Class Type: MCDM - Page 10 - Communication Leadership

Classes

Classes are designed to challenge your thinking and develop your professional skills. You’ll leave each class with a unique set of tools to approach new communications challenges.

Tailor your experience to your career goals by focusing on one of eight areas of specialization. Use the search widget below to sort classes by quarter, specialization, instructor and degree track for each quarter. Get a comprehensive view of the full academic year in our Course Guide.

View the University of Washington Academic Calendar for important dates, including quarter start and end dates, registration dates and deadlines, and campus holidays.

Registration numbers (SLNs) are located on the Time Schedule. Please read the Department’s statement on internet resource requirements for access to courses.

COMMLD 531: Foundations of Video Storytelling

(

Christensen

)

- 2023-2024 | Autumn 2023

MCDM Elective | 5 Credits
Tuesdays 10/3-12/5, 6:00PM – 9:50PM | CMU 302
Registration SLN: 13010

Course Description

Approximately 183 hours of content is uploaded to YouTube every minute. Video isn’t the future of marketing, the revolution is already here and how brands leverage that storytelling capability sets them apart from the competition.

Whether you want to create video content as a full time job or you want to have the skill set in your back pocket as you navigate your communications career, this class will provide a strong foundation for maximizing video content in your marketing endeavors.

We will go over basics of how to use cameras but we will also talk about why content is successful and how we can best emulate those formulas. You are expected to exercise the craft of content creation while at the same time critically evaluating and deconstructing content you see in the marketplace.

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COMMLD 522: Future of Marketing

(

Salkowitz

)

- 2023-2024 | Autumn 2023

MCDM Elective | 5 Credits
Tuesdays 10/3-12/5, 6:00PM – 9:50PM | CMU 126
Registration SLN: 13004

Course Description

Rapid evolution of digital media and technology continues to disrupt the business of marketing, making it essential for professionals in the field to keep abreast of trends in a number of areas. This class focuses on the technologies shaping marketing, advertising, media, public relations and communications in the 2-4 year horizon and explores strategies of successful marketing organizations, both digital and traditional.

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COMMLD 520A: Principles of Marketing

(

Meyer

)

- 2023-2024 | Autumn 2023

Track Neutral Elective | 5 Credits
Tuesdays 10/3-12/5, 6:00PM – 9:50PM | DEN 112
Registration SLN: 23412

Course Description

This course is designed to provide you with an understanding of foundational marketing concepts and their application within business and non-business organizations. We start with an overview of marketing strategy, including strategic goal setting and planning and assessment of the market environment (company customers, and competitors), and then review fundamental elements of the marketing mix – product, price, placement (distribution) and promotion. We’ll go deeper into marketing communications, including product/service launches, branding, and integrated campaigns. We will explore all this through a dynamic mix of lectures, case studies, guest speakers, videos, in-class discussions, and individual and group projects.

At the end of the course, you will know how to develop a marketing plan, including how to perform market segmentation, targeting, and positioning; implement branding concepts; execute market research tools and techniques; analyze consumer/audience behavior, introduce new products or services, and develop advertising and integrated communications campaigns.

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COMMLD 517: The Psychology of User Experience

(

Haverly

)

- 2023-2024 | Autumn 2023

MCDM Elective | Meets Research Methods Requirement | 5 Credits
Wednesdays 9/27-12/6, 6:00PM – 9:50PM | Online
Registration SLN: 13003

Course Description

Designers, product marketers, and entrepreneurs will learn the psychological constrictions of attention, perception, memory, disposition, motivation, and social influence that determine whether or not customers will be receptive to their digital innovations. This will give their innovations an edge on what are increasingly competitive platforms such as apps, bots, in-car apps, augmented reality content). Students will learn…

The psychological processes determining users’ perception of, engagement with, and recommendation of digital innovations

Examples of interfaces before and after simple psychological alignments that vastly enhanced their effectiveness

How to identify, apply theory, and develop consulting or research recommendations based on psychological theory

Application to their own business interests. A deeper understanding of common digital interfaces such as conversion funnels, display advertisements, and mobile notifications.

A broader understanding of the human context of digital ventures, and the ethical differences between alignment and meeting needs vs. exploitation and unsustainable design approaches

Meets Research Methods Requirement.

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COMMLD 511A: Introduction to User Centered Design

(

Gordon

)

- 2023-2024 | Autumn 2023

MCDM Elective | Meets Research Methods Requirement | 5 Credits
Mondays 10/2-12/4, 6:00PM – 9:50PM | DEN 113
Registration SLN: 12999

Course Description

This course focuses on the fundamentals of user experience design, identifying the skills and concepts needed to successfully design products and services for humans. We will learn the principles of design thinking so that students come away from the class with a framework for understanding how to identify real user problems, design solutions for how to solve those problems, and then test those solutions with real people.

Meets Research Methods Requirement

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COMMLD 503C: Practicum: Search Engine Optimization

(

Long

)

- 2023-2024 | Autumn 2023

Track Neutral | 2 Credits
Thursdays 9/28-12/7, 6:00PM – 7:50PM | CMU 126
Registration SLN: 23235

Course Description

In this practicum, students will work on a real-world Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy—forming a partnership among SEO students, instructor, and a client. Students will work in a team-based context and apply their SEO skills to be able to give the client an SEO strategy recommendation for their website to help them improve their keyword rankings in Google.

The final deliverable will be a client presentation highlighting keywords that the client should target based on the use of various analytics tools resourced with help from the instructor. Students will also deliver a sample of a page that has been optimized on the client’s website as an example, with resources the client can use to further optimize their site. By the end of the Practicum, students will have a sample for their portfolio to demonstrate their knowledge of SEO.

About Communication and Leadership Practicum:
Communication and Leadership Practicum courses give you the opportunity to engage in contemporary professional practice by addressing the challenges of real-life organizations. Each section is matched with a client organization or group of client organizations, and focuses on a distinct professional skill or practice that is deemed essential across a variety of professional fields.

Designed to mirror a professional setting, our Practicum offer you the opportunity to work at a higher level and with greater responsibility than what you might encounter in an internship or in entry-level work. In the span of a quarter, you will enhance highly-desirable professional skills, produce work that you can include in your own professional portfolios, and most importantly, leave with a story–your story – of what you did in this project to create value for your client.

Credit/No Credit Only

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COMMLD 501: Leadership and Communities

(

Yasin

)

- 2023-2024 | Autumn 2023

Track Neutral | Core Requirement | 2 Credits
Thursdays 9/28-12/7, 6:00PM – 8:20PM | PCAR 192
Registration SLN: 12995

Course Description

This foundational class considers leadership development through the two lenses of story and community. Sustained community engagement in the service of a more equitable and just world requires strong leadership models. Personal history and cultural context influence leadership styles, so using cross-sector profiles and guest speakers, we will carefully consider a range of leaders, their life stories, communication styles, and how they connect meaningfully to customers, colleagues, and constituents.

Credit/No Credit only

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COMMLD 503: Practicum: Content Strategy for Chatbots Intensive

(

Joslyn

)

- 2022-2023 | Summer 2023

Track Neutral | 2 Credits
Monday – Friday 7/31 – 8/4, 9:00AM – 5:00PM | Online
Application Required – See Description

Course Description

This practicum intensive will offer students the chance to experience what it’s like to plan, build, test, and complete a real-life chatbot for an on-campus client, all in the form of a week “sprint.”

Students will be organized into pods to complete key milestones of the work. Some students will work on project management, some in content design, product design, and UX research. A project brief and key milestones will be provided to start the class, but everything from picking out the chatbot product, working with stakeholders, creating the experience, conducting research, and providing a completed chatbot experience will be students’ responsibility to own. Class will be held 9-5pm for a week, with most of the time working in teams to create key deliverables. Your faculty mentor will be available to offer feedback on milestone progress, while the client will be engaged during key touchpoints to offer feedback on deliverables.

**Since this class takes foundational concepts to the next level, students who register must have either already taken COMMLD 510: Introduction to Information Architecture, one of our intro courses (511 or 512), or Content Marketing (513) or have equivalent UX experience. Please fill out this form to the best of your ability. The form will open at 6:30AM PST on Monday, April 10, 2023. If your form is approved, you will receive an add code to register for the course. (Note: applications will be time stamped, and qualified applicants will be added to remaining class spots on an equitable basis determined by time of application and remaining time in the program. The application can be found here: https://forms.office.com/r/FVtR4LKj3j

About 503 Communication and Leadership Practicum

Communication and Leadership Practicum courses give students an opportunity to engage with and understand the uses of course concepts in contemporary professional practice by addressing the challenges of real-life organizations.

Each section of the Comm Lead Practicum focuses on a distinct professional skill or practice that is deemed essential across a variety of professional fields. Students can choose their section based on their interests and needs. Each section is matched with a client organization or group of client organizations who are interested in partnering with Communication Leadership students.

In the span of a quarter, students analyze the issues faced by the client organization(s), collaborate and brainstorm collectively in small teams, and with the support of their faculty mentor create a deliverable for the client organization(s) that relates to the specific practice. Students may also create creative samples as part of the project. In doing so, students can develop and enhance skills, build foundations of practice, and produce work that they can include in their own professional portfolios.

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COMMLD 530: Ethics of Storytelling

(

Graney-Saucke

)

- 2022-2023 | Summer 2023

Track Neutral | Meets Law & Ethics Requirement | 5 Credits
A Term: Tuesdays/Thursdays 6/20 – 7/18, 6:00PM – 9:50PM | CMU 126
Registration SLN: 14192

Course Description

Ethics plays a critical role in how we tell stories. What values are behind the story? Who is telling the story, and for whom? What is the intended outcome, and what could the potential impact be? What are the ethics around new media technology like deep fake as we continue to take stories at face value?

Ethics and subjective bias in storytelling can also be complex, and thus they require our attention and reflection in responsible and responsive creative communications. This course will address various storytelling mediums and scenarios where ethics in storytelling are actively at play. Students will engage in critical discourse and assignments to assess values that impact ethical decisions personally and professionally. Assigned media and reading material as well as student sourced case studies will be used in order to ensure diverse and current content. As a conclusion to the class, students will create a final video, audio, web or UX project that engages an ethical challenge.

Meets Law & Ethics requirement.

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COMMLD 521: Digital Media Branding and Marketing

(

Mottola

)

- 2022-2023 | Summer 2023

MCDM Elective | 5 Credits
Wednesdays 6/21 – 8/16, 6:00PM – 9:50PM | Online
Registration SLN: 10833

Course Description

This course is designed for students that will be utilizing their MCDM education and experience in the marketing arenas in businesses and organizations (including non-profits) or in leadership functions where an understanding of marketing is an important skill. The focus of the course will be on how to build a brand online or extend a legacy offline brand into a relevant online brand by examining how the most interesting and dynamic brands operate today. We will explore how they utilize digital media marketing channels to reach target customers and address issues that may arise as the brands mature or uncontrollable events arise.

While digital has offered us many more opportunities and “shiny objects” to reach and communicate with customers, the fundamental marketing skills and theories don’t change much or quickly. Learning to be strategic about how to apply these fundamentals will allow students to remain flexible and relevant with change in the future.

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COMMLD 510B: Introduction to Information Architecture

(

Weaver

)

- 2022-2023 | Summer 2023

MCDM Elective | Meets Research Methods Requirement | 5 Credits
Saturdays 6/24, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22 Online, 8/5 In-Person (with remote option), 9:00AM – 5:00PM | Online
Registration SLN: 10831

Course Description

Information Architecture (IA) helps users understand where they are, what they’ve found, what’s around, and what to expect when they are visiting a website or application. When you have large amounts of information to display, IA can help you create groups, sorting, labels and provide navigation to help people browse your content.This class sets up the basics for organizing content through architecture. We’ll learn about the theory and techniques that help us provide clear paths through content. Through best practices articles, real world examples, and student projects, we’ll explore the foundations and potential of Information Architecture. Students will take on their own mini-project and present their IA discoveries at the end of the session.

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COMMLD 510A: User Interface and Visual Design

(

Gordon

)

- 2022-2023 | Summer 2023

MCDM Elective | 5 credits
Thursdays 6/22 – 8/17, 6:00PM – 9:50PM | DEN 213
Registration SLN: 10830

Course Description

Design is an umbrella term describing several overlapping concepts. User Interface Design (UI or IxD) is concerned with how navigational components are organized on a system interface so the page layout is easy to navigate and guides users on how to achieve their goals. Visual Design centers on aesthetics and strategic implementation of communication components, images, colors, fonts, and other graphic elements to design effective visual layouts.

In this class you’ll learn the fundamentals of human motor performance, perception, and cognition that inform effective interaction design, as well as how UI and Visual Design work together in concert. Some of the topics we’ll cover are research, mood board creation, testing, user flows, Figma essentials, component libraries, general layout and design, wireframing, prototyping, microcopy, and more. At the end of this course, students will know how to create impactful UI design and have knowledge of the tools to bring designs to fruition.

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COMMLD 504: Capstone

(

MacLaren

)

- 2022-2023 | Spring 2023

Track Neutral | 2 Credits
Thursdays 3/30 – 6/1, 5:00PM – 6:50PM | PCAR 297
Registration SLN: 12550

Course Description:

The COMMLD504 Capstone class offers MCCL students the chance to demonstrate their learning and build a portfolio through an in-depth, independent project done under the guidance of faculty and staff advisors. It’s also a chance to impact the world and help address the needs of real-life organizations.

In this class, students will finish and refine their capstone project, curate and design elements for their portfolio, reflect on work throughout their Comm Lead journey, and refine their professional self-narrative. Students will think, reflect, respond, and provide/receive feedback throughout the course as they refine their presentation and professional narrative for a particular audience.

(Note–this class is only available to MCCL students in the last quarter of their Comm Lead journey.)

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COMMLD 503C: Practicum in Content Strategy

(

Weaver

)

- 2022-2023 | Spring 2023

Track Neutral | 2 Credits
Mondays 3/27 – 6/5, 5:00PM – 6:50PM | Online
SLN: 12547

Course Description

In this practicum, students will assess content from a real world client using content audits and comparative reviews to make recommendations for a renaming, rebranding, and renewed website. Students will use templates to analyze and assess content against standards. We will look for ways to improve the website through content removal or renewal based on our user experience goals, audience preferences, and user tasks as well as best practices. Your assessments and recommendations will help the client reimagine content topics and connections and prepare for a new information architecture. By the end of this practicum students will develop a list of recommendations for the client for content improvement.

**Since this class takes foundational concepts to the next level, students who register must have either already taken COMMLD 510: Introduction to Information Architecture, one of our intro courses (511 or 512), or Content Marketing (513) or have equivalent UX experience. Please fill out this form to the best of your ability. If your form is approved, you will receive an add code to register for the course. (Note: applications will be time stamped, and qualified applicants will be added to remaining class spots on an equitable basis determined by time of application and remaining time in the program. The application can be found here: https://forms.office.com/r/670K19LaFP

Note: students currently waitlisted for COMMLD 503B have priority for this course.

About Communication and Leadership Practicum:

Communication and Leadership Practicum courses give you the opportunity to engage in contemporary professional practice by addressing the challenges of real-life organizations. Each section is matched with a client organization or group of client organizations, and focuses on a distinct professional skill or practice that is deemed essential across a variety of professional fields. Students can choose their section based on their interests and needs.

Credit/No Credit Only

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COMMLD 560A: Communicating Across Power and Identities

(

Ross

)

- 2022-2023 | Spring 2023

Track Neutral | 2 Credits
Mondays 3/27-6/05, 6:00PM – 7:50PM | DEN 212
SLN: 21584

Course Description:

This course provides a primer on concepts of identity, power, privilege, and systems of oppression. Through reflective writing and facilitated discussions of curated readings students explore how their personal and professional identities impact their effectiveness in communicating across interpersonal difference. Designed to welcome those who may have previously avoided discussing uncomfortable topics, this introductory course empowers students with modes of inquiry that enable their essential self-examination and self-preparation for any future equity-related organizational collaborations.

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COMMLD 503E: Consulting Practicum: Leveraging Social Listening Research to Mitigate Misinformation

(

Chang

)

- 2022-2023 | Spring 2023

Track Neutral | 2 Credits
Wednesdays 3/29 – 5/31 6:00PM – 7:50PM PST | Online
SLN: 12549

Course Description

One of the most urgent issues facing our society today is the growing impact of misinformation. In an effort to better plan for, engage with and proactively mitigate the negative impact of misinformation, stakeholders are increasingly using social listening research tools to have effective mitigation approaches in place.

In this practicum, students will navigate this uncharted area by using a social listening research tool called Pulsar to map and identify critical trends and topics most relevant to creating effective misinformation mitigation approaches. Students will then draft a framework of practical approaches for client consideration and incorporation into organizational policy. By the end of this practicum, students will have gained competencies in the area of social listening/research, strengthened leadership skills and consulting engagement.

The learning challenge: This practicum is for students who are ready to grow as leaders–leaders who recognize that wrestling with real-world problems calls for moving through ambiguity. Just like in real-world work contexts, this course will not include heavy text-based teaching or pre-designed road maps of ‘here is what to do every step of the way’. Instead, there will be steady and strong coaching and support from an instructor with a specialized expertise in navigating ambiguity and leading through influence. You can expect to be uncomfortable most of the time in this practicum, and that will be a mark of success and growth. Every student will create a tangible skill-based experience to use in their career development, professional networking and portfolio. In other words, there will be a direct answer to the question of “tell me about a time when you developed a communications strategy for a client.”

Credit/No Credit only.

About 503 Communication and Leadership Practicum

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COMMLD 531: Foundations of Video Storytelling

COMMLD 522: Future of Marketing

COMMLD 520A: Principles of Marketing

COMMLD 517: The Psychology of User Experience

COMMLD 511A: Introduction to User Centered Design

COMMLD 503C: Practicum: Search Engine Optimization

COMMLD 501: Leadership and Communities

COMMLD 503: Practicum: Content Strategy for Chatbots Intensive

COMMLD 530: Ethics of Storytelling

COMMLD 521: Digital Media Branding and Marketing

COMMLD 510B: Introduction to Information Architecture

COMMLD 510A: User Interface and Visual Design

COMMLD 504: Capstone

COMMLD 503C: Practicum in Content Strategy

COMMLD 560A: Communicating Across Power and Identities

COMMLD 503E: Consulting Practicum: Leveraging Social Listening Research to Mitigate Misinformation

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