Cmty Dev & Apld Econ: Fund of Public Communication

Provides the foundation for understanding communication components, processes, contexts, and applications and introduces research and theory through critique and case study.

Open to Degree and PACE students

The words "communication" and "community" share the same Latin root, communis, which means something in common. Well-trained communicators are essential to healthy, vibrant, democratic, and just communities. This course is an introductory survey of the theories, practices, and professional applications associated with public communication. As such, it places equal emphasis on theory and application. Like most introductory communication courses, this course aims to increase your general communication competences. CDAE’s PCOM major is unique though. In addition to building general communication competencies, this course (and major) aims to help students develop the basic PCOM skills and sensibilities needed to be relevant, responsible, and creative communicators in their communities. We will focus on questions like: Who is my public? What do they want? How can I use communication to engage with, participate in, or serve this public’s best interest? How can I use communication to identify, interpret and critique public messages? Specifically, this course explores communication theories and skills related to interpersonal, small group, intercultural, workplace, nonprofit, mediated, journalism, and strategic communication. Successful completion of this course will serve as a foundation for students interested in advanced studies in PCOM or as a helpful primer for the types of issues and experiences CENT, CCD, and CID students will encounter in their coursework. Course Objectives & Outcomes After completing this course, you should have accomplished the following objectives: 1. Define, explain, and apply PCOM theories that support responsible, creative, and relevant messages.  2. Identify real-world applications of PCOM concepts, theories, and skills. Analyze messages’ ability to support sustainable and ethical communities. 3. Describe how communication shapes and is shaped by our unique identities and lived-experiences, including, but not limited to those related to race, ethnicity and national origins, gender and gender identity, sexuality, class, religion, as well as career goals, academic pursuits, health conditions, (dis)ability, and political orientation. 4. Identify how communication competence can help you as a citizen, family member, student, and professional. 5. Display competent communication behaviors while using small group, written, and oral communication. All students are encouraged to engage with course projects and discussion in a meaningful manner. Please share your unique interests, knowledge, and lived experiences – whoever you are, you are valuable and welcome here! By engaging in course discussions, you will make the course more enriching for you and your colleagues. In addition to teaching, you about communication, I will also do things to help students form connections with one another and in the greater UVM community.

Daily Attendance and Online Quiz

Grades: Weekly Online Quizzes, Participation, and Group Speech