Faculty: INSTITUTE OF GRADUATE PGROGRAMS This interdisciplinary major combines communication studies with a focus on religious services. Students explore public speaking, interpersonal communication, media studies, and religious communication. The program emphasizes effective communication strategies, cultural sensitivity, and multimedia tools for enhancing religious messages and community engagement. Graduates are prepared for careers in religious leadership, pastoral care, media relations, and community outreach. **Learning Objectives:** - Understand communication fundamentals and their application in religious services. - Develop skills in public speaking, interpersonal communication, and media studies. - Learn techniques for effective religious communication and community engagement. - Explore cultural sensitivity and multimedia tools in religious settings. - Understand the role of communication in promoting religious messages and outreach. - Analyze challenges and opportunities in religious communication. - Develop teamwork and problem-solving skills for communication projects. **Major Outline:** 1. **Introduction to Communication Studies** - Overview of communication studies and effective communication principles. 2. **Public Speaking and Presentation Skills** - Principles of public speaking and techniques for effective presentations and sermons. 3. **Interpersonal Communication** - Fundamentals of interpersonal communication and techniques for building relationships in religious settings. 4. **Media Studies and Communication** - Principles of media studies and techniques for using media tools in religious communication. 5. **Religious Communication** - Principles of religious communication and techniques for delivering effective religious messages. 6. **Cultural Sensitivity in Communication** - Understanding cultural sensitivity and techniques for communicating with diverse groups. 7. **Multimedia Tools in Religious Services** - Fundamentals of multimedia tools and techniques for integrating them into religious services. 8. **Community Engagement and Outreach** - Principles of community engagement and techniques for developing effective outreach programs. 9. **Ethics in Communication** - Understanding ethical considerations and techniques for ensuring ethical communication practices. 10. **Capstone Project in Communication and Religious Services** - Real-world project to apply learned skills in religious communication or community engagement. **Assessment Methods:** - Public speaking presentations, interpersonal communication analyses, media studies projects, religious communication plans, cultural sensitivity reports, multimedia tool integrations, community engagement strategies, ethical consideration papers, group projects, and internships. **Recommended Textbooks:** - "Communication Studies: An Introduction" by Michael H. Prosser. - "Public Speaking: An Audience-Centered Approach" by Steven A. Beebe and Susan J. Beebe. - "Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters" by Julia T. Wood. - "Media Studies: Key Issues and Debates" by Paul Smith, Kate Wall, and Sally A. Marsh. - "Religious Communication: An Introduction to Theory and Practice" by Quentin J. Schultze. **Prerequisites:** Basic knowledge of communication studies, media studies, and religious studies. Suitable for students interested in religious leadership, pastoral care, media relations, and community outreach. **Major Duration:** Typically 4 years for a bachelor's degree, including coursework, projects, and internships. **Certification:** Graduates may receive a degree in Communication and Communication in Religious Services and pursue certifications in religious leadership, media relations, or community outreach. **Target Audience:** Aspiring religious leaders, pastoral care providers, media relations specialists, community outreach coordinators, and professionals seeking to specialize in communication within religious services. This major equips students with the communication skills and cultural sensitivity needed to excel in religious leadership, media relations, and community outreach, enhancing religious messages and community engagement.