Course Requirements

Communication Intensive Course List

(Updated June 2024)

Course Listing and descriptions:

AFLS 341H3 Honors Proposal Development and Research Methods 

This course will include creative process, ethics, proposal writing, literature review, qualitative and quantitative/experimental design, scientific theory and methods, data collection, and analysis. At the end if this course, students will have developed a proposal for their honors thesis. The course also offers an opportunity for students to present their proposals orally as preparation for their proposal meeting. Prerequisite: Sophomore, junior or senior standing. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

AFLS 39903 Professional Growth and Critical Career Skills

The MERIT Profile will be utilized to identify students behavioral and character profiles so they may "know themselves" based upon strengths and tendencies. Throughout the term, students will be engaged in topics to help them identify their core values and strengths and develop their weaknesses. Course topics will include adjusting to mistakes, cast off the negatives, verifying your values, scheduling priorities, building character, framing decisions/choices, personal improvement plans, and more. Upon course completion students should be able to utilize personal leadership approaches, strategic thinking and behavior, critical thinking and problem identification techniques and verbal and written communication to effectively convey their suitability specific feasible careers. Prerequisite: Junior standing. (Typically offered: Fall)

ACOM 31403 Communicating Agriculture to the Public/ACOM 314H3 Honors Communicating Agriculture to the Public 

An overview of public communications theory and practices in the agricultural, food, and life sciences with a particular focus on technical writing, public relations and media relations writing, campaign planning, public speaking, and various mass media communication techniques, including print, broadcast, electronic, and social media. (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer)

ACOM 43403 Communication Campaigns in Agriculture

Students will develop understanding of the principles, practices and applications of social marketing, integrated marketing communications, advertising and public relations as they pertain to developing communication campaign strategies for the agricultural industry. Students will develop a communication campaign for an agricultural company and/or entity focused on a specific product or service. Prerequisite: Junior standing or higher, ACOM 42403, ACOM 32403, ACOM 31403, and (ACOM 21403 or AGLE 21403), or instructor permission. (Typically offered: Spring Odd Years)

AGED 41203 Issues in Agriculture

Lecture and discussion on local, regional, national and international issues related to agricultural policy, ethics, environment, society, and science. Designed for students with at least six hours of upper division agricultural science courses. Prerequisite: Junior standing. (Typically offered: Fall)

CSES 30203 Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences Colloquium

A communication-intensive course covering topics in agronomy and environmental, soil, and water science with particular emphasis on spoken communication but also including written communication, group activities, professionalism, ethics, problem solving, and information retrieval. A student-oriented class with collaborative participation. Colloquium workshop: 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: SPCH 10003 and Junior or Senior standing only. (Typically offered: Fall)

SPCH 10003 Public Speaking/SPCH 100H3 Honors Public Speaking

Application of the communication techniques needed to organize and deliver oral messages in a public setting. Emphasis given to theory and practice of message strategies and preparation, audience analysis, presentational skills including multimedia support, speech criticism, and the listening process. (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer)

COMM 23003 Advanced Public Speaking

Continuing study of the invention and adaptation or oral discourse to the needs of listeners. Consideration of the problems of communication in platform presentation. Prerequisite: SPCH 10003. (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer)

COMM 23203 Interpersonal Communication

Personal and interpersonal factors affecting communication in everyday life. Emphasis upon ways in which interpersonal perception, physical environment, semantic choices, and nonverbal cues affect communication primarily in the context of work, family, and other personal experiences. (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer)

COMM 23403 Introduction to Small-Group Communication

An introduction to procedures used in exchanging information, solving problems, determining policies, and resolving differences in committees and other small groups. Prerequisite: SPCH 10003. (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer)

COMM 33803 Persuasion

Introduction to theories of persuasion with emphasis on application and effect. Prerequisite: SPCH 10003 and COMM 23303, or instructor permission. (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer)

ENGL 20003 Advanced Composition

Review course in English composition. Exemption for this course may be granted for certain majors that require it by a grade of at least a "B" in ENGL 10103 and ENGL 10203 (or equivalent courses from an accredited institution), by achieving a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Language and Composition Examination and the AP Literature and Composition Examination, or by achieving a 6 HL or 7 HL on the IB Examination in English. Prerequisite: ENGL 10103 and ENGL 10203. (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer)

ENGL 20133 Essay Writing

Through assignments in Creative Nonfiction, from memoir to personal journalism, students will learn how form affects content, and develop their personal voice and their ability to use rhetorical techniques and strategies in all forms of writing. Prerequisite: ENGL 10103 and (ENGL 10203 or ENGL 10303 or equivalent). (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

ENGL 30503 Technical and Professional Writing

Intensive practice in such types of writing as processes, descriptions of mechanism, abstracts, and laboratory and research reports. The criteria for effective written exposition in the scientific areas, including agriculture and engineering. Prerequisite: ENGL 10103 and ENGL 10203 or equivalent. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

STEM 20003 The Art of STEM Communication

It is widely known that breakdown of communication contributes to mistrust and misunderstanding of the scientific enterprise. In this dynamic, interdisciplinary course including guest lectures, socio-scientific issues, and theatre-style methods, students will learn to communicate complex STEM topics clearly and effectively using research-based practices from the field of education. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)