Associates Degree in Communications: Course Curriculum for a Communications Associates Degree

Published Aug 17, 2009

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People need effective Communications skills in many different venues, including home, school, work and more. Students of an associate's degree program in Communications learn to improve nonverbal and verbal skills, participate in group interaction and become confident public speakers. Here is some information about courses typically found in an associate's degree program in Communications.

Options with an Associate's Degree in Communications

A Communications associate's degree program deals with how people write, speak, text, blog, sign or use other forms of media to create and improve understanding among individuals. An associate's degree in Communications establishes the groundwork for careers in journalism, entertainment, religious leadership, customer service, government, education, law or business.

Course Curriculum for an Communication Associate's Degree

  • Oral Communication: The coursework in this type of class helps students select material for the presentation of oral readings. Through speech preparation techniques, students will gain increased skill in the use of gestures and voice through practice.
  • Interpersonal Communication: Students explore the Communication skills necessary to establish and maintain relationships in a career, social or family environment by understanding the concepts of listening, non-verbal Communication, conflict and self-concept.
  • Public Speaking: This course provides a combination of group speech activities with basic concepts of oral Communication, including audience analysis, support, delivery and organizational skills.
  • Intercultural Communications: Participants of this class explore the connections between Communication and cultures, with an emphasis on perception, nonverbal Communication, ethics, world view and language.
  • Organizational Communication: Human Communication systems and effective leadership strategies in the business and corporate world are covered in organization Communications courses.
  • Group Communications: Students examine the dynamics of group Communication theories, emphasizing group behavior and leadership formats and how these fundamentals relate to effective leadership strategies.
  • Natural Resource Interpretation: These classes provide a focused course of learning on how to interpret data and present related information to the public, particularly in the fields of geology, zoology and other environmental topics.
  • Communications Ethics: Incorporated in this course are techniques to improve decision-making skills through an analysis of the concepts and principles of Communications practitioners including objectivity, truth and responsibility to the public.
  • Opinion Writing: Effective Communication of opinions in writing for print are discussed in this type of course; topics include responsibilities, types of editorials and submission of opinion pieces for publications.