COMM 1005 - Careers and Academic Success for Communication and Media
(3 Credits)
This course is designed to give students an overview of the Communication and Media industries and related careers. Students will explore personal values, institutional supports, and academic goals. Class topics will include transition to college, academic planning, and engagement in the CCRI community. Students will understand the baseline requirements necessary for working in the Communication and Media disciplines, and the career and transfer degree options available. This course is required for all students in Communication and Media and should be taken during the student’s first semester in the program.
Lecture: 3 hours
COMM 1010 - Communication Fundamentals^
(3 Credits)
This course examines fundamental concepts related to communicating across a variety of contexts and cultures while emphasizing practical application to everyday life. Through multiple methods (readings, lectures, discussions, activities, research, written and speaking assignments), this course presents predominant theories of and guided experiences with interpersonal, group, and public communication. Focus is on analyzing audiences, identifying/evaluating communication styles, researching effectively, and presenting sound arguments. The real-world skills that students develop through the Work-Based Learning practicum will help them maintain healthy relationships, increase understanding of others, and voice ideas and concerns in public forums.
Lecture: 2 hours, Other: 2 hours
Course completes the following requirements:
Gen.Ed. Ability 1B
Gen.Ed. Ability 4B
Humanities Requirement
URI/RIC Transfer General Education Transfer Opportunity: Yes
COMM 1013 - Celebrity Communication (Taylor's Version)
(3 Credits)
This course will explore celebrity relationships and their influence by studying Taylor Swift and her highly successful audience engagement. Students will learn the history of parasocial relationships, how messages influence fan behavior and why audiences seek this type of interaction. Students will also discover how these relationships helped individuals and groups during the pandemic and can be a source of support in times of crisis.
Lecture: 3 hours
COMM 1075 - Digital, Civic, and Media Literacy
(3 Credits)
This course explores how life, work, and citizenship have been impacted by digital media and culture. Students will learn how to critically analyze and create media in a variety of forms.
Lecture: 3 hours
Course completes the following requirements:
Gen.Ed. Ability 2A
Gen.Ed. Ability 4A
Humanities Requirement
URI/RIC Transfer General Education Transfer Opportunity: Yes
COMM 1110 - Voice and Articulation
(3 Credits)
Designed for those people with speech habits resulting in problems of being heard and understood, this course emphasizes voice development and improvement in articulation for clearer and more effective speech.
Lecture: 3 hours
COMM 1180 - Oral Interpretation
(3 Credits)
This course is designed for students with experience in speaking who are planning careers that require them to read aloud, to be dramatic and to tell stories, possibly to children. The student will learn to interpret prose and poetry orally for the entertainment and edification of small or large audiences.
Lecture: 3 hours
COMM 1201 - Radio Production^
(3 Credits)
Students learn the fundamental skills of radio production and podcasting through instruction and practical work for CCRI Radio. Working as part of the radio station team, students will participate in weekly hands-on planning, production, postproduction, and distribution of streaming audio content, including live radio, podcasting, news reporting, and event production. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
Lecture: 2 hours, Lab: 2 hours
COMM 1203 - Sports Media Communication
(3 Credits)
This course provides an overview of the use of media and communication in sport. It covers a survey of perspectives and addresses the changing landscape of media and communication.
Lecture: 3 hours
COMM 1204 - Sports Broadcasting and Production
(3 Credits)
This course offers students a comprehensive approach to the study of sports broadcasting. Students will learn the basics of producing, writing, reporting, editing, anchoring and podcasting. They will also learn about the changing landscape of sports media.
Lecture: 2 hours, Lab: 2 hours
COMM 1300 - Media Production and Presentation
(3 Credits)
In this course, students will acquire foundational skills in media production and presentation. As a preparation for upper-level courses, students will learn essential techniques to create and produce media as well as craft and deliver effective presentations. This hands-on course will provide instruction and practice in graphic, video, audio, animation, web, and presentation production. Students will begin the creation of a digital e-portfolio that will store and display content from the various courses in the degree program and then curated in the final portfolio capstone course.
Lecture: 2 hours, Lab: 2 hours
COMM 1400 - Social Media Communication
(3 Credits)
This course will explore the history, rise, and growth of social media as a 21st century communication practice. Students will study the advances that led to the creation of social media and just as importantly examine how the use of social media fed its growth. Students will develop social media communication plans and practice digital communication using online tools, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Kickstarter, YouTube, Flickr, Digg, and Tumblr.
Lecture: 3 hours
COMM 1600 - Introduction to Public Relations^
(3 Credits)
The goal of this course is to introduce public relations principles, practices, and emerging trends through classwork and application. Students will explore public relations’ history, evolution, functions and ethics. They will learn public relations strategies and objectives as they practice the different approaches required for communicating with a variety of audiences using industry-wide best practices. Student will learn the importance of accurate research, effective writing, collaboration and critical thinking. The technological changes of public relations and how technology impacts the public relations industry will also be covered as well as how to use a variety of digital tools to create public relations materials. Students will produce a range of assignments that include press releases, pitches, fact sheets/backgrounders, press advisories, and newsletters as well as social media posts. This course also provides a Work-Based Learning (WBL) experience.
Lecture: 2 hours, Lab: 2 hours
Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1010 (may be taken concurrently)
COMM 2010 - Persuasion
(3 Credits)
In this course we will explore fundamental concepts related to persuasion across a variety of contexts while emphasizing practical application to everyday life. Critically evaluate multiple methods (readings, lectures, discussions, activities, research, written and speaking assignments), this course presents predominant theories of and guided experiences with interpersonal, group, and public communication. Students will learn to develop and implement a persuasive campaign that is appropriately adapted to the audience you seek to persuade. Students will develop real world skills from involvement in a philanthropic student service project by engaging yourself in your community, providing service to others, and persuading others to be charitable with their time and resources.
Lecture: 3 hours
COMM 2020 - The Art of Public Speaking: Romancing the Room
(3 Credits)
This course covers the principles of public speaking and audience engagement. Students will learn how to handle speaking anxiety, organize, and deliver a formal presentation, using verbal and non-verbal communication to connect with their audience. During the course, students learn to use their own communication style while adapting their message for a variety of audiences. Students present several speeches in a safe and comfortable environment. Throughout the semester lectures focus on the use of language, narratives, vocal variation, basic techniques for public speaking, and effective methods to overcome the fear of speaking in front of a large audience or small group of people.
Lecture: 2 hours, Lab: 2 hours
COMM 2025 - Interpersonal Communication
(3 Credits)
This course surveys theories and concepts related to communication between individuals. Through participation in course activities and assignments, students will analyze interpersonal interactions in the world around them and apply strategies to improve their own communication style to meet personal, social, and professional goals. Topics include self-concept, perception, effective listening, types of relationships/stages of development, nonverbal communication, and conflict resolution. Emphasis is placed on examining interpersonal communication from diverse perspectives, including age, gender, race, and culture.
Lecture: 3 hours
COMM 2030 - Small Group Communication
(3 Credits)
In this course, students will learn the most recent research findings and the practical tools they need to become productive group members. Students will learn concepts and techniques for work groups, committees, task forces, self-directed work teams, and other small groups with objectives such as finding solutions to problems, producing goods, and creating policies. Communication theory is applied to active classroom participation.
Lecture: 3 hours
COMM 2490 - Field Experience^
(2 Credits)
In this course, students will work off-site at a company and interest area that they are studying. Students will be matched with an opportunity that allows them to apply their skills learned in the classroom and that provides a real-world experience in Communication and Media. (Prerequisite: Last semester and/or permission of instructor).
Lecture: 0 hours, Other: 12 hours
COMM 2500 - Portfolio Capstone
(2 Credits)
In this course, students will create a professional portfolio of representative work that demonstrates their skills and ability in media creation. Through a series of short exercises and assignments, students will assemble a body of work from their course assignments and independent projects to create this comprehensive online portfolio. The course is taken in the last semester of the program sequence.
Lecture: 1 hour, Other: 2 hours
