COMM 1000W Communication Strategies for Social Justice — 4 credits

This course teaches key concepts in communication studies through the lens of women’s suffrage. Students will explore concepts within major areas of the discipline of communication studies including, gender identity, small group theory, rhetorical analysis, critical theory and media criticism. After developing a skill set in this area, students will apply learned concepts to develop a richer understanding of the role played by communication practices in women’s history. Also offered as WOST 1000W. Writing intensive. Offered in the College for Women and the College for Adults.

COMM 1030 Speaking to Lead and Influence — 4 credits

How is writing a speech different from writing a paper? Why does public speaking seem to come naturally to some, but not to others – or does it? Why are you so nervous? How do gendered norms impact your credibility as a female speaker? Undoubtedly, the ability to speak eloquently in a variety of settings is a vital component of contemporary leadership. This course is designed to introduce students to the skills needed to communicate effectively in a variety of public settings – from interview situations and boardroom meetings to public speeches and social contexts. The course will focus on the practical application of rhetorical concepts, while maintaining an emphasis on self-empowerment and civic engagement. Readings and assignments are designed to foster the following skills: choosing effective speech topics, writing, outlining, and editing speech text, delivery and eloquence, audience analysis, ethics, language and structure, evaluation and criticism of speech texts. Offered in the College for Women and the College for Adults.

COMM 2000 Foundations in Leadership — 4 credits

Grounded in the St. Catherine University Leadership Statement, this course explores historical and philosophical discussions of leadership as well as leadership theory as an interdisciplinary area of study. Students will be expected to comprehend and apply leadership theories and approaches through class exercises, case studies, and through working with a local organization. Self-reflection is a critical aspect of the course and as such students will complete multiple inventories as well as a series of reflections that will be compiled into personal portfolio. Finally, students will also compose a professional portfolio of their previous curricular and co-curricular leadership experience, their plan for continued leadership development, as well as the prospective challenges and/or opportunities. This is the introductory course to the minor in Leadership. Offered in the College for Women.

COMM 2050 Media, Culture and Society — 4 credits

Why does the Daily Show matter? How does the medium of the cell phone increase the quantity of communication while decreasing the quality? Why do we design our living rooms around the television? What is the responsibility of a media critic? How does cultural context impact meaning? How are issues of gender, race, sexuality and class negotiated in contemporary media? In what ways do media impact identity? Why study the media, anyway? These are some of the key questions guiding our exploration of media, culture and society. This class introduces some key concepts and theories for the study of media, provides a historical backdrop for the emergence of cultural critique, and surveys some of the current trends in media and cultural studies, promoting a critical consumption of the cultural texts that infiltrate our increasingly mediated lives. Also offered as WOST 2051. Offered in the College for Women and the College for Adults.

COMM 2994 Topics: — 4 credits

The subject matter of the course is announced in the annual schedule of classes. Content varies from year to year but does not duplicate existing courses.

COMM 3030 Rhetoric, Civic Participation and Social Justice — 4 credits

What does it mean to be a citizen? What are your duties and responsibilities as citizens? How should you seek to actively engage the world around you? How can citizens participate in society in order to change society? This class answers these questions by examining the role of public discourse in constituting public decisions and public life. Students will examine how rhetorical practices contribute to the construction, maintenance and destruction of community. By the end of class students will have learned to become a more active and effective participant in our democratic culture through rhetorical action, and thereby to contribute to the improvement of civic discourse in our society. To achieve this overarching goal, class assignments will require students to research controversial public issues, develop their opinions in relation to those issues, and create strategic plans through which they can initiate social change. Offered in the College for Women.

COMM 3070 Rhetoric of Resistance: Gender and Power — 4 credits

If men are from Mars and women are from Venus, how on earth are they supposed to communicate with one another? What are the implications of this “different planets” metaphor? Why do we talk about Hilary Clinton’s fashion, but not Bill’s? Where do we get our ideas about what it means to be female or male, feminine or masculine? How do various rhetoric influence us to adopt and perform particular gender identities? In what ways are conceptions of gender related to ideas about sexuality? What rhetorical strategies have individuals and social movements used to challenge gender/sexual norms? This course examines how sex and gender and our identities as women, men, and sexual beings are influenced by and contested in the rhetorical culture around us. We will focus on communicating identity in interpersonal relationships, the impact of mass media on gender performances, key legislative debates and social movement strategies. Also offered as WOST 3070.
Prerequisites: COMM 1030 and 2090.

COMM 3070W Gender and Rhetoric — 4 credits

This course takes a critical approach the study of gender and sex and, as such, explores not only the social construction of gender but also how these constructions are constructed, maintained, and/or transformed. Gender will be explored as it is constituted and functions in the institutions of education, religion, the workplace, and media. This course aims to develop the student’s awareness of gender so as to be a more critical consumer of messages about gender and sex as well as conscientious of how one’s own performances of gender intersect with and/or challenge cultural norms. Throughout, students are encouraged to also be a mindful of the role of social justice in the context of gender studies and gender equality. Students will engage in small and large-group discussion, informal writing, as well as a research paper. Also offered as WOST 3070W. Offered in the College for Women.

COMM 3100 Communicating across Cultures, Identities and Differences — 4 credits

In the 21st century, individuals continue to be marginalized because of their differences. The existence of racism, sexism, homophobia and religious discrimination indicate that the categories separating individuals from one another fuel acts of hatred, oppression and degradation. This class studies how communication plays a significant role in the construction of cultures, identities and differences. Through such an inquiry students will learn how social, political, economic, racial, sexual, cultural and geographic differences impact the process of communication and consequently, cause conflict between groups and individuals that belong to different social categories. Through studying how cultures, identities and differences impact communication, students will develop strategies for effectively and ethically participating in an increasingly diverse cultural landscape. Also offered as WOST 3101 and CRST 3101. Offered in the College for Women and the College for Adults.

COMM 3200W Public Relations Writing — 4 credits

This course combines theory and practice from the Communication Studies discipline to give students the opportunity to develop skills to create effective promotional and public relations messages a professional context. Students will learn to analyze audiences and assess promotional goals to plan effective public relations messages. Students will also work collaboratively and individually to produce news releases, content for an online newsroom, promotion for an event, and a portfolio of collected work. Special issues related to promotional writing include planning and research, appropriate grammar and mechanics, and basic publication design principles. Also offered as ENGL. Offered in the College for Women.

COMM 4600 Leadership and the Art of Persuasion — 4 credits

This course studies the practice of leadership communication from within the framework of persuasive, effective, ethical and enduring leadership. By studying the communication practices of female leaders in the cultural, political, business and intellectual sectors of society and by focusing on the unique challenges faced by these leaders as women in particular, this course provides practical examples of different forms of effective leadership particularly well-suited to the St. Kate's student. To provide students with a foundation through which they can begin to act as leaders in their daily lives, these practical examples are discussed in conjunction with theories of leadership, persuasion and argumentation. Also offered as CRST 4600 and WOST 4600. Offered in the College for Women.

COMM 4602 Internship — 2 credits

This structured out-of-class learning experience takes place on or off campus and includes a substantial work component. An internship involves students in a particular profession in an exploratory way to test career interests and potential. To initiate an internship experience, meet with the internship coordinator in the Career Development Office.
Prerequisites: Faculty and division chair approval.

COMM 4604 Internship — 4 credits

This structured out-of-class learning experience takes place on or off campus and includes a substantial work component. An internship involves students in a particular profession in an exploratory way to test career interests and potential. To initiate an internship experience, meet with the internship coordinator in the Career Development Office.
Prerequisites: Faculty and division chair approval.

COMM 4682 Directed Study — 2 credits

COMM 4684 Directed Study — 4 credits

Directed study is provided for students whose unusual circumstances prohibit taking a regularly scheduled course but who need the material of that course to satisfy a requirement. Availability of this faculty-directed learning experience depends on faculty time and may be limited in any given term and restricted to certain courses.
Prerequisites: Faculty, department chair and dean approval.

COMM 4850 Senior Seminar — 4 credits

Senior seminar invites students to explore the communication studies major, examining how their work has changed them personally and prepared them for professional life. Discussion and sharing among the participants of the seminar are stressed. A central goal of the course is for students to document how they meet departmental outcome goals. Students combine elements from previous portfolios (COMM 1030, COMM 4600, CORE 1000W and CORE 3990W) with new work (reflective essay, career development assessments, career plans, cover letters, resumes, etc.) in a culminating document that demonstrates competency in oral and written communication and information and technology proficiency. This senior seminar is required for communication studies majors. Offered in the College for Women.

COMM 4855 Senior Seminar — 4 credits

Senior seminar invites students to explore the communication studies major, examining how their work has changed them personally and prepared them for professional life. Discussion and sharing among the participants of the seminar are stressed. A central goal of the course is for students to document how they meet departmental outcome goals. Students combine elements from previous portfolios (COMM 1030, COMM 4600, CORE 1000W and CORE 3990W) with new work (reflective essay, career development assessments, career plans, cover letters, resumes, etc.) in a culminating document that demonstrates competency in oral and written communication and information and technology proficiency. This senior seminar is required for communication studies majors. Offered in the College for Women.

COMM 4952 Independent Study — 2 credits

Project may build upon experience gained in any course in the department.
Prerequisites: Instructor and division chair approval.

COMM 4954 Independent Study — 4 credits

Project may build upon experience gained in any course in the department.
Prerequisites: Instructor and division chair approval.

COMM 4994 Topics — 4 credits

Seminars invite students to explore a particular issue in depth. Students undertake a major research project under the supervision of the instructor. Discussion and sharing among the participants of the seminar is stressed. When offered, the specialized content area is highlighted in a subtitle, and the relevant prerequisites are listed in the course schedule. The subject matter of the course is announced in the annual schedule of classes. Content varies from year to year but does not duplicate existing courses. Offered in the College for Women and the College for Adults.