Communication Studies (COMM)

COMM 110  Essentials of Public Presentations  Credits: 3  

In this course students learn how to deliver effective oral presentations for various audiences and occasions. Students practice ethical listening skills as preparation for engaged citizenship. This course is required to fulfill Minnesota Transfer Curriculum Goal 1: Communication.

Goal: Goal: 01- Communication  
Fall: All Years  Spring: All Years  Summer All Years  
COMM 111  Professional Proficiency in Public Speaking  Credits: 1  

This course is designed to provide teacher licensure candidates a means of certifying professional proficiency in public speaking as required for admission into the teacher education program. It is not intended as a substitute for the required oral communication course in Goal 1 of the LEP/MNTC but rather a means of meeting teacher licensure standards. May NOT be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Consent of instructor. Only students with an existing bachelors degree who are pursuing teaching licensure that requires evidence of professional proficiency in public speaking will be allowed to take this course.

Fall: All Years  Spring: All Years  
COMM 112  Multicamera Television Production  Credits: 3  

An introduction to basic television studio techniques. Students will develop skills in operating control room and studio equipment, producing, and directing.

Fall: All Years  
COMM 114  Essentials of Single Camera Field Production  Credits: 3  

The application of portable camera usage and editing techniques used in single camera field production. Students will develop skills in preproduction planning, scripting, remote shooting, directing, and editing.

Spring: All Years  
COMM 161  Speech Activities: Public Address  Credits: 0-1  

Participation in intercollegiate speech competition where students will research, write, and deliver an original speech.

Fall: All Years  Spring: All Years  
COMM 162  Broadcasting & Digital Media Activities  Credits: 1  

Practical experience in media program production and performance through functional involvement in the operation of the campus media production facilities. May be repeated.

Pre-Requisite : COMM 114  
Fall: All Years  Spring: All Years  
COMM 200  Small Group Communication  Credits: 3  

The theory and application of problem-solving questions of fact, value and policy utilizing group dynamics and effective leadership styles. Active and critical listening are integral components of the course.

Fall: All Years  
COMM 205  Podcasting and Audio Production  Credits: 3  

Provides students with the experience and knowledge of both the technical and aesthetic aspects of audio production for media with an emphasis on podcasting.

Spring: All Years  
COMM 210  Introduction to Public Relations  Credits: 3  

A course designed to acquaint students with the principles and practices of public relations.

Fall: All Years  
COMM 220  Storytelling in Modern Communication  Credits: 3  

This course will examine and explore classic and emerging forms of storytelling in the modern world. Students will learn the basic theory of storytelling in the areas of public address, interpersonal relationships, digital media, and public relations.

Fall: All Years  
COMM 228  Exploring Diversity Through Family Storytelling  Credits: 3  

Explores the role of family stories as an art form, as a means of handing down values, knowledge, and self-understanding. Stories will be captured using a variety of media and analyzed as to their significance.

Goal: Goal: 08- Global Perspective  
Summer Department Discretion  
COMM 230  Interpersonal and Cross-Cultural Communication  Credits: 3  

A course that studies the nature of building effective relationships through development of interpersonal and cross-cultural communication. An exploration of why misunderstandings occur and how to build more productive communication.

Spring: All Years  
COMM 232  The Art of Making Films  Credits: 3  

Examines how the elements of film and video production are used to communicate a message from the creators viewpoint. Uses illustrative scenes from significant films and episodic television shows to demonstrate how production elements can be used to achieve a desired effect.

Fall: Department Discretion  Spring: Department Discretion  
COMM 251  Broadcast Newswriting & Reporting  Credits: 3  

The study of techniques, procedures, and practices used in news gathering, writing, reporting, and editing broadcast news.

Fall: Department Discretion  Spring: Department Discretion  
COMM 260  Media Writing  Credits: 3  

A course designed to emphasize how public relations and other media professionals gather, produce, and distribute material in a modern society. This course acquaints students with both why and how to write for a variety of contexts such as new media, social media and public relations.

Spring: All Years  
COMM 261  Speech Activities: Oral Interpretation  Credits: 0-1  

Participation in intercollegiate speech competition where students will select, analyze, and perform pieces of literature.

Fall: All Years  Spring: All Years  
COMM 286  Special Topics in Communications  Credits: 1-4  

A course designed to meet any special needs of students and faculty. Emphasis on in-depth study of an area not commonly covered in a general course.

Fall: Department Discretion  Spring: Department Discretion  
COMM 288  Communication Studies Seminar  Credits: 3  

A seminar course required for all communication studies majors, in which communication theory, career exploration and effective group work are considered through reading, research, and discussion.

Fall: Odd Years  
COMM 301  Risk and Crisis Communication  Credits: 3  

This course is designed to teach students about the burgeoning field of risk and crisis communication which deals with the task of communicating various publics about health and environmental risks associated with personal and societal choices, as well as communication during and following crisis situations such as bomb threats, natural disasters, and chemical spills.

Spring: Odd Years  
COMM 305  Principles of Health Communication  Credits: 3  

This course is designed to familiarize students with prominent theories, issues, and topics in the field of health communication. This course will expose students to diverse health communication perspectives as they relate to a range of health communication topics, including illness and health, historical and contemporary issues, patient and provider experiences, cultural differences in health, public awareness/prevention/intervention campaigns, and the role of media and relationships in health communication.

Fall: Even Years  
COMM 310  Persuasion  Credits: 3  

The logical and psychological theories of persuasion present in everyday communication. The course emphasizes the analysis and application of persuasive strategies. Active and critical listening are integral components of the course.

Spring: All Years  
COMM 320  Graphics for Television, Film and New Media  Credits: 3  

Introduces students to software and conventions applicable to television, film, and new media. Students will explore designs for titles, lower-third supers, backgrounds, info graphics, motion graphics and animation.

Spring: All Years  
COMM 330  Mass Media and Society  Credits: 3  

An historical and theoretical survey of the nature, functions and responsibilities of the mass media in all its forms. Emphasis on the evolution of the electronic media in the United States and its impact on the media literacy of society.

Fall: All Years  
COMM 340  Documentary Production  Credits: 3  

This course introduces students to nonfiction video production. Students will be exposed to a combination of theory, history, and production techniques to prepare them to produce a short documentary.

Pre-Requisite : COMM 114  
Fall: All Years  
COMM 345  Sports Broadcasting & Media Production  Credits: 3  

Students will examine how sports are produced and reported in broadcast and in multimedia environments. Course will engage students in live sports coverage.

Pre-Requisite : COMM 112 AND COMM 114  
Fall: All Years  
COMM 350  Narrative Filmmaking  Credits: 3  

Explores the technical skills and the aesthetic techniques necessary for producing narrative, fiction-based films. Projects will be filmed with high definition cameras and edited on nonlinear computer systems.

Pre-Requisite : COMM 114  
Spring: All Years  
COMM 356  Argumentation and Advocacy  Credits: 3  

This course examines the principles and practices of argumentation, public advocacy, and academic debate.

Pre-Requisite : ENG 151 OR EMLS 151 AND COMM 110 OR EMLS 150 OR SPCH 110 AND ENG 251 OR ENG 351 OR PHIL 303  
Fall: Even Years  
COMM 360  Organizational Communication  Credits: 3  

A study of the process of communication and behavior within the organizational culture. Students will learn the theoretical and practical means of maintaining productive organizational environments. Active and critical listening are integral components of the course.

Spring: Even Years  
COMM 361  Speech Activities: Limited Preparation  Credits: 0-1  

Participation in intercollegiate speech competition where students will prepare and deliver speeches with minimal preparation time.

Pre-Requisite : COMM 161  
Fall: All Years  Spring: All Years  
COMM 362  Broadcasting & Digital Media Activities 2  Credits: 1  

Practical advanced experience in media program production and performance through functional involvement in the operation of the campus radio, television and media production facility.

Pre-Requisite : COMM 162  
Fall: All Years  Spring: All Years  
COMM 403  Professional Presentations  Credits: 3  

This course prepares students to develop, deliver, and analyze presentations in a variety of community and professional contexts.

Pre-Requisite : COMM 110 OR SPCH 110  
Spring: Odd Years  
COMM 410  Communication Analysis  Credits: 3  

The rhetorical and critical analysis of a communication event through the use of classical and modern rhetorical principles.

Fall: Odd Years  
COMM 435  Media Production for Training and Learning  Credits: 3  

Provides the basics of media production for learning and training. Students will learn how to utilize technologies such as video, still images, animation, and graphics in business and educational contexts. This course is designed for professionals in the fields of education, corporate training, and management.

Summer Department Discretion  
COMM 450  Secondary Teaching Methods: Speech Communication  Credits: 3  

Secondary education teaching methods for a modern speech communication program including materials for classroom instruction as well as coaching activities. This course is designed as the required capstone course for 5-12 Communication Arts/Literature Education, Speech Track.

Spring: Odd Years  
COMM 455  PR Cases & Campaigns  Credits: 3  

Analytic study of guiding public relations principles illustrated by current and historical public relations cases and campaigns. Emphasis on strategic management, ethics, and two-way organizational communication. Oral and written analysis of illustrative cases and campaigns. Application of principles in planning, implementation, and evaluation of actual PR campaign.

Pre-Requisite : COMM 210 OR SPCH 210  
Spring: Even Years  
COMM 460  Transmedia Storytelling  Credits: 3  

Examines the Transmedia Storytelling strategies for telling stories across many media platforms in a way that engages audiences. Students will explore this approach used in marketing, public relations, and social media campaigns. Students will critique iconic transmedia storytelling campaigns and will create a collaborative transmedia project.

Pre-Requisite : COMM 114  
Fall: Department Discretion  Spring: Department Discretion  
COMM 461  Speech Activities: Performance of Advocacy  Credits: 0-1  

Course where students take a performance from COMM 161 or COMM 262 and translate it into a public advocacy project.

Pre-Requisite : COMM 161 OR COMM 261  
Fall: All Years  Spring: All Years  
COMM 480  Creative Project Workshop in Media Production  Credits: 3  

Provides students with a semester long, supervised experience in producing a major media production project.

Pre-Requisite : COMM 340 OR COMM 350  
Spring: All Years  
COMM 484  Collaborative Technology in the Learning & Industry Environments  Credits: 3  

This course will aim to teach participants how to build a collaborative environment to facilitate synchronous and asynchronous text, voice, and video communication; support co-creation of projects; facilitate consensus building through group discussions and polling; develop strategies for resource management; and use online presentation tools. Participants will also learn how to assess tools including LMS and project management software to determine how well the tool serves the intended purpose and meets the users needs.

Summer Department Discretion  
COMM 486  Advanced Special Topics Communication  Credits: 1-4  

A course designed to meet any special needs of students and faculty. Emphasis on in-depth study of an area not commonly covered in a general course.

Fall: Department Discretion  Spring: Department Discretion  
COMM 488  Senior Seminar  Credits: 2  

A capstone course required for all speech majors, in which selected topics, projects, and presentations are considered through reading, research, and discussion.

Pre-Requisite : COMM 288 OR SPCH 288 and senior status.  
Fall: Department Discretion  Spring: Department Discretion  
COMM 494  Independent Study in Communication Theory  Credits: 1-3  

In depth, independent exploration of a communication event for better understanding of the communication process.

Fall: All Years  Spring: All Years  
COMM 499  Internship in Communication Studies  Credits: 1-12  

An off-campus training program when accepted by a business or organization to work with an employer in some area of communication studies.

Fall: All Years  Spring: All Years  Summer All Years  
COMM 503  Professional Presentations  Credits: 3  

This course prepares students to develop, deliver, and analyze presentation in a variety of community and professional contexts.

Spring: Odd Years  
COMM 511  Professional Proficiency in Public Speaking  Credits: 1  

This course is designed to provide teacher licensure candidates a means of certifying professional proficiency in public speaking as required for admission into the teacher education program. It is not intended as a substitute for the required oral communication course in Goal 1 of the LEP/MNTC but rather a means of meeting teacher licensure standards. May NOT be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Consent of instructor. Only students with an existing bachelors degree who are pursuing teaching licensure that requires evidence of professional proficiency in public speaking will be allowed to take this course.

Fall: All Years  Spring: All Years  
COMM 535  Media Production for Training and Learning  Credits: 3  

Provides the basics of media production for learning and training. Students will learn how to utilize technologies such as video, still images, animation, and graphics in business and educational contexts. This course is designed for professionals in the fields of education, corporate training, and management.

Summer Department Discretion  
COMM 580  Creative Project Workshop in Media Production  Credits: 3  

Provides students with a semester long, supervised experience in producing a major media production or mediated collaborative project.

Pre-Requisite : COMM 114 OR COMM 340 OR COMM 435 OR COMM 484 OR COMM 535 OR COMM 584  
Spring: All Years  
COMM 584  Collaborative Technology in the Learning & Industry Environments  Credits: 3  

This course will aim to teach participants how to build a collaborative environment to facilitate synchronous and asynchronous text, voice, and video communication; support co-creation of projects; facilitate consensus building through group discussions and polling; develop strategies for resource management; and use online presentation tools. Participants will also learn how to assess tools including LMS and project management software to determine how well the tool serves the intended purpose and meets the users needs.

Summer Department Discretion  
COMM 589  Special Topics in Communication Studies  Credits: 1-6  

This course provides graduate students the opportunity to complete work with a specific theme that is timely and relevant to the field. Students will identify specific learning outcomes for the course in consultation with graduate faculty. Can be used for credit for prior learning or other projects. May be repeated for credit.

Fall: Department Discretion  Spring: Department Discretion  Summer Department Discretion  
COMM 594  Independent Study in Communication Theory  Credits: 1-3  

An in depth, independent exploration of some aspect of communication in order to more effectively understand the communication process. May be repeated. Course requires special permission from professor to register.

Fall: All Years  Spring: All Years  
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