COMMUNICATION CONCENTRATIONS
THE GENERAL CONCENTRATION
Some Communication majors may wish to focus their coursework on a particular area in the communication discipline. The five concentrations explained below provide a range of choices. However, it is important to note that It is entirely acceptable for communication majors to opt instead to pursue a general concentration. In this approach students can sample widely and follow their own interests in selecting from departmental offerings while fulfilling the requirements of the major. Whether one selects a general concentration or one of the focal areas defined below, communication courses present a strong foundation for a Wake Forest liberal arts education.
COMMUNICATION SCIENCE
Communication science seeks to understand the production, processing, and effects of verbal and nonverbal communication, within many interaction contexts, by developing testable theories that facilitate an increased understanding of the dynamics of human communication. Courses provide an overview of the methods, concepts, and tools by which communication research is designed, conducted, interpreted, and critically evaluated. A primary goal is to help students become knowledgeable consumers and producers of communication theory and research as they explore the patterns of human interaction that govern our daily lives. A concentration in Communication Science would enable students to pursue a professional career or a graduate education whose main focus is research.
HEALTH COMMUNICATION
The Health Communication concentration offers courses of study that investigate health from an ecological perspective, ranging from physiological stress and its impact on relationships to interpersonal contexts, such as patient-provider communication, to mass mediated contexts that involve designing messages for health communication campaigns. A critical consideration of the importance of ethics across these contexts is central to becoming a judicious producer and consumer of health communication strategies. Students who complete a concentration in health communication will be better prepared for careers in health care, health promotion/disease prevention, non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) and other health-related industries.
INTEGRATED COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES
The Integrated Communication Strategies (ICS) concentration educates students about the integration of communications in both online and offline contexts including traditional forms of mass communication such as TV, radio, print, and public speaking as well as new forms such as websites, blogs, digital and social media. The goal is to ensure that all messages emanating from an organization or social movement are coordinated and aligned across all contexts to strengthen and focus the communication. The concentration is intended for those students wishing to pursue a career that involves positioning, defining or promoting organizations and their mission, services and products.
MEDIA STUDIES
The Media Studies concentration considers the production, interpretation, and theoretical analysis of communication that is (1) disseminated to a broad and largely anonymous audience and (2) mediated by the various technological devices that make such broad dissemination of the message possible. Production courses combine technical instruction in the use of the relevant tools with aesthetic instruction in how to use those tools most effectively. The study of the interpretation, criticism, and production of the moving image receives a special emphasis in our curriculum in a core of film studies courses. Practicum work and internship experience enhance the program to prepare students to begin a career in film and media or for further study as graduate students.
PUBLIC ADVOCACY
In line with the Wake Forest University motto, Pro Humanitate, the Public Advocacy concentration combines public speaking, debate, rhetorical theory, and public address with a focus on direct engagement with the community. This concentration prepares students to serve as leaders, practicing what they learn in class and teaching, sharing, and collaborating with others both within and outside of Wake Forest. The Public Advocacy concentration provides students with the critical thinking and communication skills necessary to advance careers and causes in multiple settings: academic, legal, political, entrepreneurial, environmental, medical, and social.
COURSE LISTINGS
COMMUNICATION SCIENCE
Students seeking the Communication Science concentration must take any five (5) courses from the following list.
COM 113 Relational Communication
COM 245 Introduction to Mass Communication
COM 250 Communication in Entrepreneurial Settings
COM 270 Special Seminar
COM 286 Individual Study
COM 287 Research Practicum I
COM 288 Research Practicum II
COM 305 Communication and Ethics
COM 314 Media Effects
COM 321 Communication Technology & Entrepreneurship
COM 322 Video Game Theory and Research
COM 330 Communication and Conflict
COM 331 Communication, Terrorism, and Hostage Negotiation
COM 335 Survey of Organizational Communication
COM 342 Political Communication
COM 350 Intercultural Communication COM 351 Comparative Communication COM 352 Interpersonal Seminar
COM 353 Persuasion
COM 354 International Communication COM 355 Survey of Health Communication
COM 356 Health Communication: Patient-Provider COM 357 Health Communication Campaigns
COM 380 Great Teachers (rotates among concentrations)
HEALTH COMMUNICATION
Students seeking the Health Communication concentration must take five (5) total courses from the following list. At least three courses should come from Group I.
Group I
COM 355 Survey of Health Communication
COM 356 Health Communication: Patient-Provider
COM 357 Health Communication Campaigns
COM 358 Health Communication and Bioethics
COM 361 Family Communication and Health across the Lifespan
COM 370 Special Topic: Interpersonal Relationships and Health
COM 370 Special Topic: Classroom to Community: Enhancing Patient Care with Take the Fight to Cancer
COM 370 Special Topic: Body Image and Communication
COM 370 Special Topic: Health Communication in Developing Countries
COM 380 Great Teachers (rotates among concentrations)
Group II
COM 315 Communication and Technology
COM 349 Advocacy, Debate, and the Law
COM 353 Persuasion
COM 354 International Communication
INTEGRATED COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES
Students seeking the Integrated Communication Strategies concentration must take five (5) total courses from the following list.
COM 114 Group Communication
COM 117 Writing for Public Relations and Advertising (JOU 286)
COM 215 Broadcast Journalism
COM 240 Communication in Entrepreneurial Settings
COM 245 Introduction to Mass Communication
COM 270 Special Seminar: Social Media
COM 270 Special Seminar: Influencing Consumer Behavior
COM 270 Special Seminar: Integrated Communications
COM 305 Communication and Ethics
COM 308 Speechwriting
COM 315 Communication and Technology
COM 321 Communication Technology and Entrepreneurship
COM 335 Survey of Organizational Communication
COM 336 Organizational Rhetoric
COM 342 Political Communication
COM 346 Sport, Media, and Communication
COM 350 Intercultural Communication
COM 353 Persuasion
COM 354 International Communication
COM 357 Health Communication Campaigns
COM 380 Great Teachers (rotates among concentrations)
MEDIA STUDIES
Students seeking the Media Studies concentration must take at least five (5) courses from the following list.
COM 117 Writing for Public Relations and Advertising (JOU 286)
COM 120 Introduction to Film & Media Aesthetics
COM 215 Broadcast Journalism
COM 216 On-Camera Performance
COM 245 Introduction to Mass Communication
COM 247 Foundations of Digital Media (COM 120 req)
COM 250 Communication in Entrepreneurial Settings
COM 270 Special Seminar
COM 284 Production Practicum I
COM 285 Production Practicum II
COM 286 Individual Study
COM 287 Research Practicum I
COM 288 Research Practicum II
COM 304 Freedom of Speech
COM 305 Communication and Ethics
COM 310 Advanced Digital Media (becoming Collaborative Filmmaking) (COM 247 req)
COM 312 Film History to 1945
COM 313 Film History since 1945
COM 314 Media Effects
COM 315 Communication and Technology
COM 316 Screenwriting
COM 317 Communication and Popular Culture
COM 318 Culture and the Sitcom
COM 319 Media Ethics
COM 320 Media Theory & Criticism
COM 321 Communication Technology & Entrepreneurship
COM 322 Video Game Theory & Research
COM 323 Superheroes, Cinema & American Mythology
COM 342 Political Communication
COM 346 Sport, Media, and Communication
COM 351 Comparative Communication
COM 354 International Communication
COM 365 The Imagination Project
COM 370 Special Topics
COM 380 Great Teachers (rotates among concentrations)
PUBLIC ADVOCACY
Students seeking the Public Advocacy concentration must take any five (5) courses from the following list.
COM 117 Writing for Public Relations & Advertising (JOU 286)
COM 270 Special Seminar: Rhetorics of Activism and Advocacy
COM 270 Special Seminar: Where Are You From?
COM 270 Special Seminar: Listening for Understanding
COM 270 Special Seminar: Environmental Risk Communication
COM 282 Debate Practicum I
COM 283 Debate Practicum II
COM 300 Classical Rhetoric
COM 302 Argumentation Theory
COM 303 Directing the Forensic Program
COM 304 Freedom of Speech
COM 305 Communication and Ethics
COM 307 The Prophetic Mode in American Public Discourse
COM 308 Speechwriting
COM 317 Communication and Popular Culture
COM 335 Survey of Organizational Communication
COM 336 Organizational Rhetoric
COM 338 African-American Rhetoric
COM 339 Practices of Citizenship
COM 340 American Public Discourse I
COM 341 American Public Discourse II
COM 343 Presidential Rhetoric
COM 344 Conspiracy Theories in American Public Discourse
COM 345 Rhetoric of Science & Technology
COM 346 Sport, Media, & Communication
COM 347 Rhetoric of the Law
COM 348 Legal Theory, Practice, and Communication
COM 349 Advocacy, Debate, and the Law
COM 370: Special Topic: Where Are You From?
COM 380 Great Teachers (rotates among concentrations)