research Methods. Most students use the research project proposal developed in one of these Research Methods courses to later conduct original research in the Senior Thesis in Communication course. Doing so generally results in a superior thesis and significantly reduced senior anxiety.
0535-410 - Computer-Mediated Communication
Readings, discussions, and observations of online behavior introduce students to Computer-mediated communication (CMC) terms and theories to further develop their skills. CMC was originally defined as a form of electronic written communication. As networking tools advanced, CMC expanded to include new software developments, such as instant messenger and the internet. Today, the term computer-mediated communication is used to refer to a wide range of technologies that facilitate both human communication and the interactive sharing of information through computer networks.0535-411 - Health Communication
An introduction to the subject of communication in health care delivery and in public health campaigns, with an emphasis on interpersonal, organizational, and mass communication approaches. Also covered is the interrelationship of health behavior and communication.0535-414 - Interpersonal Communication
Provides students with analysis and situational applications of the major theories of interpersonal communication. This course allows the student to look in, out and at relationships in regard to communication. The focus is on perception of self and others, language use, nonverbal communication and symbolic interaction in face-to-face situations.No prerequisites.
0535-415 - Organizational Communication
Offers the seasoned communication student a comprehensive overview of the organizational communication field. This overview is focused on the conceptualization of organizations, communication theories as applied to organizations, significant research from the past and present, and speculations about the future.0535-416 - Newswriting *
Practicum in basic techniques of news writing and gather for the daily press. Emphasis is primarily on writing for the print media. Emphasis on frequent writing against a deadline.Prerequisite: 0502-227 or equivalent
0535-420 - Argument and Discourse
Examines the processes of oral argumentation encountered in the "give-and-take" of formal and informal communication situations. Emphasizes development of critical thinking, research, speaking, organization, writing, oral cross-examination, and critical listening abilities. Students are taught to develop the means to reasoning cogently in different interactive communication situations.Prerequisites: 0535-200; 501 or equivalent
0535-421 - Public Relations
An introduction to the study of public relations. Topics include history, research areas, laws, ethics, and social responsibilities as they relate to the theory and practice of public relations.No prerequisites
0535-422 - Ethics in Technical Communication
Ethics is the study of morals, of what is right and good, especially regarding specific moral choices. In a given situation, a system of ethics helps us answer the question: What should I do? "Ethics in Technical Communication" explores the ways in which ethical conduct is important in the communication of technical information, particularly among professional technical communicators; establishes principles, based on the history of ethical studies, for making ethical choices as technical communicators; and provides opportunities to apply ethical principles to case studies, in order to better understand the often problematical nature of ethical choices in technical--or any--communication.0535-426 - Archival Research
An applied learning experience designed to guide students through the research process using special collections of archival material. The course provides an opportunity to develop specialized research skills necessary to access, sort, and examine specific collections pertinent to independent communication scholarship. Examples of the changing research topics are Visual Communication, Material Culture, and Historical Documents. Class meetings are held in computer labs for preparatory on-line exploration of collections. Class schedule includes research at local collections, e.g., Wallace Library, local and regional historical societies, the International Museum of Photography at the George Eastman House, the Strong Museum. When possible class trips to remote sites will be available, e.g. National Archives in Washington DC. Prerequisites: Third-year status and permission of instructor.0535-452 - Uses and Effects of the Mass Media
Through the use of theory and scientific research, this course provides an analysis of the media's "effects" on people and people's "uses and gratifications" of various mass communication forms. The course focuses on building and refining mass communication theory.Prerequisite: 0535-482
0535-461 - Principles of Advertising
This course is an introduction to the advertising communication process. It is designed to show how advertising is integrated into the larger discipline of marketing communications. Marketing communications is the integration of internal and external communication systems. It involves coordinating the various promotional mix elements (advertising, sales promotion, publicity, and public relations) along with other marketing activities to more effectively communicate with a company's customers.Prerequisites: none.
0535-460 - Copywriting and Visualization
An opportunity for undergraduates to learn the verbal and visual thinking skills utilized in the creation of advertising messages. To create an effective strategy for an advertising campaign, the advertising copywriter/art director team needs to combine linguistic and visual metaphors into a persuasive message. Students will develop creative advertising messages by researching and writing a creative brief and then implementing the plan by transforming concepts into actual advertising messages and campaigns.Prerequisites: none.
0535-463 - Campaign Management and Planning
This course introduces students to the managing and planning of advertising and public relations campaigns. It takes a team project approach thereby helping students learn how to work together in class as well as in a competitive agency. Service-learning will be used to expose students to community causes and sevice-learning.0535-464 - Public Relations Writing
This course covers a variety of forms of writing for public relations, including news releases, newsletters, backgrounders, public service announcements, magazine queries, interviews, coverage memos, media alerts, features, trade press releases, and public presentations. Students will write for a variety of media including print, broadcast, and the Web.0535-465 - Rhetoric of Political Campaigns
An overview of the rhetorical dimensions, history and the functions of political communication. Students read communication and rhetorical theory that relates to the ways in which the form, content, and context campaign rhetoric invite citizens to conceive of themselves, the candidates, the nation, the government and the political process.0535-470 - Law and Ethics of the Press
An introduction to the American legal system and its relationship to journalists and communication practitioners. The ethical boundaries and applications of law are explored to help students better understand how they influence journalism as an industry and profession. Students will strengthen their understanding of basic legal principles by applying them to existing and emerging issues in mass communication.0535-471 - History of Journalism
The history of American journalism from colonial times to the present, including the advance of press freedom under the First Amendment and how it has affected the development of American media. Journalism's relationship to politics, institutions and culture is investigated. Newspaper, magazine and broadcast industries are examined for ideas that have changed American journalism.0535-472 - News Editing
An introduction to the principles and practices of editing hard news and feature articles, including news judgment, story selection, headline writing, copy editing, and picture editing. The course emphasizes reader interest, readability, clarity, verification and style, as well as legality, ethics and propriety.0535-473 - eJournalism
An introduction to the principles and practices of online news reporting, including writing for mainstream news sites, journalistic blogs (Web logs), share and discussion sites, and other evolving online news outlets. The course familiarizes students with the tools of the online reporter and explores the cultural and ethical terrain unique to the digital environment.0535-474 - Reporting in Specialized Fields
An in-depth study, analysis and practicum of a selected advanced and focused subject in professional journalism. Specific subject matter of the course varies according to faculty assigned and is published when the course is offered. Examples include education journalism, health journalism, business journalism, reporting public affairs, sports journalism, and reporting for alternative media.0535-483 - Small Group Communication
Focuses on the importance of cooperation and understanding as essential prerequisites to effective communication and to becoming adept in the analysis and evaluation of communication in small groups. This class is highly experiential in nature; you should expect to engage in a variety of activities that explore the concepts and topics being studied.Prerequisite: 0535-200
0535-484 - Rhetoric of Race Relations
Examines the history of the struggle for freedom and equality for Blacks in American society. This course traces the history and rhetoric of key spokespersons from the pre-Civil War period to the 20th century as evidenced in texts of selected public speeches and reactions to them.No prerequisites.
0535-490 - Persuasion and Social Change
Focusing on the persuasive strategies used by individuals and groups to change society, this course stresses the history and patterns of persuasion influencing social change in human rights and race, human rights and gender, war and peace, and environmental policy. Persuasive strategies that promote, agitate, maintain and reinforce change and/or resistance to change will be examined in legal, political, polemical and social campaigns.No prerequisites
0535-502 - Speechwriting
An advanced course for those who wish to increase their abilities to write professional public speeches for themselves or others. This course focuses on acquiring the skills necessary for contemporary professional speechwriting.Prerequisite: 0535-200
0535-520 - Intercultural Communication
An examination of the role of culture in face-to-face interaction. Students may find a basic background in communication, anthropology or psychology useful. Professional elective for professional & technical communication majors. Option for concentrators in Arabic and French foreign language culture concentrations and for the communication minor. Also may be taken as a liberal arts elective.Prerequisite: 0535-200
0535-525 - Special Topics: Communication
A focused, in-depth study and analysis of a selected advanced topic in communication and associated issues. Specific topic varies according to faculty assigned and is published when the course is offered. Topics may include semiotics, communication technologies, gender differences in communication, legal communication, rhetoric of race relations, group dynamics, and censorship and propaganda. Professional elective for professional & technical communication majors and communication minors. (For junior and senior PTC students; non-PTC students must receive permission from the instructor).Prerequisite: 0535-200
0535-550 - Film and Society
An inquiry concerning the relationship between motion pictures and society that uses historical, humanistic and social science research to achieve an understanding of movies as a social force, industry and art form.Prerequisite: 0535-482