The curriculum features courses from three basic tracks. Courses in rhetorical studies examine persuasive strategies, argumentation, verbal style, and forms of rhetorical criticism as they apply to public speaking, political discourse, issue campaigns, public relations, and other public messages. Human dynamics courses stress communication and its role in interpersonal relationships, groups, and organizations. Media studies courses focus on mass communication history, media literacy, the process of creating and distributing mass-mediated messages, and the effects of those messages.