Courses Offered: Communication Studies (COMM)

5100 Teaching Communication Studies. (1-0)
An introduction to curriculum, instruction, and assessment methods in the teaching of Communication Studies. Provides an orientation as well as regular in-service training and planned periodic evaluations of instructional responsibilities. This course does not earn graduate degree credit. Repeatable with different emphasis. Graded on a credit (CR), no-credit (F) basis.

5301 Empirical Methods in Communication Research. (3-0)
An examination of empirical research methods in communication studies. Measurement procedures, statistics, experimental design, and descriptive research methods will be investigated as well as a consideration of scholarly writing and library research.  Required of communication studies majors.

5310 Methods of Teaching Communication Studies. (3-0)
Designed to meet the needs of teachers in public schools. Emphasis is placed on a well-developed speech and drama program for the elementary and secondary schools and on consideration of methods and materials for the diagnosing and improving of speech and drama. Students will be especially concerned with teaching speech or drama at the college level. Prerequisite: Permission of department chair.

5315 Directed Research in Communication Studies. (3-0)
A course corresponding to Communication 4315, with the same title, to be offered to certain graduate students to allow for independent study in a specific area for which a regular course is not available. May be repeated with different emphasis for additional credit.

5318 Seminar in Interpersonal Communication. (3-0)
A review of current research in the area.  Includes an examination of contemporary theories and research methods.

5319 Organizational Communication. (3-0)
Examines organizational communication theory and research in applied organizational contexts. Provides communication professionals with an analytical framework for improving communication.

5320 Directing Communication Studies and Theatre Activities. (3-0)
Designed to assist any teacher, whether of speech and drama or some other subject, in directing speech and drama activities.  During the course, those in the class will actually direct debate, plays, declamation, and other activities. May be repeated with different emphasis for additional credit.

5321 Communication Assessment. (3-0)
An in-depth study of communication assessment techniques employed in the field of oral communication. Statistical, experimental, and observational methods of assessing oral communication in interpersonal, group, and classroom settings are included.

5323 Rhetorical Methodology. (3-0)
A study of approaches to the analysis of public discourse directed toward establishing workable perspectives for students conducting rhetorical analysis.  Required of communication studies majors.

5324 Seminar in Instructional Communication. (3-0)
Examines communication instruction theory and research and their practical applications in various instructional settings.

5325 Seminar in Human Communication Theory. (3-0)
An examination of theories of human communication contexts including interpersonal, family, intercultural, organizational, and instructional communication. May be repeated with a different topic.

5326 Classical Rhetorical Theory. (3-0)
A study of the history and work of classical and renaissance rhetorical theorists.

5327 Contemporary Rhetorical Theory. (3-0)
A survey of the major contemporary theoretical perspectives and conceptual debates in rhetoric. Focuses upon critical interpretations and applications of theory in addition to study of primary theorists’ writings.

5329 Studies in Organizational Communication. (3-0)
A series of classes for advanced study in organizational communication.

5329A Communication Training and Development. (3-0)
Examines the theory and practice of developing and presenting communication training sessions for organizations. Prerequisite: Communication 5319 or permission of instructor.

5329B Communication and Negotiation. (3-0) Examines theory, research, and practice of conflict management and negotiation. Prerequisite: Communication 5319 or permission of instructor.

5329D Managing Communication Technologies in the Workplace. (3-0)
Examines how communication technologies both help and hinder workplace communication. Examines theory, practical applications, key scholars and empirical research. Heavy focus on using case studies that provide context for learning how to thrive in the contemporary organization.

5329E Communication and Organizational Culture. (3-0) 
A seminar about communication and organizational culture. Discussion and materials explore communication practices that enable people to identify themselves as members of an organization and bind themselves to each other. Students will have the opportunity to analyze an organization. COMM 5319 or consent of instructor is required.

5330 Seminar in Nonverbal Communication. (3-0)
A review of current theory and research of nonverbal communication behavior.

5331 Seminar in Persuasive Communication. (3-0)
Focuses on research and theories about the relationships between technology and communication behavior in interpersonal group, and organization contexts. Also considers relationships between communication, technology, and culture.

5332 Seminar in Communication and Technology. (3-0)
Focuses on research and theories about the relationships between technology and communication behavior in interpersonal, group, and organization contexts. Also considers relationships between communication, technology, and culture.

5342 Historical Rhetoric and Social Influence (3-0)
The analytical study of speeches, speakers, groups, movements, and rhetorical strategies in history.  Includes emphasis on the following topics: American Public Address, Rhetoric of Woman’s Suffrage, and other historic topics of interest. May be repeated with different emphasis or topic for additional credit.

5343 Contemporary Rhetoric and Social Influence. (3-0)
The analytical study of speeches, speakers, groups, movements, and rhetorical strategies in contemporary society.  Includes emphasis on the following topics: rhetoric and culture, rhetorical movements, and rhetorical genres. May be repeated with a different topic.

5345 Seminar in Political Communication. (3-0)
Study of political communication in contemporary times. 
Course will cover the rhetoric of candidates and politicians, the structure of political campaigns, and campaign practices.

5347 Seminar in Small Group Communication. (3-0)
An examination of theories and research evidence about communication in the small group.

5350 Applied Communication Studies. (3-0)
An application of communication principles and skills. Topics covered may include organizational, interpersonal, nonverbal and group communication, conflict management, communication technology, and persuasion analysis. May not be taken for credit by student pursuing M.A. degree in Communication. May be repeated for additional credit with department approval.

5355 Media Criticism. (3-0)
A rhetorical analysis of media from a Contemporary Cultural Studies perspective..

5356 Gender and Communication. (3-0)
An examination of research and theories about gender communication, relationships, and qualitative research methods.

5360 Introduction to Empirical Research in Communication. (3-0)
Introduction to Communication Studies as a behavioral science.  Students will learn principles of the scientific method; explore quantitative and qualitative methods; investigate variables across the field (persuasion, interpersonal, organizational, non-verbal, intercultural, and instructional); and analyze and apply research in Communication. This course does not earn graduate degree credit. 

5362 Topics in Communication Contexts. (3-0)
An introduction to contexts for Communication Studies. Students will be exposed to theories and research in conflict, family, gender, interpersonal, non-verbal, organizational, public address, small group, or social movement communication.  This course does not earn graduate degree credit.  Repeatable with different emphasis.

5362A Organizational Communication. (3-0)
Introduction to communication concepts in the context of organizations. Students learn how communication influences contemporary organizations through familiarity with contemporary research. Students will be prepared to understand, investigate, and manage communication processes in organizations. This course does not earn graduate degree credit.

5362B Organizational Rhetoric. (3-0)
Introduction to the study of organizational rhetoric designed for internal and external audiences. Students will analyze and create messages based in theories of organizational rhetoric. This course does not earn graduate degree credit.

5363 Introduction to Rhetorical Research in Communication. (3-0)
Introduction to the rhetorical tradition in Communication, with a focus on methods of analysis of discourse. Students will learn the significance of rhetorical analysis; explore a variety of critical methodologies; perform an analysis of discourse; and report findings in writing. This course does not earn graduate degree credit.

5372 Organizational Communication Analysis and Development. (3-0)
This advanced course in organizational communication examines theory and research in applied organizational contexts. The course investigates communication problems in organizations and describes effective interventions. It provides communication managers and consultants with a broad range of tools and procedures for diagnosing and changing communication. Prerequisites for the course are COMM 5319, an undergraduate organizational communication course, or permission of the instructor

5390 Communication Internship. (0-10)
Students acquire on-the-job experience in a position with an off-campus organization using skills and knowledge acquired through graduate coursework; requires written reports and other projects as specified by the supervising instructor. Graded on a credit (CR), no credit (F) basis.  Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

5395 Capstone Research Project. (3-0)
Under the direction of a graduate faculty member, students develop and submit a research or applied project using knowledge and skills acquired through graduate coursework. May be taken only once for degree credit. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

5399A Thesis.
This course represents a student’s initial thesis enrollment. No thesis credit is awarded until student has completed the thesis in Communication Studies 5399B. Graded on a credit (CR), progress (PR), no-credit (F) basis.

5399B Thesis.
This course represents a student’s continuing thesis enrollments. The student continues to enroll in this course until the thesis is submitted for binding. Graded on a credit (CR), progress (PR), no-credit (F) basis.

7315 Directed Research in Communication Studies. (3-0) Independent study of a specific communication research area. May be repeated with different emphasis for additional credit.  Prerequisite: Doctoral level standing.

7325 Topics in Communication Studies. (3-0)
A review of classic and contemporary theory and research that investigate human communication covering a variety of topics.  Prerequisite: Doctoral level standing.

7325A Instructional Communication. (3-0) A review of instructional communication theory and research with an emphasis on the function of communication in instructional settings.

7325B Organizational Communication. (3-0)
A review of organizational communication theory and research with an emphasis on organizational development from a communication perspective.  Prerequisite: Doctoral level standing