23 courses with the subject COMM, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
COMM 205- Public Speaking3
Study of the basic principles of public address. Emphasis is on developing a theoretical and practical understanding of oral communication through practice in preparing, delivering, and criticizing speeches in class.
Study of the theories and principles of effective communication and decision making in small group contexts. Emphasis is on understanding communication capabilities as a participant in and leader of small groups.
Study of the use of reasoning in persuasive communication with emphasis on the construction, evaluation, presentation, refutation, and defense of oral arguments.
COMM 340- Introduction to Rhetoric and Communication3
Introduction to human communication studies, focusing on the history, theory, criticism and mediation of persuasive messages to discover their roles in human society, culture, and contemporary life.
Prerequisites: COMM 340 or permission of the instructor. This course introduces students to the study of the qualitative, quantitative, and rhetorical methods used to conduct communication research. Topics covered include research design, data collection, data analysis, and a review of the major sources for publication of academic and professional research in communication. Students will complete a communication research project and present their results.
This course takes a broad view of not for profit communication campaigns, including, but not limited to health, human rights, and environmental campaigns. Topics include theoretical foundations, design, evaluation, and the new media environment, all while using applicable examples and readings. Students will have the opportunity to design a digital communication campaign.
Explores the ways in which communication constructs gender. This course will be a guided study of the different areas in which our understanding and expectations of gender emerge. Covers theoretical foundations and approaches to gender and communication, and areas such as family, workplace, media, and politics
This course uses theory and research to explore the complexities of pop culture (examples: music, film, social media, fads, slang, toys), including its creation and impact on society. Special emphasis is placed on the impact of pop culture on identity, the role of intersectionality, and the impact of digital media.
Introduces major concepts and areas within health communication, including: interpersonal, such as provider-patient and caregiver-patient; cultural and social components of how we understand and communicate about health; media and health, including entertainment programming, advertising, digital communication, and media effects; and public health, including policy reform and health promotion.
The course will allow students to explore, develop, and analyze effective job materials, digital networking opportunities, and interview strategies, in order to generate a personalized professional plan for beyond the UMW classroom. Students will study professional communication, organization communication, and public relations research and methods through speaking intensive assignments, pop culture analysis, and a public relations campaign of their design.
This course will examine how the growing field of sports communication influences contemporary digital media and culture. Sports are an ancient practice with ties to politics, nationalism, global markets, technologies, human rights, aesthetics, and fandom, yet many people underestimate their impactful and shifting role in US culture. Students in this class will survey critical sports communication scholarship that engages digital studies, marketing, and rhetorical strategies in sports media. Through historical and timely case studies, students will explore how sport controversies and media practices often reflect issues pertinent to communication and digital studies.
The course explores hip-hop culture considering the four foundational elements of hip hop—emcees, DJs, breakdancing and graffiti—and beyond. Students will critically engage with hip hop to understand its workings as a culture, as well as the impact of race, class, gender, sex, and other elements of cultural identity.
Prerequisites: COMM 340 or permission of the instructor. Study of the contemporary function of rhetoric in the context of our globally networked society.
Credit for satisfactory work on the University’s intercollegiate policy debate team. Enrollment by permission of instructor and the department. No more than 8 credits of Practicum (481, 482, 483) may count toward the 120 hours required for graduation.
Credit for satisfactory work on the University’s public debate team. Enrollment by permission of the instructor and department. No more than 8 credits of Practicum (481, 482, 483) may count toward the 120 hours required for graduation.
By permission of the instructor. Students will review, study, and apply the principles of public speaking, rhetoric, peer tutoring, and instructional communication. In addition, students will reflect upon, discuss, and write about the application of these principles to their tutoring process. No more than 8 credits of Practicum (481, 482, 483) may count toward the 120 hours required for graduation.
Individual study under the direction of a member of the staff. By permission of the department. Only three credits of individual study may count toward the Communication and Digital Studies major.
Individual study for variable credit under the direction of a member of the staff. By permission of the department. Only three credits of individual study may count toward the Communication and Digital Studies major.
Supervised experience, typically off-campus, developed in consultation with the department. Credits variable. Up to three credits may be counted toward the Communication and Digital Studies Major.