Exploration of current theories and processes of visual communication within the public sphere. Drawing on notions of visuality in rhetoric, visual studies, cultural studies, art history, media studies, and communication studies, this course considers the role of the visual in our increasingly hyper-visualized and digital world.

Principles of document design, a genre of professional writing using industry-standard design and publishing software and techniques. Emphasis is on learning fundamentals of page layout and design: combining textual and graphical components (including color, illustrations, photography, and typography) to create organized, readable, and inviting professional-quality documents.

Advanced writing course with a focus on magazine writing. Students will work in a collaborative environment to research, write, proof, copyedit, and deliver stories for a magazine. The process of pitching & writing for popular, specialized, small & wide-circulation magazines will be covered, as well as the broader aspects of the publishing market.

The course includes intensive research into funding sources, analysis and interpretation of guidelines and writing several drafts of grant proposals. This specialized rhetorical form involves analyzing complex audiences and learning persuasive techniques unique to grants writing.