CMN 396

Fall 2026 Part of Term 1

Part of Term 1
Aug 24-Dec 9

Credit: 3 hours.

Special topics in communication not treated in regularly scheduled courses. See Class Schedule for current topics.

May be repeated as topics vary.

CMN 396 class schedule data for fall 2026
Status CRN Type Section Time Day Location Instructor Section Details
1
53503
Lecture-Discussion
Online
2
2
1:00PM -1:50PM
ARRANGED
MW
F
Lincoln Hall
n.a.
Barbour, J
Barbour, J
Availability:
Open
Part of Term:
1
Date Range:
08/24/26-12/09/26
Section Title:
Empathy at Work in the AI Age
Section Info:
Empathy is key to effective communication and connecting with others. This class will explore this axiom with a focus on the skills central to the healing arts applying them in the health professions and sales, consulting, teaching, and all sorts of work that rely on empathy. Topics include active listening, narrative, cultural competency, research-based communication design, interprofessional collaboration, healthcare information technology, healthcare organizations and professions, and the future of work.
1
65151
Lecture-Discussion
3
11:00AM -12:20PM
TR
Lincoln Hall
Hardy, A
Availability:
Open
Part of Term:
1
Date Range:
08/24/26-12/09/26
Degree Notes:
Global Classroom course.
Section Title:
Digital Storytelling & Culture
Section Info:
This course introduces students to the rhetorical study and practice of storytelling in digital environments. We explore how stories shape communities, identities, memories, and public culture, with attention to how people use digital technologies to represent themselves and narrate collective experiences. Using a rhetorical approach, we will trace digital storytelling’s development through social movements and community-based media practices and consider its contemporary forms, including social media narratives, podcasts, virtual and augmented reality exhibitions, and interactive story maps. By the end of the course, students will be able to analyze digital narratives through a critical lens and create thoughtful, well-designed digital stories that effectively engage diverse publics.
5
53999
Lecture-Discussion
5
2:00PM -3:20PM
TR
Lincoln Hall
Mustafaj, M
Availability:
Closed
Part of Term:
1
Date Range:
08/24/26-12/09/26
Section Title:
Media Stories & Society
Section Info:
The stories we see in the media (be they in entertainment, advertisements, or news) can shape our actions and how we see the world. In this course, you’ll learn why and how these stories influence us and see firsthand how storytelling is used in different contexts. During the course, you will apply what you learn to real-world examples and create your own persuasive narrative content. Through analyzing how narratives work, you'll gain valuable skills in understanding the societal influence of the stories that surround us daily.
1
66408
Lecture-Discussion
6
11:00AM -12:20PM
TR
Education Building
Mustafaj, M
Availability:
Open
Part of Term:
1
Date Range:
08/24/26-12/09/26
Section Title:
Media and Wellbeing
Section Info:
This course explores the complex relationship between media and mental wellbeing, examining how different kinds of media (such as entertainment, social media, and news) can both support and challenge psychological health. Topics include mood regulation, media dependency, social comparison, doomscrolling, and mental health representation. Through research, reflection, and creative projects, students will analyze how media shapes emotions, behaviors, and mental health perceptions, developing strategies for more mindful engagement.
1
65641
Lecture-Discussion
7
12:30PM -1:50PM
TR
Lincoln Hall
Wright-Dixon, T
Availability:
Open
Part of Term:
1
Date Range:
08/24/26-12/09/26
Section Title:
Applied Org Communication
Section Info:
Students in this course will read, analyze, discuss and write about major concepts and processes of strategic organizational communication. Students will learn about communication theories applied in organizational settings (internal and external), applied research and evaluation in strategic communication, theoretical research in strategic communication, management processes for strategic communication contexts for practice (business, nonprofits, education, government, etc.)
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