COMM 130. Interpersonal Communication
A course designed to help students gain insight into and improve their interpersonal skills and relationships with others. Attention is placed on studying and evaluating communication variables in work, school, family and social settings. Credit, 3 hours. Offered every semester.
COMM 131. Introduction to Mass Media
An introduction to American popular culture from 1945 to the present. This course examines the role of television, film and popular music in shaping and reflecting contemporary American history and culture. Credit, 3 hours. Offered every semester.
COMM 230. Introduction to Public Speaking
An introductory course designed to help students effectively research, organize, construct and deliver their ideas in a variety of speech forms. Other topics include critical listening, audience analysis and language usage. Credit, 3 hours. Offered every semester.
COMM 232. Interviewing
This course is designed to introduce students to the professional interviewing process. The focus is on interviews in a business and professional setting with special emphasis given to the employment interview. Units of instruction include: interviewee strategies, interviewer strategies, appraisal interviews, exit and discipline interviews, survey interviews and persuasive interviews. Credit, 3 hours. Offered every semester.
COMM 235. Introduction to Television Production
Development of practical television production technique. Skills covered include camera and lenses, lighting, directing, ENG/EFP, editing, and related post production processes. Emphasis is placed on preproduction planning and strategy. Other skills covered include studio operations and directing techniques. The course is designed to give students an overview to a functioning television production system. Specific attention is focused on television production equipment and its operation, the aesthetics of television production, and the interpersonal skills involved in production teamwork 2 hours lecture, 2 hours lab. Credit: 3 hours Offered every fall semester.
COMM 331. History and Criticism of American Public Address
This course is designed to develop a student’s rhetorical perspective in understanding public discourse through reading, discussing, analyzing, and evaluating, selected American speeches. Exploration and application of various critical perspectives to historical and contemporary speeches will be emphasized. Prerequisite: COMM 230. Credit, 3 hours. Offered as needed.
COMM 332. Small Group Communication
This class combines theories of small group communication with practical application to prepare students interpersonally for meetings, committees, boards, and other small group settings found in the workplace. Topics include bargaining and negotiating, conflict resolution, and leadership skills. Credit, 3 hours. Offered every semester.
COMM 333. Argumentation and Debate
An introduction to the principles of argumentation and academic debate. The course is designed to develop the student’s ability to think critically and speak persuasively. Students participate in required classroom debates. Credit, 3 hours. Offered every fall semester.
COMM 334. Introduction to Television Journalism
This course is designed to inform students of the process of news reporting for television from start to finish. The focus is on finding, writing, editing and delivering the news on-camera. Credit, 3 hours. Offered every spring semester.
COMM 335. Television Directing
Practical study in the theory and practice of producing and directing television programs. Emphasis is placed on team skills and leadership skills. Prerequisite: COMM 235 and 334. Credit: 3 hours. Offered every fall semester.
COMM 336. Writing for the Mass Media
This course is designed to teach students how to write in a variety of media styles. The focus will be on writing Public Service Announcements (PSA), commercials, TV and radio program scripts, and documentaries. Special attention will be given to developing ideas from script to screen. Credit, 3 hours. Offered as needed..
COMM 337. Communication Criticism
An examination of classical and contemporary principles of rhetorical criticism and the preparation of critical/systematic investigations for the purpose of better understanding human responses to symbolic acts and artifacts. Emphasis is on oral, written and media texts in the discipline of speech communication. Credit, 3 hours. Offered every spring semester.
COMM 338. Radio Broadcasting
This course is designed to teach students the skills necessary to announce for radio. The focus will be on programming, underwriting, scripting, and radio interviewing. Participation with the campus radio required. Credit, 3 hours. Offered as needed.
COMM 412. Forensics (Competitive Speech and Debate)
This course provides students with the opportunity to travel and compete in regional and national level collegiate speech and debate tournaments. This course may be repeated twice. Credit, 1 hour. Offered every semester.
COMM 415. Television Production Practicum
This course provides practical experience in advanced video production, including: sound and video editing, graphic design, special effects, scripting, and directing. This course may be repeated twice. Prerequisite: COMM 235. Credit, 1 hour. Offered every semester.
COMM 418. Senior Colloquium
All majors are required to demonstrate their expertise through a public presentation during one of the last two semesters before graduation. The subject will be of the student’s choosing with departmental approval. Each student will work closely with a Communication and Theatre Arts faculty mentor who specializes in the chosen subject. Students may choose to showcase their skills in the performing arts or may choose to present a paper detailing research they have conducted. Students must present their work before an audience of the Communication and Theatre Arts faculty. This presentation serves as the exiting examination for the department. Credit, 1 hour. Offered every semester.
COMM 431. History and Criticism of Film I
This course surveys significant American and international films and filmmakers from 1900 to 1950. Course topics include: the origins of the motion picture, films of the Silent Era, the Hollywood studio system, classic films of the 1930's and 1940's, and methods for the analysis and criticism of film. Credit, 3 hours. Offered every fall semester.
COMM 432. Theories of Persuasion
Designed to aid students in becoming more critical receivers and users of persuasive communication. The course focuses on persuasion theories and methods of evaluating oral and visual forms of communication. The course is designed to develop the student's ability to think, listen, write and speak critically. Credit, 3 hours. Offered every fall semester.
COMM 433. Senior Studies
A rotating topics course dealing in current problems, topics and areas of research in the field of Communication. PREREQUISITE: Consent of instructor. May be repeated once for credit when topic varies. Credit, 3 hours. Offered as needed.
COMM 434. Communication Theory
This course is designed to familiarize students with the major research paradigms in the field of human communication. Topics include: Anglo-American perspectives, and contemporary Continental perspectives. Each perspective is described with its respective paradigmatic assumptions; strengths and weaknesses associated with each perspective are explored. Prerequisite: COMM 130. Credit, 3 hours. Offered every spring semester.
COMM 435. History and Criticism of Film II
This course surveys significant American and international films and filmmakers from 1950 to the present. Course topics include: films of the Cold War Era, film trends of the 1960's, the "Lucas-Spielberg Revolution" of the 1970's, contemporary film trends, and current advances in film technology. It is recommended, but not required, that students take COMM 431, History of Film I before enrolling in this course. Credit, 3 hours. Offered every spring semester.
COMM 436. Coaching and Managing Forensics Programs
This course is designed for high school teacher education majors and for future collegiate forensic directors. The student is provided the opportunity to study various forensic event formats including National Forensic League (NFL), American Forensic Association (AFA), National Forensic Association (NFA), Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA), National Debate Tournament (NDT), Pi Kappa Delta (PKD), and Delta Sigma Rho (DSR). Students will also have the opportunity to learn various aspects of forensic program management including budgeting, tournament management, and coaching philosophy. Credit, 3 hours. Offered as needed.
COMM 437. Advanced Television Reporting
Advanced study in the process of news reporting for television. Emphasis is placed on investigative reporting techniques and team reporting. Most assignments will be field oriented. Prerequisites: COMM 235 and 334. Credit: 3 hours. Offered every fall semester.
COMM 490. Special Topics in Communication
Designed to allow the student to enroll in classes that are not normally scheduled. Suggested topics include: History and Criticism of Television, Public Relations, Mass Media and Politics, Communication Criticism, Family Communication, and others as interest is expressed. May be repeated once for credit when the topic varies. Credit, 3 hours. Offered as needed.
COMM 491. Internship
This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to earn academic credit for practical work experience and training in the fields of radio and television broadcasting, print journalism, advertising, public relations or other areas of public communication approved by the Department. Three, six, or twelve academic hours can be earned, depending upon the requirements of the approved internship, and the recommendation of the student's advisor. Students cannot register for COMM 491 until they have successfully completed all appropriate applications and interviews leading to the securing of an internship. This course is offered on an arranged basis. Prerequisite: COMM 235 and 334.
THTR 130. Introduction to Theatre
This course is designed to provide the student with an appreciation for the art of the theatre through a survey of theatre history, attendance at selected play productions, and involvement with Cumberland College Theatre productions. Credit, 3 hours. Offered every semester.
THTR 131. Acting I
An introduction to the craft of acting, including techniques employed in improvisation, scene study, and characterization. Credit, 3 hours. Offered fall semester of odd years.
THTR 135. Theatrical Design
This course is designed to introduce students to the elements and principles of Theatrical Design. It will include a history of design, drafting, and drawing for the stage, and introduction to lighting design. Credit, 3 hours. Offered fall semesters of even years.
THTR 232. Acting II
Provides opportunities for advanced work in the craft and art of acting. Further work in characterization, scenework and analysis. Credit, 3 hours. Offered spring semester of even years.
THTR 235. Stagecraft
This course is designed to introduce the student to the practical aspects of technical theatre, including construction of properties and scenery, scenic painting, lighting, sound, costumes and the running of a production. Credit, 3 hours. Offered spring semesters of odd years.
THTR 237. Makeup for the Stage
This course is designed to introduce students to
various styles and methods for stage makeup applications. Lecture and practical applications will be basis for this class. The student is required to apply makeup to his/her face. Credit, 3 hours. Offered fall semesters of even years.
THTR 312. Theatre Outreach Lab
Lab hour required of students registered for THTR 334. Credit, 1 hour. Offered every spring semester.
THTR 330. Summer Theatre
This course is intended to give students credit for working as part of the production team for a summer theatre season. Students will receive credit for working with the Cumberland College Theatre for this course. Credit, 3 hours. Offered summer sessions as needed.
THTR 331. Scene Design
This course is designed to further student knowledge of Theatrical Design in the area of Scenery for the stage. Students will focus on ground plans, working drawings, renderings and models. Prerequisite: Instructor’s permission. Credit, 3 hours. Offered fall semesters of odd years.
THTR 332. Light and Sound Design
This course is designed to further students’ knowledge of light and sound for the the theatre. This class will develop working drawings for lighting designs and have both theoretical and practical applications for lights and sound. Prerequisite: Instructor’s Permission Credit, 3 hours. Offered spring semesters of even years.
THTR 334. Theatre Outreach
In this class students gain practical experience as they work within an ensemble to produce every aspect of a play for young audiences which will then tour and perform for area schools and community groups. This course may be repeated one time to fulfill requirements with instructor’s approval. Co-requisite THTR 312 (for first time) Credit, 3 hours. Offered every spring semester.
THTR 336. Acting Styles
This course is designed to study the performance styles of a particular playwright, period, or medium such as Shakespeare, Restoration or Musical Theatre. Work to include preparation of scenes and musical numbers. Prerequisite: THTR 131 and THTR 232. Credit, 3 hours. Offered spring semesters of even years.
THTR 410. Theatre Practicum
Practical experience is provided through involvement in Cumberland College Theatre productions. This course may be repeated to fulfill requirements. Credit, 1 hour. Offered every semester.
THTR 418. Senior Colloquium
All majors are required to demonstrate their expertise through a public presentation during one of the last two semesters before graduation. The subject will be of the student’s choosing with departmental approval. Each student will work closely with a Communication and Theatre Arts faculty mentor who specializes in the chosen subject. Students may choose to showcase their skills in the performing arts or may choose to present a paper detailing research they have conducted. Students must present their work before an audience of the Communication and Theatre Arts faculty. This presentation serves as the exiting examination for the department. Credit, 1 hour. Offered every semester.
THTR 431. Principles of Directing
A study of the theory and practice of directing plays, including selection of material, script analysis, casting, blocking, and actor-director relationships. Recommended prerequisites include THTR131 and THTR 235 or Instructor’s permission. Credit, 3 hours. Offered spring semester of even years.
THTR 433. Theatre History
A survey of dramatic art and history from its earliest beginnings to the present. Credit, 3 hours. Offered spring semester of odd years.
THTR 435. Problems in Technical Theatre
A course dealing with advanced topics in technical theatre. This course will continue the work of all the design classes with a heavy emphasis in hands-on projects and work. May be repeated once for credit when the topic changes. Credit, 3 hours. Offered fall semesters of odd years.
THTR 437. Character Improvisation
This course is a highly focused study for the advanced acting student, which uses research methods and techniques in conjunction with improvisation to explore characterization. Prerequisite: THTR 131 and THTR 232. Credit, 3 hours. Offered spring semester of odd years.
THTR 490. Independent Study in Theatre
An independent study course designed to provide students with further work in an area of their choice. Credit, 3 hours. Offered as needed.
THTR 491. Internship
This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to earn academic credit for professional work experience in the fields of technical theatre, scenic and lighting design and acting. Three, six or twelve academic hours can be earned, depending on the requirements of the approved internship and the recommendation of the student’s advisor. Students cannot register for THTR 491 until they have succcessfully completed all appropriate applications and interviews leading to the securing of an internship. This course is offered on an arranged basis. Prerequisite: Junior or senior status and permission of the student’s advisor.
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