Required Courses
The PTC portion of your BS degree is comprised of 15 required courses and one elective. Two quarters of Co-op are also required. In addition to your communication classes, you must take 20 credit hours in your Professional Core, 24 credit hours in math and science courses, and 74 credit hours in other Liberal Arts and Institute elective courses.
Presented below are the descriptions of the courses you'll encounter as a PTC student. Keep in mind that the faculty continually update and refine the content of each course, so minor changes may be made from time to time. Elective course offerings change periodically; it's a good idea to consult your advisor, the RIT Undergraduate Bulletin and quarterly schedules to get the most up-to-date information available.
| Course # | Title |
| 0535-200 | Foundations of Communication |
| 0535-311 | Rhetorical Theory |
| 0535-315 | Quantitative Research Methods |
| 0535-317 | Critical Research Methods |
| 0535-412 | Communication Law & Ethics |
| 0502-444 | Technical Writing |
| 0535-445 | Theories of Communication |
| 0502-446 | Writing the Technical Manual |
| 0535-450 | Visual Communication |
| 0535-462 | Digital Design in Communication |
| 0535-481 | Persuasion |
| 0535-482 | Mass Communications |
| 0535-501 | Public Speaking |
| 0535-532 | Professional Writing |
| 0535-595 | Senior Thesis in Communication |
0535-200 - Foundations of Communication
Introduces students to the history of human communication from speech to computers. Spoken, written and visual communication in a variety of contexts is surveyed. The course also introduces students to the PTC faculty and to other students. Twice annually, a DOC faculty member coordinates the course with the participation of all full time DOC faculty. Each faculty member teaches for one week, emphasizing a different area within the field of communication. The faculty coordinator acquaints students with research indexes, communication journals, and the academic resources available at Wallace Library.No prerequisites.
0535-311 - Rhetorical Theory
Students develop an understanding of public communication as a humanistic study concerned with the formation of judgment and moral-ethical choice. Rhetorical Theory focuses on the systematic relationships among the various ways and means human beings use communication to influence action and describe objects and events in the world. The class centers on verbal and nonverbal human symbolic action.0535-315 - Quantitative Research Methods
An introduction to the methods and ethics of scientific, scholarly communication research. Techniques taught include the methods of locating, analyzing, and critiquing communication research literature. This course focuses on social scientific empirical research methods and culminates in the development of a research project proposal. This research proposal or one developed in the other required Research Methods course should be used as the groundwork for the student's project in Senior Thesis in Communication. Prerequisites: 0535-200, 4450535-317 - Critical Research Methods
The course develops a disciplined ability for the critical appraisal of public discourse. Students learn methods enabling them to systematically investigate and explain human symbolic action and artifacts. In addition to the specialized form of critical thinking it teaches, the course promotes criticism as a means for understanding the processes of rhetorical action.0535-412 - Communication Law & Ethics
An examination of the major principles and trends in communication law. The course analyzes a broad range of issues related to the First Amendment, intellectual property, and media regulation. Special attention is paid to new communications technologies and to discussing the major ethical perspectives and issues surrounding contemporary communication behavior.0502-444 - Technical Writing
Technical Writing furnishes knowledge of and practice in writing skills most often required in technical professions. Students gain instruction and experience in technical writing style; organizing, preparing and revising short and long technical documents; using effective page design features, principles and format elements; designing tables, charts and graphs; and writing technical definitions, physical and process descriptions, and instructions.Prerequisites: 0502-227 or equivalent.
0535-445 - Theories of Communication
An introduction to communication theories, including a history of the major stages in the development of modern theories of communication. Theories based both in the humanities and in the social sciences are covered.Prerequisite: 0535-200
0502-446 - Writing the Technical Manual
Continuing from Technical Writing (0502-444), this course develops skills necessary for researching, planning, designing, writing and editing full-length technical documents such as manuals. Students apply techniques learned in Technical Writing, for instance, physical and process description writing, to put together a complete and detailed piece of technical documentation.Prerequisites: 0535-200; 0502-444
0535-450 - Visual Communication
An introduction to the study of visual communication through the use of resources and firsthand experience. Differences between verbal and visual modes of communication are explored. Iconic and symbolic demonstration of visual images used in a variety of media are stressed. The course includes a number of class and individual visits to museums, galleries and exhibits. The major goal of the course is to examine visual messages as intentional communication that seeks to inform, persuade and/or propagandize specific target audiences. Prerequisites: 0535-2000535-462 - Digital Design in Communication
An introduction to essential software applications in professional and technical communication: desktop publishing, image manipulation, web authoring, software/conferencing, and statistical applications.0535-481 - Persuasion
A study of the theories, practices and effects of persuasion. Persuasion is defined as human communication designed to influence another's attitudes, beliefs, values and actions. Objectives of this course include developing an understanding of how contemporary persuasion continually shapes our society, while seeking to heighten our abilities to detect and analyze persuasive appeals. The course is specifically designed to investigate the prevalence of persuasive communication in various facets of our culture.Prerequisite: 0535-200.
0535-482 - Mass Communications
An introductory analysis of newspapers, television, radio, magazines and other mass media. The course focuses on the history, development, economics and law and regulation of the mass media in the United States, and explores theoretical considerations of contemporary mass communication issues.Prerequisite: 0535-200.
0535-501 - Public Speaking
Effective Speaking equips students with knowledge of the theories and principles of formal public speaking. Informative and persuasive speeches are the focus, with emphasis on organization, evidence, language use, audience analysis, situational demands, strategy, delivery and effective use of media technology.No Prerequisite.
0535-532 - Professional Writing
Professional Writing helps students develop writing and interviewing skills necessary for the composition of documents typically produced by (1) organizations (newsletter articles and press releases) and (2) professional writers (magazine articles). In addition, students learn how to investigate the market and "sell" their writing. Much of the course is conducted as a workshop, during which students appraise each other's work and make suggestions for revision.Prerequisite: 0535-200