Whether you participate in training, a business meeting, or community event, being a skilled public speaker differentiates an uninteresting experience from an engaging one. Students in this course work to develop and enhance their ability and confidence in presentation skills, empathic listening, and critical thinking. Topics include developing content and organizing ideas using proven techniques for the oral delivery of informative and persuasive speeches. Additional topics include audience analysis, critical listening and thinking, and the use of technology in presentations. In this course, students have an opportunity to improve their public communication skills, as well as plan, create, and deliver presentations.

Digital storytelling drives the Internet and communication. Writers tell stories on every blog, website, and social media post in the ever-expanding online, mobile environment. User-generated content, citizen journalists, vloggers, and influencers increasingly drive views and capture audiences. Students study the hallmarks of effective digital writing, including clear, concise language and ease of reading across multiple platforms and programs. Digital writing strategies and techniques are key, modern workplace skills, and this course provides engaging, real-world opportunities for students to develop their soft skill set.

How is communication conducted between a community and private entities and in what ways can this communication affect decision making and outcome of actions? Preparing students to answer such questions and to understand, appreciate, and apply the fundamentals of public relations (PR) is a goal of this course. Students learn about the relationships practitioners have with both internal and external communities who are affected by, and who affect, an organization's actions or planning. Students also build their command of the basic principles and practices of PR, while applying these concepts to real-world scenarios and a written plan that includes the various phases of the PR process.

Globalization has created a smaller world. Media, culture, commerce, new neighbors, and new family members have drastically increased interactions among culturally diverse people. In this global environment, people need to interact effectively with all types of people, cultures, and world views. In this course, students are provided tools for observing, evaluating, and understanding various cultures to communicate effectively with others. Students explore the impact of culture and personal identity on communication strategies. They distinguish the modes and styles of communication unique to their personal culture from the cultures of others. Students explain how theories of cultural differences can help to anticipate and overcome challenges in intercultural situations. In addition, students apply effective intercultural communication skills to academic, personal, and professional settings.

Public relations (PR) professionals play an important role in promoting a positive image for a wide variety of organizations, such as corporations and schools, and influential individuals, such as celebrities and politicians. In this course, students build on PR proficiencies to apply the principles and concepts of PR, specifically targeting positive publicity of persons, places, and purposes. Students assess the risks and benefits of PR tools to inform and influence the community and assess the use of social media in PR efforts. Through the extensive use of case studies, students also have the opportunity to develop expertise in promoting constructive publicity in PR through analyzing both successes and failures in the real world.

Building brand relationships, fostering interactions between marketers and customers, and reaching consumers through new means of cost-effective technology now often rely on the combined efforts of advertising through marketing and the guidance of public relations (PR) professionals. Students in this course learn to apply the principles and practices of PR using the medium of advertising to achieve desired end results. Outlining the process of a PR plan, students draw upon the combined knowledge and skills in media relations, effective communications, market awareness, and integrated messaging to practice creating leverage and opportunity for organizations, individuals, products, and places.

Students in this course examine major concepts and theories of influence and persuasion. Understanding the psychology of influence and persuasion, and recognizing how we use it in daily interactions—or how we experience it used by others—is a vital component of making positive decisions about relationships and careers, as well as everyday challenges and opportunities in our lives. Students will apply specific theories to common situations to analyze and evaluate the impact of influence and persuasion on their own and others' attitudes, beliefs, and behavior. Particular areas of study include influence and persuasion in daily communication; cultural considerations; media and consumer behavior; and politics and leader influence. Throughout the course, students also apply self-reflection strategies to case studies and their personal experiences and also assess the ethical aspects of influence and persuasion.