Communication Studies Courses

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COM 1000 - Introduction to Communication Studies

Credits: 3 (Minor Track Tip: CORE course option. Offered Spring, Fall semesters and Summer B session.) An introduction to various theoretical perspectives for understanding human communication. (S)  COM 1000 has been designed to introduce students to the study of human communication from a wide range of viewpoints. The first section of the course introduces foundational principles of communication theory: general principles and the elements of speech communication, perception, language and verbal symbols, nonverbal activities, and listening. Our second section applies these principles to the various levels of communicating, i.e. interpersonal, small group, organizational, and leadership. The third section covers communication and persuasion in public forums such as public speaking and mass media while our fourth section covers communication in specific contexts such as intercultural and gender situations.

COM 4022 - Health Communication

Credits: 3 (Minor Track Tip: COM 4022 can count as hours applied to the required 9 hours at 3000 level or higher; Offered Fall Semester only.) Survey of theory, research and practice of communiciation in the contexts of health care and health promotion. GR-E. This class is currently taught in the Fall Semester and explores doctor-patient communication, stigma and illnesses, death and dying, therapeutic listening and the medical interview, non-verbal communication in the medical context, and other current medical topics and issues.

COM 4930 - Special Topics

Credits: 3; Prereq: COM 1000 or equivalent. Repeatable with change in content up to a maximum of 6 credits. (Minor Track Tip: COM 4930 can count as hours applied to the required 9 hours at 3000 level or higher; see individual listings below for track planning.) Seminar study of theory and research in a specific area of communication. Special topics include Family Communication, Gender Communication and Legal Communication. Please check schedule of classes for for the current semester's topic.

SPC 2300 - Introduction to Interpersonal Communication

Credits: 3 (Minor Track Tip: CORE course option. Offered Spring and Fall semesters.) A study of communication processes in dyadic relationships from a transactional perspective. The study of how two people interact with one another and how factors such as listening skills, gender, culture, etc. influence that communication.

SPC 2351 - Listening

Credits: 3 (Minor Track Tip: SPC 2351 can count as hours applied to the required final 3 hours toward a minor; Offered Spring Semester.) Theory and practice in responsible, participatory listening; principles of listening for both literal comprehension and critical evaluation of ideas in response to various types of spoken and nonverbal messages. Listening is a class that can help students improve test taking abilities, memory, interviewing skills, interpersonal relationships, and skills working in small groups. Listening will help students listen more effectively for a wide variety of purposes, from therapeutic to critical and discriminative thinking. This class could help increase memory skills and critically evaluate research and information. Content covers the important role of listening in communication, developing individual listening skills in 10 areas of listening and enhancing notetaking and test taking abilities.

SPC 2594 - Forensics Lab

Credits: 1; repeatable up to 3 credit maximum; Prereq: Satisfactory completion of one semester of intercollegiate forensics participation at the University of Florida before first registration in course. Participation in intercollegiate debate and individual speaking. See the UF Speech and Debate Team Website.

SPC 2600 - Introduction to Public Speaking (Click for Syllabus)

Credits: 3 (Minor Track Tip: CORE course option. Offered Spring and Fall semesters, as well as Summer A and B sessions.) Theory and practice in presenting public speeches; determination of communication purpose(s) and adaptation of organization, evidence, language and other message characteristics for designated audiences.

SPC 3602 - Advanced Public Speaking

Credits: 3; Prereq: SPC 2600 or equivalent. (Minor Track Tip: CORE course option. Offered Spring Semester.) Study of principles and methods of selected forms of public speaking for various purposes, audiences and contexts. The purpose of this class is to further develop student speaking and listening skills. This is a performance class that places emphasis on the student's ability to integrate classroom material into effective presentations. The perfect course to continue improving those newly obtained public speaking skills, to serve as a 3000-level elective for College of Liberal Arts & Sciences majors, and complete an outside concentration area for College of Journalism & Communications majors.

SPC 3513 - Argumentation

Credits: 3; Prereq: SPC 2600 or permission of instructor. (Minor Track Tip: SPC 2351 can count as hours applied to the required 9 hours at 3000 level or higher; Offered Fall Semester.) Implementation of principles and methods in advocating factual claims and policy proposals; propositional analysis, evidence as demonstration, effecting reasoning processes to become experimental for listeners and ethics in controversy. Argumentation will help students Improve presentation and interpersonal skills, understand and use methods for developing claims and proposals, learn how to demonstrate evidence. This class also can develop skills to analyze oral arguments, propositions, and reasoning.

SPC 4425 - Small Group Communication

Credits: 3; Prereq: COM 1000. (Minor Track Tip: SPC 4425 can count as hours applied to the required 9 hours at 3000 level or higher; Offered Fall Semester.) Small Group Communication is a fluid, dynamic, interpersonal process that occurs in various communication situations. Are you prepared to apply the principles of group dynamics in your chosen career? Do you understand the processes of interpersonal communication in dyadic or group situations? Can you use additional skill development in your oral communication techniques? Would you like to develop a greater understanding of non verbal communication skills? This course can help you do all of these things. It can be used as an upper level "elective" in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. It can also be used as a course in the outside area of "speech" for students in the College of Journalism and Communications.

Given the complexities and interrelationships that characterize contemporary life it is increasingly important to understand the varieties of group communication. Understanding these contexts can enrich the fabric of your personal life as well as make you more effective in your employment and professional career. Small Group Communication will help you understand the complex dynamics of group communication and explore the application of group processes in employment contexts through the utilization of technical group and team driven tasks. Students can also practice styles and principles of leadership in group modalities and grasp the dangers inherent in groupthink practices. This course can help students define the different types of groups that exist in modern culture such as teams, technical groups, dyads, debates, panel discussions and symposiums.

SPC 4710 - Patterns of Intercultural Communication

Credits: 3; Prereq: COM 1000 or equivalent. (Minor Track Tip: SPC 4710 can count as hours applied to the required 9 hours at 3000 level or higher; Offered Fall Semester.) Exploration of practices and difficulties of communication between and among people of contrasting cultures; investigation of theory and research by which intercultural communication problems can be mitigated. (S, I) GR-E.

Are you planning a career that will require you to communicate and relate with persons from diverse cultures? Are you prepared to adopt to norms and expectations of cultural integration in the "shrinking global village"? Would you like to better understand the cultural differences of gender, race, ethnic groups, and mini-cultures? Are you aware of the causes and effects of intercultural conflict in the world?

Intercultural Communication will help you understand cultural sensitivity and cultural diversity and improve your intercultural communication competence. This class can also help students develop skills to relate to persons with different world views, verbal codes, and body language, assess the challenges and rewards of cross-cultural personal relationships and intercultural marriages, and increase your ability to create shared symbols and shared meaning with others.

Barriers between people and diverse cultures exist because of a lack of trust or the unwillingness to interact and discover the potential for developing relationships, working together, and living side by side in harmony. In most cases, if we look for the uniqueness and value of differences as well as the commonalities, we see the rewards of initiating, navigating, and refining intercultural experiences. These challenges are addressed during the study of Intercultural Communication.

Dial Center for Written and Oral Communication

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Dial Center for
Written and Oral Communication

402 Rolfs Hall
P.O Box 112032
Gainesville FL 32611-2032
Phone: 352-392-5421
Fax: 352.392-5420