First-Year Seminar in Communication Arts and Sciences

Catalog description

This course offers a dynamic introduction to major theoretical, critical, research and pedagogical issues in human communication. Specifically, it will introduce students to essential aspects of the communication sciences as an academic discipline. The field of Communication Arts and Sciences involves a wide variety of approaches to the study of human communication, including within the communication sciences. For that reason, different versions of CAS 83 will vary depending on the expertise of the instructor. All versions of the course, however, will be designed according to common learning objectives and major topics in order to introduce first-year undergraduates to essential aspects of communication science. Previous versions of the course, for example, have focused on: communication about women's health issues; the dark side of interpersonal communication; and the effectiveness of various persuasive campaigns. Whatever the specific focus of the course in a given semester, CAS 83 benefits students by introducing them to important dimensions of communication science during their first year at the University. Doing so allows potential majors or minors to our department to develop skills in studying communication science early in their undergraduate careers while gaining a functional knowledge of the field in general. Opportunities to plan a double major, a minor, and explore other miscellaneous forms of academic or professional training naturally follow from this early experience. *** CAS 83 fulfills both a first-year seminar and general education or Bachelor of Arts social/behavioral science requirements.***