Communication Courses – Summer and Fall 2008

Summer 2008

This summer we will be offering one undergraduate communication course:

COMM 103:  Academic Writing & Argumentation, which replaces English 103

COMM 103 focuses on writing.  This course is open to all students and is recommended to any students wanting to improve their communication abilities.

COMM 103: Academic Writing and Argumentation

COMM 103 provides students the opportunity to strengthen their writing in the academic disciplines in preparation for more advanced work.  Topics will include writing logically, clearly and correctly, identifying argumentative patterns, and performing academic research, with practice in creating, revising, and editing papers according to the conventions of formal written English.

Two sections of COMM 103 will be offered this summer, June 16 - July 25:

Fall 2008

This fall we will be offering three undergraduate communication courses: 

COMM 103:  Academic Writing & Argumentation, which replaces English 103,

COMM 321/LEAD 321:   Leadership Communication, and

COMM 325/LEAD 325:  Applied Leadership: Power, Influence, and Persuasion.

COMM 103 focuses on writing, COMM 321 on writing, speaking, teams, and interpersonal leadership skills, and COMM 325 on the practical applications of leadership skills in negotiation, organizational communication, and consulting.

All courses are open to all students and are recommended to any students wanting to improve their communication abilities.

In addition, communication courses will also be offered in Business, Humanities, Kinesiology, Management, and Natural Sciences.

COMM 103: Academic Writing and Argumentation

COMM 103 provides students the opportunity to strengthen their writing and their overall communication abilities in the academic disciplines in preparation for more advanced work. Topics include: constructing logical arguments, identifying argumentative patterns and fallacies, using online research tools, practicing heuristic techniques, revising and editing papers according to the conventions of formal written English, and using MLA and APA documentation systems. Enrollment is open to all Rice undergraduates.

Twelve sections of COMM 103 will be offered this fall:

For more information on COMM 103 courses, contact Anne Dayton or Deborah Barrett.

Click here for more information on COMM 103 from The Rice Thresher.

COMM 321: Leadership Communication

In COMM/LEAD 321, students will learn to project a positive ethos and to communicate clearly and persuasively whether directly through writing or speaking or indirectly through their actions and behavior.  The course will provide instruction and practice in written and spoken individual and team communication and allow students the opportunity to develop the important interpersonal skills that leaders need to communicate in diverse professional contexts and across different cultures.  This course is open to all undergraduates and is cross-listed as LEAD 321 for those students in the Leadership Rice program.

One section of COMM 321/LEAD 321 will be offered this fall:

For more information or with any questions about the course, contact Dr. Deborah Barrett, Director of the Program for Communication Excellence, at 713-348-5394 or by e-mail.

COMM 325: Applied Leadership

Applied Leadership is a leadership skills development course focused on practical applications in negotiation, organizational communication, and consulting. The course explores power, influence, and persuasion in organizational contexts and allows students to practice advanced leadership skills, such as conflict management, change management, negotiation, delegation, and group facilitation, with an emphasis on supervising, persuading, and motivating others. Course work assumes competence in fundamental communication skills, such as are developed in LEAD 321 - Leadership Communication, BUSI 296 - Business Communication, or one of the HUMA or other COMM courses focused on writing and speaking. Students completing this course will be prepared to exercise strategic influence from point in an organizational hierarchy, whether interacting with supervisors, peers, or subordinates.

One section of COMM 321/LEAD 321 will be offered this fall:

Communication courses offered elsewhere on campus:

BUSI 296: Business Communication

Provides an introduction to business, focusing on the strategy and practice of effective communications in business situations. The course includes individual communication skills assessment and development as well as team-based oral and written communication instruction. Space is limited. Registration does not guarantee a space in class. The Jones School will conduct a lottery for over- enrolled classes to create the course roster for the semester. The Jones School will communicate the results within a week of the close of registration.

For more information, click here. 

Further questions?  Contact Rick Schell.

HUMA 201: Public Speaking

This course is designed to give the student exposure to and experience using basic principles and skills of oral communication in the public context. Emphasis will be on the development of speech organization, support, and delivery. Informative and persuasive speeches will be practiced. An important outcome of the course is that the student better understand and appreciate the important role public speaking plays in modern society.

For more information, click here.

Further questions? Contact David Worth.

HUMA 309: Argumentation and Debate

Designed to help students develop communication, analysis, and research skills through the construction and presentation of arguments on questions of fact, value, and policy. Debate assignments will explore current issues. The course emphasizes argumentation exercises and in-class debates.

For more information, click here.

Further questions? Contact David Worth.

HUMA 311/LEAD 320: Rhetoric of Leadership

This course will examine the relationship between leadership and communication within organizations. Explore leadership as a communication phenomenon. Emphasis will be on leadership as a set of relationships that manifest themselves in practices that arise from the implementation of theory. Historical and contemporary leadership and communication theory will be surveyed. An important outcome is an increased understanding of the relationship between communication and leadership.

For more information, click here.

Further questions? Contact David Worth.

KINE 362: Sport Marketing and Promotion

The role of communication media from print to broadcast in the business of sport, sales, marketing, and promotion will be considered at the amateur, collegiate, and professional sports levels, as well as in fitness, apparel, and commercial sport industry.

For more information, click here.

Further Questions? Contact Clark D. Haptonstall.

KINE 466: Media Relations and PR

An applied study of media in business and sport with emphasis on press conferencing, news release, media-athlete relations, print journalism, television contracts, and public relations.

For more information, click here.

Further Questions? Contact Clark D. Haptonstall.

MANA 404: Management Communications

The capstone course for the MANA major. Students must have completed 8 of the required courses for the major. Section 001- Teaches managerial communications with a focus on business strategy and communication problems. Section 002 (offered spring semester only)- Teaches managerial communications with a focus on entrepreneurship as well as management.

For more information, contact June Ferrill, Ph.D. or visit the course website.

NSCI 121: Writing in Natural Sciences

Targeted to freshmen. To begin to develop a professional identity, students will learn to document research or clinical activities, interpret research findings, and summarize their work in the context of a research field. Course will address common errors made by students in laboratory courses. Data will be collected from virtual laboratory activities.

For more information, click here.

Further Questions? Contact Mary Purugganan or Elizabeth Eich.