Curriculum: Associate of Arts in Communication

This course serves as a First Year Experience for Communication majors at UC's regional campuses. The course introduces students to the different sub-disciplines and careers in Communication. Students will become familiar with college resources and begin developing skills for success in Communication courses.

Project-based course, emphasizing problem-solving, model-building, and basic data manipulation in real world contexts. Topics include: problem-solving, statistical reasoning, linear and exponential modeling, and modeling with geometry. Prerequisite: at least 30 on the ALEKS Math test or 420 on the Math Placement Test (MPT) is recommended.

This course introduces foundational business communication principles and practices. Students will learn to analyze different communication situations; to plan and design oral and written communications; to communicate effectively using appropriate formats, styles, and technologies; and to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills in order to achieve desired communication objectives.

Introduction to theory and practice in interpersonal communication. Topics include verbal and nonverbal communication, perception, listening, emotions, relationship development, conflict and power. Focus is on the development of an understanding of fundamental interpersonal dynamics and basic skills.

This course is designed for non-science majors to understand the science behind zombies in popular culture. It will start with the basics of biology and environmental science and expand to include the physical, chemical and biological principles of environmental systems as they relate to a zombie uprising. CDC emergency preparedness will also be covered.

This experiential course covers the basic principles and theories of small group communication. Students will learn to identify behavioral outcomes of others and analyze, adjust and improve on their own communication skills. Students will be equipped to demonstrate understanding of group participation variables including: individual roles, leadership, goal achievement, conflict management, power dynamics, decision making, impact of personal image and business, social and system's theory models.

World Cultures: Spain introduces students to the cultures of Spain and everyday customs including traditions, celebrations, family, religion, food, music, the arts. The course of Spanish history will be examined to discover the interrelations of history, everyday customs, tradition and regional cultures and how they shaped present-day Spain. This course is taught in English.

Special event production utilized as a fundraising management tool is a blend of art and science needed to build awareness, increase member support and raise gifts for non-profit, health and education clients. This course will introduce the fundamentals of resource development: philosophy of philanthropy and the various motivations for giving; process (research, planning, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship & evaluation); and best practices by which managers can utilize event planning to develop an effective fundraising program. Through case studies and guest lectures, students will learn the essentials of how to create high quality events including developing objectives, invitation/marketing materials, selecting and negotiating price with venue and service providers, volunteer management, design, budget, logistic, publicity and promotion strategies and tactics.

This introductory environmental studies course will use an interdisciplinary approach to examine environmental problems and discuss technological approaches to sustainable solutions. Major topics will include energy resources, pollution, waste management, environmental health, agriculture, urbanization, environmental law, policy and regulation, and sustainability.

Introduction to Public Relations is an introduction to the history, theories and practices of the public relations profession. The ethics of PR, and PR as a process that is integral to successful organizational functioning, will be explored. Students will also develop some of the writing, planning and organizational skills of a PR professional.

This course explores contact among North American Indigenous peoples, Europeans, Africans, Latino/as, and Asian/Pacific Americans and the complex societies and cultures that developed from the period of contact through the expansion of North American colonies in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It examines broad themes of the colonial period, comparing historical ideas about social order, politics, economics, and labor with primary sources that show the varied experiences of people based on their race, sex, ethnicity, social and legal status, and religion. This course addresses race and ethnicity in particular as dynamic and complex ideological and cultural processes that shape all social institutions, belief systems, inter-group relationships, and individual experiences. The course also explores the establishment of the United States after a Revolutionary period in which many different sorts of people struggled to apply popular rhetoric of liberty to themselves. It further examines the United States' expansion during the first half of the nineteenth century, and the social, economic, and political controversies over race and the expansion of slavery that ultimately led to the outbreak of the Civil War. Finally, the course addresses continuing regional rifts following 1865, and how policies of Reconstruction hardened social inequalities that continue to shape American conversations about identity, inclusion, and the equal protection of the law.

Advanced Public Speaking is a course that explores practices and develops skills in areas such as audience adaptation, advanced communication strategies, organization, use of technology, active listening, verbal and nonverbal delivery. This course will help students refine their speaking skills and ready them for professional settings.

This is a course, taught in English, about the cultures in the world where French is spoken. The course explores the Francophone world as a political and cultural influence, and as an historical force, using historical and contemporary texts and media.

This is a basic course designed to examine the role of media in contemporary political and cultural contexts. It will cover historical perspectives on the development, nature, and functions of mass media in society, and will deal with governmental regulations, ethical issues, ownership, audience response, professional versus personal use, and career pathways.

The general focus of this course is the American political system, explained by examining American political ideology and the development of the American Constitution. The student will learn the dynamics of the American political system including: the ebb and flow of public opinion and voting behavior; how pressure groups and political parties influence political decisions and public policy. The course also explores issues within the American political system such as civil rights and civil liberties. Finally, the course will trace the historical development of the American political system, including debates between those who drafted the American Constitution and clashes throughout American History between those who interpreted the Constitution differently. The assigned readings complement these themes and deal with concepts, structures, theories, and processes of the American political system and its institutions.

Interviewing for Communication Careers exposes students to the wide range of career choices available in the communication major through in-depth self analysis, research and guest lectures by professionals. Students will prepare a complete portfolio; write a five year career plan;and improve their interviewing skills through mock interviews and activities encompassing employee, employer and persuader perspectives.

Develops awareness of, and sensitivity to, cultural diversity is today's world. Theory and research findings in sociology and other social sciences are drawn upon to examine social structure and culture, cultural diversity, how culture and social structure influence people's behavior, and how to interact effectively across cultures.