This upper level course is a field-based experience designed to develop and hone the practical application skills of students in a Computer Information Technology or Technology Management major. Students apply for an internship at a self-selected site and negotiate the terms of the internship experience with a site supervisor under the auspices of their GSC internship mentor. The internship requires documented evidence of eighty hours of supervised experience and practice in a field setting where Computer Information Technology or Technology Management knowledge and skills are applied. This course is the capstone for the BS in Computer Information Technology and BS in Technology Management. NOTE: Registration for this course as an internship is by permission of the Office of Academic Affairs. Early registration deadlines may apply. Prior to capstone enrollment, students are expected to complete the majority of their required major courses. Students should consult with their advisor regarding specific major courses that may be completed with their capstone. NOTE: Students who were admitted to the college before Fall 2019 and have remained active in their original catalog year are not required to take IDIS 601.

This course provides an in-depth understanding of persuasive principles with the purpose of identifying and critiquing communication strategies encountered on a daily basis. Students are introduced to the theory and practice of persuasive communication with an understanding of how classical modes of rhetoric offer an excellent framework for improving information-age communication skills. Speaking, listening, leading, motivating, negotiating, creating and delivering a message, and engaging with an audience are emphasized as key elements of persuasive communication. Students will be able to recognize the persuasive strategies used in interpersonal and mass communication settings, critique the effectiveness of the strategies used, and develop persuasive strategies for themselves.

Designed to provide both a theoretical and practical introduction to interpersonal communication and group dynamics, this course explores the unique process, purposes, problems and possibilities of communication. Emphasis is placed on participation and awareness of communication behaviors, both in interpersonal settings and in small groups, as portrayed in the generic roles of member, leader, and process observer. The course challenges students to analyze the complex nature of relationships by applying the concepts of collaboration, cohesiveness, group decision-making, conflict resolution, the function of teams, and the role of facilitation. COM 460 students are guided in developing basic interpersonal, intercultural, and group communication skills that they can apply to personal and professional encounters in everyday life.

In contemporary communication, visual information has become the predominant means to convey messages and information. Students will explore and analyze the different ways images can be used to communicate information, concepts, and narratives, as well as to support persuasive arguments in oral presentations. Students will apply what they have learned to two major projects, each designed to communicate a central message to a defined audience. An introduction to copyright, Fair Use, and Creative Commons is included.