Human Communication Studies, Department of

Introduction
Learning Goals and Student Learning Outcomes
Programs and Courses Offered

Department Chair

John Reinard

Department Office/Website

College Park 420-1
657-278-3517
communications.fullerton.edu/departments/hcomm/

Faculty

Jon Bruschke, K. Jeanine Congalton, Michael Davis, Tenzin Dorjee, Robert Gass, Nise Bloomfield Frye, Javette Hayes, Minjung Kim, Kurt Kitselman, Edith Li, Patty Malone, Summer Martin, Irene Matz, Toni Nielson, Donald Peters, John Reinard, Gary Ruud, Terry Saenz, Hye-Kyeung Seung,
Jason Teven, Erika Thomas, Stella Ting-Toomey, Kenneth Tom, Ying-Chiao Tsao, Toya Wyatt.

Introduction

The mission of the department is to provide students with an understanding of communication processes in a culturally diverse society. An in-depth understanding of communication processes brings a number of benefits, including the ability to analyze communication barriers and the competency to facilitate effective communication between individuals, within organizations, between organizations and their customers or constituencies, and across cultures. Our vision is to train good men and women speaking well to solve communication problems by studying the ways in which messages link participants during transactions. Understanding communication processes in depth can, with specialized education and training, also be used to diagnose and treat disorders of communication.

Learning Goals and Student Learning Outcomes

The following goals and learning outcomes have been established for students pursuing a degree in Communication Studies:

Knowledge/Processes

Identify the basic elements of an argument, such as claim, grounds and warrant, to apply the basis of “test evidence” to the proof or support offered by and advocate, and identify common fallacies in reasoning
Demonstrate knowledge of basis postulates, theories and models of human communication
Demonstrate knowledge of the basic stock issues associated with propositions of value and propositions of policy and to advance an argumentative case, refute an opponent’s case, and extend his or her own arguments

Skills

Adapt a persuasive message to the audience’s frame of reference, arrange the points into a hierarchy of coordinate and subordinate points, and display appropriate message-enhancing nonverbal behaviors
Distinguish between independent and dependent variables in an experimental investigation and to identify the basic threats to validity in controlled laboratory investigations
Demonstrate knowledge of communication research objectives and methods, utilize library resources to access appropriate scholarly information, and to develop and reference persuasive scholarly arguments in writing

Attitudes

Identify and analyze core cultural value dimensions that shape communication behaviors

For the goals and learning outcomes for students pursuing a degree in Communicative Disorders, see communications.fullerton.edu/humancomm/learning_goals.htm.

Programs and Courses Offered

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Master of Arts

Non-Degree

Certificate

Courses

Human Communication Studies

Courses are designated as HCOM in the class schedule.