Communication (COMM)

COMM 8000  FOUNDATIONS OF COMMUNICATION (3 credits)

This seminar is designed to introduce graduate students to the Communication discipline. This course will expose students to historical, theoretical, and philosophical perspectives across various contexts and areas of study. In addition to a foundational exploration of the discipline, this course also prepares MA students to conduct research, apply theory to practice, and declare their own expertise in the discipline. Through readings, guest lectures, writing, and discussions, students will work to understand the broad expanse of the discipline.

Prerequisite(s): Admission to the School of Communication MA program. Not open to non-degree graduate students.

COMM 8010  COMMUNICATION RESEARCH METHODS SEMINAR: QUANTITATIVE (3 credits)

Philosophy of scientific investigation from a quantitative standpoint, including process and products, in comparison to other ways of knowing. Introduces students to quantitative designs and statistical applications for communication research and to data gathering methods appropriate for such designs. Emphasis is placed on preparing, evaluating and writing quantitatively oriented communication research proposals and reports.

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

COMM 8020  COMMUNICATION RESEARCH METHODS SEMINAR: QUALITATIVE (3 credits)

This course is an introduction to the methodology and practice of qualitative research. Within the course, students will be exposed to research paradigms, approaches to qualitative research, and ways to collect and analyze qualitative data. Students will be required to design and carry out their own qualitative research project.

Prerequisite(s): Open to School of Communication Graduate Students only

COMM 8030  TOPICAL SEMINAR: RESEARCH METHODS (3 credits)

This variable-content course provides students with in-depth knowledge about various communication research methods (e.g., survey or experimental, content analysis, legal, assessment strategies, ethnography, advanced critique, etc.) or other communication methods and assessment in context with particular areas of study.

Prerequisite(s): Graduate student status

COMM 8040  SEMINAR IN RHETORICAL CRITICISM (3 credits)

Students will engage with the history of rhetorical criticism in the field of communication, popular orientations toward criticism over the years, and new directions in methodology. A variety of rhetorical methods and theories as well as rhetorical artifacts will be explored.

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

COMM 8110  GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT SEMINAR (1 credit)

This course provides weekly training, assessment, and teaching strategies for graduate teaching assistants within the the School of Communication.

Prerequisite(s): School of Communication Graduate Teaching Assistants Only. Not open to non-degree graduate students.

COMM 8180  TOPICAL SEMINAR: COMMUNICATION STUDIES (3 credits)

A variable content course dealing with communication studies. Each offering will treat a single aspect of communications studies in-depth - e.g., interpersonal conflict, gender and communication, organizational culture, health systems communication, relational communication, political communication, marital and family communication, communication education, rhetorical critique, etc. Course may be repeated.

Prerequisite(s): Graduate Student Standing

COMM 8200  SEMINAR IN POPULAR CULTURE, MASS MEDIA AND VISUAL RHETORIC (3 credits)

This course studies how discursive meaning is made through established and emerging visual technologies and the impact visual symbol systems are having upon the field of rhetoric in general. Students will investigate how visual technologies, discourse theory, and semiotic theory has intersected with and expanded contemporary rhetorical theories, and they will apply these theories to visual texts. (Cross-listed with ENGL 8760).

COMM 8250  STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION (3 credits)

This course surveys the topic of strategic communication in business, nonprofit, and government sectors. Focused on management-level evaluation of effective strategic communication, the course prepares students to work in collaboration with strategic communication departments and optionally integrate strategic communication into a research agenda for further graduate study. Content includes determining motivations and reasons for campaigns, understanding relationships between stakeholders, and evaluating outcomes of campaigns.

COMM 8300  TOPICAL SEMINAR: JOURNALISM AND MEDIA COMMUNICATION (3 credits)

Substantive study of specialized areas and modes of journalism and media communication (broadcasting, film, print, public relations, advertising, social media, etc). Content will vary. Course may be repeated.

Prerequisite(s): Graduate Student Status

COMM 8580  COMMUNICATION, IDENTITY, AND DIVERSITY (3 credits)

This course provides a theoretical exploration of the ways social identity may be formed and communicated in diverse contexts. The content of this class builds from communication scholarship on identity, drawing on a variety of approaches, such as rhetorical, intercultural, and interpersonal. It also includes both germinal and contemporary literature regarding social identity, diversity-equity-access-inclusion (DEAI), intersectionality, and power relationships. This class provides students with an academic lens for critically examining how identity is communicated through and to society. Additionally, this course encourages students to explore their personal identity and communicate their experiences of diversity and power in social contexts. Students who complete this class can expect to gain a greater understanding of the complex social dynamics that influence identity and its communicative power in diverse contexts.

Prerequisite(s): Admission to the graduate program or permission from the instructor

COMM 8970  GRADUATE PROJECT (3 credits)

Project Option students must complete a three-hour graduate project written under the supervision of an adviser. A two-member graduate committee (adviser and second committee member) must approve the project.

Prerequisite(s): COMM 8010, 8020, 8470, 8570 and student must be admitted to candidacy.

COMM 8980  INDEPENDENT STUDY (1-3 credits)

Students conduct independent research under the supervision of an adviser. May be taken multiple times with approval of graduate adviser.

Prerequisite(s): Completion of appropriate paperwork; Agreement of supervising faculty; Approval of independent study by supervising faculty, graduate program chair, and the School director's office.

COMM 8990  THESIS (1-6 credits)

Independent research project written under the supervision of an adviser.

Prerequisite(s): Completion of or concurrent enrollment in final coursework in completion of the MA degree; Approval by Graduate Program Chair. Not open to non-degree graduate students.

COMM 9400  SEMINAR IN COMMUNICATION & TECHNOLOGY (3 credits)

A synthesis of speech and mass communication research as it relates to the study of computers and technology. Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) will be emphasized. Students write a research paper appropriate for submission to an academic conference.

Prerequisite(s): COMM 8470 or COMM 8570, and COMM 8010 or COMM 8020, or permission of instructor.