Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Communication Theory (Face-to-Face)

COMM 3100-01

Course: COMM 3100-01
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: COMM
CRN: 11437

Course Description

Theoretical approaches to the study of human interaction, media effects and strategic communication. The course emphasizes the way theories can be used in message design, dissemination, and analysis. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)]

Required Texts

Various articles available in Canvas modules. (No, you don’t have to buy a book, but you still need to read!)

Learning Outcomes

  • Students will have opportunities to understand what theory is and how to think with and apply theory in personal and professional work situations.
  • Assessment: a) Class activities will emphasize theory comprehension by discussing key principles and components of various theories. b) Students will confirm their cognitive awareness of these theories by applying their knowledge to various communication texts/phenomena in class discussions, in quizzes, and in these assignments: Infographic, Apps and Explanations, News and Social Media, and Pop Culture.
  • Ties to SUU Essential Learning Outcomes: Communication & Critical Thinking; Digital Literacy; Inquiry & Analysis
  • Students will have the opportunity to become familiar with major theories that span key areas of study in the communication discipline.
  • Assessment: a) Students will study relevant communication theories and well-known theorists in lecture/class discussion to become familiar with their application and strengths/weaknesses. b) Students will have an opportunity to evaluate their level of mastery in course quizzes and portfolio assignments. c) Students will also be exposed to the various ways theory informs research by completing these assignments: Big 3 Functions, Key Terms, and Annotated Bibliography.
  • Ties to SUU Essential Learning Outcomes: Communication & Critical Thinking
  • Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their acquired theoretical knowledge about a key communication theory by completing a capstone theory portfolio that is thoroughly conceptualized, researched, and executed in correct APA style (where applicable).
  • Assessment: a) Students will complete all portfolio assignments. b) Students will display all assignments in a wix, weebly, canva, google sites or wordpress blog page to display their semester’s work. c) Students will present a sample of their work in a 5–7-minute presentation at the end of the semester.
  • Ties to SUU Essential Learning Outcomes: Inquiry & Analysis; Communication & Critical Thinking; Digital Literacy

Course Requirements

Exams
Exams (canvas calls them quizzes) will consist of multiple-choice and short answer questions taken from assigned readings in canvas as well as course lectures/discussions. All quizzes will be taken in class. More information will be provided in class. Exams will be challenging and will require you to read the material thoroughly, take good notes and make connections between theory and application. Regular class attendance and completing course readings will be critical here. There will be 5 Units of Instruction ending in a quiz for each one.  
Written Work
Assignments for this class should conform to APA 7th edition style (where appropriate).  It is your responsibility to obtain the style guide and make sure you understand how to properly cite your sources in both the text and in the reference section. The specific requirements for each assignment are discussed in canvas, including a discussion of how the grade for each assignment will be weighted. Please read each of these documents carefully.  Although we will discuss them in class, you may have additional questions that require you to meet with me during office hours. If you are unsure about how to complete these assignments, please ask me because I want you to be successful in this course. Additionally, if you have any concerns over a grade that you receive on an assignment or quiz, feel free to discuss it with me. I ask that you think carefully about your question, write down what you see as a discrepancy and then take care of it in 1 week. Issues not addressed during this time will stand as graded.   
Grading Scale
A | 100-93% | B | 86-83% | C | 76-73% | D | 66-63%
A- | 92-90% | B- | 82-80% | C- | 72-70% | D- | 62-60%
B+ | 89-87% | C+ | 79-77% | D+ | 69-67% | F | 59-0%
Assignments and Points
Assignment Title | Points Possible
Topic Approval | 10 Points
Portfolio Format | 10 Points
Completed Portfolio | 10 Points
Class Portfolio Presentation | 10 Points
Big 3 Functions | 25 Points
Key Terms | 25 Points
Infographic | 25 Points
Apps & Explanations | 20 Points
Annotated Bibliography | 15 Points
News & Social Media | 20 Points
Pop Culture | 20 Points
Attendance | 30 Points
Workshop Days | 10 Points
Unit #1 Exam | 20 Points
Unit #2 Exam | 30 Points
Unit #3 Exam | 20 Points
Unit #4 Exam | 30 Points
Unit #5 Exam | 30 Points
AI Quiz on Responsible Use | 15 Points
Total | 375 Points

Course Outline

Unit Breakdown
  • Unit #1: Understanding Communication: Theories, Functions & Ologies
  • Unit #2: Relationship Theories
  • Unit #3: Persuasion & Media Theories
  • Unit #4: Credibility, Reality & Message Design Theories
  • Unit #5: Image Management Theories
Weekly Schedule
Week #1
  • Jan 7 Course Introduction; “Message”; Portfolio
  • Jan 9 Understanding Communication Theories -- Attendance & AI Quiz Due 
Week #2
  • Jan 12 Understanding Communication Theories
  • Jan 14 Understanding Communication Theories (Unit 1 Ends) -- Topic Approval Due 
  • Jan 16 Unit #1 Exam
Week #3
  • Jan 19 MLK Recess – No Class 
  • Jan 21 Uncertainty Reduction Theory 
  • Jan 23 Uncertainty Reduction Theory -- Big 3 Functions Due
Week #4
  • Jan 26 Social Penetration Theory 
  • Jan 28 Social Penetration Theory 
  • Jan 30 Relational Dialectics Theory -- Key Terms Due
Week #5
  • Feb 2 Relational Dialectics Theory (Unit 2 Ends) 
  • Feb 4 Unit #2 Exam 
  • Feb 6 Workshop Day -- Portfolio Format Due
Week #6
  • Feb 9 Elaboration Likelihood Model 
  • Feb 11 Elaboration Likelihood Model 
  • Feb 13 Extended Parallel Process Model
Week #7
  • Feb 16 No Class – Pres. Day Recess
  • Feb 18 Extended Parallel Process Model -- Annotated Bibl. Due
  • Feb 20 Agenda Setting Theory
Week #8
  • Feb 23 Agenda Setting Theory
  • Feb 25 Uses & Gratifications Theory
  • Feb 27 Uses & Gratifications Theory
Week #9
  • Mar 2 Media Ecology Theory -- Apps Due
  • Mar 4 Media Ecology Theory (Unit 3 Ends)
  • Mar 6 Unit #3 Exam
Week #10
  • Mar 9 No Class – Spring Break
  • Mar 11 No Class – Spring Break
  • Mar 13 No Class – Spring Break 
Week #11
  • Mar 16 Workshop Day
  • Mar 18 The Rhetoric of Aristotle -- Infographic Due
  • Mar 20 The Rhetoric of Aristotle
Week #12
  • Mar 23 Constructivism
  • Mar 25 Constructivism -- News & Social Media Due
  • Mar 27 Unit #4 Exam
Week #13
  • Mar 30 Kategoria (Theory of Attack)
  • Apr 1 Image Repair Theory
  • Apr 3 Antapologia Theory -- Pop Culture Due
Week #14
  • Apr 6 Image Management Strategy Activity (Unit 5 Ends) 
  • Apr 8 Portfolio Presentations
  • Apr 10 Portfolio Presentations 
Week #15
  • Apr 13 Portfolio Presentations
  • Apr 15 Portfolio Presentations
  • Apr 17 Portfolio Presentations -- Final Portfolio Link Due
Final
  • Apr 23 Exam #5 (Final) = 7:00 am - 8:50 am

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late Work and Incompletes

You should plan to turn in your work by 11:59 pm on the day it is due. Late work will receive a non-negotiable 10% grade reduction for each day it is late unless your situation falls under the excused category discussed in the attendance policy. Late assignments must be turned in no later than one week after they are due, or you will receive a zero. Incompletes will not be awarded in this course except for a serious medical crisis or other extenuating circumstances judged on a case-by-case basis. To be eligible for an incomplete contract you must be passing the course with a C- and have completed at least 75% of the assignments.

Technology Use

The following behaviors related to cell phone use distract from the learning environment and will not be tolerated in class: (1) Absolutely no texting. (2) Do not answer your phone unless you’ve notified the instructor regarding an unusual circumstance in your life. (3) Do not take pictures of or record other people; it is a violation of their privacy and rights to an appropriate learning environment. Computer use in class is supported for note-taking and visiting relevant websites; do not check/return email, surf the web, or play games during class.

Email Communication

You will receive frequent emails related to the learning process (e.g., due dates, changes to class schedule). The instructor will use the email you have supplied to SUU, so please check it regularly. While responses will be as timely as possible, email is typically checked during work hours; expect replies within 24 hours during the work week, but not on weekends.

Department A.I. Guideline

AI cannot substitute for foundational learning. Students must acquire disciplinary knowledge and critical thinking skills in order to evaluate AI outputs appropriately. In cases where assignment instructions allow for AI use, students must certify that they have reviewed, verified, and edited all AI outputs, which may include AI prompts used. Students should treat AI as a partner in thought and creation, not as a shortcut or a substitute for human expertise, ethics, and judgment. Students should not input sensitive, personal, confidential, copyrighted or proprietary information into public AI tools (such as ChatGPT) as it is illegal and violates expectations of privacy and academic/creative work.

AI is allowed for certain assignments (see assignment instructions for details). Presenting AI-generated work as entirely one's own in a course that does not permit such use, or using AI in ways explicitly prohibited in assignment instructions, constitutes a violation of SUU Policy 6.33: Academic Misconduct and opens the violator up to a series of potential sanctions. 

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation are strongly encouraged in this course. Attendance will be taken daily and a point value explanation will be posted in Canvas for earning points for coming to class. Legitimate absences will be accounted for when calculating this part of your grade. Such absences include documented illness, family emergencies, or school-approved functions. If your absence will affect when assignments or exams are due, you need to contact the instructor to discuss an alternative arrangement.
To keep campus running smoothly for all of us, please vigilantly monitor your health. Avoid coming to class if you wake up feeling sick, but notify the instructor (in advance if possible) by email. Your personal health will be the guiding logic behind this policy. Unique situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis, and the instructor reserves the right to make the final judgment about what constitutes an excused absence and opportunities to make up work.
Class sessions will not be recorded nor broadcast over Zoom. Refer to posted slides, notes from classmates, and office hours to help you understand any content you might have missed.

Course Fees

$12 course fee

Student Resources

Course Evaluations

Constructive feedback about course content and instruction is appreciated and used to make improvements based on patterns that surface. Please take time at the end of the semester to share your experiences in the course.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.