Academics

This course introduces students to the strategic communication planning process. The phases of this process—strategy, stakeholders, environment, implementation, and metrics—provide a road map for public relations planning from a communication perspective. Students will explore the communication theories and methods of analysis that form the foundation of each phase and will apply this planning process to the development of a strategic communication plan.

An introductory course that overviews strategies, concepts, theories, practices, and history of public relations. 3 semester hours 

This course provides an overview of how effective public relations writing can help organizations to communicate, influence opinion and create change. The course will emphasize the importance of understanding an organization, its goals and objectives, target audience and culture to strategically and effectively communicate through writing. 3 semester hours

This course explores the conceptual and strategic foundations of public relations and marketing. The course examines how to effectively communicate with consumers, create preference for products, and change consumer behavior. 3 semester hours 

Please contact the Direct of the PR Minor for information.

This course will provide an overview of basic social-scientific theories of persuasion. Then, the course examines how these social-scientific approaches differ from and complement other approaches to understanding the practice of persuasion. 4 semester hours 
 

In this course we will explore a wide range of human behavior as it relates to leadership development and communication with an emphasis on global communication issues. Students will learn about leadership, strengthen leadership skills, and learn to value their potential for leadership. This course will integrate theory and practice to build leadership competencies required in today’s global workplace. This course is largely experiential and guided by the principle that leadership is a skill that can be developed and refined. 4 semester hours

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to integrated marketing communications, media selection, and campaign execution. Students will learn the elements of a successful strategic communications plan by evaluating advertising, public relations, and marketing silos and their impact on motivating target audiences. In this course, students will learn to evaluate audience demographics and apply appropriate communication channels and messages based upon audience needs and the business realities of marketing campaigns. A key course objective is to gain an understanding of how to propose and implement an integrated marketing communications plan from the viewpoints of advertising agencies, businesses, and nonprofit entities. 4 semester hours

Communication plays a critically important role in many different aspects of the healthcare process from care delivery to public health campaigns. This course offers a broad survey of health communication theory, research, and practice focused on patient-provider interaction, communication in healthcare organizations, culture and health, health education, and social marketing. 4 semester hours

This course will explore the interplay between the business, socioeconomic, and cultural dynamics of sport and how these intersections are influenced by the aspect of public communication. 4 semester hours

This class is a Community Based Learning (CBL) course and requires completion of volunteer hours with a nonprofit organization. Students will work in teams to design and write communication campaign items for a nonprofit organization. 4 semester hours

In this course, students will first be introduced to key international communication theories and will then be asked to consider whether the introduction of Web 2.0, inexpensive mobile technology and other recent digital media advances are reinforcing or disrupting existing patterns of globalization. 4 semester hours.

This course focuses on analyzing how technologies alter audience, author, text, rhetorical strategies, message, and channels of communication. Students will become better versed in criticism and consumption of digital texts and media. 4 semester hours