Communication Studies (CMST)

CMST 8116  RHETORICAL THEORY AND CRITICISM (3 credits)

Rhetoric is the art of persuasion. Rhetoric impacts our daily lives by influencing how we think about and respond to things. It pervades our political world, work environments, civic and social settings, and pop culture. Students will learn a variety of approaches to rhetorical criticism (theoretical and methodological) that enable them to critically analyze the messages that surround us. We will also unpack the ways rhetoric undergirds or undermines existing power structures, and how it might reshape them.

Prerequisite(s): Junior standing and (Journalism/Media Communication or CMST major). By permission of instructor.

CMST 8126  COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL PROTEST (3 credits)

This class will examine the role played by communication in movements for social change in contemporary society. We will examine social movements which rely on speeches (i.e. women's rights movements), social movements which rely on the grassroots political efforts of their members (i.e. the environmental rights movement) and the overall strategies of persuasion utilized in movements which seek social change, including emerging communication technologies. (Cross-listed with CMST 4120)

Prerequisite(s): Non-degree or admission to School of Communication M.A. program.

CMST 8136  FAMILY COMMUNICATION (3 credits)

This course emphasizes the role of communication in family relationships. Theories, models, and research methods will be used to examine the family in various cultures and contexts (e.g., nuclear families, single-parent families, and blended families). Topics that will be covered in this course include: family conflict, family roles, family stories, family stress, family well-being, genograms, marriage, and divorce. (Cross-listed with CMST 4130)

Prerequisite(s): Graduate majoring in the School of Communication or permission of instructor. Not open to non-degree graduate students.

CMST 8146  COMMUNICATION AND HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS (3 credits)

This course applies theories of interpersonal processes and communication principles to the study of close, significant and personal human relationships. Discussion focuses on the communication in different types of relationships and relational stages, e.g., strangers, acquaintances, friendships and intimates. (Cross-listed with CMST 4140)

Prerequisite(s): Graduate Standing. Not open to non-degree graduate students.

CMST 8156  CORPORATE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT (3 credits)

This course introduces students to the process of designing communication training programs and workshops for a variety of professional settings. It provides students, especially those who are prospective trainers and/or consultants, with experiential and cognitive knowledge about needs assessment, adult learning, communication training research, objectives writing, module design, interactive delivery methods and program evaluation. (Cross-listed with CMST 4150)

Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing. Not open to non-degree graduate students.

CMST 8166  COMMUNICATION FOR INSTRUCTIONAL SETTINGS (3 credits)

This course is designed to help prospective instructors and/or trainers understand and apply the principles of communication in instructional settings (i.e., classrooms, workshops, training programs). It introduces students to the research area in the speech communication discipline called 'Instructional Communication' by covering these five units: 1) Communication Strategies, Objectives, & Content; 2) Student Communication Needs & Expectations; 3) Feedback, Reinforcement, & Discussion; 4) Context, Climate, & Influence; and 5) Teacher Communicator Style, Characteristics, & Behaviors. (Cross-listed with CMST 4160)

Prerequisite(s): Graduate Standing.

CMST 8176  ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION (3 credits)

This course will help students understand organizational communication theories, models, and processes; apply these principles in organizational communication speaking exercises; and learn management and leadership skills. (Cross-listed with CMST 4170)

Prerequisite(s): Graduate Standing. Not open to non-degree graduate students.

CMST 8186  COMMUNICATION LEADERSHIP AND POWER AND ORGANIZATIONS (3 credits)

This course provides theoretical and experiential knowledge about such topics as communication leadership styles and tactics, superior and subordinate interactions, power, ethical responsibilities, and diversity gender issues related to communication leadership. (Cross-listed with CMST 4180)

Prerequisite(s): Graduate Standing. Not open to non-degree graduate students.

CMST 8196  COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION (3 credits)

Computer-Mediated Communication addressing emerging issues of virtual communities, identity, civic life and participation, online relationships, collaborative work environments, digital networks, gender race class issues, legal and ethical considerations of technology, and commodification of mediated communication. (Cross-listed with CMST 4190).

CMST 8226  HEALTH COMMUNICATION (3 credits)

This course introduces students to the interdisciplinary field of health communication. In this course, students will learn various theories of health communication as well as current research and trends in health communication and its related fields. To speak to the complexity and dynamism of health communication, this course will expose students to the multiple voices and perspectives involved in the delivery of health and healthcare. (Cross-listed with CMST 4220)

Prerequisite(s): Junior standing; a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25. Not open to non-degree graduate students.

CMST 8516  PERSUASION AND SOCIAL INFLUENCE (3 credits)

The primary goal of this course is to provide students with a solid grounding in theories, principles, and strategies of persuasion social influence as they apply to everyday contexts in which influence attempts take place. Students should gain familiarity with findings from empirical investigations on persuasion, social influence, and compliance gaining, and will learn about strategies and techniques of persuasion relating (Cross-listed with CMST 4510)

Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing. Not open to non-degree graduate students.

CMST 8536  INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION-US (3 credits)

This course will provide a foundation that leads to Intercultural Communication competence. Specifically, this course is to introduce the concepts of cross-cultural communication. Theory and research are integrated with application and necessary skills are identified and developed. (Cross-listed with CMST 4530)

CMST 8556  NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION (3 credits)

This course is designed to familiarize the student with current knowledge and research about nonverbal communication and to provide a wide variety of practical experiences through which the student can analyze and evaluate his or her own nonverbal behavior and that of others. The course, also, reviews the functions, areas and applied contexts of nonverbal communication. (Cross-listed with CMST 4550)

Prerequisite(s): Graduate Standing. Not open to non-degree graduate students.

CMST 8566  COMMUNICATION, TEAMWORK, & FACILITATION (3 credits)

This course focuses on the communication practices, process tools, and theory associated with team problem solving, group discussion, facilitation skills, facilitative leadership, meeting management, and training in effective group interaction. (Cross-listed with CMST 4560)

Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing. Not open to nondegree students.

CMST 8576  INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION IN THE GLOBAL WORKPLACE (3 credits)

This course examines the intercultural perspective of organizational communication in a modern global world by focusing on the management of cultural differences in the global workplace. The trend towards a global economy is bringing people of different ethnic and cultural background together. Thus, the development of greater intercultural understanding has become an essential element of global workplace. After taking this course you will be more aware of cultural diversity in an organizational setting and further develop intercultural sensitivity and intercultural competence that will help you adapt to your future organizational life. (Cross-listed with CMST 4570)

CMST 8586  COMMUNICATING RACE, ETHNICITY & IDENTITY (3 credits)

This is an undergraduate/graduate course that provides students with definitional and experiential knowledge about the origin of racial concepts, theories, and practices, definitions of ethnicity and identity, and the communicative relationship between race, ethnicity, and identity. (Cross-listed with CMST 4580, BLST 4580, BLST 8586)

CMST 8606  COMMUNICATION THEORY AND APPLICATION (3 credits)

This course begins by introducing students to two broad categories of theory development - objective and interpretive. Then concepts and assumptions associated with each of these two perspectives are employed to critically evaluate several specific theories that fall within different of the sub-disciplines of the field of communication: interpersonal, group, organizational, mass, public/thetorical, cultural, and intercultural/gender. Along with critically evaluating and comparing/contrasting different communication theories, emphasis is placed on how the theories can be effectively applied in concrete settings and circumstances.(Cross-listed with CMST 4600)

Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing

CMST 8706  INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT (3 credits)

This course provides an overview of interpersonal conflict processes. It examines perspectives on conflict, patterns of constructive and destructive conflict, conflict styles and tactics, interpersonal power, negotiation strategies, conflict assessment, and conflict skill development. (Cross-listed with CMST 4700)

Prerequisite(s): Communication major