Course descriptions

Introduces the general principles of psychology and human behavior. Topics include: development, basic principles of learning, memory, intelligence, motivation, emotions, personality theories, abnormal behavior, health and social influence. New trends in psychology are also presented.

Introduces to the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). You will examine issues and challenges related to the interaction between people and technology. The class explores the social and cognitive characteristics of people who use information systems. You will learn techniques for understanding user needs, human factors design and evaluation.

Studies interaction between indviduals and their social environment. Topics include: the social self, person perception and impression formation, attribution and confirmation biases, stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination, attitudes, conformity, group processes, close relationships, helping others, agreesion and health.

Discusses theories and research results on health and health behavior. Applies health behavior to different aspects of social, personal and professional life.

Introduces the scientific study of human society, culture, and social interactions and draws upon the main sociological theories and concepts, supported by relevant empirical research. Students will explore social, political, and economic phenomena in terms of social structures, social forces, and group relations through analyzing important sociological topics, including socialization, culture, the social construction of knowledge, inequality, race and ethnic relations, poverty, political sociology.

Introduces students to the sociological analysis of gender roles in mainstream society, with specific focus on the social constructional approach to gender in the social institutions of family, work, education and politics, Theories of Biology and Psychology will be compared to Sociological theories to explore the nature and nurture debates on gender roles, as will research on feminism and masculinities. The relationship between gender roles and social inequality and individual and social consequences of changing gender roles in contemporary society will be explored.

Introduces students to cultural, political and historical issues that shape gender. Examines key concepts and debates in gender studies, including global and cultural gender issues. Introduces students to diverse experiences and gendered power relationships.

Acquaints students with the theoretical, methodological and substantive issues in the study of social problems, emphasizing how social problems are defined and how solutions are proposed and adopted. Social problems are conceptualized as consequences of social organization, not as the result of individual pathology. While the textbook focuses on social problems in America, we will examine facts, causes and solutions to a number of social problems in Kuwait and throughout the world today.

Introduction to the basic concepts and approaches in the study of criminology and criminal justice. The major components of the criminal justice systems are examined.

Acquaints students with basic principles of the Spanish language appropriate to level A1.1+ such as day to day vocabulary, like introducing themselves and their families, discussing their hobbies, shopping, university life, navigating in urban environment, vacation and checking in hotels, simple sentences, and questions. The course focuses on applying oral and writing skills, basic grammar, and cultural notions. This course is an introductory course that assumes no previous knowledge of the language and emphasizes fluency in the language through a communicative approach. Outlines basic vocabulary building and essential grammatical structures of the language.

Expands the knowledge of the Spanish language by further developing the basic skills of communication: speaking, listening, reading and writing. Emphasizes fluency in the language through a communicative approach. Advances the use of the Spanish in the classroom.

Provides an introductory perspective on the issues and topics that shape the Luso-Hispanic World. Introduces the most relevant historical periods based on a transatlantic approach. Examines foundational writings in relation to the cultural challenges in the region. Traces contemporary debates at national and global level. Conducted in English.

Provides students with an overview of Spanish-language literature through a critical study of representative short to medium-length texts in translation. The course complements the Spanish language and culture courses available and also aims to familiarize students with genres and key critical concepts with the Spanish literary tradition. The course is conducted in English.

Provides students with an overview of the genre of crime and detective fiction through a critical study of representative short to medium-length texts in translation. The course complements other literature and culture classes available and aims to provide students with a critical apparatus to analyze a genre of popular culture. The course is conducted in English.

Provides students with an overview of the genre of children literature with a focus on fairy tales and adventure novels. The student will get acquainted with international children's literature and the issues that surround it through a critical study of representative short to medium-length texts in translation. The course is conducted in English.

Use critical thinking to analyze media and news literacy such as media production, messages and delivery with relations to the audience, media industry, digital, social media, and media professions.

This course will cover theories and techniques of organization, evidence, argumentation, persuasion, and delivery in public speaking.

This course is an introduction to oral, print, and electronic media of communication. Emphasis is placed on history, theory, and criticism of the mass media as cultural institutions.

This is an introduction to production and consumption of information by individuals, the work place and society. Emphasis is placed on the changing nature of communication processes as a result of the expansion of communication technologies.

In this course, students heavily deal with different computer software to create designs and layout for various mass communication messages such as Journalism, Advertising, Public Relations, and Visual Communication. Students are taught how to create informative and persuasive messages.

This course focuses on the creative side of social media content production. Students will learn how to how to translate a strategic vision into social media content, from conceptualizing to creating, editing, and executing content on social media platforms. A hands-on-approach in lesson delivery will equip students with a practical understanding of media, design, and platform-specific best practices.

This course presents students to the process of creating films and people involved in the process and the description of their tasks. Students are also introduced to the different types and genres of films.

Introduces students to theories and principles applicable to the production of audio and video content for media platforms.

This course introduces publicity methods and public relations representation of profit and nonprofit institutions to the public; use of communication research and media, as applied to the public relations profession. The course also covers the history, rhetoric, and aesthetics of advertising. A basic understanding of industry issues and key areas such as account management, research, strategy, creative, media, and production.

This course introduces students to the use of Internet by different organizations to achieve goals for advertising and public relations purposes. Students are presented to different concepts such as online advertising/PR strategies, online advertising/PR reach, the association between online research and online advertising/PR, online targeting audience for advertising/PR and online message design.

This is an introduction to theory and practice in the planning, execution, and evaluation of persuasive campaigns involving radio and television. Emphasis is placed on concept developments and production elements. The course includes discussion of broadcast ethics.

This course provides training in radio and television studio procedures. Production and criticism of lab programs, including news, continuity, interviews, and oral improvisation. Classroom meetings at the radio lab and the television lab, as well as lab hours, to be arranged.

Students are presented to various mass communication systems of the world. Through a comparative approach, students are taught that newspapers and media outlets are treated differently and have varied statues in different parts of the world.

Elementary principles and practice of writing for mass media in varied program formats, with emphasis on preparation of written materials for news, public relations, and public affairs.

Introduces the students to advertising. It covers the diverse range of advertising theories and practices and surveys the different advertising objectives including information and persuasion. Areas of focus include advertising basics, appeals, advertising history, advertising and society, advertising agencies, media planning, creativity, and advertising layout and design.

Introduction to Multimedia

Prepares students to take photographs in many different contexts exploring the art of visual communication. Students will learn basic visual and technical aspects of art and commercial photography such as camera operation, exposure, frame composition and basic lighting.

Prepares students to critically explore, define, and use social media in personal and professional contexts by examining their contemporary trends and tools. A hands-on-approach in lesson delivery equips students with a practical appreciation of how important forms of emerging media work.

Draws on rhetorical theory to teach the critical skills and practical reasons for evaluating audiences, structuring an argument, and applying stylistic techniques to improve the persuasive appeal of your messages. Students will learn strategies to acheive specific communication goals in writing standard strategic messages and documents for internal and external audiences. They will get practice in writing web and e-mail messages, memos, business letters, letters to the editor, fundraising letters, press releases, brochures, and feature stories.

This comprehensive course introduces students to the basics of visual communication with an emphasis on how to develop graphic and visual skills. It teaches how to organize visual images by learning how to use line, shape, tone, texture and volume in a creative way. Through classroom instruction and reinforced with hands-on exercises, the student learns how to extend artistic practice to explore and apply the principles of design to an artwork or a design solution. The course may be applied to 2D or 3D work. A strong creative and skill-based component underpins most learning objectives which include skill sets in design and drawing, as well as research and analysis.

Studies the basic theories and practices of radio/television studio production. Lab arranged. This course has a physical requirement requiring motor skills that allow for proper operation of radio and television equipment and the ability to exert up to 20 pounds of force on repetitive basis.

Applied Graphic Design

This course is an introduction to the process of planning, producing, and evaluating written public relations messages. Writing assignments include media releases, letters, memos, position papers, background papers, brochures, and reports and proposals.

This course introduces the study of typography in visual communications. Emphasis upon form of letters, words, and pages; and upon the body of knowledge required for professional typographic applications. On completion, students will have developed a body of professional industry-standard works that demonstrate their awareness of contemporary design practice and their ability to work within it.

Helps students to understand the theories of visual communications including human perception, psychology of color, and principles of design. Students learn the vocabulary of a visual language. Building upon the vocabulary, they learn how visual elements can be persuasive within a professional communication context. Covers the application of theories to graphic, design, animation, video, audio editing and web design. This course is offered every semester.

This course will develop a working knowledge of graphic design. It includes Vector graphics creation (Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw). The course also introduces the design of 3D computer graphics and animation. A brief history and philosophy behind this new technology via videos, graphic examples. Students will also explore the use of 3D for television and motion picture animations.

Introduces the social and historical backgrounds that inform the ever-increasing visual culture we live in. Explores the roles and influences visual representations and visual productions have on cultural experience and historical events. It draws on theories, as well as numerous historical and contemporary examples from art, design, film, video, advertising, television, new media and other forms of visual communication.

This course provides the basic building blocks of various visual narrative techniques. The course covers photography, illustration, stroyboarding, advertising, film, comics, cartoons, audio, and documentaries. Students will learn how to evolve a simple idea into a structured story through both dynamic (moving images) and static mediums (still images).

Writing for Multimedia

Includes the theories of mass media management, with application to media operations. Investigates economic, legal and ethical problems and issues concerning media management.

A hands-on study of how to determine an advertising budget, select media and develop a strategic plan.

The application of modern communication theory to interview situations. This theory and practicum course is designed to aid the student in mastering specific skills appropriate to specialized settings.

Students are introduced to the principals of public relations, political, and advertising campaigns. Concepts include research, planning, message design, targeting audience and evaluation.

Explores the application of advanced graphic design and promotional techniques used in creating advertisements and other marketing collateral. The course allows the exploration of creative mediums and techniques with a focus on 3-D items and environments, such as packaging, point of sale, trade shows, exhibition spaces and concept stores.

This course deals with the intersection of media and politics. The influence and sources of influence of each on the other is discussed.