Introduction to Communication

Catalog description

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. (SPCH 1311) Introduction to Communication. COURSE OVERVIEW. Introduces the field of communication as a broad and interdisciplinary area of study. Surveys major topics, research traditions and contexts of communicative practice across interpersonal, organizational, public and/or mediated settings. Examines verbal and nonverbal communication, media and technology, intercultural and health communication, strategic and religious communication, and leadership and conflict management. Considers how communication is studied from both humanities and social science perspectives, with attention to culture, ethics and methods of inquiry. Provides a foundation for understanding communication as both theory and practice in everyday life, civic engagement and/or professional contexts. RELEVANCE AND APPLICATION. Builds awareness of how communication functions across personal, academic, professional and/or civic settings. Develops foundational skills in analyzing, adapting and applying communication strategies to wide-ranging contexts. Enhances the ability to critically interpret messages in a world shaped by media convergence, cultural difference and/or global interconnectedness. Prepares for advanced coursework in communication and media fields, while also strengthening transferable skills valued across professions. DEEPENING UNDERSTANDINGS. Highlights how everyday assumptions about communication differ from scholarly perspectives developed in the field. Expands understanding of communication as both a practical skill and an area of research shaped by theory, culture and/or ethics. Examines ways of knowing that include humanistic, social scientific and/or critical approaches. Highlights how communication influences relationships, organizations and/or society, deepening appreciation for the complexity of interaction and meaning making. TOPICS AND THEMES. May include verbal and nonverbal communication; media and technology; intercultural communication; health communication; strategic communication; religious communication; leadership and conflict management; and/or academic research and methods of inquiry. Attention to contemporary issues and applications of communication theory may introduce perspectives that are unfamiliar and/or challenging, reflecting the broad relevance of communication to personal, professional and civic life.