Communication (COM)
Professors Gilbert and Vickery; Assistant Professor Diels.
The Communication program merges Alma's liberal arts emphasis on interdisciplinary study with a subject that is both timeless and timely: human communication. Communication majors investigate how messages and media influence individuals, groups, and societies. This investigation leads students to better understand, analyze, and address communication problems and practices in their interpersonal, organizational, technological and cultural contexts.
Communication majors complete core classes in communication and cognate areas such as ethics, critical thinking and language study. Students also choose a concentration of advanced courses in communication complemented by classes in allied disciplines. Majors in all concentrations take integrative capstone seminars and complete a required internship. Internships may be completed locally, overseas or through domestic programs such as the Philadelphia Center, the Urban Life Center in Chicago, the New York Arts Program, or the Washington Semester.
The Communication Major prepares students for graduate work in communication, media studies, journalism, public affairs, law, psychology and sociology, and to careers in fields like public relations, journalism, telecommunications, corporate communication, consulting, counseling, social work and human resources.
The department offers a minor in communication studies as well as an interdisciplinary minor in digital communication and new media. Because Communication is an interdepartmental major, students majoring in Communication are required to take 56 upper division credits of the 136 credits required for graduation.
Major Requirements (52 Credits)
- The COM major consists of 36 credits in COM and 16 credits of pre-approved cognate work in allied areas of study. Cognates may count toward second majors and minors.
- Core: COM 101 and 111; one ethics class selected from PHL 225, 227, 228 or 229; one additional cognate course selected from PHL 103, PHL 126, ENG 201, ENG 203, ENG 225, any intermediate conversation or composition course in a non-English language, or other course pre-approved by the COM Department.
- Concentration: Complete COM and cognate courses in one of the following areas of concentration:
- Relational and Interpersonal Communication: COM 301 and 12 additional COM credits, at least 4 of which must be upper level. Must also take 8 additional cognate credits selected from COG 120, 180, 280; EHS 223; PSY 212, 231, 236, 240; REL 210; SOA 220, 241, 251, 353; WST 101, 102, 280; or other course pre-approved by the COM Department.
- Organizational and Strategic Communication: COM 302 and 12 additional COM credits, at least 4 of which must be upper level. Must also take 8 additional cognate credits selected from ART 224, 230, 232; BUS 323, 333, 401; EHS 270; PAF 150, 350, 450; POL 141, 341, 345; SOA 326; or other course pre-approved by the COM Department.
- Media and Communication Technology: COM 303 and 12 additional COM credits, at least 4 of which must be upper level. Must also take 8 additional cognate credits selected from ART 224, 230, 232; any CSC course at 114 or above; ENG 270, 370; MUS 201, 214, 215; NMS 210; SOA 328; or other course pre-approved by the COM Department.
- Capstone Courses: COM 350, 385 and 450. Note: No more than 4 credits of COM 385-386 may be counted toward the COM major.
Minor Requirements
Twenty-four credits which must include COM 101; 111; 350; 450; 8 additional COM credits at least 4 of which must be upper level.
Four credits from COM, with the exception of practicum or independent study courses, count towards the Distributive Requirements in the Humanities.
| 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. | Performing Advocacy | |
| 4 credits | ||
| Explores the relationships among identity, power and culture. Students learn how to become advocates through the use of Everyday Life Performance and other performance techniques, engaging in perspective taking and service learning with marginalized groups. | ||
| 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. | ||