Communication and Media Studies Minor
Not open to Communication and Media Studies majors.
No more than two courses applied to a minor may overlap with the student's declared major.
Minor Requirements (18 Credits)
- Required Courses:
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- COM 105 Introduction to Communication and Media Studies in the Global Context
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This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts and theories of communication and media studies as they apply to the ever-increasing intercultural interactions of a contemporary world. In particular, students will learn the basics of intercultural/international communication processes, gaining a foundation for developing intercultural communication competence.
- COM 201 Fundamentals of Media Studies and Criticism
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Media pervades our social and private lives. We make it and in turn it makes us. This course offers an introduction to media studies, a field which seeks to understand and use media in complex and intentional ways. The course explores media as content, as an industry and as a social force. In this way, media is understood as both as an artifact (constituted by many parts) and as a set of complex processes (including production, distribution, regulation and consumption). Students will learn key vocabularies and concepts in and approaches to media studies that will help them to define, describe, and critique media artifacts and processes in a variety of written and spoken formats. In addition to equipping students with the skills to understand and critique media, this course encourages and provides students with the building blocks to produce media content. Students who successfully complete this course will be prepared to take advanced courses in media studies.
- COM 203 Communication Research Methods
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This course introduces students to quantitative and qualitative research methods as they apply to communication and media studies. Students will acquire skill in examining various communication and media issues by conducting an original research project.
- COM 243 Principles of Strategic Communication
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''Principles of Strategic Communication'' is an introductory course designed for students with no previous knowledge of the field who wish to explore the foundational concepts and skills of strategic communication. The course focuses on the role of communication in achieving organizational goals and shaping public perception. Students will explore the strategic use of media channels, persuasive messaging, audience analysis, and the ethical considerations involved in crafting communication strategies. By blending theoretical frameworks with practical case studies, students will develop a strong understanding of how to design, implement, and assess communication plans that serve business, nonprofit, or governmental goals.
The course will cover a range of communication contexts, including corporate communication, crisis communication, and public relations, emphasizing the use of communication as a strategic tool to influence audiences and achieve desired outcomes.
- Two COM courses at or above the 300-level.
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Note that many of the 300-level courses require COM 203 Communication Research Methods.
Note that many of the 300-level courses require COM 203 Communication Research Methods.
No more than two courses applied to a minor may overlap with the student's declared major.