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Liberal Arts Major

Communication Studies

School of Arts and Sciences

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Curriculum

  • Liberal Arts Core
  • 39-44 Units
  • ART 311: Art History I
  • 3

This is a survey course of Western art from the Prehistoric Period through the Renaissance, employing illustrated lectures, independent research, museum visits, and discussion. This class is offered alternate years in the spring semester.

OR

  • ART 312: Art History II
  • 3

This course is a survey of Western art from the Renaissance up to the 20th century employing illustrated lectures, independent research, museum visits and discussion. This class is offered alternate years in the spring semester.

  • CENG 201: World Literature to the Renaissance
  • 3

This course will focus on critical thinking and research-based writing through comparative and interdisciplinary analysis. Alongside lectures and class discussion, the study of representative great works of Western and non-Western literature from Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance will emphasize the literary, cultural, and religious significance of these texts. Co-requisite: CHST 201; permission from Academic Advising is needed to take CENG 201 as an unlinked course.

  • COM 324: Intercultural Communication
  • 3

Social and cultural variables in speech communication processes and strategies for resolving communication problems in intercultural settings with an emphasis on variables such as perception, roles, language codes, and nonverbal communication will be examined in this course.

  • HST 410: Mythology
  • 3

The reception of classical antiquity depends on both the stories the ancients told themselves, as well as their interpretation and reinscription in subsequent times and places. This course traces the debt moderns owe to the earliest recorded stories that shaped civilizations, both to appreciate the stories in their own historical context as well as consider the responses (both those that identify with antiquity and those that assume its alienation) of succeeding eras, culminating in critical consideration of contemporary cultural evocation of the classical tradition. Prerequisite: CHST 201 or CHST 202 or HST 201.

  • HUM 495: Senior Project (1-3 units)
  • 1

In this capstone course students will meet with an instructor once per week in order to formulate, research, and discuss an appropriate topic for their written project. Topics must be interdisciplinary, combining their emphasis within the major with another discipline within the major. Prerequisite: Liberal Arts major and senior standing.

  • MUS 352: Music of World Cultures -OR- MUS 482: Music Cultures: Musical Expression in Christianity
  • 3

MUS 352: Music of World Cultures - This course will introduce students to the study of music as a universal cultural phenomenon and the discipline of ethnomusicology with exposure to the musical and social aspects of folk, traditional, and art music of regions from Asia, Africa, Middle East, Europe, Latin America, and North America. Experience in music is encouraged but not required.

OR

MUS 482: Music Cultures: Musical Expression in Christianity - This course will survey of the role, development, and function of music in the Christian church from its roots in the Old Testament to the present day, with attention given to biblical, theological, social, and cultural considerations. Offered alternate years.

  • REL 321: World Religions
  • 3

This survey course of the world's major non-Christian religions will include motifs, belief patterns, ritual and worship, ethics, social patterns, origin and development, and sacred writings.

  • THR 251: Introduction to Theatre
  • 3

This course will provide an overview of the various conventions, forms, styles, and genres of the theatre, including principles of play analysis and exploration of theatre criticism from dramaturgical, literary, and cultural perspectives through the thematic discussions of representative plays. There may be an additional charge for required field trips.

  • Communication Studies Emphasis
  • 18 Units
  • COM 216: Interpersonal Communication
  • 3

This course will analyze person-to-person communicative behavior in contexts ranging from informal to organizational looking at topics such as attraction, trust, language, and nonverbal behavior.

  • COM 280: Theories of Human Communication
  • 3

As a systematic exploration of the theories scholars use to explain human communication, this course will deal with rhetoric, persuasion, interpersonal, intercultural, small group, media, organizational, and gender communications.

  • Choose three of the following courses:
  • COM 311: Advanced Public Speaking
  • 3

This course is an advanced study of speech communication with an emphasis on professional speaking techniques, humor, and the use of stories. Oral assignments will include serious and humorous personal stories that make a point; persuasive and special occasion speeches; and a final professional presentation. Speeches will be viewed and analyzed. Prerequisite: COM 111 or COM 211 or consent of instructor.

  • COM 321: Digital Media Communication
  • 3

This course will focus on the personalities, inventions, developments, terminologies, and issues closely associated with seven (7) mass media industries with a special emphasis on internship preparation and media job opportunities. Article reports using business magazines, newspapers, and trade journals read by media professionals will be required.

  • COM 340: Rhetorical and Persuasive Theories
  • 3

Primarily from a social scientific approach, this course will examine the basic theories and techniques of influence, providing students with an awareness of the nature, function, and scope of attitude change as well as the concepts of attitudes, credibility, resistance to persuasion, ethics, and modern advertising practices.

  • COM 485: Rhetorical Criticism
  • 3

The history, nature, purpose, and methods of rhetorical criticism. Eight (8) critical approaches to the analysis of human communication events will be studied. Prerequisite: Junior standing.

  • COM 488: Communication Research Methods
  • 3

As an introduction to the research process, this course will examine how research is planned and designed; introduce the process of data collection and analysis; explore the methodology for communication research (including sampling, questionnaire design, and introduction to statistics); and provide experiences in conducting original research. Prerequisite: COM 280.

  • Choose one of the following courses:
  • COM 211: Introduction to Argumentation and Debate
  • 3

As a performance-based course, students will learn argument design, use of reason and evidence, and practice in a competitive academic debate setting with a focus on critical thinking, research skills, and the oral expression of arguments with rhetorical and presentational power.

  • COM 222: Theory and Practice of Journalism
  • 3

This course will introduce the basics of journalism writing, style, theory, investigation, ethics, and interviewing including news, features, sports, review, and opinion styles. At least six (6) written articles will be submitted to The Concordia Courier.

  • COM 328: Small Group Communication
  • 3

Group process theories relevant to communicative behavior in the small group setting will be examined in this course along with the analysis of group member behavior, interaction patterns, and problem-solving techniques in various group discussion settings.

  • COM 335: Nonverbal Communication
  • 3

This course will examine the theory and research on nonverbal aspects of communication with an emphasis on developing effective communication skills related to physical appearance, dress, body movement, face and eye communication, vocal cues, and the use of environment and space.

  • COM 344: Theory and Practice of Interviewing
  • 3

This course will examine the theory and techniques of oral communication in the process of interviewing with the practical application to employment, information gathering (as in journalism and investigations), and persuasive interviews (as in selling and legal argument).

  • COM 371: Introduction to Social Media
  • 3

This course will explore the fundamentals of and introduce social media and other emerging technologies and tools, current trends and future directions, benefits, values, and risks. Case studies will be reviewed to assess how social media impacts and influences fields such as communication and marketing and how it informs future trends and developments. Prerequisites: (WRT 102 or WRT 201) and (COM 280 or MKT 341).

  • COM 412: Media and Script Writing
  • 3

This course will examine script writing for radio, television and film with projects including announcements, commercials, news, features, documentaries, comedy, and game and music shows.

  • COM 422: Studies in Public Relations
  • 3

Public relations (PR) as a communication discipline will be examined in this course with an emphasis on developing and implementing campaigns including presentations by PR professionals and in-class projects/exercises on topics such as public relations in nonprofit organizations, corporate and social responsibility, media relations, technology, and ethical issues.

  • COM 451: Organizational Communication
  • 3

The role of communication in achieving organizational goals; the theory and practice of communication in private and public organizations; and techniques to enhance understanding in organizations will be examined in this course.

  • COM 471: Advanced Strategies in Social Media
  • 3

This course will utilize the practical tools and strategies required to successfully leverage social networks to develop and understand core concepts that can be applied to various applications. This course will utilize the practical tools and strategies required to successfully leverage social networks to develop and understand core concepts that can be applied to various applications and give you the necessary tools to manage a social media account as a business representative. In this course you will gain experience creating a social media marketing strategy, such as curating actual content, creating a social media training plan, advertisements, and a crisis and metrics plan. Prerequisite: COM 371 or consent of the instructor.

Current students, please note: The requirements listed here may not reflect the most current courses for this major and may not be the requirements for the catalog year you are following to complete your major. Please refer to the Academic Catalog for official requirements you must meet to qualify for a degree.

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