Course Descriptions
Department of Communication
J. A. Aune, P. Burkart, C. R. Conrad, L. G. Dorsey, J. O. Iverson, E. Kim, A. C. La Pastina, M. J. Medhurst, J. R. Mercieca, K. I. Miller*, M. S. Poole, L. L. Putnam, E. D. Rigsby, K. W. Ritter, E. W. Rothenbuhler, B. F. Sharf, M. T. Stephenson, R. L. Street, Jr. (Head), R. S. Sumpter, I. G. Weber, S. L. Wolski
* Graduate Advisor
The Department of Communication offers two graduate degrees: the Doctor of Philosophy and the Master of Arts. The PhD requires 64 hours of course work, a sequence of research methodology courses and a dissertation. In conjunction with their advisory committees, PhD students devise an individualized program of study which encompasses one or more of the four research foci in the department: organizational communication, health communication, telecommunication and media studies, and rhetoric and public affairs. The PhD program is appropriate either for students who plan careers in academia, or in research-oriented careers in government or the private sector. The MA program is research and theory-oriented. MA students may opt for a thesis option (30 hours of course work, including the thesis), or a nonthesis option (36 hours of course work and a comprehensive examination). They may focus in one or more of the areas described above, or pursue a generalist degree.
Communication
(COMM)
601. Foundations of Communication Inquiry. (3-0). Credit 3.
Major approaches to data generation and theory building used in the communication discipline; survey of quantitative, interpretive, critical and bibliographic research methods. Prerequisite: Graduate classification or approval of instructor.
610. Social Science Methods in Communication Research. (3-0). Credit 3.
Quantitative research methods in communication, including design, measurement and analysis for descriptive and experimental research; practice in evaluating and conducting research projects. Prerequisite: Graduate classification or approval of instructor.
615. Interpretive Research in Communication. (3-0). Credit 3.
Description and analysis of communication within interpretive frameworks; participant observation and interviewing methods, role of conceptualization, explanation of knowledge claims. Prerequisites: Graduate classification.
620. Human Communication Theory. (3-0). Credit 3.
The nature and role of communication theory; critical review of current theories concerning communication codes, functions and processes in various contexts. Prerequisites: Graduate classification or approval of instructor.
630. Interpersonal Communication. (3-0). Credit 3.
Major theories in interpersonal communication; critical examination of current research programs on communication in interpersonal influence, relational development and conflict management. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
631. Group Communication. (3-0). Credit 3.
Major concepts and theories of communicative processes in task-oriented groups from a social scientific perspective; the role of group communication in (1) group decision processes, (2) decision development, (3) decision-making agendas, and (4) conflict and performance quality. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
636. Research in Organizational Communication. (3-0). Credit 3.
Theoretical and empirical literature on human communication and complex organizations; the study of messages, interaction, and meaning in the process of organizing; topics include superior-subordinate communication, communication networks and technologies, language, message flow, symbols and organizational culture, negotiation and conflict, and power and politics. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
637. Organizational Communication Seminar. (3-0). Credit 3.
Investigation of a subject important to the understanding of organizational communication, such as communication and organizational decision-making, group communication within organizations, communication and organizational culture, and organizational rhetoric and issue management. May be repeated for credit with different content up to a total of three times. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
640. Rhetorical Perspectives in Communication. (3-0). Credit 3.
Close reading of classical and contemporary systems of rhetoric; survey of principal applications to communication theory and research. Prerequisite: Graduate classification or approval of instructor.
645. Rhetorical Criticism. (3-0). Credit 3.
Comparative study of traditional and contemporary perspectives on the description, interpretation, and evaluation of public discourse, including genre studies, neo-Aristotelian analysis, Burkean criticism and fantasy theme analysis. Prerequisite: Graduate classification or approval of instructor.
649. Research in Rhetoric and Public Affairs. (3-0). Credit 3.
Examination of scholarly research in public affairs utilizing rhetorical methods of investigation, focus on discovery and use of primary source materials, selection of critical approaches, and execution of systematic research programs. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
650. Political Rhetoric Seminar. (3-0). Credit 3.
Investigation of a subject important to the understanding of political rhetoric, such as political campaign rhetoric, legislative rhetoric, judicial rhetoric or citizen advocacy group rhetoric. May be taken three times. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
651. Presidential Rhetoric. (3-0). Credit 3.
Rhetorical discourse of American presidents, including principal genres of presidential communication, speechwriting and media strategies; case studies of presidential communication ranging from campaign oratory, to crisis rhetoric, and ceremonial addresses. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
654. History and Theory of Rhetoric to 1800. (3-0). Credit 3.
Emphasis on interactions between rhetorical theory and practices; includes Sophists, Stoic logic and rhetoric, poetics and stylistics from Plato through Cicero, semiotics and hermeneutics in medieval rhetoric, Enlightenment rhetoric and moral philosophy, literary. Cross-listed with ENGL 654.
655. History and Theory of Rhetoric since 1800. (3-0). Credit 3.
Major figures and movements in rhetorical theory; revisionist effect of psychology, linguistics, and romanticism upon classical rhetorics; associationist psychology; belles lettres movement, twentieth-century linguistic turn; current-traditional rhetoric and its successors; rhetorical critical theory. Cross-listed with ENGL 655.
660. Environmental Communication. (3-0). Credit 3.
Interaction between communication and environmental issues; how policies develop out of different verbal characterizations of ecological phenomena. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
665. Communication and Technology. (3-0). Credit 3.
Examines the relationships between human communication and technology, investigating the social effects of communication technologies, the quality of messages, communicative practices, and rhetorical norms that typify effective communication in technological society. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
669. Research in Public Health Communication. (3-0). Credit 3.
Survey course examines major concepts, theories and research in health communication; provides students with a conceptual understanding of the nature, functions and outcomes of communication processes in various health contexts, ranging from interpersonal settings to public campaigns; emphasis on providing a framework for synthesizing and critically evaluating health communication research. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
670. Health Communication Seminar. (3-0). Credit 3.
Investigation of a subject important to the understanding of health communication, such as persuasion and public health campaigns, physician-patient communication, or communication in health care organizations. May be repeated for credit with different content up to a total of three times. Prerequisites: Graduate classification and approval of instructor.
681. Professional Seminar. (1-0). Credit 1.
Provides socialization to the profession of communication, focusing on graduate students' roles as scholars and teachers; provides instruction on teaching communication, conducting and writing publishable research, and fulfilling responsibilities to one's organization and profession. May be repeated up to three times. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
685. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 6 each semester.
Directed studies in specific problem areas in communication. Student may take up to two sections of directed studies in communication in the same semester, with a maximum of 6 credits. Prerequisite: Approval of department head.
689. Special Topics in... Credit 1 to 4 each semester.
Selected topics in an identified area of communication. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.
691. Research. Credit 1 or more each semester.
Research for thesis.