Communication
Speak Up and Be Heard
What kinds of careers can you enter with a communication degree?
Public relations specialist
Performing arts
Media talent, sales or management
Digital or brand strategist
Political campaigns
What's the Difference at DWU?
- Develop your natural talents by learning the true nature of communication, the most fundamental of human traits.
- Pursue your area of passion: advocacy, student leadership, theatrical performance, persuasion. interpersonal communication, writing with clarity and precision or others.
- Follow in the footsteps of George McGovern, an award-winning member of the DWU debate team.
- Learn from faculty with experience as professional speakers and writers.
Communication Courses
Check out the courses you'll complete as a communication major.
DMD 345 Desktop Publishing
3 Hours
This course provides instruction and experience in desktop publishing. Students will design, create and edit documents using Adobe InDesign.
SOC 312 Methods of Social Research
3 Hours
This course is an introduction to the research process as applied to social and psychological subjects. Students will study problem formulation, research design, instrument design, project administration, data analysis and interpretation, report writing and issues in research. A research project is required. Students interested in obtaining a social work license in South Dakota or graduate study in sociology need this course.
ENG 215 Business and Technical Writing
3 Hours
Students will be introduced to professional expectations for written communication in the workplace and on the Web. Students will develop an understanding of purpose and audience while writing and revising a variety of goal-oriented projects. In preparation for a research project, students will develop a variety of texts, including memos, letters, analytical reports, presentation and proposals. Prerequisite: Successful completion of ENG 111.
DMD 101 Introduction to Design
3 Hours
This foundation course combines studio work with classroom instruction. Using the elements and principles of design, students work in various black-and-white and color media while developing drawing skills. Along with learning and applying professional presentation skills and craftsmanship, the development of ideas and problem-solving skills are the focus of this course. This is a studio course requiring extended hours.
COM 470 Capstone in Communication
3 Hours
This course is an advanced seminar and capstone course for communication majors. Students select a problem with contemporary communication culture with the aid of the instructor and draw upon their knowledge and research to develop a solution to the problem. The approach should reflect the beliefs, attitudes and values of the discipline. An oral and visual presentation of the problem and solution should reflect a degree of skill and competency as an effective communicator. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
COM 370 Advanced Persuasive Speaking
3 Hours
Students will investigate the role of persuasion in society, study the theories of argumentation, and prepare and deliver speeches to persuade, including indictment and proposition speeches and policy debates. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
COM 330 Organizational Communication
3 Hours
This course is about participating in the process of organizing. Organizational communication, as a field of study, analyzes how the actions of people inside and outside organizations are coordinated and controlled to achieve collective outcomes; it is also concerned with the way individuals are shaped by their interactions with the organizations around them. This course will focus on how communication is key to understanding how organizations work. By better understanding how organizations work, we can change them and better control our own experiences with them.
COM 320 Multicultural Communication
3 Hours
Students will examine how communication is a major factor in bridging cultural differences. The operating premise is that communication both shapes and is shaped by culture. Students will examine the roles of nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, socioeconomic status, age, language, etc. in cross-cultural interaction. This class will challenge students to think about their own cultural assumptions.
COM 315 Principles and Public Relations
3 Hours
Public relations Theory and Practice will form the two emphases of the course. Theory will be explored and discussed as foundation for the application of public relations concepts and strategies. Practice will be emphasized through a semester-long project in which students will be responsible for working with organizations in order to develop and implement realistic PR campaigns which reflect awareness of the significant knowledge and behaviors to achieve effective public relations.
COM 240 Business and Professional Communication
3 Hours
This is a skills-based course in which students learn how to organize, adapt and critically evaluate communication competencies in many different types of business and professional settings. The course includes an introduction to organizational communication theories and concepts, critical analysis of information, technologies and media literacy, audience analysis, and demonstration of public presentation skills.
COM 230 Communication Theory & Criticism
3 Hours
This course introduces students to communication as an academic field of study. It focuses on six major traditions within the field: public communication, mass media, organizational communication, public relations, small group, and interpersonal. Students will understand how communication constitutes social life and compare and contrast different perspectives and their application to social, career and personal goals.
COM 210 Interpersonal Communication
3 Hours
Students study the theories of one-on-one communication and develop practical skills. Areas of study include perception, individual identity, relationship dynamics, family dyamics and diversity. The goal of the course is to make students better communicators in a setting that does not focus on public speaking.
COM 205 Communication, Media, & Society
3 Hours
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to important concepts and principles of communication in modern society. Material will cover the basics of communication theory, the history, structure, dynamics and functions of contemporary mass media; and the ethical implications of communication. This course will prepare students for courses in all four of the visual and digital communication areas of concentration.
BUS 315 Leadership & Communication
3 Hours
Students will study principles and examples of leadership, with emphasis on followership; adaptive leadership; ethical leadership; servant leadership; gender and leadership; inclusive leadership; and developing the communication skills essential to effective leadership. Students hear directly from local and regional leaders and apply those learnings to case studies. Students also develop their personal definition of leadership which culminates in a photo exhibit that communicates that to the audience.
Get to Know Your Professors
Learn from the best speakers and writers. Our low student-to-teacher ratio offers valuable one-on-one interaction with professors.
Krista Belanger, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Communications
Kyle Herges, MFA
Professor of Digital Media and Design
The Experience
Pair your communication minor with one of our many majors to enhance your employability and ensure that any organization’s communications are well delivered and received.
Want to take communication as a minor? You’ll take classes like:
- Communication, Media and Society
- Communication Theories
- Business and Professional Communication
- Principles of Public Relations
- Introduction to Design
Related Majors & Minors
Business Administration
A DWU Business degree will take you anywhere!
Creative Writing
Do you aspire to write fiction, poetry or screenplays?
Digital Media and Design
The ever-growing technology industry needs talented people like you to create and design digital elements for countless applications.
