Communication (minor only)

The study of human communication, one of the seven original liberal arts, has important implications for each of us in contemporary society. Everything from raising families to making friends to working efficiently in our chosen careers would be impossible without speech and language. Communication lies at the heart of human existence.

The minor in communication prepares students for their personal, social, and working lives by developing skills in critical thinking, decision making, and oral presentation. 

MINOR REQUIREMENTS
Six (6) courses are required: four (4) core courses and two (2) electives. 

CORE COURSES

• COM 110 Public Speaking
• COM 220 Interpersonal Communication
• COM 300 Communication Theory
• COM 303 Communication Ethics

ELECTIVES
Two (2) of the following elective courses are required.

• COM 120 Small Groups and Leadership
• COM 306 Intercultural Communication
• COM 312 Persuasion Theory
• COM 335 Lawyers in Film
• COM 340 Legal Issues in Communication
• COM 421 Organizational Communication
• COM 440 Topics in Communication
• INT 397 Internship

Course of Study

COM 110 Public Speaking: Explains research, organization, writing, delivery, and critical analysis of oral presentations with attention to individual needs. 

COM 120 Small Groups and Leadership: Examines communication, leadership, participation, and decision making within groups and teams. 

COM 220 Interpersonal Communication: Explores one-on-one communication with significant others in personal and career situations. 

COM 300 Communication Theory: Provides various explanations of the process by which senders and receivers of messages interact in social and organizational contexts. 

COM 303 Communication Ethics: Challenges students preparing for professional and business careers to make moral choices and develop questions when confronted by ethical dilemmas in real-life case studies. 

COM 304 Media and Cyber Ethics: Examines and evaluates ethical, social, legal, and political issues created by the proliferation of cyber space technologies including: privacy, intellectual property, Internet and information security. Focuses on the ethical, political, and international issues of cyber space technology as they relate to the worlds of commerce, social interaction, and communication in the 21^st century.

COM 306 Intercultural Communication: Examines relationship between communication and culture as applied to community, ethnic, and foreign groups. 

COM 312 Persuasion Theory: Explores influencing human behavior in socially acceptable ways. Looks into persuasion strategies from attitude change to audience analysis. 

COM 335 Lawyers in Film: Through exploration of "legal" film genre, provides an illuminating examination of the interrelationship between law and film.

COM 340 Legal Issues in Communication: Examines role of judiciary at national, local, and emerging levels of government. Focuses on relationship between effective communication and legal problems. 

COM 380 Mass Persuasion and Propaganda: Examines techniques of persuasion and propaganda as instruments that manipulate the symbols by which people think, feel, and communicate. Chronicles how propaganda works to persuade, via threats and promises, and affect hopes and fears.

COM 421 Organizational Communication: Analyzes communication in organizations such as corporations, nonprofits, government agencies, and other workplaces. 

COM 440 Topics in Communication: Targets selected areas of communication chosen by instructor. Seminar. 

INT 397 Internship: Provides on-the-job experience. Students may choose internships from approved list provided by career services, or they may make own arrangements within established guidelines. Interns must complete a minimum of 180 hours of fieldwork.