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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 530B: Foundations of Video Storytelling: Documentary

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- 2026-2027 | Winter 2027

Open Elective | 5 Credits
Thursdays 1/7 – 3/11, 6:00pm – 9:50pm | Room on Time Schedule

Course Description

Foundations of Documentary Storytelling is a workshop-based course where students get hands-on experience in building documentary stories from start to finish. This course supports and cultivates curiosity-driven mindset and the technical skill development needed to produce compelling documentary media for innovative marketing and media production. How do you take a compelling topic and make it an engaging story? Documentary Storytelling will teach you to take stories, characters and themes and craft them into stories by breaking chronology, building emotional resonance and cultivating buy-in so that we want to know what happens and get invested in the outcome. 

You will learn to craft character-driven nonfiction narratives while mastering the complete production process: research, story craft, video/audio styles and equipment use, field recording and interview techniques, film editing and constructing feedback. This course looks at both technical proficiency and ethical responsibility in documentary as well as exploring production roles, documentary industry standards, and the power dynamics inherent in capturing others’ stories. 

Students will create multiple documentary productions with various crew structures and independent work which will be paired with guest speaker workshops and film case studies from award-winning professional documentarians. You will leave the class with a strong understanding of what is required throughout a production process through holding a variety of production roles. Get ready to deep dive on building stories from the world around you and explore how documentary techniques can transform your skills and repertoire as a communications leader.

Note: This is one of the two foundational courses covering video storytelling. The other class is “COMMLD 531: Foundations of Video Storytelling.” Both will qualify you for taking Advanced Video Storytelling.

This Course is Ideal for Students Who:

Aspire to integrate relational storytelling methods into their communication leadership practice

Seek project-based learning experience

Want to develop transferable core storytelling and editing skills 

Are interested in understanding how documentary can successfully shift culture, policy and public opinion through storytelling

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COMMLD 530C: Mobile Media Production

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- 2026-2027 | Winter 2027

Open Elective | 5 Credits
Mondays 1/4 – 3/15, 6:00pm – 9:50pm | Room on Time Schedule

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COMMLD 540C/D: Public Speaking and Presenting with Impact

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- 2026-2027 | Winter 2027

Open Elective | Meets Ethics & Leadership Requirement | 2 or 3 Credits
Wednesdays 1/6 – 3/10, 6:00pm – 9:50pm | Room on Time Schedule

Course Description

Skilled presenters have the power to move people and inspire change. Becoming a more effective and dynamic public speaker means making the complex accessible, connecting the dots for your audience, and developing confidence over canned answers.  By using storytelling and other communications strategies to become a better presenter, you’ll resonate with your audience in new and more meaningful ways.

In this course, you’ll learn how to grab attention immediately, the importance of simplifying your visuals, and why it’s critical to know your message well enough to speak directly to your audience — not to your notes and not to your screen.  We’ll address the mistakes most people make, and how to avoid them to ensure that you’re communicating with poise, confidence and conviction in a way that captivates your audience.

Whether it’s over Zoom or winning over the room, by mastering your public speaking skills you will learn to overcome doubt, increase your confidence and find your voice.

Note: 540C is the 2 credit version; 540D is the 3 credit version. The 3-credit version will include additional presentation assignments and deliverables.

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COMMLD 541B: Crisis Communication

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- 2026-2027 | Winter 2027

Open Elective | Meets Law and Ethics OR Law & Policy Requirement | 5 Credits
Tuesdays 1/5 – 3/9, 6:00pm – 9:50pm | Online

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 543: Leadership Approaches to Equity Initiatives in Organizations

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- 2026-2027 | Winter 2027

MCCN Elective | Meets Law and Ethics OR Ethics & Leadership Requirement | 5 Credits
Tuesdays 1/5 – 3/9, 6:00pm – 9:50pm | Room on Time Schedule

Course Description

In this leadership development course students 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, and to expand our collective understanding of how organizations, and the people within them, function within larger societal systems of power.

Dual tracks of learning structure the quarter: shared equity related content learning and independent individually-bespoke topical inquiry. 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.

Sarah’s course was intentional and thought-provoking and provided me with the tools to assess and navigate current and future workplace dynamics. I am now able to critically question and analyze organizational health.–AK Sterling, MCCN cohort ‘19 alumni

Meets Law and Ethics Requirement.

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COMMLD 546A/B: Professional Long-Form Writing

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- 2026-2027 | Winter 2027

Open Elective | Meets Professional Writing Requirement (3 or 5 credit) or Research Methods Requirement (5 Credit) | 3 or 5 Credits
Sundays 1/10, 1/24, 2/7, 2/21, 3/7, 9:00am – 5:00pm | Room on Time Schedule

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 Summer 2026 volume of the online journal Mind Shift.

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 547: Internal Communications

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- 2026-2027 | Winter 2027

MCCN Elective | 5 Credits
Thursdays Thursdays 1/7 – 3/11, 6:00pm – 9:50pm | Room on Time Schedule

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 570B: Stakeholder Mindset & Communication

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- 2026-2027 | Winter 2027

Open Elective | Meets Law & Policy Requirement | 3 Credits
Thursdays 1/7 – 3/11, 6:00pm – 8:20pm | Room on Time Schedule

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 570E: Community & Engagement

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- 2026-2027 | Winter 2027

MCCN Elective | Meets Ethics & Leadership Requirement | 5 Credits
Wednesdays 1/6 – 3/10, 6:00pm – 9:50pm | Room on Time Schedule

Course Description

Our lives are defined by the communities we keep. So are organizations. To understand a company, audit the communities that faithfully buy their products. To understand a nonprofit organization, see who comes to their fundraisers or who relies on their services. To understand a public institution, observe their consistent user base. This can more broadly be understood as the culture of an institution: what it communicates by how it communicates.. Leadership—at all levels, across all sectors—involves informed and open engagement informed by that culture with the broader publics you serve. So designing meaningful community engagement that highlights organization culture is a crucial leadership skill.

This course will challenge you to reimagine community engagement practices and develop inventive strategies for bringing together stakeholders, constituents and audiences. You’ll learn time-tested frameworks that strive to build a sense of belonging and purpose, thus deepening alignment between leadership, organizational culture, and the communities they serve.

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COMMLD 590A: Quantitative Methods for Communications Research

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- 2026-2027 | Winter 2027

Open Elective | Meets Research Methods Requirement | 5 Credits
Tuesdays 1/5 – 3/9, 6:00pm – 9:50pm | Room on Time Schedule

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COMMLD 594: Capstone Preparation: Research and Development

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- 2026-2027 | Winter 2027

Open Elective | Meets Research Methods Requirement | 3 Credits
Mondays 1/4 – 3/15, 6:00pm – 8:20pm | Room on Time Schedule

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© Copyright 2025 Department of Communication. University of Washington

© Copyright 2025 Department of Communication. University of Washington