Class Type: MCDM - Page 3 - 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 532: Advanced Video Storytelling

(

Christensen

)

- Current Quarter | 2024-2025 | Spring 2025

MCDM Elective | 5 Credits
Saturdays 4/5, 4/19, 5/3, 5/17, 5/31, 9:00am – 5:00pm | Collective Chemistry
Application Required

Course Description

The world of video production is a mysterious and ambiguous place consisting of freelancers, business owners, and in-house roles. In this course students will learn how to add structure to their client interactions, how to ensure that they’re delivering content that fits their client’s needs, and how to navigate studio-based filming environments. Class will consist of qualitative analysis of how to approach storytelling problems as well as hands-on experiences with advanced camera gear in a professional setting. Students will collaborate in teams throughout the quarter to create one short video for a real-world client.

This course is a good match for students who:

• Have taken the Foundations of Video Storytelling course OR have a very strong understanding of how to create video content

• Are open to a simulated real world experience which includes working in groups

• Are prepared for a time consuming and rigorous learning experience

Students must prove their proficiency in video production to register for this course by meeting the minimum qualifications:

1. Proficient experience in editing video on the following platforms: Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro, and/or DaVinci Resolve.

2. Experience in shooting video with either DSLRs or Video Cinema Cameras.

Please fill the form below to the best of your ability. You may be reached out with further clarifications. 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 will go live on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 6:30 AM and can be found here: https://forms.office.com/r/d3qPW7CJzg

Here are the questions on the form to help you prepare before it goes live:

Full Name
UW Email

Have you taken (or are currently taking) COMMLD 531: Foundations of Video Storytelling or COMMLD 536: Intensive Video Storytelling?

If you have not taken the Foundations of Video Storytelling course, do you have other comparable experience? We do not cover basics of how to use gear or software in this class, we focus largely on client relations and storytelling principles so you need to have a solid foundation of video creation methods in order to succeed. Please provide examples of your work if applicable.

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COMMLD 530 A: Storytelling with Data

(

Mcghee

)

- Current Quarter | 2024-2025 | Spring 2025

MCDM Elective | 5 Credits
Wednesdays 4/2 – 6/4, 6:00pm – 9:50pm | CMU 302
SLN: 12580

Course Description:

This course teaches students to assemble visual evidence in service of a narrative story. It reflects the new reality that information graphics, maps, and data visualizations are no longer a supplement to text stories created by dedicated service desks, but are free-standing items produced by cross-disciplinary journalists with skills in data reporting and visual presentation.

This course leads students through the process of reporting, analyzing, and presenting a data-driven infographic feature story. Students will explore the gamut of influential and impactful visual stories: an explainer on Covid-19 transmission (the Washington Post’s most popular story of all time); articles exploring California wildfires and street protests in Hong Kong; and stories exploring larger historical and cultural themes like the rise of Confederate statues and such cultural questions as: why are women’s pants pockets so small and K-pop bands so big?

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COMMLD 523: Foundations of Social Media Communications & Strategy

(

Tang

)

- Current Quarter | 2024-2025 | Spring 2025

MCDM Elective | 5 Credits
Saturdays 4/5, 4/19, 5/3, 5/17, 5/31, 9:00am – 5:00pm | Online
SLN: 12578

Course Description

Communication on digital platforms and networks will be the forever norm of our society and human experience. In this course, we will learn, practice and investigate the fundamental principles of communication through social media. We’ll identify strategies used by social media platforms to maximize their key metrics and apply them to business metrics that brands and organizations use to fulfill their objectives and goals. At the end of this course, you’ll be able to identify areas of opportunity on social media platforms to create interesting campaigns, analyze emerging social trends to stay ahead of the curve, and use the tools and best practices of the world’s most powerful brands to engage audiences.

This course is a good match for students who:

• Have a keen interest in social media

• Want to learn about effective social media strategies

• Are using social media for their professional work and personal branding

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COMMLD 515 A: Advanced User Design: UX Studio

(

Levine

)

- Current Quarter | 2024-2025 | Spring 2025

MCDM Elective | Meets Research Methods Requirement | 5 Credits
Wednesdays 4/2 – 6/4, 6:00pm – 9:50pm | CMU 104
SLN: 12575

Course Description

In this class, students will work in small groups to design and prototype innovative user-centered solutions to real-world problems and develop an application. Students will develop their projects from a user experience (UX) design perspective and produce a strong piece for their portfolio.

The course emulates real-life aspects of UX design teams, including in-depth experience with user research, usability testing and iterating on the product with real-life users. By the end of the course, students will construct a map of a product’s full customer journey, develop personas with use cases, design a working prototype, and build a proposal with requirements for the concept.

Meets Research Methods Requirement.

Course Prerequisites: COMMLD 511, 512, or 517.

This intensive course structure includes lecture, small and large group activities, and extended studio time for hands-on work on the projects. Several guest speakers from the UX design field are planned throughout the quarter.

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COMMLD 510 B: Introduction UX Writing & Content Design

(

Romero

)

- Current Quarter | 2024-2025 | Spring 2025

Track Neutral | Meets Professional Writing Requirement | 3 Credits
Tuesdays 4/1 – 6/3, 6:00pm – 8:20pm | CMU 230
SLN: 12572

Course Description

User Experience (UX) Writing involves the words used in a website, app, or other digital experience flow. The job of UX Writing is to make sure those words help make that experience simple, conversational, and easy to use. This course will use design thinking to guide you through solving complex UX issues using workshops, real-world examples, emerging AI tools and techniques, and creating your own unique UX writing flows and portfolio.

This class is a good match for students who:

• Are planning to pursue a career in the UX and/or marketing field

• want to gain team-based competencies aligned with industry practice

• want to showcase UX writing flows in their UX portfolio

Meets Professional Writing Requirement.

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COMMLD 504: Capstone

(

Bradshaw

)

- Current Quarter | 2024-2025 | Spring 2025

Track Neutral | 2 Credits
Thursdays 4/3 – 6/5, 6:00pm – 7:50pm | CMU 126
Application Required

Course Description:

In the COMMLD 504 Capstone class for MCCL students, you will refine and finalize your near complete capstone project, develop professional presentation skills, and hone your professional narrative prior to graduation. This course will help you learn how to target your audience, effectively support your ideas, and select and organize materials to prepare for a presentation or portfolio using multimedia tools. Students will think, reflect, respond, and provide/receive feedback throughout the course. Your interactions will be a learning experience as you engage with each other’s work, diverse perspectives, and presentation styles.

Note: Registration for this class is add-code only after submission of an application.

More about the 504 Capstone

The Communication and Leadership Capstone project is the culmination of your MCCL journey in the Communication Leadership Program. Before graduation, students work to complete a project that responds to professional communities’ needs, using communication and leadership tools.

Capstones are a chance to demonstrate your learning and build your 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.

Completing your capstone and the accompanying credits is a multi-quarter process, usually done during the student’s second year in the program. Projects can be research-based, work done in a class, for a client organization, or even for your current job.

Credit/No Credit Only.

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COMMLD 503 B: Practicum: UX Design in Action

(

Gordon

)

- Current Quarter | 2024-2025 | Spring 2025

Track Neutral | 3 Credits
Mondays 3/31 – 6/2, 6:00pm – 8:20pm | CMU 302
Application Required

Course Description

In this practicum, students will work on a real-world design problem—forming a partnership among design students, instructor, and a client. Students will work in a team-based context and apply their design-thinking skills to improve a business’ website by reducing user frustrations and helping the business reach its goals.

The final deliverable will be a client presentation highlighting what frustrations were discovered through research and testing, how the design thinking process was applied to maximize user and business needs, and will include a prototype to visually express the proposed solution incorporating the totality of the evaluation.

Credit/No Credit Only.

**Since this class takes foundational concepts to the next level, students who register must have already taken any of the following courses:

COMMLD 510: Introduction to Information Architecture

COMMLD 510: User Interface and Visual Design

COMMLD 511: Introduction to User Centered Design

COMMLD 512: User Research and UX Strategies

COMMLD 513: Content Marketing

COMMLD 515: Advanced User Design: UX Studio

Or have equivalent UX experience.

Please fill out the form below 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 will go live on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 6:30 AM here: https://forms.office.com/r/EiHbFVvacj

Here are the questions on the form to help you prepare before it goes live:

Full Name
UW Email

Have you taken (or are currently taking) COMMLD 510: Intro to Info Architecture, COMMLD 510: User Interface and Visual Design, COMMLD 511: Introduction to User Centered Design, COMMLD 512: User Research and UX Strategies, COMMLD 513: Content Marketing, or COMMLD 515: Advanced UX Studio?

(If you have not taken the courses above) You have stated that you have not taken the pre-requisites for this course. You may still be qualified if you have previous experience. Please describe your UX experience.

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 545 A/B: Engaging Interviews

(

Dalch

)

- 2024-2025 | Winter 2025

Track Neutral | 2 or 3 Credits
Tuesdays 1/7 – 3/11, 6:00pm – 7:50pm | CMU 242
2-credit 545A Registration SLN: 22261
3-credit 545B Registration SLN: 22262

Course Description:

Great conversations are at the heart of professional success—whether you’re interviewing users for product research, having discovery calls with clients, conducting interviews for publication, or building your professional network. This course teaches you how to master the art of purposeful professional conversations through preparation, presence, and genuine curiosity. You’ll learn how to design and lead different types of professional dialogues, from structured research interviews to dynamic networking conversations, while maintaining authenticity and engagement.

Through a blend of coaching techniques and practical frameworks, you’ll develop skills in active listening, strategic questioning, and conversation management. Students will engage in hands-on practice with various conversation types (UX research, client discovery, media interviews, and professional networking) with guest speakers from various industries invited to add real-world perspectives on applying these skills.

Section A will be 2 Credits. Section B will be 3 Credits with an additional interview project.

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COMMLD 540F: Health Communications

(

Sandine

)

- 2024-2025 | Winter 2025

Track Neutral | Meets Law & Ethics Requirement | 5 Credits
Mondays 1/6 – 3/10, 6:00pm – 9:50pm | CMU 242
Registration SLN: 22260

Course Description:

Communicating the data” and “following the science” are inadequate if real people’s needs, behaviors, and values are not well understood and centered in our health policies and messages. In this course, students will deepen their knowledge of health equity, population health, and the determinants that impact health in the systems and environments we live in and rely on. At the same time, we will explore how mis- and dis-information, medical mistrust and hesitancy, and the influences of mass media shape and control narratives that have enormous impact on people’s lives.

This course is designed for students working both in health communications and outside of the health sector. We will explore health communication practices and engagement methods like crisis and risk communications, health literacy and promotion, and strategic communications. Activities and assignments will be designed to help communication leaders build practical skills, such as developing briefings and op-eds, facilitating discussions, and creating crisis comms plans.

The pandemic highlighted critical challenges in both equity and health communication. Today, every communication professional must grasp how to effectively communicate about health and navigate the complex public health systems that shape our lives. Taught by a leading expert in health communication, this class is essential for anyone looking to understand key health policies and how to convey them, no matter the industry they plan to enter. I highly recommend it. – Ekin Yasin, Director

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COMMLD 600: MC Research Project

(

)

- Current Quarter | 2024-2025 | Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Winter 2025

Track Neutral | 5 Credits
Application Required

Course Description:

After completion of a minimum of 50% of Comm Lead course work, students can choose to conduct a scholarly research project. An MC Research Project is roughly the equivalent of a master’s thesis in scope and rigor, and requires the student form a committee of at least two faculty members to evaluate the work, as well as give a public presentation of the final deliverable. See complete details and application instructions on the Guide to MC Research Project page.

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COMMLD 593: Internship

(

)

- Current Quarter | 2024-2025 | Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Winter 2025

Track Neutral | 1-5 Credits
Application Required

Course Description:

An internship can be a useful way to give students a fundamental understanding of the industry and to accelerate one’s career path. Internships should be directly relevant to the student’s field of study (degree or specialization). Part-time jobs not related to the degree will normally not be approved for internship credit, as the purpose of an internship is to apply what you have been learning in your degree to a real world work experience. See complete details and application instructions on the Guide to Internships page.

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COMMLD 591: Independent Research

(

)

- 2024-2025 | Winter 2025

Track Neutral | 1-5 Credits
Application Required

Course Description:

Independent Research projects are student-driven, with faculty serving in a loose advisory capacity. This option is for students with a clear project in mind who will only need minimal faculty support to accomplish their end goal. See complete details and application instructions on the Guide to Independent Research page.

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COMMLD 580A: Communicating the Future with Scenario Planning

(

Rasmus

)

- 2024-2025 | Winter 2025

MCDM Elective | 5 Credits
Thursdays 1/9 – 3/13, 6:00pm – 9:50pm | CMU 230
Registration SLN: 12723

Course Description

This course explores techniques for exploring possible futures and how to apply those futures to create business narratives. The class will work through a complete cycle of scenario planning. Learners will gather and document uncertainties related to the future of work with an emphasis on communications. The class will then build rich narratives that explore how the future may unfold under different social, technological, economic, environmental, and political circumstances. The course will also explore how to use scenarios to inform strategic choices and drive content development. Students will be expected to demonstrate their mastery of scenario planning through individual work and team presentations. Team presentations will focus on the future of work and its implications for communications. Individual stories will feature multimedia presentations that describe the learner living in one of the futures.

I went into Scenario Planning as a marketer and left as a strategic storyteller. Dan taught us to look into the future and fashion a whole story out of it, in scenarios and contexts I otherwise wouldn’t have imagined. It also trains you to think of the future beyond just a linear eventuality to help prepare for it in the best way possible. Personally, the application of what I learned was beyond a business context, and I can say this – it helped all of us look at everything in a more multi-dimensional manner.—Matthew Joseph, MCDM cohort ‘22 alumni

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COMMLD 570A: Stakeholder Mindset and Communication

(

Howard

)

- 2024-2025 | Winter 2025

Track Neutral | 3 Credits
Wednesdays 1/8 – 3/12, 6:00pm – 8:20pm | DEN 259
Registration SLN: 12721

Course Description:

In August 2019, the Business Roundtable, a group of 181 CEOs from the largest corporations in the world, created, signed, and distributed a formal document, “Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation.” This communication stated that this group was committed to leading their companies for the benefit of all stakeholders — shareholders, communities, employees, suppliers, and customers.

In this course, we’ll examine this diverse set of stakeholders and take a closer look at how they interact with corporate leaders and each other internally and externally. What role will marketing communication professionals have in making companies’ messaging more stakeholder focused and inclusive going forward?

From Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover to the mercurial work policies at Amazon, we’ll examine why companies which do not support stakeholder theory risk losing value. And why the ones that do gain it.

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COMMLD 546 A/B: Professional Long-Form Writing

(

Crofts

)

- 2024-2025 | Winter 2025

Please note: 546A is 3 credits, and 546B is 5 credits. These courses will run concurrently. Students registered for 546A (3 credits) will attend the first three dates, and students registered for 546B (5 credits) will attend all five dates.

Course Description:

Have you ever read an in-depth piece online that so moved you or shifted your thinking that you immediately sent it on to a friend or colleague? The “long-form” medium offers the writer ample space for synthesis, critique, and personal stories to capture the imagination, change the conversation, and inspire action. With a broad selection of writers, leaders, and cultural commentators as curricular guides, this course invites each student to hone their long-form professional writing skills (>1000 words) and deepen their understanding of the current professional communication long-form landscape.

With scaffolded steps to refine their writing voice and scope, this course serves both students with writing experience, as well as those keen to develop this foundational skill. All students are invited to submit their final piece for inclusion in the Spring 2025 volume of the online journal Mind Shift. In addition, we will consider the evolution of platforms, from colonial-era pamphlets to today’s crowded community of digital newsletters.

Anita teaches invaluable research and writing skills that pushed me to become a more curious thinker. She encourages her students to dive into multifaceted research on your choice of subject and produce a polished long-form piece. As a brand marketing professional, I’ve applied what I learned in Anita’s class by practicing clear written communication and empathetic collaboration. —Amanda Chou, MCCN cohort ‘22 alumni

3-credit class Meets Professional Writing Requirement.

5-credit class meets either Research Methods or Professional Writing requirement. Class cannot be used to meet both requirements.

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COMMLD 541B: Crisis Communication

(

Hennessey

)

- 2024-2025 | Winter 2025

Track Neutral | Meets Law & Ethics Requirement | 5 Credits
Wednesdays 1/8 – 3/12, 6:00pm – 9:50pm | CMU 302
Registration SLN: 12715

Course Description

Crisis communications is about much more than “spin.” Crises will happen – in government, in the corporate sector, in nonprofits and political campaigns. What will differentiate you as a communicator is your ability to plan for it, navigate it in real time, and learn something from it. There is opportunity in crisis. A crisis forces us to look inside ourselves, at our policies, at our practices, and at how we do our business.

Of course, crisis communications has always been tough; social media and the advent of generative AI have just made it tougher. We will navigate the latest cultural challenges, from “cancel culture” to messaging in our polarized society. In this course, we will look at before the crisis (including planning), how we respond during the crisis (this includes the critical crisis communications plan) and after (this is where we cover actions one must take afterwards, including how to repair the damage done). The class is designed to look at crises in various sectors and will include participation from professionals in the field.

Meets Law and Ethics Requirement.

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COMMLD 532: Advanced Video Storytelling

COMMLD 530 A: Storytelling with Data

COMMLD 523: Foundations of Social Media Communications & Strategy

COMMLD 515 A: Advanced User Design: UX Studio

COMMLD 510 B: Introduction UX Writing & Content Design

COMMLD 504: Capstone

COMMLD 503 B: Practicum: UX Design in Action

COMMLD 545 A/B: Engaging Interviews

COMMLD 540F: Health Communications

COMMLD 600: MC Research Project

COMMLD 593: Internship

COMMLD 591: Independent Research

COMMLD 580A: Communicating the Future with Scenario Planning

COMMLD 570A: Stakeholder Mindset and Communication

COMMLD 546 A/B: Professional Long-Form Writing

COMMLD 541B: Crisis Communication

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