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Communication Studies

Professor G. Spencer
Associate Professors D. Dunn (chair), and L. Stern
Assistant Professor R. O. Ochieng

Description of the Major. Many have said that symbolic communication is the defining human characteristic. Even with this recognition, its mysteries often elude us. How do messages lead to meaning—or misunderstanding or manipulation? How has public discourse influenced culture? What are the effects of mediated communication? These and other questions are explored in the Communication Studies major. Our symbol-making nature is considered in all its manifestations, with attention given to the content, transmission, and consequences of oral, print, and electronic messages.
As part of this orientation, students develop facility in communication, gain an understanding of rhetoric as part of the human experience, and bring Christian values to bear on communication as a moral act. Topics include the role of persuasion and propaganda in social movements, the increasing power of the media, and the difficulty of interpersonal faithfulness in a transient culture.

Distinctive Features. Besides completing the required core of 20 units, students are able to select 24 units from various options to create a particular emphasis, such as media, rhetorical, or interpersonal studies. The curriculum is designed more to aid the student in being transformed intellectually according to the study of communication than to teach technique. Even so, the major is developed practically so that students learn to think, speak, and write better.

Career Choices. The Communication Studies major leads to many opportunities which may include: marketing, journalism, personnel, teaching, arbitration, counseling, editing, public relations, social service, ministry, advertising, sales, management, event coordination, diplomacy, and law.

Requirements for a Major: 44 units
Required Core: 20 units

Required Lower-Division Courses: 12 units
COM 6 Messages, Meaning and Culture (4)
COM 15 Public Speaking (4)
COM 98 Introduction to Communication Research (4)
Required Upper-Division Courses: 8 units
COM 101 Theories of Rhetoric and Communication I (4)
COM 102 Theories of Rhetoric and Communication II (4)

Required Options by Category: 24 units

A. Relational Communication (one of the following): 4 units
COM 10 Interpersonal Communication (4)
COM 127 Small Group Communication (4)
COM 145 Organizational Communication (4)
B. Mass Communication (one of the following): 4 units
COM 125 Mass Communication (4)
COM 140 Studies in Communication Ethics (4)
C. Written Communication (one of the following): 4 units
COM 103 Communication Criticism (4)
ENG 87 Journalism (4)
ENG 90 Literary Analysis (4)
ENG 104 Modern Grammar and Advanced Composition (4)
D. Conflict and Communication: 4 units
One of the following:
COM 130 Argumentation and Advocacy (4)
COM 133 Reconciliation and Conflict Resolution (4)
E. Electives (two of the following not taken above): 8 units
AN 150 Cross Cultural Communication (4) or MA 5 Statistics (4) or PHI 135 Philosophy of Language (4) or ENG 101 Film Studies (4)
COM 10 Interpersonal Communication (4)
COM 15 Public Speaking (4)
COM 103 Communication Criticism (4)
COM 115 Advanced Public Speaking (4)
COM 129 Persuasion and Propaganda (4)
COM 125 Mass Communication (4)
COM 127 Small Group Communication (4)
COM 130 Argumentation and Advocacy (4)
COM 133 Reconciliation and Conflict Resolution (4)
COM 135 Studies in Public Discourse (4)
COM 140 Studies in Communication Ethics (4)
COM 145 Organizational Communication (4)
COM 190 Practicum (4)
COM 195 Special Topics (4) (may be taken more than once)
COM 198 Independent Research (4)

Requirements for a Minor: 24 units

Required Lower-Division Course: 4 units
COM 6 Messages, Meaning and Culture (4)
Required Upper-Division Courses: 8 units
COM 101 Theories of Rhetoric and Communication I (4)
COM 102 Theories of Rhetoric and Communication II (4)
Electives: 12 units
Any three COM courses except COM 190 or any two COM courses except COM 190 and one of the following:
ENG 87 Introduction to Journalism (4)
ENG 101 Film Studies (4)
ENG 104 Modern Grammar and Advanced Composition (4)

Lower-Division Course Descriptions

COM 6 Messages, Meaning and Culture (4) A theory course that seeks to demonstrate the centrality of communication in our perceptions of reality. The course offers paradigms by which to decode and critique our message-dense society, and reviews issues of language and meaning.
COM 10 Interpersonal Communication (4) Examines theory and practice of one-on-one communication within casual, professional, familial, and intimate relationships. Attention given to social role, relational development, communicator responsibility, verbal and nonverbal messages, gender, and conflict management.
COM 15 Public Speaking (4) A performance class that presents principles of public speaking with classroom evaluation of speeches. Primary emphasis will be on student performance and understanding of basic speech theory.
COM 98 Introduction to Communication Research (4) Introduction to social scientific and humanistic approaches to the study of communication, including both qualitative and quantitative methods.

Upper-Division Course Descriptions

COM 101 Theories of Rhetoric and Communication I (4) Prerequisite: COM 6. Examines the philosophy and importance of rhetoric as the art of discourse. Draws from classical and biblical sources. Covers the first two canons of classical rhetoric.
COM 102 Theories of Rhetoric and Communication II (4) Prerequisite: COM 101. Completes the study of rhetoric with the last three canons and then reviews more contemporary theories of communication, especially non-verbal studies.
COM 103 Communication Criticism (4) Prerequisites: COM 006 and COM 098. A writing class which uses a rhetorical lens to criticize discourse, applying the theories of Aristotle, Burke, and Bormann.
COM 115 Advanced Public Speaking (4) Prerequisite: COM 15. An intensive study of the theory, preparation, delivery, and criticism of public speaking. The course includes public speaking opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.
COM 125 Mass Communication (4) Prerequisite: COM 098. Examination of the social and cultural impact of mass media (print, radio, television, film, new technologies), especially upon politics, public discourse, education, and religion.
COM 127 Small Group Communication (4) Theory and practice of communication in a variety of small-group contexts. Attention given to roles, conformity, decision-making, leadership, and group climate.
COM 129 Persuasion and Propaganda (4) Prerequisite: COM 098. The study of motivation and influence by various perspectives (rhetorical, philosophical, psychological) and by contexts (interpersonal, group, campaigns, and macrosocietal). Includes examination of contemporary acts of propaganda.
COM 130 Argumentation and Advocacy (4) Examines the philosophy, structure, theory and practice of argumentation as a counterpoint to the easy credulity of the modern age. Includes experience in advocacy and debate.
COM 133 Conflict Transformation and Reconciliation (4) How might human communication enable peacemaking both internationally and interpersonally? Special attention paid to theories of dialogue and conflict resolution, as well as differing conceptions of justice as precursor to peace.
COM 135 Studies in Public Discourse (4) Prerequisites: COM 098 or SOC 106 or SOC 107 or POL 040. History through a communication lens examines the controversies, social movements, and persuasive strategies that have contributed to the American experience. The rhetoric of rebellion, abolition, revival, and civil rights will be studied. Some of the discourse chosen for analysis will come from Latin American sources.
COM 140 Studies in Communication Ethics (4) The ethical issues and legal constraints related to communication situations will be studied. Sometimes the course will emphasize case studies from the news, advertising, and entertainment industries. Other times the course will focus more broadly on communication dilemmas, with a focus on issues related to freedom of speech.
COM 145 Organizational Communication (4) Prerequisites: COM 098 or SOC 106 or SOC 107 or POL 040. Examines the relationship between communication and organization through the study of discourse, symbols, and information flow. Attention given to network analysis, conflict and bargaining, power and politics, organizational culture, global work issues, leadership, teamwork, and technology.
COM 190 Practicum (2-4) Prerequisite: COM 006 and COM 098. Practical field experience, usually in the form of an internship, with an organization in the local community. Organizations may include advertising and public relations firms, radio and television stations, newspapers and magazines, and various non-profit agencies.
COM 195 Special Topics (4) A variety of special topics will be offered periodically, including, Politics and the Media, and Technology and Rhetoric. One consistent offering is senior seminar, a capstone course that reviews key texts in the discipline, presents perspectives on a biblical communication theory, and requires four-unit students to complete a senior project.
COM 196 Senior Seminar (2) This capstone course asks students to look back at their studies in communication at Westmont and to look forward living out ideals and skills after graduation. Students will consider issues related to “telling the truth,” book-driven conversation, biblical principles for communication, and the rhetoric of vocation.
COM 196R Senior Seminar-Research (4) This Capstone course asks students to look back at their studies in communication at Westmont and to look forward living out ideals and skills after graduation. Students will consider issues related to “telling the truth,” book-driven conversation, biblical principles for communication, and the rhetoric of vocation. Students will complete a major research project.
COM 198 Independent Research (2-4) Prerequisites: Junior standing; instructor consent. Guided research on appropriate issues in communication studies culminating in a major paper.