Definition
Courses bearing the Communication (C) designation focus on the process and systems of language, verbal or non-verbal. Students will pay particular attention to signs and symbols, the nature and transfer of meaning, channels or carriers of communication and their relation to society, and fundamentals of rhetoric. These courses help students understand the encoding and decoding of symbol systems in order to effectively communicate to various audiences.
Goals
- To develop an awareness of the process and system of interpersonal, group or mass communication.
- To understand several of the formal expressive patterns through which humans have attempted to convey meanings.
- To evaluate the quality of evidence, negotiate conflicting positions, and analyze the effectiveness of a text's approach.
- To understand the rhetorical concerns of communication, including audience expectations and appropriate strategies.