Communication (COM)
COM F121X Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
3 Credits
Offered Fall, Spring and Summer
This course features the fundamental principles of effective oral communication, emphasizing interpersonal communication as well as public speaking. Through role playing, speeches and evaluations of other speakers, students explore the complexities of communication in today's society.
Attributes: UAF GER Oral Communication
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F131X Fundamentals of Oral Communication: Group Context
3 Credits
Offered Fall, Spring and Summer
Presentational speaking skills: individual and group. Includes verbal/nonverbal skills, critical thinking in selecting and organizing materials, audience analysis and speaking presentation. Group skills include task and relational interaction, required interdependence, working across cultural differences, group decision-making and shared logistics of presentation. Student evaluations are based on nationally normed speaking competencies.
Attributes: UAF GER Oral Communication
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F141X Fundamentals of Oral Communication: Public Context
3 Credits
Offered Fall, Spring and Summer
Speaking skills for individual presentation. Includes verbal and nonverbal skills, critical thinking in selecting and organizing materials, audience analysis, informative and persuasive speaking, and actual presentations. Student evaluations are based on nationally normed speaking competencies.
Attributes: UAF GER Oral Communication
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F181 Introduction to Communication Theory (s)
3 Credits
Offered Spring
Students explore a range of communication theories. The course is organized into six units: (1) Overview, (2) Intrapsychic Communication, (3) Interpersonal Communication, (4) Group Communication, (5) Organizational Communication, and (6) Public Communication. Students also examine different methodological approaches to the study of communication theory.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F210 Argumentation and Critical Thinking
3 Credits
Offered As Demand Warrants
Introduction to argumentation, emphasizing the process of constructing and evaluating sound arguments based on reasoning, evidence, and strategy.
Prerequisites: WRTG F111X.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F211 Introduction to Science Communication: Theory & Practice
3 Credits
Offered Fall
This course provides an introduction to science communication theories, empirical research, contexts and practices. Students are challenged to develop an understanding of science communication as a discipline and practice.
Prerequisites: COM F121X, COM F131X or COM F141X.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F220 Professional Interviewing
3 Credits
Offered As Demand Warrants
The theory and practice of methods in selected interview settings: emphasis on interpersonal communication between two persons, questioning techniques, and the logical and psychological bases of interpersonal persuasion.
Prerequisites: WRTG F111X.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F300X Communicating Ethics (h)
3 Credits
Offered Fall, Spring and Summer
An examination of ethical choices which are communicated in everyday encounters. Examines human moral development from a variety of perspectives, including feminist interpretations. Creation and communication of human values explored through the discussion of a series of contemporary dilemmas.
Prerequisites: Placement in WRTG F111X; junior standing.
Attributes: UAF GER Ethics Req
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F312 Science Communication & the Environment
3 Credits
Offered Spring
Students will explore the internal and external communication factors that influence our understanding of and relationship with science and the environment.
Prerequisites: COM F211.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F313 Science & Intersectionality: Race, Gender and Sexuality
3 Credits
Offered Fall Even-numbered Years
This course introduces students to the complex factors that impact our experience in and connection to science and the environment. Using intersectionality as the framework to guide the discussion, students will consider critical aspects of self, including gender, race, sexuality and disability status.
Prerequisites: COM F121X, COM F131X or COM F141X; COM F211.
Crosslisted with WGS F313.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F321 Nonverbal Communication (s)
3 Credits
Offered Spring Even-numbered Years
Non-lexical behavior in human communication, including consideration of space, physical environment, physical appearance and dress, kinesics, facial expression and non-lexical vocal behavior.
Prerequisites: Any lower-division communication course; WRTG F111X; WRTG F211X, WRTG F212X, WRTG F213X or WRTG F214X.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F330 Intercultural Communication (s)
3 Credits
Offered Spring
The nature and sources of problems in communication that may arise when persons with different cultural backgrounds interact. Emphasis on problems in intercultural communication in Alaska.
Prerequisites: Any lower-division communication course.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F331 Leadership & Team Dynamics (s)
3 Credits
Offered As Demand Warrants
Current research and theory in intergroup and intragroup relations. Topics include the study of leadership, power, group structure, participation and conflict.
Prerequisites: COM F131X, COM F141X; any lower-division communication course.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F351 Communication and the Military
3 Credits
Offered Spring
In this course, students will explore the military as a context for understanding how communication (dys)functions and the impact on service members, intimate partner relationships, parent-child relationships and interactions with the civilian world.
Prerequisites: COM F121X, COM F131X or COM F141X.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F352 Family Communication (s)
3 Credits
Offered Fall
Exploration of the functions of communication in marriage and the family, sequences and patterns of family communication, family communication as a continual process of coping with dialectical tensions, and the complexity of changing family life in Western societies.
Prerequisites: Any lower-division communication course.
Recommended: COM F422.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F353 Conflict, Mediation and Communication (s)
3 Credits
Offered Fall
Examines conflict as a complex communication event, together with the role of the mediator in building constructive outcomes in conflicts. Emphasis on developing skills to engage in mediation.
Prerequisites: Any F100-level communication course.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F356 Gender and Communication
3 Credits
Offered Fall
Basic socialization differences exist in the communication practices of women and men in every culture, resulting in differing cultural constructions of male and female gender. Those differences are addressed in interpersonal, organizational and cultural contexts. Explores cultural female/male dichotomy as well as individual similarities.
Cross-listed with WGS F351.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F380 Women, Minorities and the Media (h)
3 Credits
Offered As Demand Warrants
Basic socialization differences that exist in the communication practices of women and men in every culture are addressed in the interpersonal organizational and cultural contexts. Examination of how women and minorities are portrayed in the mass media, the employment of women and minorities in the media, as well as how.
Prerequisites: COM F131X or COM F141X; junior standing.
Cross-listed with WGS F380.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F400 Professional Internship
1-3 Credits
Offered As Demand Warrants
Practical training in a supervised, professional media environment. Participation at an approved publication, TV or radio station, or other media- or communication-related office agency, organization or business is required.
Prerequisites: Senior standing.
Cross-listed with JOUR F400.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 1 + 6 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
Repeatable for Credit: May be taken 3 times for up to 3 credits
COM F401 Quantitative Research Methods in Communication (s)
3 Credits
Offered Fall
Quantitative research methodologies employed in the conduct of research on communication phenomena.
Prerequisites: Any F300-level communication course; senior standing.
Stacked with COM F601.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F410 Public Engagement in Science Communication
3 Credits
Offered As Demand Warrants
This class offers both theory and practice for public engagement with science (PES). Students will design, execute and evaluate the effectiveness of a PES event and activity using the Theory of Change.
Prerequisites: COM F121X, COM F131X or COM F141X; COM F211.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F422 Communication in Interpersonal Relationships (s)
3 Credits
Offered Spring
COM F422/F622 explores and emphasizes the ongoing co-construction of the relationship as communicative action. Topics include interpersonal relationships generally, patterns of coming together, relationship maintenance, relational and personal growth in relationships and relational conflict from a variety of paradigmatic and ontological positions.
Prerequisites: WRTG F111X; WRTG F211X, WRTG F212X, WRTG F213X or WRTG F214X.
Stacked with COM F622.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F425 Communication Theory (s)
3 Credits
Offered Fall
COM F425/F625 explores theories of human communication, to acquaint students with the historical evolution of the discipline. Topics covered include the nature of communication as a discipline, critical and scientific inquiry and major paradigms or perspectives within which communication theories are created.
Prerequisites: Any lower division COM course.
Stacked with COM F625.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F431 Public Relations Campaigns
3 Credits
Offered As Demand Warrants
This course focuses on the application of public relations principles and practices, which is the research, planning and execution of the public relations campaign. It includes public relations writing for news releases and press kits, radio, television, and cable production, web and new technologies production, writing for newsletters and magazines.
Prerequisites: ABUS F263.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F432 Professional Public Speaking
3 Credits
Offered As Demand Warrants
Professional clear effective speaking. Uses evaluation criteria and assignments to build speaking competencies. Professional preparation for students whose career path includes public speaking.
Prerequisites: COM F131X or COM F141X; senior standing.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F433 Public Relations Theory and Practice
3 Credits
Offered Fall
Public Relations Theory and Practice examines current theoretical, methodological and practical approaches guiding public relations research and practice. Topics explored in this course include foundational public relations theories, critical perspectives of public relations, as well as theories within the many subdisciplines of public relations research.
Prerequisites: COM F121X, COM F131X or COM F141X; COM F181; COM F330; COM F356.
Stacked with COM F633.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F435 Political Media and Discourses of the American Right (s)
3 Credits
Offered As Demand Warrants
This class uses "hands-on" discourse analytic techniques of student-collected media data in order to examine whether or not there is a unified rhetorical style associated with the American Right; the nature of the relationship between a message, its form and persuasion; and how moral stance are taken in political contexts.
Prerequisites: COM F131X or COM F141X; WRTG F111X; WRTG F211X, WRTG F212X, WRTG F213X or WRTG F214X.
Cross-listed with ANTH F435; LING F435.
Stacked with ANTH F635; COM F635; LING F635.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F441 Persuasion (s)
3 Credits
Offered As Demand Warrants
Examination of communication situations which involve attempts to modify the beliefs, attitudes, values, intentions or behaviors of another individual or group of individuals. Explores the process, methods and ethics of attempts to affect change via persuasive communication.
Prerequisites: any F300-level communication course.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F442 Strategic Interviewing for the Career You Want
1 Credit
Offered Fall and Spring
Provides a practical one-credit, career-focused online asynchronous experience for students. Students will gain the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to research and understand what organizations are looking for in hiring, the dynamics of the interview process, and communication aptitudes and skills that distinguish top candidates.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F445 Organizational Communication (s)
3 Credits
Offered Fall
Examines current foundational theoretical and methodological approaches to the construction of organizations via communication. Acknowledging historical, cultural and structural contexts, this course includes functional (message flow) as well as interpretive (metaphor, narrative) approaches to the study of organizational communication.
Prerequisites: COM F131X or COM F141X; any lower-division communication course.
Stacked with COM F645.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F462 Communication in Health Contexts (s)
3 Credits
Offered Spring
Communication within the context of the healthcare exchange. Problems in health communication examined as well as how problems are complicated by aspects of diversity. Communication between healthcare professionals, between healthcare providers and healthcare consumers. Apply theory by designing, launching and evaluating the effectiveness of health campaigns.
Prerequisites: Any F300-level communication course; WRTG F111X; WRTG F211X, WRTG F212X, WRTG F213X or WRTG F214X.
Stacked with COM F642.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F467 Communication Activism, Advocacy and Social Movements
3 Credits
Offered As Demand Warrants
This course will delve into activism and social change from a local and global perspective in order to enhance students’ perspectives of social change as it manifests via communication. This course will also introduce and analyze activist rhetoric, strategies for social justice and methods for communicative organizing.
Prerequisites: COM F121X, COM F131X or COM F141X.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F475 Applied Communication in Training and Development (s)
3 Credits
Offered Fall Even-numbered Years
Applies communication theory and research to organizational settings. Includes the identification and assessment of problems and opportunities that would benefit from the application of communication interventions including training, development and transformation technologies.
Prerequisites: Any F300-level communication course; WRTG F111X; WRTG F211X, WRTG F212X, WRTG F213X or WRTG F214X.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F482 Capstone Seminar in Communication (s)
3 Credits
Offered Spring
Original research to demonstrate ability to read and understand social research, synthesize information, formalize a research question and use research skills. This senior capstone course requires a research project presented in a public speaking forum.
Prerequisites: COM F131X or COM F141X; COM F401; WRTG F111X; WRTG F211X, WRTG F212X, WRTG F213X or WRTG F214X.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F492 Seminar
1-6 Credits
Lecture + Lab + Other: 1-6 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
Repeatable for Credit: May be taken 15 times for up to unlimited credits
COM F498 Undergraduate Research
3 Credits
Lecture + Lab + Other: 0 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Pass/Fail Grades
Repeatable for Credit: May be taken unlimited times for up to 9 credits
COM F600 Introduction to Professional Communication
3 Credits
Offered Fall
An introduction to professional practices important to communication careers. Professional writing and editing methods and techniques used in academic and/or professional careers. Development and presentation of professional reports, which would include quantitatively- and qualitatively-based support. A.P.A. style guide will be covered.
Prerequisites: Enrollment in M.A. in Professional Communication.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F601 Quantitative Research Methods in Communication
3 Credits
Offered Fall
Quantitative research methodologies employed in the conduct of research on communication phenomena.
Stacked with COM F401.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F602 Communication Research Methodologies: Human Science
3 Credits
Offered Spring
An introduction to research using a constructionist epistemology and the methodologies of the human science contexture. Includes evaluation and preparation of research using a variety of methodologies and to employ the data collection techniques that are implied by those methodologies.
Prerequisites: COM F601; COM F625.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F622 Communication in Interpersonal Relationships
3 Credits
Offered Spring
COM F422/F622 explores and emphasizes the ongoing co-construction of the relationship as communicative action. Topics include interpersonal relationships generally, patterns of coming together, relationship maintenance, relational and personal growth in relationships and relational conflict from a variety of paradigmatic and ontological positions.
Prerequisites: Enrollment in M.A. in Professional Communication degree.
Stacked with COM F422.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F625 Communication Theory
3 Credits
Offered Fall
COM F425/F625 explores theories of human communication, to acquaint students with the historical evolution of the discipline. Topics covered include the nature of communication as a discipline, critical and scientific inquiry and major paradigms or perspectives within which communication theories are created.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing.
Stacked with COM F425.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F631 Teambuilding
3 Credits
Offered As Demand Warrants
Small group communication theory and methods linked to professional applications. Ways to create, maintain and reward productive work teams. Face-to-face and mediated group sessions will be discussed as well as the impact of professional work groups on organizational teambuilding.
Prerequisites: COM F600.
Recommended: COM F625.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F633 Public Relations Theory and Practice
3 Credits
Offered Fall
Public Relations Theory and Practice examines current theoretical, methodological and practical approaches guiding public relations research and practice. Topics explored in this course include foundational public relations theories, critical perspectives of public relations, as well as theories within the many subdisciplines of public relations research.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing.
Stacked with COM F433.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F635 Political Media and Discourses of the American Right
3 Credits
Offered As Demand Warrants
This class uses "hands-on" discourse analytic techniques of student-collected media data in order to examine whether or not there is a unified rhetorical style associated with the American Right; the nature of the relationship between a message, its form and persuasion; and how moral stance are taken in political contexts.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing.
Cross-listed with ANTH F635; LING F635.
Stacked with ANTH F435; COM F435; LING F435.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F642 Communication in Health Contexts
3 Credits
Offered Spring
Communication within the context of the healthcare exchange. Problems in health communication examined as well as how problems are complicated by aspects of diversity. Communication between healthcare professionals, between healthcare providers and healthcare consumers. Apply theory by designing, launching and evaluating the effectiveness of health campaigns.
Prerequisites: Enrollment in M.A. in Professional Communication degree.
Stacked with COM F462.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F645 Organizational Communication
3 Credits
Offered Fall
Examines current foundational theoretical and methodological approaches to the construction of organizations via communication. Acknowledging historical, cultural and structural contexts, this course includes functional (message flow) as well as interpretive (metaphor, narrative) approaches to the study of organizational communication.
Stacked with COM F445.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F661 Mentored Teaching in Communication
1 Credit
Offered Fall and Spring
Mentored teaching provides consistent contact on course-related issues between teaching assistants and mentoring faculty. May be repeated up to four times for credit.
Prerequisites: Enrollment in M.A. in Professional Communication; award of teaching assistantship in communication.
Special Notes: Teaching assistants are required to be enrolled in a mentoring teaching section while teaching.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 1 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Pass/Fail Grades
Repeatable for Credit: May be taken 3 times for up to 4 credits
COM F675 Training and Development Communication
3 Credits
Offered Fall Even-numbered Years
Training and Development Communication offers students practical, current understandings of planned training, development and transformation processes as they are applied in the organizational setting. The information and class projects will help prepare training and development specialists, consultants and others whose interest is in this growing communication field.
Prerequisites: Enrollment in M.A. in Professional Communication degree.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F680 Communication and Diversity in the Professional World
3 Credits
Offered Spring Odd-numbered Years
Case study methods applied to the ever-expanding problems of communication in a changing workplace. The diversity of gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, physical ability, sexual orientation and age are reshaping the professional world at every level and communication professionals are increasingly called upon to formulate ways of accommodating this change.
Prerequisites: Enrollment in M.A. in Professional Communication degree.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F682 Seminar in Communication
3 Credits
Offered Fall and Spring
A variable content seminar intended to give students an opportunity to work closely with communication faculty in the study of topics, ideas or methodologies significant to the communication discipline (e.g., relational conflict, social construction, narrative research, etc.).
Prerequisites: Enrollment in M.A. in Professional Communication degree.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
COM F692 MFA Seminar
3 Credits
Offered As Demand Warrants
Lecture + Lab + Other: 1 + 4 + 0
Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus
Repeatable for Credit: May be taken 98 times for up to unlimited credits
COM F698 Non-thesis Research/Project
1-6 Credits
Lecture + Lab + Other: 0 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Pass/Fail Grades
Repeatable for Credit: May be taken 6 times for up to 6 credits
COM F699 Thesis
1-9 Credits
Every candidate for the communication concentration of the master's degree in professional communication will complete a thesis project. The requirement consists of an original piece of communication research directed by a member of the graduate faculty in the communication department. The completed and accepted thesis will be presented in an appropriate public forum.
Lecture + Lab + Other: 0 + 0 + 0
Grading System: Pass/Fail Grades
Repeatable for Credit: May be taken unlimited times for up to 99 credits
