Courses

Survey of the field of communication: interpersonal, group, organizational, speech, mass, intercultural, and international communication; public relations and advertising.

Upon the successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Discuss and evaluate the main branches of communication.
• Analyze different communication scenarios and interactions.
• Learn the basic aspects of communication theory and related applications.
• Recognize differences between vernacular and academic approaches to communication.
• Apply theories of perception, the self, culture, language, nonverbal communication, mediated communication, relationships, organizations, and mass communication to real life situations.

Historical development of mass media institutions and the role of media in society. Particular attention to news, government regulation, effects, economics, emerging technologies, and audience dynamics.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:  Media and Culture by Campbell, Martin, and Fabos.  Twelfth Edition or Eleventh Edition Update or Eleventh Edition.  
The ISBN number for the book is 978-1-319-10285-2.
EBook available at http://www.macmillanlearning.com/Catalog/product/mediaculture-eleventhedition-campbell

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Examine the history and development of print and telecommunications media, and relate them to the publics they serve.
• Describe how the attributes of media contribute to the communication of information, and explore their political and economic contexts.

As the foundation course for the ITI major, Information Technology and Informatics provides students with an overview of the key theoretical and professional themes across the entire ITI curriculum. Theoretical emphasis is placed on social informatics, human-computer interaction, management of information technology, the relationship between technology, race and gender, and information intelligence. Practical emphasis is placed on the effective and ethical use of information technologies including the World Wide Web, and on the development of critical thinking and problem solving skills appropriate for the workplace.  This course provides an understanding of the concepts, culture, and underpinnings of the professions that encompass information technology and Informatics in society today.

This course fulfills the SAS Permanent Core Curriculum learning goal I.c.: 21stcentury challenge – analyze the relationship that science and technology have to a contemporary social issue.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Describe the factors that shape the relationship between "information and technology" and people, such of the organization of information, information technology design, and user experience.
• Compare the "First and Second Machine Ages" in the history of information technology.
• Identify major interdisciplinary information technology theories, ranging from technological determinism to the social construction of technology, and apply those perspectives to real-world examples.
• Identify and analyze current and emerging information technologies and their implications to society in social, cultural, economic, and/or political environments.
• Demonstrate digital fluency skills to effectively and ethically research and evaluate information, discover meaning, design content and construct knowledge using information technologies, and/or communicate ideas in a digitally connected world.
• Identify the role that data-driven decision making, economics, management, and regulations play in the implementation and use of information technology in organizational computing.

Students learn to understand and navigate the dynamics of the modern technology-infused workplace in which the ability to apply well-developed communication, writing, and technological skills/competencies in virtual settings is vital. Theory, research, and case studies will be analyzed with regard to virtual teambuilding, managing conflict and power dynamics, enhancing creativity and innovation, gathering and disseminating information effectively and ethically, integrating virtual and face-to-face tasks and spaces as appropriate, embracing diversity and inclusion, and facilitating global, intercultural collaboration. The course takes a multi-disciplinary approach to these topics, blending insights from multiple disciplines including communication, psychology, sociology, business, and human resources management.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Describe and explain theories, research, and case studies of virtual team dynamics with groups and teams from different cultural, social, professional, and organizational backgrounds.
• Apply a variety of writing/communication capabilities such as formulating communication objectives, writing for a variety of audiences and mediums, and selecting and using communication technologies appropriately to meet objectives.
• Evaluate the effect of communication and media on global cultures and societies and modern organizations.
• Identify common obstacles to effective problem solving and decision making and develop approaches to anticipate and address these challenges in the course of remote communication.
• Discuss and make decisions on the basis of the ethical uses and applications of online and mediated communication technologies.
• Negotiate, problem solve, and respectfully share in team responsibilities with group members, and create and present group work virtually.

Through the lens of different media such as newspaper articles, blogs, Wikipedia entries, social media posts, and news programs, students examine and judge the quality of information presented, analyze the economic and cultural factors that affect the availability and reliability of electronic information, and compare and contrast with other sources. After this exploration of information searching and evaluation, the class will address how information is organized and attributed.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Explain the differences among varying theoretical concepts and philosophical views of information creation, distribution, organization, search behaviors, and impact.
• Analyze and describe the function of societal institutions for creation, distribution, and management of information and their impact on use of information in society.
• Evaluate the effect of information, information technologies, information systems and media on cultures and societies.
• Interpret information and its delivery in an economic framework.
• Identify and explain key information policy issues and institutions of the past and present.
• Compare, contrast, and critique various media coverage of the same event such as in newspapers, television, and on the Internet.
• Discuss the ethical uses of information through an analysis of decision models.
• Search effectively in a variety of information environments.

RU Core Learning Goal met by this course:

ITR-z: Students will be able to analyze and critically assess information from traditional and emergent technologies.

WCd: Communicate effectively in modes appropriate to a discipline or area of inquiry; evaluate and critically assess sources and use the conventions of attribution and citation correctly; and analyze and synthesize information and ideas from multiple sources to generate new insights.

This course is the academic component of a SC&I Living Learning Community offered in the fall semester, for those who are participating in that community for the first or second semester.

This course is the academic component of a SC&I Living Learning Community offered in the spring semester, for those who are participating in that community for the first or second semester.

Dis- and misinformation have toxic implications for the wellbeing of
individuals, groups, and societies. As interconnected producers and
consumers of information we bring our own cognitive biases and
beliefs, and frequently find ourselves questioning what information
sources to trust. This course draws on interdisciplinary perspectives
from communication, media, and information studies to explore ways
to understand, navigate, and thrive in a polluted ecology of digital
social systems. Through active coursework, students will learn to
engage in these systems as aware, empowered, and responsible
communicators and information agents.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Explain key concepts related to misinformation, disinformation,
and broader information manipulation.
2. Describe the relationship between source expertise and
trustworthiness of content, especially as it relates to the
production of scientific knowledge.
3. Apply responsible information behaviors in relation to
evaluation, curation, and sharing, including strategies to curb
the spread of mis- and dis-information in work and in daily life.
4. Critically analyze and chart the complex dynamics and flow of
mis- and dis-information across networked media and
information systems
5. Recognize and discuss a diverse range of scholarly
perspectives on causes and consequences of misinformation
and disinformation in democratic society.

Examines intellectual, practical, and relational challenges faced in efforts to alleviate social disparities and risks to the quality of life that result from social choices and actions through required cross-disciplinary lectures and readings, service learning, and online peer collaborative learning.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Prepare succinct well organized, clearly written, and problem focused reports and field notes about ideas and experiences introduced in this course.
• Enhance community wellness through service and civic engagement.
• Engage in team-based collaboration in the design and development of an innovative group product.
• Design and prepare a personal portfolio that systematically organizes work produced in this course and includes a statement of personal skills, talents, and accomplishments. 

This course introduces students to the interplay between data and its surrounding societal context. It will cover the basics of data science, focusing on the ethical, legal, and social implications of data and  algorithms. Students will learn to conceptualize and evaluate practical applications of data science in communication, information, and media contexts.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Develop the ability to assess and articulate the relevance of data for a particular organizational or societal problem.
• Identify frameworks for understanding the impact of data on society and that of society on data.
• Explain the background of quantification and data-fication, including its social and political purposes.
• Analyze and critique the ethical, legal, and social implications of data collection, data processing, and algorithm development.
• Design practical applications of data science in communication, information, and media contexts in ways that are sensitive to social, structural and political economic concerns.
• Communicate data science outputs to relevant audiences with attention to their contexts.
   

Examines theories and techniques for analyzing, producing, and disseminating messages. Students will learn how to use web-based and multimedia presentation tools to connect with a variety of audiences and convey a desired message. Each student will craft a message to support some social change by developing and shaping the message into compelling digital media presentations in a range of formats.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand and approach audience needs from a standpoint of communication and media theory.
• Acquire a basic proficiency with a set of digital multimedia tools.
• Understand and design content for today's digital media environment.
• Apply key video editing, animation, and web design principles to create engaging digital media content, using a variety of tools and methods to communicate effectively.

RU Core Learning Goal met by this course:

Information Technology and Research (ITR) aa. Understand the principles that underlie information systems.

WDd - Communicate effectively in modes appropriate to a discipline or area of inquiry; evaluate and critically assess sources and use the conventions of attribution and citation correctly; and analyze and synthesize information and ideas from multiple sources to generate new insights.

Students will use a variety of exercises and scenarios to employ creativity and innovation in problem solving, weigh risk, perform leadership and management roles with peers, and grapple with the consequences of making and implementing decisions in digital environments. Students will learn how to assess and select among various technologies for making and disseminating decisions. This course presents a framework for understanding the role of technology in leadership functions including planning, information dissemination, consensus building, negotiation and engagement with stakeholders for informed and participative decision-making in online and virtual settings.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify the core competencies of leaders in organizations, particularly as they apply to interaction and interpersonal communication in online and virtual settings;
• Explain how digital environments impact and are impacted by organizational culture;
• Communicate effectively and identify appropriate leadership strategies and approaches in a variety of digital environments;
• Analyze the effectiveness of virtual communication efforts and recommend appropriate methods of communication.

Students explore what it means to have multiple and merging "identities" in an online community. How are interpersonal relationships and group interactions manifested in virtual environments? How are identity and selfhood expressed? What is the impact on communication when gender, race, and other physical attributes are self-selected and represented digitally? What are the implications for privacy and security? What does this mean for the workplace? What do 'human rights' mean in a virtual society and is citizenship changed with purely online interaction? Students will evaluate the consequences of a digital context on the self and society.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Become immersed in a digital environment, and evaluate how persistent digital worlds influence individual, small group, and community interactions.
• Apply course readings to analyze user experiences in a virtual environment.
• Critique arguments on property, privacy and ownership in a virtual context.
• Evaluate virtual environments as collaborative work tools and examine the implications on the future of work.

This course explores whether and how emerging digital technologies - such as social, mobile, wearable media; virtual worlds and games; sensor-laden devices and environments; robotics; drones; implantable chips; artificial intelligence - contribute to disruptive changes in relationships, organizations, societies, and selves.  Multiple perspectives on communication, information, and media will be applied in analyzing the extent to which the structure, norms, and dynamics of modern social life have changed and have experienced continuity, and the conditions under which such changes can be considered disruptive.  Micro- and macro-level processes and outcomes (interpersonal, cultural, political, global) of emerging digital technologies will be examined.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify and explain concepts, theories, and research findings across multiple disciplines regarding the history, innovation, adoption, use, and impact of digital technologies.
• Employ digital search and selection strategies to identify, retrieve, and evaluate relevant and reputable information sources regarding the opportunities, consequences, and disruptive potential of technological change.
• Analyze the opportunities and consequences of technological change, continuity, and disruption from both micro and macro perspectives.
• Use a variety of digital technologies and social media effectively and authoritatively for communication, conversation, collaboration, and networking.

RU Core Learning Goals met by this course:

Information Technology and Research (ITR) y. Employ current technologies to access information, to conduct research, and to communicate findings.

CCO-2: Analyze the relationship that science and technology have to a contemporary social issue.

This course is the academic component of a SC&I Living Learning Community offered in the fall semester, for those who are participating in that community in a second year.

This course is the academic component of a SC&I Living Learning Community offered in the spring semester, for those who are participating in that community in a second year.

A 1-credit service learning internship may be added to particular undergraduate courses in the school to allow students to add a service learning experience to the class.  Contact the undergraduate program director of the major or minor for details.

Seminar on communication and human values in a democratic society. Particular emphasis on the concept of 'cultural democracy' in the formulation of public policy A historical evaluation of the philosophical problems related to matters of private taste versus public good.

The capstone course is designed to facilitate students' synthesis of what they have learned in the program, through a directed project. Students will first work together in class to identify and refine projects or areas of research to complete. Capstone project presentations will be captured digitally for feedback from the larger community. Capstone projects may be done individually or in pairs. Projects will contribute to the students' websites; a portion of this class will include preparation of a website of material from the minor. Prerequisites: Completion of at least 15 credits within the minor, or completion of 12 credits and concurrent enrollment in one other DCIM course. Open only to declared DCIM minors.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Design a project individually or in pairs and follow the steps to completion, applying knowledge gained to a specific problem, question, or issue.
• Show proficiency in integrating what they have learned throughout the DCIM minor to a specific context rooted in their own major study area.
• Demonstrate the ability to successfully prioritize, organize, and carry out a project including a plan for completing the document.
• Adapt the knowledge and a project for a specific audience or audiences.
• Integrate knowledge of a major discipline with the skills and knowledge gained in the minor.

Senior Honors Seminar is offered on an ad hoc basis.

Beginning skills in American Sign Language (ASL) and skills needed in communication with deaf persons. Offered in Summer Session only. Does not count toward the major.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand the different forms of sign language and discuss cultural background of the deaf.
• Acquire a working foundation of ASL grammar and slang.
• Use both expressive and receptive skills.

Intermediate skills in American Sign Language (ASL) and skills needed in communication with deaf persons. Offered during Summer Session only. Does not count toward the major.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand American sign language and gain skills needed in total communication with deaf persons
• Understand psycho-social aspects of deaf culture.

Basic concepts, models, and theories examining the role of communication in human behavior.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Explain the importance of theory as it relates to communication research and communication practice.
• Name and recognize key features of at least 15 different theories and theoretical perspectives used by communication scholars.
• Describe one’s own worldview of communication based on meta-theoretical considerations.
• Effectively summarize, critique, and apply an existing communication theory to social/professional life.

Patterns of human interaction, types and stages of relationships, verbal and nonverbal exchanges, strategies and tactics.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify the foundations of human communicative behavior.
• Understand the different contexts of interpersonal relationships, and how each context impacts the nature and quality of those relationships.
• Understand how our own behavior affects our interpersonal relationships.
• Understand how different theories can be used to explain relational behavior.
• Think constructively about one’s own communicative actions and the consequent effects messages send to others both directly and indirectly.
• Identify and apply concepts, definitions, and ideas discussed in class to one’s own individual relationships in hopes of explaining and identifying healthy and unhealthy behavior.
• Advance critical thinking of scholarly material and be able to discuss academic concepts with others.
• Produce an academically sound research paper highlighting an area of interpersonal communication.

This course will explore the nature of persuasive argumentation as applied through the specific lens of parliamentary style debating.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Analyze the degree to which forms of human difference shape  personal experiences of and perspectives on the world.
• Analyze a contemporary global issue from a multidisciplinary perspective.
• Explain and be able to assess the relationship among assumptions, method, evidence, arguments, and theory in social and historical analysis.
• Understand different theories about human culture, social identity, economic entities, political systems, and other forms of social organization.
• Apply concepts about human and social behavior to particular questions or situations.
• Examine critically philosophical and other theoretical issues concerning the nature of reality, human experience, knowledge, value, and/or cultural production.
• Engage critically in the process of creative expression.