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CST 201: Introduction to Communication Theory and Research (3 Credits)

Overview

The assignemnts for this course are designed to pursue the following goals as specified by Curriculum Committee of Northern Virginia Community College and the Virginia Community College System, the Communication Studies Cluster and in consultation with the faculty of George Mason University: The class serves as a gateway to the field of communication and provide foundations for proceeding to other upper-level classes when you transfer to a four-year college or university. It is especially recommended for those wishing to major or minor in Communication Studies. It is also highly recommended for completing an Associate of Arts program specialization in Communication Studies at NVCC.

Prerequisites

The following are required for entry into this course:

  • Completion of at least one of the following CST courses: CST 100, CST 110, CST 126, CST 227, or CST 229. Completion of ENG 111 is strongly recommended.

If you feel you lack any of these, please contact me immediately..

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Objectives
 

If you complete this course and do well, you will be able to:

  • To survey a range of theories of communication To provide a vocabulary for understanding Communication Traditions, Communication Contexts, and major areas of research in communication: Construction of Meaning, Rhetorical Foundations, Studies in Culture and Critical Theory, Media Studies, and Interpersonal Relational Development
  • To distinguish approaches to studying communication and generating knowledge in the field: Positivistic/Empirical, Interpretative, and Critical;
  • To learn how to assess communication theories in terms of their Scope, Logical Consistency, Parsimony, Utility, Testability, Heuristic value, and whether they withstand a Test of Time.
  • To gain competencies for self-reflection and application of theory to daily living, and as foundation for generating research ideas. To learn and to use APA citation for writing in the field
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Materials
 

Weekly emeeting using Blackboard Collaborate tool

Blackboard Collaborate is a web conferencing tool that uses JAVA.  So, first you will need download the JAVA application.  This occurs the first time you attempt to attend a session or view a recording.

There is a grade assigned for participating in each meeting.  So, you get graded if you attend the live session, or you get graded by Blackboard when you view the recording.

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Grading
 

Possible Assignments Include: (Subject to change each semester. The actual assignments are available in the Syllabus in the Blackboard course site on the first day of classes.)

Your final grade for the course will be based on the following criteria. Points
Class Discussions in the Forum and Small Group  5 points per discussion 100
Quizzes and Tests:  4 quizzes 15 points each; comprehensive tests at midpoint and and end of the semester for 25 points each 110
Rhetorical Analysis Paper 10
Class Participation: 2 points for each of 15 class sessions 30
Total 250

Your final grade may be based on the following scale. Please note that you must also pass the exams in order to pass the course, regardless of your scores on the other assignments.

Grade

Points

Percent

A

225 - 250

90-100

B

200-224

80-89

C

175-199

70-79

D

150-174

60-69

F

Below 150 

0-59

 

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Exams
 

There are 2 comprehensive tests in this course.

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ELI Policies and Procedures
 
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Beginning the Course
 

Last Updated: January 10, 2014