Hope College | Communication

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Hope College
Department of Communication
Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Communication is to provide sound theoretical and practical curriculum in Communication Studies that will:

enhance understanding of the communication process in various contexts;
prepare students for professional endeavors and graduate study;
motivate students to understand and engage a multicultural global society;
empower students to become ethical and engaged citizens in a democratic society;
help students gain the communication knowledge and skills to live fulfilling and healthy relational lives;
enhance students' education and career preparation by emphasizing transferable critical-thinking skills.

Curricular Goals:

The Communication Department is dedicated to developing a curriculum to accomplish the following goals and objectives:

Goal 1: Promote students' understanding of human communication behavior.

a)      introduce the varied contexts of communication (e.g., interpersonal, small group, organizational, public, and mass mediated)

b)      introduce the applications of communication study (e.g, media broadcasting, public relations, law, politics, social advocacy, interpersonal relationships, intercultural communication, human resources, seminary and graduate study)

c)      develop competency in systematic inquiry by introducing students to multiple ways of knowing (e.g., social science, critical, interpretive, and rhetorical perspectives) and research methods

d)      provide a theoretical foundation for communication practice and policy

Course Options
Communication Process 101
Public Presentations 140
Introduction to Mass Media 151
Analytic Skills 160
Communication and Conflict 231
Media Production I 251
Rhetoric and Public Culture 260
Research Methods 280
Media Production II 352
The Documentary 357
Media Theory 451
Rhetorical and Communication Theory 460

Goal 2: Cultivate students' appreciation for and grasp of moral implications of communication

Course Options

All courses address the ethical and moral implications of communicative decisions and practices by:

a) Examining the ethical, religious, social, and global effects of communication decisions, practices, and outcomes

b) Encouraging students to be moral leaders

Goal 3: Move students along a continuum of appreciation for diversity, from resistance to tolerance to understanding to respect and participation

Course Options
Communication Process 101
Public Presentations 140
Intro to Mass Media 151
Analytic Skills 160
Media Production I 251
Rhetoric and Public Culture 260
Media Production II 352
The Documentary 357
Intercultural and Gender Communication 371
Media Theory 451
Rhetorical and Communication Theory 460

Goal 4: Develop students' competency in the oral, written, and mediated production and presentation of ideas

Course Options
Communication Process 101
Public Presentations 140
Intro to Mass Media 151
Analytic Skills 160
Public Relations 257
Print Media I 255: Introduction to Print Journalism
Rhetoric and Public Culture 260
Research Methods 280
Print Media II 356: Special Skills in Journalism
Media Production I 251
Media Production II 352
The Documentary 357
Communication Internship 399
Media Theory 451

Goal 5: Develop students' competency in analysis and interpretation of media

Course Options
Communication Process 101
Intro to Mass Media 151
Analytic Skills 160
Media Production I 251
Rhetoric and Public Culture 260
Media Production II 352
Print Media II 356
The Documentary 357
Persuasion 360
Film Criticism 395
Media Theory 451

Goal 6: Develop competency in the analysis of relationship dynamics, and the practice of healthy relational communication

Course Options
Communication Process 101
Interpersonal Communication 210
Communication & Conflict 231
Intercultural and Gender Communication 371

Goal 7: Enhance understanding of complex social organizations and leadership

Course Options
Task Group Leadership 220
Organizational Communication 330
Leadership Skills and Perspectives 335

Goal 8: Develop competency in the construction and analysis of arguments and discourse intended to influence beliefs, attitudes, values and practices

Course Options
Public Presentations 140
Analytic Skills 160
Rhetoric and Public Culture
Persuasion 360
Media Theory 451
Rhetorical and Communication Theory 460

Goal 9: Develop competency in the evaluation, synthesis, and analysis of qualitative and quantitative information

Course Options
Analytic Skills 160
Rhetoric and Public Culture 260
Research Methods 280
Rhetorical and Communication Theory 460
Media Theory 451
Cultural Theory 470

Goal 10: Develop competency in evaluating symbolic constructions of culture

Course Options
Communication Process 101
Communication and Conflict 231
Rhetoric and Public Culture 260
Media Theory 451
Rhetorical and Communication Theory 460
Cultural Theory 470