Communication (Undergraduate Program)

Faculty
Description
Journalism Concentration
Major Requirements
Minor Requirements
Program Policies
Course Descriptions

Faculty

Raul Tovares, Assistant Professor of Communication (Program Chair)
Jamey A. Piland, Associate Professor of Communication 
W. Bradford Mello, Associate Professor of Communication
Diane A. Forbes Berthoud, 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 journalism, 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-based opportunities available in Washington, D.C. Recent internships include prestigious organizations such as National Geographic, CNN, C-SPAN, CBS, Kennedy Center, as well as other local television stations, public relations firms, lobbying groups, and political offices. 

The Communication Program offers a major and minor to students in the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Professional Studies. 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.  The Communication Program also offers a comprehensive concentration in Journalism.

Journalism Concentration

The journalism concentration in the Communication Program at Trinity College offers students an opportunity to learn and practice the skills necessary to prepare for internships and careers in the field of journalism. Students who choose the journalism concentration will be prepared to work for newspapers and magazines (both print and electronic versions), public relations firms, and book publishing companies.

Students who choose the journalism concentration must take all of the courses necessary to fulfill the requirements for a communication degree as well as take and successfully complete courses in journalism, such as COM 383, the introductory journalism course, and COM 395 Advanced Writing and Reporting. In addition, students must take the introductory communication class, COM 265, COM 380, Role of Media in Society and COM 420 Mass Media Law. Because the field of journalism is today an electronic-based as well as a print-based medium, students in the journalism concentration must also take ISYS 243 Web Page Design, and Com 203 Electronic Imaging.

Students interested in graduate study should consult with program faculty, and are encouraged to pursue 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
COM 383 Journalism
COM 391Applied Communication Directed Internship
COM 488 Senior Seminar in Communication

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 395 Advanced Journalism 
COM 392 Speechwriting 
ISYS 341 Web Page Design 

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 355 International 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 
COM 450 Women in Organizations
COM 482 Leadership
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:

ECON 101 Introduction to Microeconomics
MATH 110 Introduction to Statistics 
PHIL   103 Reasoning and Argumentation 
PSYC 101 Introductory Psychology 
SOCY 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. 

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 250 Public Relations
Focuses on public relations in various settings (in-house consulting, nonprofit organizations) and the strategies, tools, and 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
Examines 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 emphasis in broadcast techniques. Identifies any deficiencies in speech and emphasizes effective vocal usage and delivery (enunciation and pronunciation).
3 credits

COM 355 International Communication
International Communication is the study of information flows across the boundaries of nation-states and the impact of such information flows on international and national communication policies.  In addition, the course examines how international communication affects local governments, religions and cultures.
3 credits
Prerequisite:  COM 265

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 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 the publicist in various organizations. 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 385 Organizational Communication
Organizational Communication examines how organizations are created and maintained through communication and the influence of culture.  The course explores various types of organizational cultures, structures, and processes.  Topics include: organizational conflict, leadership and management, problem solving, decision making, organizational and corporate culture, organizational ethics, and diversity in organizations.
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
FLC Seminar II
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 395 Advanced Journalism
Designed to sharpen reporting and newswriting skills through practical assignments under deadline pressure and close editorial supervision.
3 credits
Prerequisite:  COM 383

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 450 Women in Organizations
The course focuses on the dynamic relationship among gender, power, race, sexuality and class in women's organizational lives.  Provides an in-depth exploration of critical feminist theory and research in organizational communication.  Emphasis is on the perspectives of diverse women in multiple contexts.  Topics include Women in leadership, Sexual harassment and Feminist organizational theory.
3 credits

COM 482 Leadership
Explores the dynamics of communication, leadership, power and authority in organizations.  The course provides an overview of traditional and contemporary approaches to leadership.  Topics include:  cross-cultural communication and leadership, charismatic and transformational leadership, followership, power and organizational politics.
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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