2013–2014 UNIVERSITY CATALOG - Florida Institute of Technology

COM 3070 PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION FOR EXECUTIVES (3 credits).
Covers interpersonal and group communication in the professions for future executives.
Students prepare and deliver a variety of career-related presentations. (COM)
Prerequisites: COM 1102.
COM 3085 SPECIAL TOPICS IN APPLIED COMMUNICATION (3 credits).
Studies an emerging and significant issue within the field of communication. May
include interpersonal persuasion, mass communication, media law or advances in
publications software. Topics announced prior to registration.
COM 3210 EDITING (3 credits). Includes grammatical terminology and concepts
essential to editing, as well as copy editing techniques for hard copy and online materials.
Also includes the study of varied editorial roles and responsibilities in general
and technical editing, as well as major style-guide requirements. Prerequisites:
COM 2223 or COM 2224.
COM 3231 WRITING ABOUT SCIENCE (3 credits). Designed for both communication
and science majors. Covers the methods of scientific writing, including
ways in which complex scientific topics can be conveyed to popular audiences. Also
includes more traditional types of scientific writing such as scientific journal articles
and proposals. (COM) Prerequisites: COM 2223 or COM 2224.
COM 3242 JOURNALISM (3 credits). Presents the methods and practice of news
gathering, news writing and news editing. Focuses on style, clarity, accuracy and
responsibility in handling news. Emphasizes enterprise, documentation and using
multiple sources. Includes the use of standard reference materials and public
records. Prerequisites: COM 2225.
COM 3250 SCRIPTWRITING (3 credits). Introduces writing script for film,
emphasizing the importance of story, substance and structure. Includes documentary
film writing for television and video. (COM) Prerequisites: COM 1102.
COM 3425 MASS COMMUNICATION (3 credits). Studies media influence from
political, social and cultural perspectives. Examines theory and media effects in its
survey of film, print, broadcast and new technologies. Discusses the role of media
in society and culture, issues related to the First Amendment and the implications
of media mergers. (HU/SS) Prerequisites: COM 2425.
COM 3440 PUBLIC RELATIONS (3 credits). Studies communication principles
and the practices of developing goodwill between a person, firm or institution and
the public; and the means of gaining publicity and influencing people. Students
analyze specific case studies and propose appropriate strategies and campaigns.
Prerequisites: COM 2225.
COM 4000 THESIS PREPARATION (3 credits). Designed for students who are
beginning to write a thesis or dissertation. Includes sentence and paragraph strategies,
tone and style, documentation, editing and revising. Noncredit for communication
majors. (Requirement: Demonstrated writing ability by examination.)
COM 4026 PUBLISHING AND THE INTERNET (3 credits). Covers current issues
and applications of online and Internet publishing are covered including researching,
designing and authoring effective online documents and presentations. Includes
building an electronic portfolio. Prerequisites: COM 2223 or COM 2224, CSE 1301.
COM 4050 INDEPENDENT STUDY (3 credits). Allows senior communication
majors the opportunity to pursue advanced study in a communication-related topic
of interest. Topics approved and supervised by department faculty. Requires a formal
paper. (Requirement: Program chair approval.)
COM 4085 COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY: ISSUES AND APPLI-
CATIONS (1-3 credits). Designed for communication majors. Offers a study of a
current topic (or topics) related to technology and communication. Course content
varies from term to term.
COM 4090 COMMUNICATION INTERNSHIP (1-6 credits). Students work
under the direct supervision of a business or industry professional and in coordination
with the chair of the undergraduate communication program. Students
with 99 or more semester hours and a 3.25 GPA in communication courses may
apply. May be repeated for a maximum of six credits. (Requirement: Junior standing
and instructor approval.)
COM 4130 GLOBAL COMMUNICATION (3 credits). Examines the elements
of cross-cultural communication by analyzing the interface between the organization
and its cultural environment. Focuses on developing skills to improve
communication across both language and cultural barriers in a diverse domestic
workplace and an international business environment. Prerequisites: COM 2223
or COM 2224 or COM 2425.
COM 4220 WRITING PROPOSALS (3 credits). Focuses on the process of writing
both solicited and unsolicited proposals. Encourages students to learn how to identify
opportunities to submit proposals, plan and produce effective proposals, manage
the proposal-writing process, deliver oral presentations based on their proposals,
and follow up after submitting proposals. Prerequisites: COM 2223 or COM 2224.
COM 4225 LINGUISTICS AND WORLD LANGUAGES (3 credits). Provides a
comprehensive overview of the complex structure of language using analysis of
various world languages. Includes sounds and sound patterns (phonology), word
formations and their patterns (morphology), sentence structure (syntax), meaning
(semantics), and the use of language to communicate and interact socially.
Prerequisites: COM 2425.
COM 4424 ADVANCED BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNI-
CATION (3 credits). Topics vary and may include design and composition of
corporate annual reports, instructional design for training seminars, scriptwriting
for video production, advanced managerial report writing, proposal and grant
writing, trade show promotion, and preparation and corporate image design.
Prerequisites: COM 2223 or COM 2224.
COM 4430 RESEARCH METHODS AND MATERIALS IN TECHNICAL AND
PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION (3 credits). In-depth examination of the
methods of data collection and data analysis, and the research materials used in
conducting research in communication. (Q) Prerequisites: BUS 2703, COM 2425.
COM 4440 STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION (3 credits). Examines integrated
marketing communication theories and practices. Teaches strategic thinking across
the functional areas, optimizing communication strategies and creatively developing
and applying tools and tactics. Covers how strategic marketing communication
can be used for branding and to build a strong corporate image. Prerequisites:
COM 3440.
COM 4777 SENIOR DESIGN PROJECT (3 credits). Requires development and
presentation of a real-world team project. Includes a comprehensive plan from
conceptualization, proposal writing, research and strategic planning through the
design/writing of communication materials, plan execution and research evaluation.
Culminates in a written report and oral presentation. (Requirement: Program
chair approval.) Prerequisites: COM 4430.
COM 5002 WRITING FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES (3 credits). Applies contemporary
rhetorical strategies to the construction of written documents in a variety of
discourse forms. Students analyze and generate professional-level articles, essays,
manuals, proposals and reports to practice and develop expertise in specific genres.
COM 5003 PREPARING ACADEMIC DOCUMENTS (3 credits). Facilitates
graduate students’ production of conference and journal papers and initiating a
thesis or dissertation. Employs modeling and group interaction to analyze advanced
academic literature. Noncredit for communication majors.
COM 5100 COMMUNICATION THEORY (3 credits). Examines the full range
of communication theories related to such areas as interpersonal communication,
rhetoric, small-group communication, mass communication, linguistics, persuasion
and multiculturalism.
COM 5110 STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION (3 credits). Provides an overview
of the theory, principles, techniques, practices and trends of public relations and
other corporate strategic communication functions. Includes strategic communication
processes, issue / crisis / reputation management, stakeholder relationship
management and other corporate communication activities.
COM 5120 MASS COMMUNICATION AND SOCIETY (3 credits). Studies media
influence from political, social and cultural perspectives; examines theory and media
effects in its survey of film, print, broadcast and new technologies; and discusses
the role of media in society and culture, issues related to the First Amendment and
the implications of media mergers.
COM 5130 GLOBAL COMMUNICATION (3 credits). Examines the elements of
cross-cultural communication by analyzing the interface between the organization
and its cultural environment. Focuses on developing skills to improve communication
across both language and cultural barriers in a diverse domestic workplace
and an international business environment.
COM 5140 COMMUNICATION RESEARCH METHODS (3 credits). Introduces
research methods used to identify problems and issues of concern; guide strategic
planning, message development and overall communication planning; and evaluate
plans and programs. Covers research theory, conceptual and operational definitions,
measurement, sampling and research design and reporting. (Requirements: Program
chair approval or a minimum of 12 credit hours in graduate degree program.)
COM 5210 INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL COMMUNICATION AND GLOBAL
POLITICS (3 credits). Examines the interactive relationship between international
political communication and international politics. Investigates how the
effectiveness, successes or failures in international political communication affect
the outcome of international events. Applies theories to analyze the background,
process and result of communication cases.
2013–2014 Course Descriptions 247