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Areas of Study
Introduction to Undergraduate Studies
In the School of Communication at OSU, students gain a better understanding of the processes, role and power of communication. Students will acquire practical and analytical skills and knowledge of communication principles, how to understand audiences, shape messages, and interact with individuals and technologies. They also will learn about the power and influence of communication on society
The faculty in the School of Communication have highlighted four Undergraduate Program Areas, as described below.
Public Affairs Journalism (PAJ): Students in the PAJ area are trained in the skills related to the practice of journalism. In additional to journalism and communication skills, it is critical for journalism students to be equipped with in-depth knowledge in an area or specialization. To achieve these objectives, students take classes that examine the processes of journalism and the role of media in a democratic society. To address the objective of domain-specific expertise, students in journalism are required to complete a minor in an area such as political science, business, or criminology that best fits their interests. To emphasize applied learning, students are provided extensive skills training that is further reinforced through experience at the Lantern, and which is further reinforced through a news-related internship.
Communication Analysis and Practices (CAP): Within the framework of communication and society, students can specialize in different areas including public opinion and media effects, relational and health communication, and communication and advocacy. Courses in CAP emphasize the analysis of different types of data, messages and communication practices. Within the broad array of offerings in the CAP area, three thematic clusters are provided to offer students some direction. However, students are not restricted to courses within a single thematic cluster, but encouraged to choose courses from within and between thematic clusters to fit career goals.
Thematic Clusters
Students who focus on public opinion and media effects will study audience analysis and the role of media in public opinion, politics and public affairs. In addition, students will be trained in various research techniques for analyzing audiences and media effects.
Students who choose topics in relational and health communication will acquire skills for communicating effectively in interpersonal contexts, in small groups, and to the public at large. Other courses in this area focus on communication in specific contexts such as physician-patient settings, family situations, and small groups within organizations.
Another important function of communication is persuasion and advocacy. Courses in this area provide an understanding of processes of persuasion and influence that can bring about social change.
Communication Technology (COT): Much of human communication these days is mediated by communication technologies. The purpose of the Communication Technology focus area is to understand the relations between communication technology and communication processes in different contexts. Another major theme of this area is to examine how communication technology tools can be better designed to improve usability and effectiveness. Students will learn how to assess the needs of the end user by employing quantitative and qualitative research techniques. Applying communication and design principles, students will learn to design multimedia and online content systems. Design principles will be drawn from areas such as, communication, interactivity, social presence, cognitive engineering, and human-computer interaction. Online news, entertainment media and video games will be examined as well. Students will learn basic skills required to design information environments and multimedia. To develop specialized and advanced skills, students are strongly encouraged to complete an internship and minor in one of the following areas: computer and information science, cognitive science, design, or business.
Strategic Communication (SCM): This program focuses on communication processes and practices in organizational contexts. Corporations, non-profit agencies and government agencies allocate significant resources to communication effectively with various employees, publics and audiences. Students in this area will learn about communication practices within and between organizations, including activities such as knowledge management, negotiation, team problem-solving, leadership, inter-organizational relationships, and persuasive communication in sales and marketing. Another area of interest in strategic communication is the study of communication between an organization and its external audiences. Courses in this area emphasize all areas of public communication, including advertising, persuasion, corporate identity, image repair, and public relations advocacy.
For more information contact:
Susan Van Pelt
vanpelt.2@osu.edu
614-292-8444
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