2006–2007 - Florida Institute of Technology

COM 3385 SPECIAL TOPICS IN ORAL COMMUNICATION (3 credits).
Intensive study of one aspect of oral communication. Topics announced prior
to registration.
COM 3425 MASS COMMUNICATION (3 credits). Studies media influence
from political, social and cultural perspectives. Examines theory and media effects
in its survey of film, print, broadcast and new technologies. Discusses the role
of media in society and culture, issues related to the First Amendment and the
implications of media mergers. (HU/SS)
COM 3440 PUBLIC RELATIONS (3 credits). Studies communication
principles and the practices of developing goodwill between a person, firm or
institution and the public; and the means of gaining publicity and influencing
people. Students analyze specific case studies and propose appropriate strategies
and campaigns. Prerequisites: COM 2223 or COM 2224.
COM 3485 SPECIAL TOPICS IN THEORETICAL COMMUNICATION
(3 credits). Studies one aspect of theoretical communication. Topics announced
prior to registration.
COM 3585 SPECIAL TOPICS IN VISUAL COMMUNICATION (3
credits). In-depth study of one or more forms of visual communication. Topics
announced prior to registration. Prerequisites: COM 2501.
COM 4000 THESIS PREPARATION (3 credits). Designed for students who
are beginning to write a thesis or dissertation. Includes sentence and paragraph
strategies, tone and style, documentation, editing and revising. Noncredit for communication
majors. (Requirement: Demonstrated writing ability by examination.)
COM 4026 PUBLISHING AND THE INTERNET (3 credits). Covers
current issues and applications of online and Internet publishing are covered
including researching, designing and authoring effective online documents and
presentations. Includes building an electronic portfolio. Prerequisites: COM 2223
or COM 2224, CSE 1301.
COM 4050 INDEPENDENT STUDY (3 credits). Allows senior communication
majors the opportunity to pursue advanced study in a communication-related
topic of interest. Topics approved and supervised by department faculty. Requires a
formal paper. (Requirement: Program chair approval.)
COM 4085 COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY: ISSUES AND
APPLICATIONS (1–3 credits). Designed for communication majors. Offers
a study of a current topic (or topics) related to technology and communication.
Course content varies from term to term.
COM 4090 COMMUNICATION INTERNSHIP (6 credits). Students work
under the direct supervision of a business or industry professional and in coordination
with the chair of the undergraduate communication program. Students with
99 or more semester hours and a 3.25 GPA in communication courses may apply.
(Requirement: Program chair approval.)
COM 4424 ADVANCED BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL COMMU-
NICATION (3 credits). Topics vary and may include design and composition of
corporate annual reports, instructional design for training seminars, scriptwriting
for video production, advanced managerial report writing, proposal and grant
writing, trade show promotion, and preparation and corporate image design.
Prerequisites: COM 2223 or COM 2224.
COM 4430 RESEARCH METHODS AND MATERIALS IN TECHNI-
CAL AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION (3 credits). In-depth
examination of the methods of data collection and data analysis, and the
research materials used in conducting research in communication. Prerequisites:
COM 2223 or COM 2224.
COM 5000 INTRODUCTION TO TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL
COMMUNICATION (3 credits). Provides background to those students
with limited experience in communication. Explores issues and key documents
including abstracts, reports, proposals, and print and online resources in the field.
Includes an introduction to document design.
COM 5002 WRITING FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES (3 credits). Applies
contemporary rhetorical strategies to the construction of written documents in
a variety of discourse forms. Students analyze and generate professional-level
articles, essays, manuals, proposals and reports to practice and develop expertise
in specific genres.
COM 5050 THEORIES OF HUMAN COMMUNICATION (3 credits).
Examines the full range of communication theories related to such areas as
interpersonal communication, rhetoric, small-group communication, mass communication,
linguistics, persuasion and multiculturalism.
COM 5102 RESEARCH METHODS AND MATERIALS IN TECHNI-
CAL AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION (3 credits). In-depth
examination of the methods of data collection and data analysis, and the research
materials used in conducting research in the discipline of technical and professional
communication (Requirement: Program chair approval or nine graduatelevel
credits in the master’s program.)
COM 5144 SCIENCE JOURNALISM (3 credits). Examines science writing
for various audiences, techniques and rhetorical strategies. The main thrust is on
writing, but also focuses on the function and role of the mass media in the coverage
of science, medicine and technology, with attention to communication theory
and constraints placed on coverage by the media.
COM 5247 TECHNICAL EDITING (3 credits). Advanced theory and
practice of editing technical, scientific and professional prose. Introduces the
principles of copy and rewrite editing, techniques of production and essentials of
preparing manuscripts for publication. Students develop and refine their professional
skills via hands-on, decision-intensive editorial projects.
COM 5249 DOCUMENT DESIGN (3 credits). Includes visual design,
emphasizing information accessibility, organizational purpose and reader/user
needs. Working individually and in teams, students draft, design and critique
technical documents of various kinds (e.g., manuals, software documentation,
tutorials, technical reports and brochures).
COM 5250 PUBLIC RELATIONS (3 credits). Studies communication
principles and strategies applied to the development of goodwill between a firm or
institution and its publics. Students analyze cases and develop a public relations
campaign.
COM 5251 ORAL PRESENTATION FOR BUSINESS AND TECHNICAL
AUDIENCES (3 credits). Examines and practices oral presentation techniques
for business and technical audiences in various professional and organizational
contexts, including audience analysis, planning and organizing content, audiovisual
and graphic dimensions of oral presentations, handling questions and evaluative
criteria.
COM 5252 SEMINAR IN MARKETING COMMUNICATION (3
credits). Introduces students to the theory and practice of conducting effective
marketing communication campaigns and the underlying processes involved in
promotional messages. Focuses on current advertising and persuasive communication
strategies that achieve desired communication outcomes.
COM 5253 CUSTOMER SERVICE AND COMMUNICATION (3
credits). Examines customer contact personnel-consumer interaction. Focuses on
key variables that shape communication behaviors and impact customer satisfaction
levels, diagnosis of problems within these relationships and prescription of
behaviors that increase the communication effectiveness of both participants.
COM 5345 COMMUNICATING IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY (3
credits). Examines the elements of cross-cultural communication by analyzing
the interface between the organization and its cultural environment. Focuses on
developing skills to improve communication across both language and cultural barriers
in a diverse domestic workplace and an international business environment.
COM 5353 ADVANCED MANAGERIAL REPORT WRITING (3 cred-
its). Intensive examination of the function of report writing in contemporary
business, industrial and governmental organizations. Includes audience analysis,
conducting secondary and primary research for managerial purposes and integrating
graphic aids.
COM 5355 SEMINAR: SPECIAL TOPICS IN TECHNICAL AND
PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION (3 credits). Investigates special
topics and current issues in the discipline of technical, scientific and professional
communication. Topics vary based on program needs and student/faculty interests.
(Requirement: Program chair approval.)
COM 5400 INDEPENDENT STUDY (1–3 credits). Offers master’s-level
independent research or directed study under faculty supervision.
COM 5565 TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION
INTERNSHIP (1–6 credits). Students work under the direct supervision of a
business or industry professional and in coordination with the chair of the graduate
communication program. (Requirement: Program chair approval.)
COM 5777 TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION
DESIGN PROJECT (1–6 credits). An individual project of a practical or
applied nature under the direction of a member of the graduate faculty. Satisfactory
completion of either a design project or traditional research-based thesis
(with committee approval) is necessary for completion of the master’s program,
unless the nonthesis option is chosen.
COM 5999 THESIS (0–6 credits). Individual research work under the
direction of a member of the graduate faculty. Satisfactory completion of either a
traditional research-based thesis or design project (with committee approval) is
necessary for the completion of the master’s program and awarding of the degree,
unless the nonthesis option is chosen.
Computer Engineering
See Electrical/Computer Engineering (ECE).
Course Descriptions 175