Course Descriptions 497 MPC 5550 - Organizational Communication (3) Study of communication organizations from various theoretical perspectives with an emphasis on the organizational culture perspective. Includes topics such as communicating with external audiences, decision-making, conflict resolution, and power relationships. This course may not apply for graduate degree requirements if an undergraduate course of the same name or content has been used for undergraduate credit. Prerequisite: Permission of MPC advisor. MPC 5650 - Communication Law (3) First Amendment origins, interpretations and philosophy underlying regulation of the mass media. This course may not apply for graduate degree requirements if an undergraduate course of the same name or content has been used for undergraduate credit. Prerequisite: Permission of MPC advisor. MPC 5810 - Persuasive Communication (3) Study of theories and principles of persuasion from classical to modern times. Examines persuasion as a means of influence in interpersonal communication, public speaking, advertising, politics, and other contexts. This course may not apply for graduate degree requirements if an undergraduate course of the same name or content has been used for undergraduate credit. Prerequisite: Permission of MPC advisor. MPC 5850 - Advertising (3) A practical and theoretical study of advertising. Course is designed for students planning careers in advertising, as well as for those who are simply lifelong consumers of advertising and want to understand its role in the economic system. This course may not apply for graduate degree requirements if an undergraduate course of the same name or content has been used for undergraduate credit. Prerequisite: Permission of MPC advisor. MPC 6000 - Introduction to Graduate Studies for a Master in Professional Communication (l) What it takes to succeed as a graduate student is similar to what it takes to succeed as a working professional. This course gets students on their way to becoming successful master's students. Students are oriented to the nature, expectations, resources, and challenges of graduate study. They meet fellow students with similar goals and faculty members with wide-ranging expertise in professional communication. This course involves students early in researching the topics, trends, and theories for future graduate study. MPC 6100 - Team Building and Facilitation (3) Creating, facilitating and coaching effective work groups and teams is one of the hardest soft skills for organizational professionals to master. This course examines the impact that different structures and communication processes have on group and team collaboration effectiveness, as well as the central role competent communication plays in effective group and team facilitation. It investigates structural and process issues of team building, interpersonal and group communication, and effective problem solving and decisionmaking skills in collaborative environments. Students should have a greater understanding of their own collaborative teaming abilities upon completion. The purpose of this course is to teach-and have students experience-strategies and tactics for building, working effectively within, and facilitating collaborative teams in the work place. MPC 6150 - Writing for Professional Communicators (3) Good writing skills are critical to achieving a professional image. Individuals and organizations are judged by the quality of written documents they produce. In this course, students learn to plan and organize, to write clearly, concisely and correctly, and to develop polished final projects. Students undergo an intensive review of basic writing and editing principles and then apply them to specific writing projects. Genres of writing may include funding proposals, yearly reports, executive plans, organizational descriptions, Web sites, social networking messages, and marketing materials. MPC 6200 - Presentational Speaking and Visual Communication for the Workplace (2) Speaking and visual communication are both powerful tools for the professional communicator. This course focuses on the message and speaker as sites of production of meaning. Effective messages and sharing of meaning are central to the professional communicator's ability to present well. This course focuses on developing and delivering strategic presentations and on impromptu oral communication. Class exercises focus on audience analysis, strategic thinking, theme development, message/argument construction, openings and closings, and creation of memorable messages. Elements of visual communication such as color, emphasis, balance, readability, and typography are discussed. MPC 6300 - New Media in Professional Communication (3) New media allow all individuals and organizations to effectively interact with their audiences on an ongoing basis. This course addresses how new and emerging media technologies such as social networks, social media, blogs, podcasts, video sites, search engine management tools, and even virtual worlds can be leveraged by communication professionals in order to further meaningful relationships with their internal and external audiences. This course will give students greater understanding of new media required to allow a rethinking of the overall communication process. As a result students will develop effective communication strategies specifically geared toward the needs of their organization or field of interest. MPC 6400 - Communicating Organizational Leadership (3) Communication is the core of organizational leadership. This course is designed to explore both the theoretical and practical aspects of leader- and followership embedded in complex environments with an emphasis on recognizing and managing change. Leadership in organizations will be examined from a variety of perspectives including historical, ethical and critical. Key topics include leadership traits and skills, leadership roles and behaviors, power and influence, theories of leadership, leading change, ethical leadership, and developing leadership skills. The course includes experiential activities using cases, role plays, and action learning projects to develop relevant skills. MPC 6500 - Topics in Professional Communication (3) variable title The study and application of professional communication in contemporary society is dynamic and ever changing. This course will provide students with opportunities to explore specialized topics in a seminar format. This course may be repeated once as elective credit with different titles and topics. MPC 6600 - Strategic Communication (3) Effective strategic communication and planning is essential to any organization. This course helps students to understand and develop skills to create and manage internal and external messages for different situations, industries, and locations. Students prepare for effective strategic communication by asking and answering the right questions about the goals of the organization, its members, stakeholders and others who impact its operation, such as regulatory bodies. Effective Weber State University 2012-2013 Catalog