University Catalog 2023-2024

Communication (COM)

COM 110  Public Speaking  (3 credit hours)  

Research skills, topic selection, speech organization, skills in speech delivery. Listening for analysis and evaluation of in-class speech presentation.

GEP Visual and Performing Arts

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

COM 112  Interpersonal Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Interpersonal communication competence: self-concept, language and culture, self-disclosure, active listening, verbal and nonverbal communication, and conflict management.

GEP Social Sciences

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

COM 200  Communication Media in a Changing World  (3 credit hours)  

Traces ongoing evolution of communication media. Examines the place and influence of the major media companies that control access to and the content of the contemporary mediascape. Challenges students to examine their use of media from cellphone, to computer, to music and gaming platforms. Restricted to non-Communication majors.

R: Non-COM majors only

GEP Humanities

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

COM 201  Introduction to Persuasion Theory  (3 credit hours)  

Impacts of persuasive communication on attitudes and behavior. Uses humanistic and social scientific theories to explain the persuasive process.

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

COM 202  Small Group Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Theory and practice of effective communication in small groups, including: stages of group development, role emergence, leadership functions, decision making strategies, conflict management, and the significance of power.

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 211  Argumentation and Advocacy  (3 credit hours)  

Theory-based analysis of public argument in specialized settings of law, politics, academic debate, business and organizations, and interpersonal relations.

GEP Humanities

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 226  Introduction to Public Relations  (3 credit hours)  

Public relations as a communication function of organizations. Public relations process, principles, history, and practice. Analysis of environmental, organizational, communication, and audience influences on public relations practice; career opportunities.

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 230  Introduction to Communication Theory  (3 credit hours)  

Micro- and macro-analytic theories used in the study of human communication: perspectives and assumptions of major theories; utility and application of major theories; contexts, cultures, and media.

R: Communication Majors

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

COM 240  Communication Inquiry  (3 credit hours)  

Qualitative and quantitative methods of inquiry in communication: types of questions; strategies for answering questions; nature of evidence; advantages and disadvantages of different methods; reference tolls in the field; and channels of distribution for research-based information.

Prerequisite: Communication Majors

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

COM 250  Communication and Technology  (3 credit hours)  

Examination of past, current, and future intersections of technology, culture, and communication in everyday life. Impact of communication technology policies. Analysis of communication technologies in interpersonal, organizational, societal, and global contexts. Development of technology skills for the competent communicator.

Prerequisite: Communication Majors. Credit is not allowed for both COM 250 and COM 200

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

COM 257  Media History and Theory  (3 credit hours)  

Historical development and social implications of telecommunications, print, photography, film, broadcasting, and computer-mediated communication. Theoretical and methodological approaches to the field of communication media: media history; media economics and policy; media effects and power; media as producers of meaning; media audiences; media technologies; and roles of the media in social, cultural, and political change.

Prerequisite: COM 230

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 267  Electronic Media Writing: Theory and Practice  (3 credit hours)  

Media writing as a social practice. Roles of writing and writers in media production processes. Social, political, economic, and professional conditions that enable or constrain writing and the writer. Specific media writing genres and formats. Research and preparation for media writing. Students write research-based scripts for news, commentary, and fictional genres in radio, television, film, and emerging media.

Prerequisite: COM 230

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 289  Science Communication and Public Engagement  (3 credit hours)  

This course is an introduction to the principles and practices of communicating scientific and technological issues to public audiences, through interpersonal discussion, mass media, social media, and other means. It is open to students in all majors who want to deepen and broaden their understanding of how citizens make sense of science and technology in their everyday lives. The course features a mixture of theory-based readings and discussion with practical skill-building for communication in real-world contexts. Equal emphasis is given to humanities and social science perspectives. The application of communication concepts to controversial science contexts is emphasized, including case studies of issues such as GMOs, climate change, vaccines, and gene editing. Theoretical perspectives covered include argumentation and debate; audience analysis (through quantitative survey data and metrics); philosophy and ethics of communicating science; using narratives, framing, and metaphors to communicate science; and the cultural image of science in popular media.

GEP Humanities, GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives, GEP Social Sciences

Typically offered in Spring only

COM 292  Language, Communication, and Culture  (3 credit hours)  

We use different modes of communication depending on whether we are participating in classroom discussion, talking with our parents or boss, hanging out with our friends, or visiting a different country. However, rarely do we have the opportunity to consciously reflect upon our communicative behaviors. In this class we will unpack some of the ways culture and society influence our communication, as well as how our communication affects the culture and the society in which we live. Becoming aware of the effect that our words, shared meanings, and contexts have on how we express ourselves can be the difference between positive and negative communicative experiences.

GEP Social Sciences, GEP U.S. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, GEP U.S. Diversity

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

COM 296  Communication Internship-Non-Local  (1 credit hours)  

Non-local directed work experience for Communication majors with supervision from the work site and the University. COM 296 may be taken more than once only with the permission of the Internship Director and the Assoc. Dept. Head. Individualized/Independent Study and Research courses require a Course Agreement for Students Enrolled in Non-Standard Courses be completed by the student and faculty member prior to registration by the department.

R: Communication Majors

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

COM 298  Special Projects in Communication  (1-3 credit hours)  

A special projects course to be utilized for guided research or experimental classes at the sophomore level, topic determined by instructor.

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 301  Presentational Speaking  (3 credit hours)  

Design, organization and delivery of oral presentations for policy determination, policy implementation, and sales.

Prerequisite: COM 110

Typically offered in Spring only

COM 304  Audio Production  (3 credit hours)  

Basic principles of audio production, including studio operation, performing, writing, and producing.

Typically offered in Spring only

COM 316  Public Relations Writing  (3 credit hours)  

Communication processes and procedures of public relations programs. Media techniques, preparation of materials, channels of distribution.

Prerequisite: COM 226

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 321/ENG 321  Survey of Rhetorical Theory  (3 credit hours)  

Principles of rhetorical theory from its classical origins through the modern period to the present time. Key concepts and theories that provide a critical understanding of the processes of persuasive symbol use.

Prerequisite: Sophomore standing and above

Typically offered in Fall only

COM 322  Nonverbal Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Theory and research in nonverbal communication, including: environment; space; physical appearance, movement; eyes and facial expressions; and vocal cues. Nonverbal communication in personal, workplace and cross-cultural setting.

Prerequisite: COM 112

Typically offered in Fall only

COM 327  Critical Analysis of Communication Media  (3 credit hours)  

Theoretical frameworks, methods, and aims of various approaches to critical analysis of the media. Critiques of media production and its relation to social, economic, and technological power; social biases of informational, fictional, and hybrid media content; and historical forms of audiences and the public. Critical awareness of media's role in politics, public culture, and everyday life.

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 332  Relational Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Communication patterns in the development and deterioration of interpersonal relationships. Functional and dysfunctional communication behaviors in family relationships.

Prerequisite: COM 112

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 334  Video Production  (3 credit hours)  

Principles of producing, directing, and editing techniques for video. Students script, storyboard, shoot, and edit short video projects.

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 336  Newsletter Writing and Production  (3 credit hours)  

Newsletters are an important part of the corporate, non-profit, government, and small business portfolio of communication tools. Just about all organizations use newsletters - print or electronic - to reach their audiences with their key messages. Many young public relations practitioners start their careers working on newsletters for their organization or their clients. Students in this course will work collaboratively to write and produce a newsletter as well as other public relations publications.

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 342  Qualitative Research Methods in Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Introduction to qualitative methods in communication research. Research paradigms, research ethics, research design, qualitative data collection, data analysis and interpretation, written and multimedia reporting of research results. Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to research sites for fieldwork.

Prerequisite: COM 240

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 346  Case Studies in Public Relations  (3 credit hours)  

Application of theory, principles, and problem-solving techniques used in public relations to organizational case studies.

Prerequisite: COM 226 and COM 230

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 354  Critical Media Making  (3 credit hours)  

Production lab and seminar combined. Critical making of visual images, audio, and video for the web and other electronic platforms informed by theories of visual communication and digital culture. Critical analysis of the assumptions underlying the development and deployment of media, and their social, economic, and political impact. Development of practical skills and critical thinking.

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 362/WGS 362  Communication and Gender  (3 credit hours)  

Effects of gender on the interpersonal communication process. Construction of gendered identities via communication practices. Examination of theories of gender and the role of gender in organizational, institutional, and media communication practices.

Prerequisite: Junior standing, COM 112

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 364/ENG 364  History of Film to 1940  (3 credit hours)  

Technological developments and aesthetic movements that shaped international cinema production from the beginning of the industry to 1940. Formal evolution in camera movement, editing, sound, narrative form, and the documentary. The rise to prominence of Hollywood and international cinemas in historical, economic, and cultural contexts.

Prerequisite: Sophomore standing and above

GEP Global Knowledge, GEP Visual and Performing Arts

Typically offered in Fall only

COM 374/ENG 374  History of Film From 1940  (3 credit hours)  

Technological developments and aesthetic movements that have shaped international cinema production from 1940 to the present. Evolution in camera movement, editing, sound, narrative form, and the documentary. Post-war Hollywood cinema and international film industries (both established and emerging) in historical, economic and cultural context.

Prerequisite: Sophomore standing and above

GEP Global Knowledge, GEP Visual and Performing Arts

Typically offered in Spring only

COM 384  Television Production  (3 credit hours)  

Basic techniques of television studio production, including producing, writing, directing and electronic graphics production.

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 386  Quantitative Communication Research Methods  (3 credit hours)  

Design and implementation of communication research methods, including experimental and survey research procedures. Use of computer software for statistical analysis.

Prerequisite: COM 240

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

COM 392/HSS 392  International and Crosscultural Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Patterns and problems of verbal and non-verbal forms of crosscultural communication. Avoidance and management of cultural conflict arising from awareness of characteristics and crosscultural communication. Impact on communication of differing cultural perspectives.

GEP Global Knowledge, GEP Social Sciences, GEP U.S. Diversity

Typically offered in Fall and Summer

COM 395/ENG 395  Studies in Rhetoric and Digital Media  (3 credit hours)  

Study of the influence of emerging technologies on rhetorical theory and practice. Rhetorical analysis of texts, including visual and audio texts. Invention and construction of digital media texts as a means of engaging rhetorical theory and analysis. Topics vary to adapt to emerging technologies and changing vernacular practices.

Prerequisite: ENG 101

GEP Humanities

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 402  Advanced Group Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Communication processes and outcomes in groups with complex, strategic, and critical public or corporate functions. Focus on participating in, intervening in, leading, and constructing group processes. Advanced theory with application.

Prerequisite: COM 202

Typically offered in Spring only

COM 404  Advanced Audio Production  (3 credit hours)  

Advanced multichannel techniques for audio production. Studio acoustics, audio signal processing, and advanced microphone techniques, writing, and performing.

P: COM 307

Typically offered in Fall only

COM 411/ENG 411  Rhetorical Criticism  (3 credit hours)  

Rhetorical analysis of public speeches, social movements, political campaigns, popular music, advertising, and religious communication. Neo-Aristotelian criticism, movement studies, genre criticism, dramatistic analysis, content analysis, fantasy theme analysis.

Prerequisite: Junior standing

COM 417  Communication & Race  (3 credit hours)  

Seminar examining the construction of racial and ethnic identities through communication practices. Exploration of theories of race and identity and the ways communication works to construct, undermine, and reinforce understanding across social groups.

GEP U.S. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, GEP U.S. Diversity

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 421  Communication Law  (3 credit hours)  

Explores the historical, philosophical, and legal foundations of communication rights and responsibilities. Philosophies and regulations affecting sources, messages, channels, receivers, and situations provide the central focus of the course.

Prerequisite: Junior standing.

Typically offered in Fall only

COM 427  Game Studies  (3 credit hours)  

Exploration of the social and cultural significance of digital games. Overview of major approaches and theories used in studies of digital play. Histories and current conditions of digital games platforms, practices, and industries across multiple cultural contexts. Contemporary applications of games in and across multiple domains, including education, art, sports, and work.

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 431  Communication in Political Campaigns  (3 credit hours)  

Roles of analysis and criticism of oral communication in political campaigns; analysis of special political communication situations; ghostwriting, news conferences, negative advertising.

Prerequisite: COM 110 or COM 201

Typically offered in Fall only

COM 434  Advanced Video Production  (3 credit hours)  

Hands-on experience in video production. Production of informational videos. Practical experience in all phases of the production process, including pre-production organization and critical analysis of the final product.

Typically offered in Spring only

COM 436  Environmental Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Critical analysis of environmental discourse in organizational, mass media, political, cultural, and international contexts. Investigates public participation in environmental advocacy and deliberation; environmental conflict management; rhetorical constructions of nature and human relationships with nature; environmental justice; environmental risk communication; and competing ecological paradigms.

Prerequisite: COM 230 or STS 214

Typically offered in Fall only

COM 441  Ethical Issues in Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Critical analysis of ethical problems in interpersonal and public communication practices.

Prerequisite: COM 110, 112

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 442  Communication and Conflict Management  (3 credit hours)  

Examination of conflict styles and theories; conflict management strategies such as negotiation and third party intervention; and relevant contexts for conflict such as workplace, families, and interpersonal relationships. Practical, theoretical and critical analyses of conflict and negotiation in variety of contexts.

Prerequisite: COM 112

Typically offered in Fall only

COM 444  Film Production  (3 credit hours)  

Principles of cinematography, production, and editing technologies for film. Script, shoot, and edit short 16mm films. Post-production on digital non-linear editing systems. Critical analysis of production of classic and contemporary feature films.

Prerequisite:COM 267 or ENG 330

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 447  Communication and Globalization  (3 credit hours)  

History and current trends in globalization of media, information, and telecommunications technologies, organizations, policies, and contents. Political cultural implications of globalization, including debates over corporate vs. public control of global communication, U.S. dominance vs. international cooperation, and the global influence of American culture. Internet-based group research projects on globalization in collaboration with students in other countries.

GEP Global Knowledge

Typically offered in Summer only

COM 451  Visual Rhetoric  (3 credit hours)  

Examine the rhetorical strategies employed in various primarily visual forms of communication including advertising, photography, digital images, visual art, and public commemorative artifacts and sites. Explore the concepts and methods used to rhetorically analyze and interpret visual images and artifacts. Includes one or more required field trips to which students will provide own transportation.

Prerequisite: COM 201 or COM 321

Typically offered in Spring only

COM 456  Organizational Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Role of human communication in organizations, the assumptions inherent in management philosophies about effective communication, and an investigation of the relationships among communication, job satisfaction, productivity, development, and employeemotivation.

Prerequisite: COM 230

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 457  Media and the Family  (3 credit hours)  

Impact of mediated messages upon children and the family unit. Origins of the empirical literature and continuing research. Assessment of the qualitative literature. Implications of commercial structure of the media industries on the structure and distribution of media messages designed for children and families. Consideration of both pro- and anti-social impacts.

Typically offered in Fall only

COM 466  Nonprofit Leadership & Development  (3 credit hours)  

Nonprofit Leadership and Development is a service-learning course in which students will be expected to make a commitment to service in a local nonprofit organization for 30-hours. Students will critically examine theories of communication and leadership with concentration on issues pertaining to nonprofits such as working with executive boards, volunteer management, and resource development. Students are responsible for transportation and purchase of internship insurance.

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 467  Advanced Topics in Gender and Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Advanced Topics seminar examining construction of gender identities through communication practices. History and analysis of gender representations. Theoretical and critical approaches to social, political, and economic impact of gender constructions.

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 476  Public Relations Campaigns  (3 credit hours)  

Management of the public relations function in organizations and public relations counseling; communication theory and nature of materials emanating from public relations departments and counseling firms, practical analysis and development of public relations publicity and campaigns.

Prerequisite: COM 226, COM 316, COM 386 and Corequisite: COM 346 (Note: COM 346 may be taken as a prerequisite or co-requisite)

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 477  Mobile Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Mobile communication technologies and their role in communication patterns and social behavior. Conceptualization of cell phones beyond mobile telephones, as internet access points and gaming devices. History, current uses, and future perspectives for the social, cultural, and political uses of mobile interfaces. Locative media and the creation of mobile networks. Use of mobile media across cultures and places, such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 479/COM 579  Climate Change Communication  (3 credit hours)  

An exploration of the communication successes and failures surrounding climate change and public opinion. Topics addressed include: agenda setting, media effects, framing, data visualizations, fear responses, naming, risk communication and theory, argumentation and refutation, and persuasion as well as issues and current events related to the challenges associated with communicating climate change to multiple stakeholders.

Typically offered in Fall only

COM 484  Advanced Television Production  (3 credit hours)  

Television program production utilizing advanced production techniques. Emphasis on refinement of writing, producing, and directing skills through work in TV studio on production of sophisticated program formats.

Typically offered in Fall only

COM 487  Internet and Society  (3 credit hours)  

Social uses and historic overview of the internet as a social network. History of the internet from the ARPANET to the mobile web. The development of interfaces that changed how we access the internet, such as personal computers, the graphic user interface (GUI), mobile phones, and Internet of Things. MUDs and synchronous communication environments as the origins of social media. The development of the www and web 2.0. and the transformation of users into "produsers". Social issues related to the internet, such as net neutrality, privacy, surveillance, big data, artificial intelligence, and the digital divide.

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 493  Advanced Topics in Public Relations  (3 credit hours)  

This course addresses current trends and recent development in the public relations profession through extensive analysis of industry practices. Course content will change each semester subject to faculty availability, but may include topics such as social media, media relations, crisis communication, international public relations, and other public relations specializations. Juniors and Seniors only.

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 496  Communication Internship  (3 credit hours)  

Directed work experience for Communication majors with supervision from the work site and the University. Individualized/Independent Study and Research courses require a Course Agreement for Students Enrolled in Non-Standard Courses be completed by the student and faculty member prior to registration by the department.

R: Senior standing AND Communication Majors AND 12 hours in COM at 300/400-level

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

COM 497  Advanced Topics in Media Studies  (3 credit hours)  

This course examines special topics in media studies through intensive study of media history, theory, research, methods and/or practice. Course content will change each semester depending on faculty areas of expertise.

Prerequisite: COM 250 or COM 257 or COM 357

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 498  Advanced Topic in Communication  (1-3 credit hours)  

Advanced study of contemporary theories, methods, practices, processes, or issues related to the field of communication. Topic varies.

Prerequisite:Junior or senior standing

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 499  Advanced Independent Research  (1-3 credit hours)  

Special projects in communication developed under the direction of a faculty member on a tutorial basis. Must have permission of department to enroll. May enroll only twice. Individualized/Independent Study and Research courses require a Course Agreement for Students Enrolled in Non-Standard Courses be completed by the student and faculty member prior to registration by the department.

Prerequisite: Nine credits in Communication courses. Junior standing or Senior standing in Communication

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 506/ENG 506  Verbal Data Analysis  (3 credit hours)  

Research strategies for understanding how spoken and written language shapes activities (e.g., design, instruction, counseling, gaming interactions, e-commerce, etc.). Tracking patterned uses of language as verbal data (e.g., grammatically topically, thematically), formulating research questions, and designing studies to answer those questions through quantitative descriptive means. Sampling, collecting and managing data, developing coding schemes, achieving reliability, using descriptive statistical measures, and reporting the results.

Typically offered in Fall only

COM 508/GES 508  Emerging Technologies and Society  (3 credit hours)  

Provides frameworks for understanding emerging technologies and their social, political, and cultural contexts. Presents historical case studies, ethnographic accounts, and theoretical perspectives that introduce students to ways of thinking about science and technology, nature and culture, and democracy and expertise. Graduate standing is required.

Typically offered in Spring only

COM 514/ENG 514  History Of Rhetoric  (3 credit hours)  

Historical development of rhetorical theory with attention to contemporaneous rhetorical practice and philosophical trends. Major focus on the classical period with briefer coverage of medieval, Renaissance, 18th-century, and 19th-century developments. Implications for contemporary theory and practice, including pedagogical practice.

Typically offered in Fall only

COM 516/ENG 516  Rhetorical Criticism: Theory and Practice  (3 credit hours)  

Development, achievements, limitation of major critical methods in the 20th century, including neo-Aristotelian, generic, metaphoric, dramatistic, feminist, social-movement, fantasy-theme and postmodern approaches. Criticism of political discourse,institutional discourse, discourses of law, medicine, religion, education, science, the media. Relations between rhetorical and literary criticism and other forms of cultural analysis.

Prerequisite: Graduate Standing or the equivalent of COM/ENG 321 or COM/ENG 411

Typically offered in Spring only

COM 521  Communication and Globalization  (3 credit hours)  

Economic, political, cultural dimensions of globalization. Role of information and communication technologies, networks, institutions, and practices in human social organization.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Typically offered in Summer only

COM 522  Critical Approaches to Organizational Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Overview of critical and interpretive organizational communication research studies. Application of insights to enriching and transforming working lives.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Typically offered in Spring only

COM 523  International and Intercultural Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Survey of intercultural, cross-cultural, and international communication theories and issues.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Typically offered in Spring only

COM 525  Group/Team Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Comprehensive review of principles, theory, research, and practices involving group/team communication; associated with decision making, conflict management, relationship building, and evaluation of group/team effectiveness. Emphasis on guidelines for effective communication in groups and teams. Graduate standing required.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Typically offered in Fall only

COM 526  Media Economics  (3 credit hours)  

This course provides an overview of economic perspectives on media and communication, particularly examining cases, topics, and controversies that stem from the many linkages between media and the economy. It reviews a range of perspectives on the economy of media, including the critical political economic approaches commonly employed in the field of communication, but also emerging neoclassical, behavioral, institutional, and heterodox approaches to economics, as applied to a range of possible topics. These may include: media ownership and the economics of journalism; labor and social media; data and surveillance economies; copyright and intellectual property; piracy, sharing, and collaboration; digital gift economies; social media celebrity and influencers; bitcoin and other virtual currencies; debt, credit, and algorithmic calculation; microfinance apps; "on-demand" platforms such as Uber and Lyft; automation and the future of employment; global supply chains in the manufacture of technology; the disposal of waste; consumerism and unsustainable energy use.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Typically offered in Spring only

COM 527  Seminar in Organizational Conflict Management  (3 credit hours)  

Examination of conflict antecedents, interventions, outcomes through multiple texts, journal articles. Emphasis on workplace conflict, organizational outcomes, dispute system design. Evaluation through participation in class discussion, independent papers, research project, presentation.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Typically offered in Summer only

COM 528  Communication Culture and Technology  (3 credit hours)  

Examine Communication technology via historical examples. Inquiry into the development of early sound and screen technologies. Analysis of computer-mediated Communication genres.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Typically offered in Spring only

COM 529  Communication Campaigns  (3 credit hours)  

Prepares students to design, implement, monitor, and evaluate a successful communication campaign for a health, public relations, or political organization that is grounded in sound theoretical approaches. The students conduct focus groups for audience research and professionally present a campaign plan to a real client for any of the mentioned types of organizations. The course emphasizes theoretical and hands on practical skills to developing successful communication campaigns.

Typically offered in Spring only

COM 530  Interpersonal Communication in Science and Technology Organizations  (3 credit hours)  

Blends theory and research to understand and analyze interpersonal communication practices and issues within organizations, including managing impressions and conversations, engaging in active listening, managing conflict, influencing others, and communicating in teams. Focus on developing and maintaining effective interpersonal at work and improving student's communication competence.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Typically offered in Summer only

COM 532  Communication Consulting  (3 credit hours)  

This course provides an introduction to the art and methods of consulting particularly as applied to communication problems in organizational settings. It also provides students the opportunity to develop and/or refine training and facilitation skills and to link communication theory and research to organizational practice. Graduate standing required.

Typically offered in Fall only

COM 536  Seminar in Environmental Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Critical analysis of environmental discourse in organizational, mass media, political, cultural, and international contexts. Investigates public participation in environmental advocacy and deliberation; environmental conflict management; rhetorical constructions of nature and human relationships with nature; environmental justice; environmental risk communication; and competing ecological paradigms. Must hold graduate standing.

P: Graduate Standing

Typically offered in Spring only

COM 537  Gaming and Social Networks  (3 credit hours)  

Exploration of inter-relations among mobile technologies (cell phones, PDAs), location-based activities, and playful/social spaces. Investigates: (1) the definition of basic gaming concepts (community, narrative, play, and space); (2) the history of games as social environments, with particular emphasis on multi-user domains (MUDs); and (3) the definition of games, which use the physical space as the game environment, such as pervasive games, location-based games, and hybrid reality games. Discussion of inter-connections among games, education, and art. By permission of department.

COM 538  Risk Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Comprehensive review of principles, theory, research, and practices involving consensus building; associated with environmental, health and safety; enabling analysis and management of risks. Emphasis on risks associated with emerging science and technology. No quantitative experience necessary. Graduate standing required.

Typically offered in Fall only

COM 539/PA 539  Fund Development  (3 credit hours)  

Identifies and assesses techniques and best practices of fund development, annual giving, capital campaigns, endowments. Topics include setting achievable goals, organizing and staffing a fund development campaing, and identifying donors. Discusses links between fund development and organization mission and governance, ethical issues, and government regulations. PBS status or Graduate standing.

COM 540  Critical and Interpretive Inquiry in Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Theoretical foundations and analytical techniques in critical and interpretive communication research. Analysis of culture and power in communicative practices, texts, technologies, production, and reception. Historical, political economic, archival, contextual, interpretive, rhetorical, and cultural modes of analysis and critique are highlighted. Graduate standing required.

Typically offered in Fall only

COM 541  Quantitative Research Methods in Applied Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Introduction to research methods in applied communication. Knowledge of design, implementation, and analysis of various quantitiative research methods.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Typically offered in Spring only

COM 542  Qualitative Research Methods in Applied Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Theoretical and practical dimensions of conducting qualitative research. Issues include asking good questions, field observation, ethics, focus groups, interviews, representation of data, analyzing texts and discourse, writing qualitative reports.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Typically offered in Spring only

COM 543  Visual Content Analysis  (3 credit hours)  

Research methods class in social science-orientated quantitative or qualitative analysis. Students will advance visual research by developing and/or testing theoretical concepts for visual media. Readings will focus on analytic techniques and concepts for still or moving images in digital or traditional media. Contexts include social media, organizational websites, blogs, online news sites, films, games, mobile media, and more. Students use qualitative and quantitative analysis software. Graduate standing required

Typically offered in Fall only

COM 546  Nonprofit Marketing and Public Relations  (3 credit hours)  

Survey of the marketing and public relations principles and practices applicable to nonprofit organizations.

COM 547  Mobile Media and Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Mobile communication technologies and their influence on communication patterns and social behavior. Conceptualization of cell phones beyond mobile telephones, as Internet access points and gaming devices. History, current uses and future perspectives for the social use of mobile interfaces. The creation of new mobile communities. The influence of mobile images on communication and the creation of mobile networks. Use of mobile phones across cultures and places, such as Asia, Scandinavia, Africa, and Latin America. Permission of department.

COM 554/ENG 554  Contemporary Rhetorical Theory  (3 credit hours)  

Contemporary rhetorical theory covering the 20th and 21st centuries. Conceptual connections with and disruptions of the classical tradition and its, successors; relationship between rhetorical theory and philosophical trends, institutional histories, socioeconomic circumstances, and pedagogical needs. Attention to current issues such as the revival of invention, rhetorical agency, and ethics.

Typically offered in Spring only

COM 556  Seminar In Organizational Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Theoretic and applied approaches for studying communication perspectives of organizational behavior. Topics relate communication with organizational theories, research methods, leadership, power, attraction, conflict and theory development.

Prerequisite: Advanced Undergraduate standing or Graduate standing

Typically offered in Spring only

COM 561  Human Communication Theory  (3 credit hours)  

The role of theory in study of human communication. General social scientific theories as well as context-based theories including interpersonal, public, group, organizational and mass communication contexts.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or PBS status

Typically offered in Fall only

COM 562  Communication and Social Change  (3 credit hours)  

Examine persuasive theories and methods including compliance gaining techniques. Evaluate effectiveness of public communication campaigns directed at social change.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Typically offered in Fall only

COM 563  Public Relations Theory  (3 credit hours)  

Study the theoretical body of knowledge in public relations and its application to practice. Graduate Standing required.

Typically offered in Spring only

COM 566  Seminar In Crisis Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Working within theoretical perspectives of communication, conflict management and organizational designs, a theoretical understanding for crisis communication, including thorough guidelines for strategic communication planning for, managing and evaluating crises.

Typically offered in Spring only

COM 579/COM 479  Climate Change Communication  (3 credit hours)  

An exploration of the communication successes and failures surrounding climate change and public opinion. Topics addressed include: agenda setting, media effects, framing, data visualizations, fear responses, naming, risk communication and theory, argumentation and refutation, and persuasion as well as issues and current events related to the challenges associated with communicating climate change to multiple stakeholders.

Typically offered in Fall only

COM 581/ENG 581  Visual Rhetoric: Theory and Criticism  (3 credit hours)  

Application of visual theory to rhetoric and of rhetorical theory to visual forms of communication. Discussion and analysis may include advertising, photography, news and informational media, political communication, instructional material, scientific visualization, visual arts, public commemorative artifacts, internet and other digital media.

R: Graduate Students Only

Typically offered in Spring only

COM 585  Teaching College Communication  (3 credit hours)  

Introduction to communication education theory and research. Course divided into primary parts: 1)education theory and philosphy and 2)instructional design theory and practice.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Typically offered in Fall only

COM 587  Internet & Society  (3 credit hours)  

Overview of the development of the internet and its social uses, including the historical context that led to the development of the ARPANET and the World Wide Web. Analysis of the transition from mainframes to personal computers, to the internet of things. Treatment of principal social and communication issues related to the use of the internet, such as digital privacy, digital divide, net neutrality, and civic engagement. Development of mobile internet, social networking sites and location-based social networks.

Typically offered in Fall only

COM 598  Special Topics In Communication  (1-6 credit hours)  

Detailed investigation of a special topic in communication. No more than 6 hrs. may be used as credit toward graduation with master's degree.

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

COM 630  Independent Study in Communication  (1-3 credit hours)  

Special projects course to be utilized for guided research at graduate level. Topic determined by instructor. No more than 6 hrs. may be used as credit toward graduation with master's degree.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

COM 650  Communication Internship  (1-6 credit hours)  

The internship experience provides the students the opportunity to practice professional communication skills in a workplace setting under the supervision of a communication practitioner. Restricted to MS in Communication students.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into MS in Communication Program

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

COM 685  Master's Supervised Teaching  (1-3 credit hours)  

Teaching experience under the mentorship of faculty who assist the student in planning for the teaching assignment, observe and provide feedback to the student during the teaching assignment, and evaluate the student upon completion of the assignment.

Prerequisite: Master's student

Typically offered in Fall and Summer

COM 688  Non-Thesis Masters Continuous Registration - Half Time Registration  (1 credit hours)  

For students in non-thesis master's programs who have completed all credit hour requirements for their degree but need to maintain half-time continuous registration to complete incomplete grades, projects, final master's exam, etc.

Prerequisite: Master's student

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 689  Non-Thesis Master Continuous Registration - Full Time Registration  (3 credit hours)  

For students in non-thesis master's programs who have completed all credit hour requirements for their degree but need to maintain full-time continuous registration to complete incomplete grades, projects, final master's exam, etc. Students may register for this course a maximum of one semester.

Prerequisite: Master's student

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 695  MR Thesis Research  (1-9 credit hours)  

Thesis Research

Prerequisite: Master's student

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

COM 696  Summer Thesis Res  (1 credit hours)  

Typically offered in Summer only

COM 798  Special Topics in Communication  (3-6 credit hours)  

Intensive exploration of specialized or emerging topics in an area of communication theory, rhetoric, media, or other aspect of Communication studies. Emphasis on student research and writing. May be used to test and develop new courses. May be repeated for credit. Doctoral students only.

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

COM 810  Directed Readings in Communication  (1-6 credit hours)  

Intensive study of a specific topic from various specializations of the Communication faculty. Negotiation between the student and the director for variable credit and approved by Director of Graduate Studies. May be repeated for credit. Doctoralstudents only.

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

COM 896  Summer Dissert Res  (1 credit hours)