Science Communication and Public Engagement minor (SCoPE)
Sharing scientific discoveries with the public is no longer solely the job of professional communicators; rather, it is a skill that all scholars should have. This minor offers an opportunity to apply communication theories, goals and processes to scientific phenomena. Students in the minor will have the flexibility to build their curricula with a combination of courses in communications, public engagement and scientific research, ethics, and literacy.
This minor is designed for undergraduates who are interested in the sciences and/or engineering and would like to learn how to use a wide variety of communication tools for engaging publics, including non-technical audiences and policymakers.
Students completing the minor will develop an identity as someone who can contribute to the public understanding of science.
Are you ready to declare a minor in Science Communication and Public Engagement?
- Become familiar with the course requirements of the SCoPE minor
- Complete the ONLINE APPLICATION FORM
Questions? Email the faculty advisor: Dr. Mark Sarvary
Learning Objectives
After completing the minor, students will be able to:
- examine the nature of science and evaluate how scientific information is produced and consumed.
- apply science communication theories, goals and processes.
- implement the components of scientific literacy (find, critically evaluate and ethically use information) to strengthen public understanding of science.
- assess specific audiences to shape communication strategies.
- utilize communication tools –written, oral, video, audio, digital (including social media) — for developing science content and engagement opportunities appropriate for diverse audiences.
- create an honest and open science communication environment, based on personal and civic responsibility.
- build capacity to help people to incorporate science in their daily lives, as well as to engage in science policy decisions.
Course Requirements
Students who declare this minor will have to take at least 8 science and/or engineering credits as their major or second minor. These courses can be taken prior to, or simultaneously with the science communication minor courses, and need to be different courses than the ones appear on the core and electives list below. The minor consists of 18 credit hours in addition to the science and engineering credits:
- All students will be required to take a 3 -credit core course, COMM 2850 (Spring,3cr.) – Communication, Environment, Science, and Health.
- In addition to the core course, students will need to take at least 15 credits including a minimum of six credits from a group of courses covering Community Engaged Learning (CU-CEL); at least six credits from courses related to communication, and a minimum of three credits from a cluster of courses on scientific methods, ethics and science literacy.
- Community engagement is an important aspect of science communication. Many courses already have a community-engagement component (CU-CEL) but students will be encouraged to gain experience in the field, practicing public speaking, community engagement, or assessment as part of independent research (4990 course) or as part of an internship with a community partner (4960 course).
- Communication majors and minors interested in this minor will have to fulfill the minor requirements (except the core course) with courses outside of the Communication (COMM) department.
Electives
Community engagement courses (at least 6 credits):
| Course # | Semester | Cr. | Course title | |
| ALS 2000 | F, S | 3 | Leadership for Sustainability | |
| BME 4440 | S | 3 | Science Policy Bootcamp: Concept to Conclusion | |
| COMM 3080 | S | 3 | Capstone Course in Environmental & Sustainability Communication: From the Lab to the World | |
| COMM 3081 | F | 3 | Environmental & Sustainability Communication Part 2 | |
| COMM 3760 | F, S | 3 | Planning Communication Campaigns | |
| EDUC 3510 | S | 3 | Engaged Learning through Extension, Outreach, and Instruction | |
| ENTOM 3350 | F | 4 | Naturalist Outreach Practicum | |
| PHYSICS 4500 | F | 4 | Cultivating Public Engagement in Physics | |
| PLSCI 3940 | S | 3 | Skills for Public Engagement | |
| PSYCH 2820 | F | 2 | Community Outreach | |
| PSYCH 4500 | F | 4 | Psychology at the Sciencenter | |
| STS 4451 | S | 4 | Making Science Policy: The Real World | |
| ALS 4960 | F, S | 1-3 | Internship or Service-Learning in Community Engagement | |
| ALS 4990 | F, S | 1-3 | Independent Research in Science Communication and Public Engagement | |
Applied Communication courses (at least 6 credits)
|
Course # |
Semester |
Cr. |
Course title |
|
F, S |
3 |
Management Communication |
|
|
F |
3 |
A Spacecraft Tour of the Solar System: Science, Policy, and Exploration |
|
|
F, Su |
3 |
Introduction to Applied Science Communication: Digital Platforms and Public Engagement |
|
|
Su |
3 |
Science Communication in Coastal and Marine Environments: Digital Platforms & Public Engagement |
|
|
F, Su |
3 |
Communication and Technology |
|
|
S |
3 |
Persuasion and Social Influence |
|
|
F, S, Su |
3 |
Writing and Producing the Narrative for Digital Media |
|
|
F |
3 |
Science Writing for Media |
|
|
S, Su |
3 |
Connecting Experience: Creating a Personal Brand and Implementing an ePortfolio |
|
|
F, S |
3 |
Communicating Today: Creating Strategic Messages across Media |
|
|
S, Su |
3 |
New Media and Society |
|
|
S |
3 |
Public Communication of Science & Technology |
|
|
F, S |
1 |
Science Communication Workshop |
|
|
F, S |
4 |
Argumentation and Debate |
|
|
F |
3 |
Digital Technologies for Research and Communication |
Scientific research, ethics and literacy (at least 3 credits)
| ALS 1200 | F,S | 1 | Information Chaos: Navigating Today’s Information Landscape |
| BSOC 2061 | S | 4 | Ethics and the Environment |
| COMM 2820 | F | 3 | Research Methods in Communication Studies |
| COMM 3210 | S | 3 | Communication and the Environment |
| COMM 4300 | F, Su | 3 | Ethics in New Media, Technology, and Communication |
| COMM 4350 | F | 3 | Communicating Leadership and Ethics |
| NTRES 3800 | F | 3 | Climate Solutions |
| NTRES 4330 | S | 3 | Applied Environmental Philosophy |
| PHYS 7679 | S | 3 | Finding Your Science Voice |
| PHIL 2455 | S | 4 | Introduction to Bioethics |
| STS 1201 | F | 3 | Information Ethics, Law, and Policy |
| STS 2051 | F | 4 | Ethical Issues in Health and Medicine |
| STS 4041 | S | 4 | Controversies in Science, Technology and Medicine: What They Are and How to Study Them |
Science isn't finished until it's communicated.
Sir Mark Wolport
Chief Scientific Advisor to the UK Government