Comm Studies Program Learning Outcomes

Communication is a complex phenomenon, one central to human life and, as such, one which warrants rigorous and systematic inquiry. Our program is designed to prepare broadly-educated graduates to think systematically, critically, and creatively about individual and social problems from a communication perspective.  Communication studies graduates will have insight into the nature and function of their social world, will be able to express themselves effectively and ethically as citizens of the world, and will recognize their agency to advocate for themselves and their communities.

#1: Employ communication perspectives, theories, and concepts to navigate social interactions [strong emphasis in COMM 388]

• Explain Communication perspectives, theories, and concepts   

• Apply Communication perspectives, theories, and concepts  

• Critique Communication perspectives, theories, and concepts 

#2: Create oral and written messages competently to accomplish communicative goals [Strong Emphasis in COMM 388]

• Locate and use information relevant to audiences, purposes, and contexts   

• Adapt messages to the diverse needs of individuals, groups, and contexts  

• Select communication channels to meet diverse needs of individuals, groups, and contexts

• Reason from evidence to make appropriate, effective, ethical arguments 

• Reflect critically on one’s own messages after the communication event 

#3: Critically Analyze Messages [Strong Emphasis in COMM 388]

• Explain the key arguments, appeals, and ideas of messages  

• Assess the assumptions that underlie the key arguments, appeals, and ideas of messages  

• Make critical connections and distinctions among texts  

• Recognize how rhetors and audiences co-create messages