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Arts

ARTS 2001, Art Appreciation
ARTS 2001 H, Honors Art Appreciation
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	understand the general nature of art;
•	be able to discuss and make informed judgments about art;
•	be able to identify different periods and styles of art; and
•	know what it means to "make art."

ARTS 2002, Drama Appreciation
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	understand the aesthetics of drama of the Western World and, to a lesser extent, drama of the non-Western cultures;
•	be able to analyze plays intended to be performed before a live audience view and discuss in a limited way drama created for other media (radio, film, TV);
•	possess critical and perceptual skills that enhance the enjoyment of the best live drama;
•	understand the different genres of drama; and
•	understand the relationship of drama and the historical, political, and artistic currents and events.

ARTS 2003, Music Appreciation
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to distinguish the style elements of each major musical period (Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th century);
•	be able to discuss how music influences and reflects Western culture from the Middle Ages to the present time;
•	be able to identify major composers and performers and their contributions to Western music;
•	be able to identify and aurally recognize the basic elements of music;
•	be able to aurally identify style characteristics of Western music; and
•	be able to aurally and visually identify instruments and various ensembles.

ARTS 2004, History of Contemporary American Music
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to discuss the development of American music beginning with the blues to present day musical styles;
•	be able to compare 20th century "classical" music with that of contemporary "popular" music;
•	be able to discuss how society influenced American music and how American music influenced society;
•	be able to identify major performers and composers and their contributions to American music;
•	be able to identify and aurally recognize the basic elements of music;
•	be able to aurally identify style characteristics of American music; and
•	be able to aurally and visually identify instruments and various ensembles.

ARTS 2010, Introduction to Drawing
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to demonstrate in their own drawing the use of pencil, ink, and charcoal;
•	be able to demonstrate in their own drawing a mastery of shading, contour, gesture, and perspective techniques;
•	be able to demonstrate in their own drawing a development of "right-brained" visual skills; and
•	be able to identify how these "right-brained" visual skills apply to problem-solving in other disciplines

ARTS 3000, Visual Thinking
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	know the basic principles of visual perception;
•	be able to use both "left-brain," or analytic, and "right-brain," or holistic, thinking to solve problems; and
•	possess and use a grammar for communicating through visual means.

English

ENGL 1101, English Composition I
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	demonstrate rhetorical strategies by composing for different audiences, purposes, and contexts;
•	engage in the processes of writing through the drafting, revising and editing of their own work;
•	participate in writing as a social act through activities such as peer review, online discussions, small group and/or full class workshops; and
•	participate in extemporaneous in-class writings that ask students to respond to various prompts.

ENGL 1102, English Composition II
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	demonstrate rhetorical strategies by composing for different audiences, purposes, and contexts;
•	read and respond to diverse texts for purposes such as interpretation, analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and judgment;
•	use research strategies that include the location, incorporation, and documentation of sources outside the classroom such as library, Internet, interviews, and so on; and
•	participate in extemporaneous in-class writings that ask students to respond to various prompts.

ENGL 2110, World Literature I
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be aware of literary and cultural diversities;
•	Analyze themes and ideas pertinent to World literature from ancient times to the mid-seventeenth century; and
•	know how historical time and literary movements shape our understanding of literature.

ENGL 2112, World Literature II
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be aware of literary and cultural diversities;
•	Analyze themes and ideas pertinent to World literature from the mid-seventeenth century to the present; and
•	know how historical time and literary movements shape our understanding of literature.

ENGL 2120, British Literature
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be aware of literary and cultural diversities;
•	Analyze themes and ideas pertinent to British literature; and
•	know how historical time and literary movements shape our understanding of literature.

ENGL 2121/2122, British Literature II
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be aware of literary and cultural diversities;
•	Analyze themes and ideas pertinent to British literature from the mid-nineteenth century to the present; and
•	know how historical time and literary movements shape our understanding of literature.

ENGL 2130, American Literature
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be aware of literary and cultural diversities;
•	Analyze themes and ideas pertinent to American Literature; and
•	know how historical time and literary movements shape our understanding of literature.

ENGL 2131, American Literature I
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be aware of literary and cultural diversities;
•	Analyze themes and ideas pertinent to American Literature from the pre-colonial age to the mid-nineteenth century; and
•	know how historical time and literary movements shape our understanding of literature.

ENGL 2132, American Literature II
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be aware of literary and cultural diversities;
•	Analyze themes and ideas pertinent to American Literature from the mid-nineteenth century to the present; and
•	know how historical time and literary movements shape our understanding of literature.

ENGL 2141, Western Literature I
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be aware of literary and cultural diversities;
•	Analyze themes and ideas pertinent to Western Literature from the Sumerians to the Renaissance; and
•	know how historical time and literary movements shape our understanding of literature.

ENGL 2142, Western Literature II
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be aware of literary and cultural diversities;
•	Analyze themes and ideas pertinent to Western Literature from the Renaissance to the present; and
•	know how historical time and literary movements shape our understanding of literature.

ENGL 2300, African-American Literature and Culture
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	demonstrate an awareness of literary and cultural diversities
•	analyze themes and ideas pertinent to African American literature; and
•	come to comprehend how historical time and literary movements shape our understanding of literature.

ENGL 3030, English Grammar for Professional Communicators
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to identify the parts of speech of all words in a sentence;
•	be able to diagram simple, compound, and complex sentences; and
•	be able to identify and correct common usage and punctuation errors.

Information Design and Communication

IDC 6001, Technical Writing and Editing
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to define the iterative process of writing and editing;
•	be able to write various technical and business documents using the principles of English composition;
•	be able to revise their work based on reader feedback; and
•	be able to analyze the information needs of readers.

IDC 6002, Information Design
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to analyze documents using gestalt and rhetorical principles;
•	be able to create documents using gestalt and rhetorical principles;
•	be able to collaboratively and effectively analyze and redesign documents in various contexts; and
•	be able to effectively synthesize information from an external authority and present this synthesis effectively.

IDC 6005, Visual Thinking
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to describe the principles of visual perception;
•	be able to apply "left-brain," or analytic, and "right-brain," or holistic, thinking in various communications contexts; and
•	be able to visualize information structures.

IDC 6010, Writing Across Media
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	know which type of delivery media to use for different types of information;
•	be able to modify their writing styles according to the conventions of various media; and
•	be able to revise information created for one medium to be delivered in another.

IDC 6030, Foundations of Graphics
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	understand design principles and know how to apply them to graphs and print documents;
•	know how to create, scan, manipulate, edit, and appropriately use digital bitmapped images;
•	be able to use design principles to competently and skillfully plan, design, lay out, and produce within a desktop publishing application graphs, one-page documents, spreads, and creative resumes; and
•	Research issues relating to the application of design principles to technical communication

IDC 6035, Information Graphics
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	use design principles, design & create various types of effective information graphics; and
•	research various theories of information visualization and apply these theories to information graphics

IDC 6040, Applied Graphics I
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	edit complex digital raster images for print and web documents
•	apply design principles to complex raster images in production of print and web documents; and
•	identify importance and uses of raster images in different field of information design and communication

IDC 6041, Applied Graphics II
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	edit complex digital vector images for print and web documents
•	apply design principles to complex vector images in production of print and web documents; and
•	identify importance and uses of vector images in different fields of information design and communication

IDC 6045, Foundations of Multimedia
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	identify, describe, and apply the major skills and tools involved in the typical multimedia development process, including planning, scripting, storyboarding, production, and evaluation;
•	experience the application of multimedia theory, tools, and techniques to a project in technical communication; and
•	experience a collaborative, project-based learning exercise in multimedia development.

IDC 6060, International Technical Communication
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	understand cultural differences and their effect on communication strategies;
•	be able to identify specific cultural values reflected in documents; and
•	be able to apply analyze and create documents in different cultural contexts.

IDC 6070, User Documentation
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to design a documentation plan;
•	be familiar with a page design application such as FrameMaker;
•	be able to apply principles of effective user design to user documentation projects;
•	be able to apply the principles of structured writing to user documents; and
•	know how to analyze tasks for the purpose of creating effective user documentation.

IDC 6080, Professional Oral Presentations
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to communicate to an audience using effective delivery techniques;
•	be able to communicate to an audience using effective organizational strategies; and
•	be able to communicate to an audience using effective graphic and visual support.

IDC 6090, Medical Communication
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	demonstrate a working familiarity with medical terminology;
•	identify and describe the place of the technical writer in the medical industry;
•	engage in a body of research spanning scientific inquiry and health care delivery;
•	prepare a portfolio of writing projects in the field of medical communications; and
•	identify the primary publications, professional resources, and professional organizations in the field of medical communications.

IDC 6110, Communications Project Management
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	experience the application of project management theory, tools, and techniques to a real or simulated technical communication project (or other project related to the student’s major area of study);
•	describe the major elements in project management theory, and the structure of project management as an emerging profession;
•	identify the primary publications and professional resources in the field of project management;
•	define the skills and competencies of an effective project manager, including those of particular importance to the student’s major area of study; and
•	demonstrate the use of a project management software tool..

IDC 6120, Usability Testing
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to collaborate effectively as a team to plan and conduct a usability test;
•	be able to analyze the results of a usability test, and
•	be able to communicate those results in both oral and written.

IDC 6130, Online Documentation
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	understand best practices in help design;
•	be more aware of how different users have different questions when they interact with a help system;
•	be able to write help topics that answer specific user questions;
•	be able to design a help system that contains user-oriented content and is accessible, easy to navigate, consistent in its look-and-feel, and visually engaging; and
•	be familiar with different outlets for online documentation such as Web-based applications and online communities.

IDC 6135, Website Design
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to evaluate websites for their usability;
•	be able to use design principles develop Web-based user interfaces; and
•	be able to use industry-standard software to develop and publish a standards-compliant website.

IDC 6140, Instructional Systems Design
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	describe the major elements in instructional systems design theory, and the structure of instructional systems design as a professional field of practice;
•	experience the application of instructional systems design theory, tools, and techniques to a real or simulated workplace instructional need;
•	identify the primary publications and professional resources in the field of instructional systems design; and
•	perform productively and collaboratively on an instructional design team.

IDC 6145, Performance Technology
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	experience the application of performance technology theory, tools, and techniques to a real or simulated workplace performance gap;
•	describe the major elements in performance technology theory, and the structure of performance technology as a professional field of practice;
•	identify the primary publications and professional resources in the field of performance technology; and
•	create performance improvement instruments for specific workplace needs.

IDC 6150, Marketing Communication
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to identify and understand the rhetorical issues that affect the design of marketing communication documents;
•	be able to redesign marketing communication documents to address these issues; and
•	possess a portfolio that effectively markets their abilities to potential clients or employers.

IDC 6160, Rhetoric: History, Theory, and Practice
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be familiar with rhetorical texts and documents;
•	be able to identify the ways in which the foundations and theories of ancient rhetoric connect with contemporary rhetorical issues and contexts;
•	be able to discuss contemporary language issues;
•	understand cultural ideologies and commonplaces;
•	be able to critically respond to peer texts as trained rhetoricians;
•	possess rhetorical awareness; and
•	analyze rhetorical situations.

IDC 6170, Video Production
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	understand the fundamentals of video production;
•	be able to write, direct, photograph, and edit fiction and non-fiction video projects; and
•	be able to identify the craft and mechanics of visual storytelling which transcend media formats

IDC 6180, Information Architecture
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to analyze and map existing information structures;
•	be able to conduct user research to identify key information needs;
•	be able to design easily navigable information architectures; and
•	be able to communicate information-architecture designs in a formal document.

Regents’

RGTR 0198, Regents’ Reading Prep
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	study and review the four major aspects of reading that are tested on the Regents’ Reading exam: Vocabulary, Literal Comprehension, Inferential Comprehension, and Analysis;
•	study various texts provided by the instructor and students for analysis and discussion; and
•	practice taking sample Regents’ Reading tests in order to work on pacing and timing.

RGTE 0199, Regents’ Writing Prep
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	examine several styles of writing with a focus on composition that may help students pass the exam;
•	examine examples of Regents’ Writing exams to better understand how the exams are rated;
•	review and revise their own practice essays as well as the essays of others; and
•	practice taking sample Regents’ Writing exams in order to work on composition skills and timing.

Speech

SPCH 2400, Public Speaking
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to properly organize/outline a speech or presentation;
•	be able to support their positions and use a variety of support materials in their speeches;
•	be able to properly prepare and use visual aids regardless of the technology being used;
•	be able to prepare and present a speech that has an introduction, body, and conclusion that will hold interest, be easy to follow, and be factually accurate based on appropriate research; and
•	be able to adequately analyze an audience and use that analysis in a speeches.

Technical and Professional Communication

TCOM 2000, Business Communication
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	demonstrate an understanding of how to write a variety of business letters;
•	have the experience of participating in at least one oral presentation targeted to a professional audience; and
•	be able to edit a variety of short business documents.

TCOM 2010, Technical Writing
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to analyze audiences and purposes for various technical documents;
•	be able to write and edit effective technical documents, such as descriptions, instructions, progress reports, and formal reports;
•	demonstrate how audience needs affect the organization, design, and style of documents; and
•	be able to insert eye-catching graphics, charts, and tables that illustrate key points.

TCOM 2020, Foundations of Technical Communication
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to describe the various career paths open to technical communicators;
•	be able to identify the range of artifacts technical communicators create; and
•	understand their own communication skills and work preferences.

TCOM 2030, Research in Technical Communication
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to conduct advanced Internet research;
•	understand the research phase of the user-centered design process;
•	be able to plan and conduct various forms of user research; and
•	be able to communicate research findings.

TCOM 3010, Science Writing
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to analyze science and technology prose and
•	be able to write effectively for various scientific and technological audiences.

TCOM 3015, Environmental Writing
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	possess an awareness of historical and current environmental issues and
•	be able to write and speak effectively to these issues.

TCOM 3020, Proposal Writing
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to write an informal proposal;
•	be able to write and orally present a grant proposal;
•	A part of a group;
•	be able to write an RFP proposal; and
•	be able to write and orally present (using a Power Point presentation) an individual formal proposal.

TCOM 3030, Instructional Design
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	experience the application of ISD theory, tools, and techniques to an instructional development project;
•	experience a collaborative, project-based learning exercise in ISD;
•	demonstrate an understanding of the ISD process;
•	identify, describe, and apply the major processes included in the typical systematic design process, including 'analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE);
•	be able to function independently and collaboratively in instructional systems design team activities.

TCOM 3040, Writers Workshop
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to draft, revise, and edit documents;
•	produce a complete written project that demonstrates command of a specific genre of writing;
•	demonstrate rhetorical awareness in which they adjust their writing for appropriate subjects, occasions, audiences, and purposes; and
•	revise a document for portfolio quality in preparation for senior level capstone course.

TCOM 3045, Fundamentals of Information Design (Course is
being developed)

TCOM 3050, Journalism
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to distinguish news from non-news and
•	be able to write press releases, biographies, hard news, features, and other traditional and contemporary forms of news.

TCOM 4000, Professional Editing
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	learn the responsibilities and tasks of a professional editor;
•	be able to discuss the organizational aspects of being an editor;
•	be able to edit a variety of documents to correct errors in grammar, usage, style, and mechanics; and
•	develop competency in editing electronic documents and editing for the web.

TCOM 4030, Foundations of Graphics
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	understand design principles and know how to apply them to graphs and print documents;
•	know how to create, scan, manipulate, edit, and appropriately use digital bitmapped images; and
•	be able to use design principles to competently and skillfully plan, design, lay out, and produce within a desktop publishing application graphs, one-page documents, spreads, and creative resumes

TCOM 4040, Applied Graphics
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	edit digital raster and vector images for print and web documents;
•	apply design principles to desktop publication documents

TCOM 4045, Foundations of Multimedia
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	identify, describe, and apply the major skills and tools involved in the typical multimedia development process, including planning, scripting, storyboarding, production, and evaluation;
•	experience the application of multimedia theory, tools, and techniques to a project in technical communication; and
•	experience a collaborative, project-based learning exercise in multimedia development.

TCOM 4050, Advanced Graphic Tools for Technical Communicators
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to successfully use Photoshop (a digital image editing application), Illustrator (a vector-based image editing application), and a desktop publishing application such as PageMaker, InDesign, or FrameMaker;
•	be able to use design principles to plan, design, lay out, and produce professional print documents that utilize both raster- and vector-based images;
•	be able to identify the importance and uses of print documents in areas of technical communication; and

TCOM 4070, User Documentation
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to design a documentation plan;
•	be familiar with a page design application such as FrameMaker;
•	be able to apply principles of effective user design to user documentation projects;
•	be able to apply the principles of structured writing to user documents; and
•	know how to analyze tasks for the purpose of creating effective user documentation.

TCOM 4100, Small Group Communication
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be aware of theories and terms related to small group communication;
•	participate as a team member on 2 group projects;
•	analyze small group communication through group observation;
•	be able to analyze groups and apply group communication theory to them; and
•	analyze interpersonal group dynamics

TCOM 4120, Usability Testing
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to collaborate effectively as a team to plan and conduct a usability test;
•	be able to analyze the results of a usability test, and
•	be able to communicate those results in both oral and written.

TCOM 4130, Online Documentation
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	understand best practices in help design;
•	be more aware of how different users have different questions when they interact with a help system;
•	be able to write help topics that answer specific user questions;
•	be able to design a help system that contains user-oriented content and is accessible, easy to navigate, consistent in its look-and-feel, and visually engaging; and
•	be familiar with different outlets for online documentation such as Web-based applications and online communities.

TCOM 4135, Fundamentals of Website Design
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	be able to evaluate websites for their usability;
•	be able to use design principles develop Web-based user interfaces; and
•	be able to use industry-standard software to develop and publish a standards-compliant website.

TCOM 4160, Rhetoric: History, Theory, and Practice
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	read and respond to various rhetorical texts (classical and contemporary);
•	demonstrate rhetorical awareness through textual and visual analysis;
•	analyze cultural ideologies; and
•	participate in writing as a social act through activities such as peer review, online discussions, small group, and/or full class workshops.

TCOM 4170, Video Production
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	understand the fundamentals of video production;
•	be able to write, direct, photograph, and edit fiction and non-fiction video projects; and
•	be able to identify the craft and mechanics of visual storytelling which transcend media formats

TCOM 4800, Project Portfolio
Upon successful completion of this course, students will

•	create both an paper and electronic portfolio;
•	participate in peer review response sessions;
•	create career documents such as resumes, cover letters, and a marketing plan for their own entrance into the job market;
•	reflect upon their work across their degree program.

The English, Technical Communication, and Media Arts Department is a part of Southern Polytechnic State University and can be contacted at TCOM@spsu.edu.
1100 South Marietta Parkway Marietta, GA 30060-2896
Tel: (678) 915-7202 FAX: (678) 915-7425