Faculty
Jamey A. Piland, Assistant Professor of Communication (Program
Chair)
W. Bradford Mello, Associate Professor of Communication
Raul Tovares, Assistant Professor of Communication
Lisa Barry, Assistant Professor of Communication
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Description
The Communication Program at Trinity College offers a liberal
education, emphasizing the scientific and artistic basis of
communication. The Program is committed to providing quality instruction
in the theoretical bases of human communication and the application of
theory within a number of specific contexts. The emphasis of the Program
is on interpersonal interaction and human relationships, organizational
and institutional communication, public discourse and mass
communication. Students choose areas of specialization and specific
courses that can lead to professional or pre-professional competence in
such fields as training and development, human resources, foreign
service, law, politics and government, human services, labor-management
relations, personnel, campaign and propaganda administration, and public
health. Undergraduate study in Communication can assist the student in
pursuing advanced studies for a variety of careers including law, the
ministry, and higher education. Undergraduate students majoring in the
Communication Program are encouraged to take course work in other fields
and programs; typical areas for minors and double majors in recent years
have included: political science, media technology studies, human
relations, sociology, psychology, women's studies, business,
international studies, information technology, and education.
Students in the Communication Program take advantage of the many
internship and field trip opportunities available in Washington, D.C.
Recent internships include prestigious organizations such as National
Geographic, CNN, CSPAN, CBS, Kennedy Center, as well as other local
television stations, public relations firms, lobbying groups, and
political offices.
The Communication Program offers a major to students in the College
of Arts and Sciences and the School of Professional Studies and a minor
to students in the College of Arts and Sciences. The major consists of
six required courses, six elective courses, and four courses to be taken
as co-requisites. All communication majors are encouraged to minor in
programs related to their personal and career interests. The minor
consists of six courses.
Students interested in graduate study should consult with program
faculty, and students are encouraged to purse graduate work at Trinity
in the Graduate Program of Communication.
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Major Requirements
Required Courses (18 credits)
ALL of the following courses:
COM 201 Interpersonal Communication*
COM 265 Introduction to Mass Communication
COM 290 Public Speaking
MTS 299 Publications
COM 391Applied Communication Directed Internship
COM 488 Senior Seminar in Communication
* COM 209 may substitute for students matriculating before Fall 2002.
Elective Courses (18 credits)
TWO of the following courses:
ART 208 Theory and Practice of Photography I
COM 250 Public Relations
COM 306 Visual Communication
COM 340 Voice Techniques and Articulation
COM 365 Advocacy and Argument
COM 370 Publicity and Media Relations
COM 383 Journalism
COM 392 Speechwriting
MTS 295 Multi-media Production
MTS 301 Web-Page Design
MTS 328 Digital Photography
FOUR of the following courses:
COM 301 Editorial Cartooning
COM 302 Persuasion Research and Theory
COM 305 Minority Images in American Media
COM 314 Gangsters and American Film
COM 315 Management Communication
COM 325 Intercultural Communication
COM 360 Small Group Communication
COM 375 Communication and Conflict
COM 380 The Role of Media in Society
COM 385 Organizational Communication
COM 388 Gender and Communication
COM 401 Theories of Interpersonal Communication
COM 420 Mass Media Law
MTS 330 History and Theory of Digital Communication
PSC 420 Politics and the Media
SSC 201 Documentary Film
SSC 300 Politics and Film
Co-requisite Courses (12 credits)
ALL of the following courses:
MAT 110 Introduction to Statistics
PHI 103 Reasoning and Argumentation
PSY 121 Introductory Psychology
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology
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Minor Requirements
Required Courses (18 credits)
BOTH of the following courses:
COM 201 Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication
COM 265 Introduction to Mass Communication
FOUR additional communications courses, excluding COM 391 and COM 488
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Program Policies
Advanced Placement:
Credits earned through AP examinations do not fulfill requirements of
the communication major or minor.
CLEP Policy: Credits
earned through CLEP examinations do not fulfill requirements of the
communication major or minor.
Grades in Major Courses:
Students are required to earn a grade of "C" (2.0) or better
in all courses counted to fulfill requirements for the major.
Pass/No Pass: No
course fulfilling major requirements in the communication program may be
taken Pass/No Pass, with the exception of COM 391 Applied Communication:
Directed Internship, which is graded Pass/No Pass.
Senior Assessment:
Students will complete a comprehensive assessment in the Senior Seminar.
The comprehensive assessment will include the preparation of a
communication research project on a topic approved by the professor.
Students must earn a grade of "C" or better on this
project.
Study Abroad:
Students should take advantage of the many communication related study
abroad programs.
TELL Policy:
Students may apply a maximum of 12 credits to major requirements earned
through TELL.
Transfer Credits:
Transfer credit will be awarded after appropriate program review and
approval.
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Course Descriptions
COM 201 Fundamentals Interpersonal Communication
Offers an introduction to the fundamental theories and principles of
interpersonal communication with emphasis on analyzing and assessing the
communication skills necessary to create and sustain effective
communication in personal and professional relationships.
3 credits
COM 250 Public Relations
Focuses on public relations in various settings (in-house consulting,
nonprofit organizations) and the strategies, the tools, and the skills
used by practitioners.
3 credits
COM 265 Introduction to Mass Communication
Introduces students to the history of mass communication. Reviews basic
mass communication theory with a goal of understanding how media
institutions and government regulation influence mass media and the
public.
3 credits
Prerequisite: COM 201
COM 290 Public Speaking
Examines theory and practice of public speaking. Students will prepare
and present informative and persuasive speeches. Audience analysis,
research, speech organization, delivery and effective persuasive
strategies will be covered.
3 credits
FLC Area I
COM 301 Editorial Cartooning
Considers the history, aesthetics, and persuasive influence of editorial
cartooning in America and around the world. Various approaches to the
criticism of cartoons are studied. This is an interdisciplinary approach
to editorial cartoon humor.
3 credits
FLC Seminar II
COM 302 Persuasion Research and Theory
Introduces students to contemporary persuasion research methods and
theories that guide research. Interpersonal and public settings are
covered, including compliance gaining, and public persuasive
strategies.
3 credits
Prerequisite: COM 201
COM 305 Minority Images in American Media
Studies how minorities (racial, ethnic, sexual, etc.) and other
categories of the socially marginalized (the poor, the homeless) have
been portrayed throughout the twentieth century in American
entertainment media, from being made "invisible" to being
stereotyped, and the impact of these images. Combines theoretical
approaches and insights with a historical overview to increase students'
awareness of the ideological nature of media images.
3 credits
COM 306 Visual Communication
Provides both a theoretical/critical and a practical introduction to the
study of visual communication. This course is divided into three parts:
visual manipulation, visual literacy and the role of visual images in
society, and visual communication skills. Students study how film
editing works, how images can be juxtaposed for persuasive effect,
whether or not images can "lie" and whether or not viewing
skills are comparable to language skills. The course culminates with the
creation of personal web pages and pseudo "music videos" where
students apply what they have learned theoretically in the creation of
persuasive and effective visual messages.
3 credits
COM 314 Gangsters and American Film
Offers a study of crime movies and their relationship to 20th-century
U.S. culture. Focus is on the relationship between artistic form and
social processes by examining the gang genre from a variety of
theoretical perspectives.
3 credits
Prerequisite: COM 265
COM 315 Management Communication
Introduces contemporary theories, approaches, and functions of
communication in managing, including management of people, processes,
technologies and structures, with emphasis in relationship maintenance,
small group teams and oral presentation skills. The development of
practical and critical thinking skills for decision making, organization
design, motivation, leadership and cultural diversity in organizations.
Particular attention is paid to how information technologies are
changing the context and process of management.
3 credits
COM 325 Intercultural Communication
Applies basic principles of intercultural communication to the analysis
of specific situations involving cultural differences. Emphasis is on
the influence of culture on the communication process, including
differences in values, assumptions, and communication. Models of
intercultural communication analysis are developed and applied to issues
dealing with relations between a dominant society and subcultures,
social change, and international relations.
3 credits
Prerequisite: COM 201
COM 340 Voice Techniques and Articulation
Teaches the techniques of proper vocal control with interest in
broadcast techniques. Identifies any deficiencies in speech and
emphasizes effective vocal usage and delivery (enunciation and
pronunciation). To gain hands on experience, student participation is
essential.
3 credits
COM 360 Small Group Communication
Explores effective communication skills, leadership styles and
functions, and conflict management in problem-solving groups. Examines
various theories regarding small group interaction. Provides practical
experience with working in problem-solving groups.
3 credits
Prerequisite: COM 201
COM 365 Advocacy and Argument
Provides opportunities for critical analysis and development of
argumentative and rhetorical skills. Students engage in active and
formal debate on a variety of policy and value propositions.
3 credits
Prerequisite: PHI 103
COM 370 Publicity and Media Relations
Examines the role of a publicist in various organizations and their
relationship with the media. Also looks at the basics of media
relations, testing and evaluating publicity, and using publicity as a
tool. Students are expected to produce publicity campaigns.
3 credits
Prerequisite: COM 250
COM 375 Communication and Conflict
Introduces theory and experiential learning in the role of communication
in conflict management. The focus is on interpersonal interactions,
including dyadic and small group levels in various settings such as
friendships, marriage, family, and the workplace.
3 credits
Prerequisite: COM 201
COM 380 The Role of Media in Society
Investigates the evolution of media and the influence of mass media on
previous and current society. Studies contemporary issues in mass
communication including: media regulation, violence, and corporate
control. Ethical questions regarding the influence of the mass media
will also be examined.
3 credits
Prerequisite: COM 265
COM 383 Journalism
Focuses on writing and editing for newspapers and magazines, paying
particular attention to the development of news concepts, news
gathering, and feature stories.
3 credits
COM 385 Organizational Communication
Examines theory, practice, and methods of analysis of communication
within organizations. Emphasis is on the process and structure,
interaction formats, mechanisms for modification, and career paths in
organizational communication.
3 credits
Prerequisite: COM 201
COM 388 Gender and Communication
Explores theory and methods for examining communication and gender
roles. Topics include gendered communication, gender and media, family
communication, gendered violence, gender and education, and gender and
institutions.
3 credits
Prerequisite: Com 201 or permission of the instructor
COM 391 Applied Communication: Directed Internship
On-the-job training in communication through approved field-work study
programs. Internships are supervised by the Communication Program under
Dr. Jamey A. Piland.
3 credits
Prerequisite: Junior status (56 completed credits)
COM 392 Speechwriting
Concentrates on the preparation of speeches for other people to deliver,
emphasizing the need to adapt to another person's ideas and style.
3 credits
Prerequisite: COM 290
COM 401 Theories of Interpersonal Communication
Extensive analysis of contemporary theories and principles of
interpersonal communication with emphasis on models of communication,
verbal and nonverbal message systems, and analysis of personal and
social communicative relationships.
3 credits
Prerequisites: COM 201 and junior status (60 completed credits)
COM 420 Mass Media Law
Analyzes policies and regulations governing the mass media industry (FCC
& FTC). Examines ethics in mass media, and various cases on such
issues as privacy and copyright laws.
3 credits
COM 488 Senior Seminar in Communication
Encourages students to review their study of communication from variety
of different perspectives. Students are required to prepare a major
research project in an area of interest that highlights their
understanding of the communication field.
3 credits
Prerequisite: Senior status (92 completed credits)
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