Archives: Courses - Page 21 - 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.

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COMMLD 593: Internship

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- 2024-2025 | Autumn 2024

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 600: MC Research Project

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- 2024-2025 | Autumn 2024

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 537: Storytelling for Social Impact

(

Kessler

)

- 2023-2024 | Winter 2024

Track Neutral | 5 Credits
Saturdays, In-Person 1/6, Online 1/20, 2/3, 2/17, In-Person 3/2, 9:00am – 5:00pm | CMU 126
Registration SLN: 12631

Course Description:

Storytelling for Social Impact is a foundational class that focuses on the art and craft of nonfiction storytelling to communicate ideas and emotion, build relationships and community, promote change and inspire action. The class reflects the need in all sectors for superb storytelling. The class explores, investigates and discusses the elements of narrative — what makes a story a story – and looks at examples of nonfiction storytelling across media (text, sound, still image, moving image and multimedia combinations). This platform-agnostic, birds-eye view of story is about learning how to reframe/ reconceptualize “information” and “report” as story, how to locate the small story that illuminates the larger issue, and what it takes to produce such work. At its heart, the class is about learning how to conceptualize issues, topics, brands, and ideas as narratives. Students will learn to “think story,” to pinpoint, pitch and gather material for the production of original, compelling and persuasive content.

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COMMLD 540A/B: Professional Longform Writing & Platforms

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Crofts

)

- 2023-2024 | Winter 2024

Please note: 540A is 3 credits, and 540B is 5 credits. These courses will run concurrently. Students registered for 540A (3 credits) will attend the first three dates, and students registered for 540B (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. In addition, we will consider the evolution of platforms, from colonial-era pamphlets to today’s crowded community of digital newsletters, hosted by the likes of Substack, Mailchimp, or Ghost.

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 540D: Human-Centered, AI-Augmented Internal Communications

(

Abplanalp

)

- 2023-2024 | Winter 2024

Track Neutral | 5 Credits
Tuesdays 1/9 – 3/5, 6:00PM – 9:50PM | DEN 213
Registration SLN: 12635

Course Description:

This course explores the intersection of internal communications and artificial intelligence (AI) with an emphasis on human-centricity and organizational culture. Topics will focus on organizational brand, leadership and voice; automation tools and techniques; pitfalls of artificial intelligence; and considerations for diversity, equity, and inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility.

Students will examine the impact of AI on internal communications practices and strategies within organizations, including integration of AI technologies in communication development and its implications for leadership and decision-making. Students will also develop strength as human-centered, AI-augmented internal communicators, enhancing workflows and sharpening editorial acumen and critical thinking. Each week, students will engage in case study discussions to analyze real-world scenarios and explore the application of AI in different aspects of internal communications.

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COMMLD 540F: Health Communications

(

Sandine

)

- 2023-2024 | Winter 2024

Track Neutral | Meets Law & Ethics Requirement | 5 Credits
Thursdays 1/4 – 3/7, 6:00pm – 9:50pm | CMU 126
Registration SLN: 22249

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.

Meets Law & Ethics Requirement.

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COMMLD 543: Leadership Approaches to Equity Initiatives in Organizations

(

Ross

)

- 2023-2024 | Winter 2024

MCCN Elective | Meets Law & Ethics Requirement | 5 Credits
Wednesdays 1/3 – 3/6, 6:00pm – 9:50pm | DEN 213
Registration SLN: 12636

Course Description:

This leadership development course supports and challenges students to grow intra-personally in order to more effectively communicate and collaborate to change organizational systems and cultural norms toward greater equity, justice, diversity, access, belonging, and inclusion.

The course is designed to meet students where they are and coach for growth in self-awareness, communication skills, and comprehension of equity concepts. Students learn interactively together in order to explore interconnections among dimensions of our intersectional identities and experiences of power, as well as developing our collective understanding of how organizations, and the people within them, function within larger societal systems of power.

The course is structured along dual tracks of shared equity related content learning and individual-specific focused topical learning. Over the quarter, students transform their understanding of their identities and agency, gain confidence for communicating about often-taboo topics, experience iterative reflection as a social justice practice, and expand their comprehension of the distinct roles of individuals, groups, organizations, and societal structures in making genuine system change.

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COMMLD 560A: Inclusive Design & Product Equity

(

Liu

)

- 2023-2024 | Winter 2024

Track Neutral | Meets Law & Ethics Requirement | 5 Credits
Tuesdays 1/9 – 3/5, 6:00PM – 9:50PM | CMU 126
Registration SLN: 22247

Course Description:

This course offers a comprehensive exploration of the critical intersection between Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and technology. In an era where technology such as artificial intelligence and machine learning plays an ever-expanding role in shaping our world, we should interrogate who gets to build it, use it, and profit from it. As future technology leaders it is imperative to not only be well versed in DEI but to create necessary solutions that democratize technology rather than allow it to perpetuate systems of inequality.

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COMMLD 570A: Stakeholder Mindset and Communication

(

Howard

)

- 2023-2024 | Winter 2024

Track Neutral | 3 Credits
Wednesdays 1/3 – 3/6, 6:00pm – 8:20pm | DEN 212
Registration SLN: 12640

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 fiasco to the unexpected and unclear work policies at Amazon, we’ll examine why companies which do not support stakeholder theory lose value. And why the ones that do gain it.

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COMMLD 570B: The Future of Work: Resilient & Inclusive Leadership

(

Andersen, Williams

)

- 2023-2024 | Winter 2024

MCCN Elective | 5 Credits
Thursdays 1/4 – 3/7, 6:00pm – 9:50pm | CMU 230
Registration SLN: 22248

Course Description

As organizations navigate unprecedented changes driven by technological advancements, societal shifts, and global challenges, the need for resilient and inclusive leadership has become paramount. During this course, students will explore key aspects of effective leadership in the context of the future of work, including emotional self-awareness and agility, navigating the complexities of remote and hybrid work environments, and strategies to foster resilience, adaptability, and agility in individuals and teams. Additionally, students will discover and develop many of the leadership skills and knowledge they need to lead teams & contribute to organizational success, and learn strategies for fostering a sense of belonging, promoting diverse perspectives, and addressing biases to create a more inclusive organizational culture.

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COMMLD 591: Independent Research

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- Current Quarter | 2024-2025 | Spring 2025 | Summer 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 593: Internship

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)

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

Track Neutral | 1-5 Credits
Application Required

Course Description:

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COMMLD 600: MC Research Project

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)

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

Track Neutral | 5 Credits
Application Required

Course Description:

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COMMLD 593: Internship

COMMLD 600: MC Research Project

COMMLD 537: Storytelling for Social Impact

COMMLD 540A/B: Professional Longform Writing & Platforms

COMMLD 540D: Human-Centered, AI-Augmented Internal Communications

COMMLD 540F: Health Communications

COMMLD 543: Leadership Approaches to Equity Initiatives in Organizations

COMMLD 560A: Inclusive Design & Product Equity

COMMLD 570A: Stakeholder Mindset and Communication

COMMLD 570B: The Future of Work: Resilient & Inclusive Leadership

COMMLD 591: Independent Research

COMMLD 593: Internship

COMMLD 600: MC Research Project

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