BA in Applied Studies

This is the gateway course for the Applied Studies program. It examines the relationship between occupational and academic competencies and values. Assignments will focus on applying theoretical knowledge in practical ways.

This course explores the communications process from a variety of interfacing cultures and subcultures. Special emphasis is given to each culture's worldview and its impact on intercultural communications, through utilizations of traditional and new media. Students will apply communication theory through case studies and consider the value-added aspects of expanding diversity, equity and inclusion.

In this course, students will address ethical issues in the context of media and communication. They will identify the historical foundations of ethics. They will also apply various approaches to case studies and dilemmas that may occur in a media-related environment. Students will consider how to balance the relationship between personal beliefs and professional behavior.

This course serves as an introduction to the primary genres and rhetorical strategies of professional writing. Students will learn write clear, grammatical, well-structured professional communications. Assignments will require creating both internal and external documents for a variety of audiences.

Prerequisites: ENGU 380 and LBSU 306.

This course provides students with the opportunity to reflect upon their experiences in the applied studies degree program and analyze the relationship between course content, experiences and future goals. They will demonstrate mastery of integrated learning by connecting experiences inside and outside the formal classroom in a formal portfolio of their work.

This course serves as the gateway for the communications and media program. Students examine mediated communication and begin to analyze the relationship between culture, media, and technology. They consider the role of storytelling in multimedia and explore a variety of topics affecting and influenced by mass communication and media. This course provides a solid foundation to prepare students to create solutions in media environments upon completion of the communications and media program.

Designed to provide a more in-depth study of classical and contemporary principles of rhetoric and rhetorical criticism, this course provides concentrated work in speech structure, delivery, and criticism.

This course provides a thorough examination of the theories, practices, effects, and principles of public relations. Students will explore the roles and responsibilities of public relations, such as media relations, ethical considerations, and dissemination of information via technology and social media.They will engage in storytelling that achieves specific strategies and serves intended audiences. Additionally, they will address the role of public relations in civic, community, governmental and global contexts.

In this course, students will explore how organizations apply social media strategies to achieve their goals. They will seek out and evaluate case studies in social media that include best practices and blunders. Topics include social media content development and platforms as well as managing the rapid growth and change in this medium. Students will create a social media strategy for an organization or product.

In this course, students will explore the wide range of creative writing that addresses the convergence of and differences between traditional (print) with new (electronic) media. Students will participate in a number of hands-on experiences with creating, shaping and adapting stories for various media. The course emphasizes electronic publishing opportunities and the treasure trove of new media resources.

The goal of this course is to explore the particular ways that art transforms culture. Technologies, from ancient oral narratives through medieval cathedrals, geographical explorations, public theatres and the printing press to the nearly ubiquitous open access of current electronic media, will be studied as essential to both the creation of the works themselves as well as to their transmittal over space, time and peoples. The course historically contextualizes a number of critically important artistic units of cultural information [epiphanies or memes] in order to demonstrate the process of cultural evolution. The course also highlights the primacy of the imagination and the intertwining roles of creator/artist/adapter, medium chosen and publisher/producer/promoter.

In this course, students will explore the wide range of creative writing that addresses the convergence of and differences between traditional (print) with new (electronic) media. Students will participate in a number of hands-on experiences with creating, shaping and adapting stories for various media. The course emphasizes electronic publishing opportunities and the treasure trove of new media resources.

Prerequisite: ENGU 103 and 104 or their equivalent.

This course examines the meaning of ethical leadership through the analysis of literature. Students will consider and articulate their own ethical positions while evaluating the judgment and actions of fictional characters. The readings will challenge students to expand their understanding of the world and their place in it as leaders.

This course surveys the history of Modern Europe from the Age of Enlightenment to date. Students will explore a number of major events, including the French, Industrial and Russian Revolutions, the birth of capitalism and other ideologies, The Age of Imperialism, the World Wars, Decolonization, the Cold War, the end of Communism and the European Union. This course will focus the lives of people during eras of transition while examining demographic change, political and economic revolution and interrelationships of different nations within Europe.

Students examine one of the most tumultuous times in American history and analyze and interpret the events that form the foundation, not only of our system of democracy, but much of our identity as Americans.

This course examines the cultural and social impact of digital technologies from the perspective of the humanities. In education, business, medicine--in every part of our daily lives, they are the impetus of change. Students will analyze the ways in which digital technologies have and continue to transform the human experience.

The goal of this course is to explore the particular ways that art transforms culture. Technologies, from ancient oral narratives through medieval cathedrals, geographical explorations, public theatres and the printing press to the nearly ubiquitous open access of current electronic media, will be studied as essential to both the creation of the works themselves as well as to their transmittal over space, time and peoples. The course historically contextualizes a number of critically important artistic units of cultural information [epiphanies or memes] in order to demonstrate the process of cultural evolution. The course also highlights the primacy of the imagination and the intertwining roles of creator/artist/adapter, medium chosen and publisher/producer/promoter.

Designed to provide a more in-depth study of classical and contemporary principles of rhetoric and rhetorical criticism, this course provides concentrated work in speech structure, delivery, and criticism.

Prerequisite: ENGU 103 and 104 or their equivalent.

This course examines the meaning of ethical leadership through the analysis of literature. Students will consider and articulate their own ethical positions while evaluating the judgment and actions of fictional characters. The readings will challenge students to expand their understanding of the world and their place in it as leaders.

Understanding and valuing cultural differences assumes greater significance as our world becomes increasingly interdependent. This course explores multicultural issues in organizations highlighting how misunderstandings arise and how they can be rectified or prevented. It focuses on diversity issues (gender, race, and class) in domestic and international contexts, particularly as they apply to leadership, communication, teamwork, decision-making, and problem-solving. Reading, writing, research, and discussion are supplemented with experiential exercises and role-plays.

This course discusses the application of psychological methods and techniques to understand, evaluate, and maximize human behavior in the workplace. Topics will include, but are not limited to individual characteristics, job analysis, selection procedures, counterproductive work behaviors, performance measurement, teams, motivation, and leadership.

A review and analysis of organization development and change. Students will develop an understanding and use of organizational development and change theory from the perspective of systems theory and its constructs. Introduces organization change concepts, principles, values, theories and models.