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.
University of Washington
Department of Communication