| COM 101. | Human Communication: Messages and Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 credits | ||
| Beginning study of the nature, problems and theories of human communication. Examines issues of meaning, relationship and community within interpersonal, group and media contexts. Surveys rhetorical, pragmatic and interpretive perspectives on the communication process. | ||
| COM 110. | Media and Mass Communication | |
| 4 credits | ||
| Introductory study of the major media and effects of contemporary mass communication. Emphasis on analyzing the way media technologies affect news, advertising and entertainment functions of media and the way media professionals and organizations use media to influence perception, behavior and social identity. | ||
| COM 111. | Fundamentals of Speech Communication | |
| 4 credits | ||
| Elements of oral communication in public contexts. Emphasis on diagnosing rhetorical situations, inventing and delivering informative and persuasive presentations, and facilitating public discussion. | ||
| COM 123. | Communication, Performance and Interpretation | |
| 4 credits | ||
| Explores the relationship between text, message, self and culture. Students interpret and perform nonfiction, personal narratives, poetry and a variety of other literary and cultural texts. (Also listed as THD 123.) | ||
| COM 180/*280/*380. | Topics in Communication | |
| 1-4 credits | ||
| 4 credits in COM or Permission | ||
| Selected topics and problems in communication and problems in communication theory and research. May be taken more than once for credit. | ||
| COM 192. | Introduction to Public Relations | |
| 2 credits | ||
| Introduction to the principles of public relations and strategic corporate communication practices. Topics include message design, campaign planning, audience analysis, issue management, and case studies of ethical issues. | ||
| COM 199/*299/*399/*499. | Independent Study | |
| 1-4 credits | ||
| Permission | ||
| COM *220. | Intercultural Communication | |
| 4 credits | ||
| Study of interdependent relationship between communication and culture. Examines conceptual and experiential problems of communication across cultural boundaries. Focuses on perceiving, interpreting, and evaluating different cultural values, world views and patterns of communication. | ||
| COM *227. | Argumentation and Public Advocacy | |
| 4 credits | ||
| Investigates the nature and practice of argument in a democratic society. Focuses on speeches, debates, conversations, and other contexts of public argument. Emphasis on the analysis of evidence, reasoning, assumptions, and values in current policy debates. | ||
| COM *243. | Health Communication | |
| 4 credits | ||
| Examines communication practices in health care relationships and organizations. Topics include effective provider-patient interaction, communication relationships in health organizations, rhetorical and media strategies for managing health issues, and the uses of new communication technologies to promote health and manage health information. | ||
| COM *253. | Environmental Communication | |
 |
4 credits | |
| Examines issues and controversies in conservation, ecology and environmentalism from a communication perspective. Emphasizes critical analysis of the role of mass media and public discourse in the definition, deliberation and resolution of environmental issues. | ||
| COM *301. | Interpersonal Communication | |
|
4 credits | |
| COM 101 or Permission | ||
| Examination of messages, roles, rules and strategies through which interpersonal relationships are initiated, maintained and changed. Emphasis on analysis of interaction and communication processes in a variety of interpersonal contexts. | ||
| COM *302. | Organizational Communication | |
| 4 credits | ||
| COM 101 or Permission | ||
| Emphasis on strategic communication roles, messages, systems, and networks in organizations. Examines internal communicative processes of socialization, influence, leadership, teamwork, decision-making, and conflict resolution as well as external communicative processes of public relations, issue management and corporate advocacy. | ||
| COM *303. | Communication, Technology and Society | |
| 4 credits | ||
| COM 110 or Permission | ||
| Examination of the forms and functions of communication in technological society. Study of social and cultural effects of mass media and impact of technology on public and private communication. | ||
| COM *327. | Propaganda and Persuasion | |
| 4 credits | ||
| 4 credits in COM or Permission | ||
| Examines the mediated and rhetorical processes of social influence and the elements of propaganda. Emphasis on analysis of institutional persuasive strategies in film, television, print and oral media. | ||
| COM *350. | Seminar in Communication Inquiry | |
|
4 credits | |
| Junior Standing, 12 credits in COM, including COM 101 or Permission | ||
| Examination of systematic methodological approaches to the formal analysis of communication processes, messages and problems. Focus on evaluation of research literature and creation of a research proposal. | ||
| COM *385. | Internship in Communication | |
| 2-4 credits | ||
| 12 credits in COM and Junior Standing or Permission | ||
| Application of communication concepts and skills through participation in communities, institutions, agencies, schools and businesses. Supervision by faculty and sponsoring organizations. Includes interpretive journal and substantive analytic paper. | ||
| COM *450. | Seminar in Communication Theory | |
| 4 credits | ||
| COM Major or Minor; Senior Standing and COM 385 or Permission | ||
| Synthesis, integration and elaboration of theoretical perspectives on communication issues, problems and practices developed through previous coursework, projects and internships. Coursework includes completion of individual senior project and compilation of portfolio. | ||
| COM *500. | Senior Thesis | |
|
2-4 credits | |
| Senior Standing and Permission | ||
| Development and completion of original research. May be interpretive, critical, empirical, or theoretical. Required for departmental honors. | ||
Courses
The Alma College Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team claimed its ninth consecutive regional championship at the SIFE USA Regional Competition in March 2009. The competition awards the SIFE teams that are most effective in teaching the principals of market economics through outreach projects in their communities.
Graduate Profile
Meredith Henry
Graduation: 2003
Major: Communication
Meredith Henry credits the liberal arts education at Alma with helping her focus her love for communication.
“I loved to write and knew I wanted to do something communication and business-related,” the 2003 alumnus says. “Liberal arts communication was the perfect fit to explore exactly which avenue of communication I wanted to pursue. Looking back on it, my interests evolved naturally throughout my class work and internship experience.”