The Interpersonal and Strategic Communication specialization offers courses that prepare students to become appropriate, effective, and ethical communicators in their personal and professional lives. With a strong scholarship foundation and culturally competent communication practices, students will increase their knowledge and master skills to improve personal and social relationships, manage interpersonal and intergroup conflicts, lead culturally diverse teams, advance public relations, and enhance the branding and marketing of their workplace. Students have various career opportunities, such as communication specialist, conflict mediation specialist, public relations specialist, human resource specialist, consultant, paralegal, mental health professional, social worker, occupational and physical therapist, and more.
The specialization consists of the following coursework:
Core Course Selection for Interpersonal and Strategic Specialization (5 course units)
- COM 103: Introduction to Communication Theory
- COM 172: Introduction to Media Communication OR COM 265: Emerging Communication Technologies OR COM 292: Health Communication OR COM 310: Theories of Persuasion
- COM 242: Interpersonal Communication
- COM 335: Interpersonal Health Communication OR COM 371: Strategies of Public Relations OR COM 394: Global Health & Risk Communication Campaign
- COM 390: Methods of Communication Research and Analysis OR COM 385: Intercultural Communication (formerly COM 411)
Specialization Electives (4 course units)
- COM 172: Introduction to Media Communication (if not taken as a core course)
- COM 201: Social Media: History and Theory
- COM 240: Public Speaking in Business and Government
- COM 250: Small Group Communication
- COM 261: Introduction to Public Relations
- COM 265: Emerging Communication Technologies (if not taken as a core course)
- COM 292: Health Communication (if not taken as a core course)
- COM 293: Messaging for Health Communication (formerly COM 403)
- COM 300: Intergender Communication
- COM 310: Theories of Persuasion (if not taken as a core course)
- COM 330: Sexual Communication: Identities, Relationships, and Health
- COM 335: Interpersonal Health Communication (formerly 370 Topics Course) (if not taken as a core course)
- COM 342: Lifespan Communication
- COM 343: Looking at Women: Representation, Feminism & Film
- COM 345: New Media and Health Communication
- COM 371: Strategies of Public Relations (if not taken as a core course)
- COM 377: Conflict and Collaboration (formerly COM 370 Conflicts in Context)
- COM 385: Intercultural Communication (formerly COM 411) (if not taken as a core course)
- COM 390: Methods of Communication Research and Analysis (if not taken as a core course)
- COM 394: Global Health & Risk Communication Campaign (if not taken as a core course)
- COM 441: Organizational Leadership
- COM 487: Student-Faculty Advanced Research
- JPW 250: Writing for User Experience (Formerly Foundation of Interactive Writing) *Effective AY 23-24 Undergraduate Bulletin
- JPW 320: Social Media Strategy *Effective AY 23-24 Undergraduate Bulletin
- JPW 335: Health & Environmental Journalism *Effective AY 23-24 Undergraduate Bulletin
Communication Studies Electives (3 course units)
Select three communication courses:
- Topics in Communication Studies (COM 270 or 370), Internship (COM 399), and Independent Study (COM 391) may be taken to complete the major. One unit each of internships or independent studies may count as electives toward the major.