Departments:

Code Name Description
COM107 COMMUNICATION EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING Prerequisite: Permission of Department chair. Students earn credit for effective participation in Communication department experiential learning activities, including the Carroll News, IMC, JC-TV, Speech and Debate, and WJCU. Students create a learni...
COM110 CAPA: RADIO BOOT CAMP Operations, programming and on-air performance in an FCC-licensed broadcast radio station. Emphasis on fundamental aspects of radio station organization as well as studio operation and on-microphone performance. WJCU, the university’s Class A NCE FM...
COM111 CAPA: IMPROMPTU We face the unexpected question way too frequently. The response is always some form of impromptu speech, but the best responses have creative and effective elements. This class teaches students to present confidently, speak stylishly, organize strat...
COM114 JC-TV BOOT CAMP Introduction to the creative and technical aspects of video production and the teamwork and communication concepts required for producing quality television/video programs. Students will acquire hands-on skills using professional equipment in the tel...
COM115 JOURNALISM BOOT CAMP Everything you need to know to be a star reporter for The Carroll News, including basics about John Carroll and where to find news on campus, how to find and interview people for your stories, how journalists write and structure stories, and how to u...
COM117 ISSUES IN SPORTS JOURNALISM Covers major issues in the field; sharpens student writing through numerous short assignments; and meets with high-level practitioners in the field. The seminar style and a limitation to ten students is meant to encourage vigorous class discussion an...
COM125 SPEECH COMMUNICATION The Oral Foundation competency course for the University. Features the principles of oral communication, applying communication theory to the preparation and delivery of speeches in informative, argumentative, and persuasive settings with appropriate...
COM130 HUM: AUDIENCE MATTERS In communication, the audience matters because all effective communication is tailored to an audience. However, the study of audience also encompasses different dimensions, conceptions, and uses of any individual or group who receives a message. This...
COM140 HUM: COMMUNICATION, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY Surveys the evolution of media and communication technologies; theories and models of communication; media effects on society and culture, and trends in newspapers, magazines, books, radio, television, film, the internet, social media, advertising, p...
COM198 INTERNSHIP NONCREDIT/TRANSCRIPT NOTATION Prerequisite: Instructor permission. Open to COM majors who want their internship recognized but do not need/want credit. Course assignments will provide artifacts for enhancement of the student’s e-portfolio. Creates a supervised learning experience...
COM205 PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION Students develop the communication skills required for professional communicators across a broad set of communication media, including individual and team presentations, written texts, and digital interactions. Primary focus is on strategic thinking...
COM208 HUM: INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION How people establish, maintain, and alter relationships with friends, strangers, work associates, and family members in professional, personal, and cross-cultural contexts. Discussion and application to professional and personal settings of theories...
COM209 LINK: INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS & LITERATURE Students learn how people establish, maintain, and alter relationships with friends, strangers, work associates, and family members in professional, personal, and cross-cultural contexts. Discussion and application to professional and personal settin...
COM210 HUM: INTRODUCTION TO ADVOCACY Prerequisite: COM 125. Students will learn to be responsible and effective advocates for ideas, causes, and policies, and will cultivate a respect for the vital role of evidence in a world too often factually challenged. Effective advocacy in the pre...
COM212 CAPA: BASIC PHOTOGRAPHY Students learn the elemental skills of visual communication, using digital cameras, smart phones, and/or electronic tablets, and applying computer processing for digital images. Students consider the workflow and ethics involved in photo choice, proc...
COM255 INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL MEDIA Explore the technical, social and cultural aspects of digital media. Basic journalistic research and verification methods; narrative theories to explore how and why people tell stories and the types of stories they tell; the use of these principles t...
COM270 INTRODUCTION TO INTEGRATED MARKETING COMMUNICATION (IMC) Overview of IMC in order to understand the function of and connectivity among advertising, public relations, promotion, and interactive media as key components of the marketing mix.
COM298 INTERNSHIP Supervised experiential learning opportunity with accompanying assignments designed to deepen student awareness of career options in communication fields. Course assignments will provide artifacts for enhancement of the student’s e-portfolio. May be...
COM300 COMMUNICATION THEORY Theories and perspectives on communication through speech, interpersonal conversation, media; theories across a variety of contexts, including advertising, public relations, and news. Prerequisite: COMM 130.
COM301 HUM: INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION Our global world has changed how we interact with people from diverse cultures, both face-to-face and online. You will learn the concepts and theories of communication that help you understand the interactions of values, beliefs, traditions, identiti...
COM302 VISUAL STORYTELLING A hands-on feature photography course that explores visual elements of lifestyle through portraiture, food, and sense of place, using both ambient and applied lighting techniques.
COM303 CRAFTING THE MESSAGE Advocates need the skills necessary to deliver the messages to a range of audiences through a variety of means. This course helps students write effective academic papers, policy briefs, opinion pieces and social media messages, prioritizing differen...
COM304 COMMUNICATION RESEARCH METHODS Building on the department goal of understanding target audiences, students will explore qualitative and quantitative methodologies for defining and reaching audiences, and demonstrate an understanding of demographics, psychographics, primary and sec...
COM305 COMMUNICATION ETHICS Ethical theories and their application to ethical issues in public, private and mediated communication; role of communication in expressing and realizing individual and social values. Use of case studies. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
COM306 CONFLICT NEGOTIATION The theory and tools individuals and groups can use to constructively manage conflict, a part of everyday life
COM307 ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION Examines communication within and between organizations in a global context. Focus on management/communication theory for motivating/leading organizations in corporate, non-profit, and government settings. Students will develop awareness of their ind...
COM308 SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION & LEADERSHIP Designed to teach students about small group and team communication, how to apply theoretical concepts to the analysis of group interactions, becoming aware of individual strengths and weaknesses when functioning in small group contexts, and to devel...
COM309 INTERVIEWING Experiential focus on survey/marketing, media, employment and sales interviews. Analysis of theory, construction of questions, developing interview structure and evaluation. Application is emphasized, and students participate both as interviewers and...
COM311 HUM: CAMPAIGN ISSUES & IMAGES Offered in the fall of election years. Follows the communicative practices of the ongoing campaign. Students each focus on one campaign to develop a critical understanding of the tactics used, images portrayed, and issues raised. Develops an understa...
COM312 HUM: NARRATIVE AND STORYTELLING Role of narrative in everyday communication practices, from conversations to interviews to persuasive messages. Verbal and nonverbal narratives. Narrative across multiple genres and media.
COM313 PERSUASION In-depth study of theories of persuasion, and a variety of case studies designed to apply these theories to the real world. Critical and ethical analysis of persuasion in contemporary culture.
COM314 COMMUNICATION ANALYSIS Analyzes, interprets, and critiques persuasive messages from a wide variety of contexts, including speeches, advertisements, novels, films, music and campaigns. Using persuasive theories and methods, students will critique an interesting persuasive a...
COM336 EGC: INTERNATIONAL FILM Survey of world cinema from 1893 to the present. Examines movies as a business, a social phenomenon, a series of technological innovations, and an art form. Filmmakers in every historical period from all over the world have worked to both distinguish...
COM338 HUM: THE AMERICAN CINEMA Investigates American cinema's origins and development, the rise of the studio and star systems. Study of the American cinema's use of genres and the development of a film narrative style. Investigates film techniques and develops a language for disc...
COM340 CAPA: WRITING SCREENPLAYS The art and craft of creating a screenplay. Basics of writing a script, including motion picture structure, character development, plotting, and dialogue writing. Students will also learn correct screenplay format and how motion pictures are written,...
COM343 WORKING IN SPORTS MEDIA Starting with a brief history of sports broadcasting, students dive into a practical, skills-based course in which they cover sports on the field, on the air and online. Uses the Klein TV Studio, WJCU radio, and the internet to do live event coverage...
COM344 COMMUNICATION IN SALES & MARKETING This course is designed to introduce principles and practical skills of professional selling. Students will develop their communication skills (verbal, written, and listening), learn and demonstrate the selling process through in-class assignments. T...
COM345 ISJ: DIVERSITY, STEREOTYPES, & MASS MEDIA History, problems, roles, struggles, and contributions of major ethnic groups in the U.S. in relation to mass media. Stereotyping, access limitations, evolution of ethnic media, issues, and problems in American mass media systems.
COM348 ADVANCED EDITING AND PRODUCTION Prerequisites: COM 255.Students learn the art of post-production, the theory and practices of professional video and audio editing styles. Emphasis is on post-production methods that improve the visual and audio qualities of production as tools for e...
COM349 COMMUNICATION LAW Survey of major topics in U.S. communication law that are essential knowledge for all communication professionals, who must be aware of the risk of lawsuits as well as their constitutional and legal rights. Examines how interpretation of the First Am...
COM350 FUNDAMENTALS OF JOURNALISM Introduction to newsgathering and news writing for print, broadcast, online and social media. Uses the Mac lab for classes, with assignments on- and off-campus to build practical experience in verification, interviewing, reporting on events and issue...
COM351 LINK: INTRODUCTION TO JOURNALISM: ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS Introduces students to journalism, its role in society, values, and practices, and explores how these things influence the way journalists cover climate change and other environmental issues. Students will learn newsgathering and news writing techniq...
COM360 MEDIA WRITING Prerequisites: COM 255 or COM 270.Students develop the foundations for effective media writing -- clear, concise writing and relevant, engaging storytelling. Course work emphasizes how communication goals, audience, and medium influence message creat...
COM369 SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY & ANALYTICS Social media management and data analysis skills are increasingly important in today’s business environment. Students will learn how to manage a brand on social media, how to engage with customers, and how to analyze the voice of customers using soci...
COM371 WEB & INTERACTIVE DESIGN Study of the thought processes and aesthetics involved in the production of visual and interactive media from initial concept through development to actual construction. Encourages hands-on design and development of skills using the latest industry-l...
COM372 BRANDING The brand is the heartbeat of a communication strategy. This course blends the study of real-world brands, theory, and research to examine how brands are built and work for consumers and companies. Through analysis and application, students explore t...
COM373 SPORTS PROMOTION AND FAN ENGAGEMENT The essentials of promotion within the multibillion-dollar sports industry. Draws on communication theories and practices to teach the most effective strategies for developing brand awareness for a team or organization, developing a fan base, especia...
COM375 COMMUNICATING ABOUT HEALTH Investigates the interpersonal communication processes that influence and are influenced by health and health contexts. Includes the study of physician and patient communication, family and friend communication, and everyday interpersonal communicati...
COM398 INTERNSHIP Supervised experiential learning in a position related to the student’s intended area of study. Course assignments will provide artifacts for enhancement of the student’s e-portfolio. May be repeated once. Does not fulfill requirements for the Commun...
COM399 SEMINAR/SPECIAL TOPICS IN COMMUNICATION Topic will be announced in the semester course schedule.
COM399B SPECIAL TOPICS IN COM Topic will be announced in the semester course schedule.
COM400 SOCIAL MEDIA ADVOCACY Examines how social media, in conjunction with traditional advocacy techniques, advances information, reinforces relationships, builds followings, promotes dialogue, enhances collaboration, and helps mobilize action. Students will analyze readings an...
COM402 LEADERSHIP & COMMUNICATION Prerequisite: COM 210. Provides students with opportunities to understand theoretical, empirical, and practical aspects of leadership communication. At its core, leadership is influence, and influence comes through relationships built through social...
COM404 DETECTING BULLS*** The combination of free speech and the internet makes the global transmission of ideas nearly instantaneous. This provides wonderful opportunities for important advocacy, but also makes it easier to disperse fake news and other BS wildly and widely....
COM442 AUDIO STORYTELLING AND PODCASTING Survey, analysis and content creation in the podcast medium, with a focus on audio journalism and long-form storytelling. Students will learn to create scripts for the ear; outline and structure audio stories; conduct and utilize in-person interviews...
COM444 RELATIONSHIP SELLING Experiential focus on the interpersonal relationships in sales. Topics covered: using active listening to identify customer needs, adapting to customer’s communication style, nonverbal communication, cold calling, planning the sales call or presentat...
COM455 MEDIA THEORY Prerequisite: Senior Standing, COM 255 and one 300 level digital media elective. Acquaints students with the theorists, theories, and research that help us understand the role of the medium in media studies—mass media, digital media, other forms of e...
COM460 WRITING & PRODUCING DOCUMENTARIES Students learn how to research, write, film and edit a video documentary.Prerequisite: COM 348. Corequisite: COM 460L.
COM460L WRITING & PRODUCING DOCUMENTARIES LAB Develops advanced editing skills.Corequisite: COM 460.
COM469 ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS THEORY Prerequisite: Senior Standing, COM 270, COM 304, and one 300-level IMC elective. This course explores theories, principles, practices, and methods of research in advertising and public relations across a variety of communication channels and media pl...
COM472 INTEGRATED MARKETING CAMPAIGNS Turning theory into practice, students develop and pitch an integrated marketing communications campaign for a client. Prerequisites: COM 304, COM 360, and COM 372.
COM473 NONPROFIT MARKETING Explores traditional aspects of marketing and how they apply to nonprofit organizations. Students examine how nonprofit marketing may at times be similar to the for-profit sector as well as the unique challenges and opportunities nonprofit marketers...
COM474 EVENT PLANNING An understanding of, and experience with, the communicative strategies and behaviors associated with effective meetings, conferences, and special events. Draws on theoretical areas of communication to study effective planning, project management, and...
COM475 EVENT PLANNING: SPORTING EVENTS An understanding of, and experience with, the communicative strategies and behaviors associated with developing sporting events such as tournaments, races, championships, and other special events in the sports arena. Draws on theoretical areas of com...
COM490 CAPSTONE ALTERNATIVE This course provides an opportunity to reflect critically and constructively on your academic experiences as you prepare for graduation. This includes determining how your summer internship relates to your coursework in Communication, your profession...
COM494 INTERNSHIP Supervised and directed experiential learning in a position relevant to a major sequence of study. Course assignments will provide artifacts for enhancements of the student’s e-portfolio. Credit hours do not apply to major; does not fulfill the capst...
COM498 INTERNSHIP/CAPSTONE Supervised and directed experiential learning in a position relevant to a major sequence of study. Course assignments will provide artifacts for enhancement of the student’s e-portfolio. Prerequisite: Senior standing; 2.0 GPA; COM major; permission o...
COM499 INDEPENDENT STUDY Particular problem in communication examined in depth. Final paper and oral examination before a committee. Projects must be approved prior to registration. Prerequisite: Declared COM major; permission of instructor, chair and dean.
COM499A INDEPENDENT STUDY Declared COM major; permission of instructor, chair and Dean. Particular problem in communication examined in depth. Final paper and oral examination before a committee. Projects must be approved prior to registration.
COM499B INDEPENDENT STUDY Declared COM major; permission of instructor, chair and Dean. Particular problem in communication examined in depth. Final paper and oral examination before a committee. Projects must be approved prior to registration.
COM499C INDEPENDENT STUDY Declared COM major; permission of instructor, chair and Dean. Particular problem in communication examined in depth. Final paper and oral examination before a committee. Projects must be approved prior to registration.
COM508 BRANDING AND CONTENT STRATEGY Students examine the fundamentals of branding -- what brands are and how they work in the minds of consumers, and how they work for businesses and organizations. Building upon this foundation, students develop an understanding of how brands are commu...
COM512 BRAND STORYTELLING THROUGH CONTENT PRODUCTION Students develop a foundational understanding of digital storytelling from the basics of graphic design, video, podcasting and audio content. An emphasis on the fundamentals of each medium is blended with how different platforms and media can be leve...
COM516 WRITING AND SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION Students learn the basics of narrative and storytelling as applied to marketing content. This course allows students to learn the fundamentals of writing across digital platforms and refine copywriting techniques, including writing for SEO, websites,...
COM518 DIGITAL ADVERTISING AND MARKETING Students will learn the paid, owned, and earned digital media model, a framework for managing and analyzing multichannel digital campaigns. Through experiential learning projects, students will develop hands on experience in applying marketing tools...
COM522 ONLINE REPUTATION MANAGEMENT Word-of-mouth communication reaches massive audiences through digital platforms. This communication about brands provides opportunities to analyze and strengthen organizational reputation. Students use industry tools to learn analysis techniques for...
COM524 SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING This class covers the structure and nature of social media platforms and how they function to advance organizational goals and facilitate the decision-making process. Students learn effective social media strategies (and and organic), segmentation an...
COM530 CAPSTONE Students demonstrate their learning, commitment to ethical practices, as well as their ability to integrate marketing, advertising, and public relations functions effectively through an integrative, culminating project.