黑料不打烊

Undergraduate Catalog

Communication

Chairperson: Dr. Peter F. Jorgensen
Office: Memorial Hall 302
Telephone: (309) 298-1507
E-mail: PF-Jorgensen@wiu.edu
Website: wiu.edu/comm

Program Offerings and Locations:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Communication: Macomb, Quad Cities, Online
  • Minor in Communication: Macomb, Quad Cities, Online
  • Minor in Health Communication: Macomb, Quad Cities
  • Minor in Social Media: Macomb, Quad Cities, Online

Learning Outcomes

For student learning outcomes, please see wiu.edu/provost/learningoutcomes.

Faculty

Averbeck, Carpenter, Hill, Jorgensen, Lauer, Little, Macchi, Menken, L. Miczo, N. Miczo, Miller, Zanolla, Zhao.

Academic Advisor

Grimm.

GradTrac

GradTrac is available to Communication majors. See more information about GradTrac.

Honors Curriculum

Academically qualified students in this department are encouraged to complete an honors curriculum in University Honors, Honors in the Major, or General Honors. All Honors students must complete the one-hour honors colloquium (G H 299). General Honors includes General Honors coursework. Honors in the Major includes honors work in the major. University Honors combines Honors in the Major and General Honors. View more information about honors curricula or visit the Centennial Honors College website at wiu.edu/honors.

Integrated Baccalaureate and Master鈥檚 Degree Program

An integrated baccalaureate and master鈥檚 degree program is available for the Bachelor of Arts in Communication: Master of Arts in Communication. An integrated degree program provides the opportunity for outstanding undergraduates to earn both degrees in five years. Please refer to the Graduate Studies catalog for details about the integrated program.

Department Information

Communication is a dynamic and varied discipline, offering majors a broad range of career opportunities and pursuits. The major focuses on the primary areas of organizational communication, persuasive communication, interpersonal communication, and rhetorical communication to ground students in theoretical and applied knowledge of the key role that communication plays in all aspects of human interaction. The discipline routinely prepares students to enter any number of diverse professions from event planner to sales, college recruiter to business management, training and development to politics. Students of Communication receive fundamental training in and exposure to the infinite number of contexts in which humans interact with and influence one another. This knowledge base then provides them with an understanding of message processes that will serve them on an ongoing basis, both professionally and personally.

The Department of Communication offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication. Communication majors are able to select minors that complement their major areas of study and their career goals. Minors in Communication, Health Communication, and Social Media are also available. A full-time academic advisor assists students in planning their programs of study.

Degree Program

Bachelor of Arts鈥擟ommunication

All students seeking the Bachelor of Arts in Communication must complete I, II, III, IV, and V below, and the foreign language/global issues requirement for the major#. The minimum semester hour requirement for the baccalaureate degree is 120 s.h. Current 黑料不打烊 students must be in good standing (2.0 GPA or higher) to declare a major in Communication.

  1. University General Education Curriculum: 43 s.h.
  2. Core Courses: 12 s.h.
    COMM 130, 247鈥�, 311, 344
  3. Directed Electives: 30 s.h.
    Select 30 s.h. of COMM courses, at least 9 s.h. at the 400 level.
  4. Any Approved Minor: 16 s.h.
  5. Open Electives: 19 s.h.

# The foreign language/global issues graduation requirement may be fulfilled by successfully completing one of the following: 1) a designated foreign language requirement [see Foreign Language/Global Issues Requirement]; 2) a General Education global issues course; 3) a Communication (COMM) global issues course; or 4) an approved Study Abroad program.

鈥� COMM 247 fulfills the Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) graduation requirement.

Minors

Minor in Communication: 18 s.h.
  1. COMM 130 and 247: 6 s.h.
  2. Select three of the following: COMM 312, 343, 344, 356: 9 s.h.
  3. COMM Electives from courses numbered 300 or higher: 3 s.h.
Minor in Health Communication: 18 s.h.
  1. COMM 130, 333, and 425: 9 s.h.
  2. Select three of the following: COMM 235, 315, 341, 343, 344, 356, 428, 456, 457, 496: 9 s.h.
Minor in Social Media: 18 s.h.
  1. COMM 130, 345, 445: 9 s.h.
  2. Choose three of the following: BC&J 340, 345; COMM 312, 356; any 400-level elective COMM course: 9 s.h.

Course Descriptions

COMMUNICATION (COMM)

130 聽Introduction to Human Communication. (3) 聽(General Education/Humanities) 聽Introduction to the various approaches and sub-fields which comprise speech communication, with a focus on the theoretical foundations of contemporary human communication theory.

235 聽Communicating in Small Groups. (3) 聽(General Education/Social Sciences) 聽Broad examination of the functioning of communication in small groups, including practical advice for becoming a more effective group member.

241 聽Introduction to Public Speaking. (3) 聽(General Education/Communication Skills) 聽Preparation and delivery of informative and persuasive speeches. Students apply concepts of critical listening, audience adaptation, organization/support of ideas, appropriate style, and effective delivery. Not open to students with credit for COMM 242. Accelerated section available.
IAI: C2 900

242 聽Fundamentals of Public Speaking. (3) 聽(General Education/Communication Skills) 聽Preparation and delivery of informative and persuasive speeches. Students apply concepts of critical listening, audience adaptation, organization/support of ideas, appropriate style, and effective delivery completed in an online format. Not open to students with credit for COMM 241.

247 聽Argumentation. (3) 聽A theoretical and practical course investigating source, structure, and nature of argument, reasoning, critical thinking, and validation of evidence. Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) course. Prerequisite: COMM 241 or consent of instructor.

254 聽Great Speeches. (3) 聽(General Education/Humanities) 聽An analysis of representative speeches that have significantly influenced the course of human events.

305 聽Interviewing. (3) 聽Theory of interviewing and its purposes in various communication settings. Practical applications of the principles of interviewing.

309 聽Communication Theory. (3) 聽A survey of communication theories. This course will also address the process of theory building and the role of communication theory across major paradigms guiding communication research. Prerequisite: COMM 130 with a grade of C or higher.

310 聽Qualitative Research Methods in Communication. (3) 聽A survey of the qualitative research methods used in communication studies. Qualitative research design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation are addressed. Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) course. Prerequisites: COMM 130 with a grade of C or higher; ENG 180 and 280.

311 聽Quantitative Research Methods in Communication. (3) 聽An introduction to designing and evaluating communication research. Prerequisites: COMM 130 with a grade of C or higher; ENG 180 and 280.

312 聽Rhetorical Criticism. (3) 聽This course introduces students to theories and methods of rhetorical criticism that enable them to function as effective consumers of public discourse. Case studies of significant rhetorical acts from political speeches, movies, advertisements, visuals, and music are used to introduce important concepts. Students will develop an understanding of how rhetoric functions to influence attitudes, values, and behaviors in our public culture. Prerequisite: COMM 130.

314 聽Professional Presentations. (3) 聽Preparation and delivery of speeches and presentations in professional settings utilizing advanced rhetorical principles and advanced communication technologies. Prerequisites: ENG 180 and 280; COMM 241.

315 聽(Cross-listed with WS 316) 聽Gender and Communication. (3) 聽This course examines gender and gender-role differences and similarities in verbal and nonverbal communication and surveys several contexts in which sex differences in human communication occur. Not open to students with credit in WS 316. Prerequisite: COMM 130.

330 聽Language and Communication. (3) 聽This survey course explores the historical and contemporary functions of language in communication. The course will examine theories of language, meaning, and communication, with emphasis on contemporary language research and controversies surrounding language and meaning in society. Prerequisite: COMM 130.

333 聽Risk and Crisis Communication. (3) 聽Course is intended to provide students with an understanding of key elements of risk and crisis communication in organizational and health communication settings鈥攑re-crisis, crisis, and post-crisis. Course focuses on understanding and developing effective messaging in such situations. Prerequisite: COMM 130 and ENG 180.

341 聽Small Group Communication. (3) 聽Examination of significant factors which affect the behavior and effectiveness of social and task groups. Study of group behavior research.

343 聽Organizational Communication. (3) 聽Survey of the major communication functions in organizations and their relationship to personnel, administrative, technological, and social factors. Prerequisites: COMM 130; ENG 180 and 280.

344 聽Interpersonal Communication. (3) 聽Theory and concepts relevant to face-to-face interaction. Focus on the content of communication in relationships and the role of communication in creating and defining relationships. Prerequisites: COMM 130; ENG 180 and 280.

345 聽Social Media. (3) 聽Exploration of social media. Focus on and examination of competent communication technology use in a variety of contexts. Analysis of problematic issues of social media including accuracy, trust, privacy, and identity. Prerequisite: COMM 130.

356 聽Persuasion. (3) 聽Examination of the elements affecting people鈥檚 opinions and decisions. Focuses on three general categories of variables: source, message, and audience characteristics. Prerequisite: COMM 130.

377 聽Nonverbal Communication. (3) 聽Introduces basic codes, properties, and principles of nonverbal communication. Multidisciplinary content approached from scientific perspective rather than intuitive and experiential judgments. Designed to improve the communication effectiveness and understanding of the communication process. Prerequisite: COMM 130.

381 聽Intercultural Communication. (3) 聽(Global Issues) 聽An introduction to the study of intercultural communication, with an emphasis on the application of communication approaches that increase intercultural understanding. Topics include interpersonal/intercultural theory and applications, globalization, cultural differences, and contemporary issues in language across cultures. Prerequisite: COMM 130.

400 聽Senior Honors Thesis Research. (3) 聽Bibliographic and other preliminary work in preparation for a senior honors thesis (see COMM 401). Students will produce a final, graded project for this course. This course may not be taken concurrently with COMM 401. Prerequisites: ENG 180 and 280; COMM 310 or 311; students must be in good standing in the Centennial Honors College and must be juniors or first-semester seniors majoring in Communication.

401 聽Honors Thesis. (3) 聽Students will write a senior honors thesis. This course may not be taken concurrently with COMM 400. Prerequisites: COMM 400; ENG 180 and 280; students must be in good standing in the Centennial Honors College and must be seniors majoring in Communication.

409 聽Communication and Conflict Management. (3) 聽Study of the role of communication in conflict. Consideration of major theories of conflict management. Prerequisites: COMM 130; ENG 180 and 280.

410 聽Advanced Interpersonal Communication. (3) 聽Study of theory, concepts, and methodology relevant to communication in close relationships. Examination of the dynamics and management of interaction within these contexts. Prerequisites: COMM 130 with a grade of C or higher; COMM 311 with a grade of C or higher; COMM 344; ENG 180 and 280.

413 聽Advanced Organizational Communication. (3) 聽Study of communication in small groups and organizational settings. Examination of field, survey, and experimental studies contributing to the understanding and improvement of group and organization communication. Prerequisites: COMM 130 with a grade of C or higher; COMM 311 with a grade of C or higher; COMM 343; ENG 180 and 280.

418 聽Independent Research in Communication. (1鈥�6, repeatable to 6) 聽Individual reading or research under supervision of the faculty. Open to juniors and seniors who have demonstrated competence in broadcasting, communication, rhetoric, public address, or the speech-language-hearing sciences. Prerequisites: ENG 180 and 280; consent of instructor and department chairperson.

425 聽Health Communication. (3) 聽This course will survey a number of topics relevant to both the institutional settings of medicine (e.g., doctor-patient interaction, media campaigns) as well as the interpersonal ramifications of illness (e.g., social support). Prerequisite: COMM 130 or permission of instructor.

428 聽Family Communication. (3) 聽This course will investigate communication processes in the context of the family environment. Specifically, it will examine communication鈥檚 role in and its influence on family relational processes. Prerequisite: COMM 130 or permission of instructor.

430 聽Communication Training and Development. (3) 聽This course explores the knowledge and skills necessary to engage in effective communication training and development in organizations and/or consulting in the field of communication. Prerequisite: COMM 311.

441 聽Rhetoric and Public Culture. (3) 聽The study of rhetoric鈥檚 power to shape and sustain public culture. Students learn how rhetoric influences civic and cultural life and execute an independent project examining the rhetorical strategies, argumentative approaches, and cultural significance of an influential rhetorical text. Prerequisites: COMM 312; ENG 180 and 280.

445 聽Social Media Analytics. (3) 聽Study of message and relational processes in social media. Examination of theory and research exploring how individuals share, send, and receive messages via communication technologies. Prerequisite: COMM 345.

456 聽Persuasive Campaigns. (3) 聽Study of the design and execution of persuasive campaigns. Prerequisites: COMM 130 with a grade of C or higher; COMM 311 with a grade of C or higher; COMM 356; ENG 180 and 280.

457 聽Social Influence. (3) 聽Study of theories, methodology, and concepts of compliance gaining, message design, persuasion, and resistance to persuasion. Prerequisites: COMM 130 with a grade of C or higher; COMM 311 with a grade of C or higher; COMM 356; ENG 180 and 280.

480 聽Special Topics in Communication. (1鈥�3, repeatable to 6, for different topics, with permission of department chair) 聽This course deals with selected topics of interest in communication such as nonverbal communication, intercultural communication, and family communication. Prerequisites: ENG 180 and 280; completion of at least 12 s.h. in Communication.

496 聽Communication Internship. (1鈥�12, repeatable to 12) 聽Directed work assignments in private or public sectors in communication areas. Students may count up to 3 s.h. of COMM 496 toward the Communication major. Prerequisites: Junior standing; 12 s.h. of Communication courses completed; ENG 180 and 280; permission of internship coordinator and department chairperson; a GPA of 2.50 in major courses taken as well as an overall GPA of 2.25. Graded S/U only.