Graduate Courses for Communication (COMM)

Schedule of Classes: Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer
(Only current and next semester available)

COMM 400 Research Methods in Communication (3 credits)
Prerequisite: COMM250 and an introductory course in statistics. For COMM majors only.
Philosophy of scientific method; role of theory; research ethics; empirical research methods (measurement, sampling, design, analysis).

COMM 401 Interpreting Strategic Discourse (3 credits)
Prerequisite: COMM250. For COMM majors only.
Principles and approaches for practical analysis of discourse designed to shape audience opinion.

COMM 402 Communication Theory and Process (3 credits)
Prerequisite: COMM250. For COMM majors only.
Philosophical and conceptual analysis of communication theories.

COMM 420 Theories of Group Discussion (3 credits)
Current theory, research and techniques regarding small group process, group dynamics, leadership and decision-making.

COMM 421 Communicating Leadership (3 credits)
Not open to students who have completed COMM498L.
Examines the nature of leadership, theories of leadership from a communication perspective, relationships between leadership, authority, power, and ethics. Explores leadership responsibilities, commitments, and actions.

COMM 422 Communication Management (3 credits)
Communication policies, plans, channels, and practices in the management of the communication function in organizations.

COMM 423 Communication Processes in Conferences (3 credits)
Group participation in conferences, methods of problem solving, semantic aspects of language, and the function of conferences in business, industry and government settings.

COMM 424 Communication in Complex Organizations (3 credits)
Structure and function of communication within organizations: organizational climate and culture, information flow, networks and role relationships.

COMM 425 Negotiation and Conflict Management (3 credits)
Role of communication in shaping negotiation and conflict processes and outcomes.

COMM 426 Conflict Management (3 credits)
Recommended: COMM425, COMM250, and COMM402.
Role of communication in managing conflict processes.

COMM 430 Public Relations Theory and Techniques (3 credits)
Prerequisite: JOUR201 or equivalent; and permission of department. Not open to students who have completed COMM350. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: COMM350, COMM430, COMM630, JOUR530 and JOUR630. Formerly JOUR530.
Theories relevant to the strategic management of public relations and techniques used in programs to communicate with publics of organizations

COMM 435 Theories of Interpersonal Communication (3 credits)
Prerequisite: COMM400 or permission of department.
Major theoretical approaches and research trends in the study of interpersonal communication.

COMM 450 Ancient and Medieval Rhetorical Theory (3 credits)
Prerequisite: COMM250. For COMM majors only. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: COMM450, or COMM650.
A survey of rhetorical theory in the ancient and medieval periods. Emphasis is placed on the theoretical problems that gave rise to its development within both periods. Authors include Isocrates, Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Quintilian, Hermogenes, Martianus Capella, Aurelius Augustine, Alberic of Monte Cassino, Geoffrey of Vinsauf and Robert of Basevorn.

COMM 451 Renaissance & Modern Rhetoric Theory (3 credits)
A survey of rhetorical theory in the renaissance and modern periods. Emphasis is placed on the theoretical trends that dominate rhetorical thinking during both periods--especially in Great Britain. Authors include Wilson, Sherry, Rainolde, Day, Hyperius, Cox, Ramus, Talon, Bacon, Pascal, Fenelon, Sheridan, Campbell, Blair, and Whately.

COMM 453 The Power of Discourse in American Life (3 credits)
The potential of language forms and strategic discourse to create, perpetuate, and alter patterns of political and cultural behavior. The influence of contemporary political and cultural discourse on public understanding, public policy, and day-to-day life.

COMM 454 Rhetoric of the 1960s (3 credits)
Prerequisite: COMM401 or permission of department. Not open to students who have completed COMM453 (Spring 2003).
Study of key rhetoric of the 1960s. Treats rhetoric of relevant Presidents and several protest movements including civil rights, anti-war, and women's liberation. Contrasts traditional modes of argument with alternative rhetorical forms.

COMM 455 Speechwriting (3 credits)
The study of message strategies in order to research and develop effective speech texts appropriate to speakers and their audiences in various public contexts.

COMM 458 Seminar in Political Communication (3 credits)
Prerequisite: COMM250. Repeatable to 6 credits if content differs.
The examination of special topics for and theories of political communication.

COMM 460 Public Life in American Communities, 1634-1900 (3 credits)
Ways that Americans have used their voice to create public life. Focus is on the diverse social communities that have characterized American life and the place and characteristics of oral discourse in each.

COMM 461 Voices of Public Leadership in the Twentieth Century (3 credits)
Study of the use of speaking in the power struggles of the twentieth century. Focus is on important speakers of the century, their social and policy influence, and the struggle to expand the diversity of voices with power in the public sphere.

COMM 468 Seminar in Mediated Communication (3 credits)
Prerequisites: COMM/JOUR350 or COMM402 or COMM450. Junior standing. Repeatable to 6 credits if content differs.
The examination of special topics related to the study of mediated communication.

COMM 469 The Discourse of Social Movements (3 credits)
Recommended: COMM401. Junior standing. Repeatable to 6 credits if content differs.
Study of key social movements that have influenced American social and political life. In alternate years the Civil Rights Movement and the Rhetoric of Women's Suffrage and Abolitionism. Consideration of how groups excluded from or marginalized in American political life affect social change.

COMM 470 Listening (3 credits)
The principles of listening behavior.

COMM 471 Public Communication Campaigns (3 credits)
Prerequisite: COMM200 or permission of department.
Diffusion theory and its implications for public communication campaigns.

COMM 472 Nonverbal Communication (3 credits)
Nonverbal communication in human interaction theory and research on proxemics, kinesics and paralanguage as expression of relationship, affect and orientation within and across cultures.

COMM 475 Persuasion (3 credits)
Bases of persuasion, with emphasis on recent experimental developments in persuasion.

COMM 476 Language, Communication, and Action (3 credits)
The nature of communication as symbolic action. Topics include language, meaning, intention, understanding, and consequences of communication.

COMM 477 Discourse Analysis (3 credits)
Concepts of textual and discourse analysis applied to speech situations.

COMM 478 Communication Colloquium (1 credits)
Repeatable to 4 credits if content differs.
Current trends and issues in the field of communication, stressing recent research methods. Recommended for senior and graduate student majors and minors in communication.

COMM 482 Intercultural Communication (3 credits)
The major variables of communication in an intercultural context: cultural, racial and national differences; stereotypes; values; cultural assumptions; and verbal and nonverbal channels.

COMM 483 Senior Seminar in Public Relations (3 credits)
Prerequisite: COMM351 and COMM400. Not open to students who have completed JOUR483. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: COMM483 or JOUR483. Formerly JOUR483.
Integration of theory, techniques and research methods into the planning and execution of public relations campaigns for specific organizations. Analysis of research on the case studies of public relations.

COMM 488 Communication Portfolio Project (1 credits)
Senior standing. For COMM majors only. Repeatable to 3 credits if content differs.
Preparation of the professional communication portfolio.

COMM 489 Topical Research (1-3 credits)
Prerequisite: permission of department. Repeatable to 6 credits if content differs.
Individualized research projects conducted with a faculty sponsor.

COMM 498 Seminar (3 credits)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Senior standing.
Present-day communication research.

COMM 600 Empirical Research in Communication (3 credits)
Formerly SPCH600.

COMM 601 Historical-Critical Research in Communication (3 credits)
Formerly SPCH601.
Intense study in critical and historical methodology as applicable to research in communication. Emphasis will be placed on the composition and the evaluation of historical-critical studies of significance in the field of rhetorical communication scholarship.

COMM 602 Communication Theory (3 credits)
For COMM majors only.
Fundamental concepts, approaches, and problems in communication theory.

COMM 604 Argumentation Theory (3 credits)
Fundamental concepts, approaches, and problems in argumentation theory.

COMM 605 Interpersonal Arguing (3 credits)
Examination of interpersonal arguing. Topics include invention, form, and editing of argumentative content, presentation of such content in face-to-face conversation, and reaction to the content. Cognitive and other psychological approaches predominate, but some attention is given to rhetorical and philosophical traditions.

COMM 606 Seminar in Communication Management (3 credits)
Restricted to GCPS (Z045) in Communication or Executive Masters in Public Management (EXPM). Course may not be applied to the MA or PhD in Communication.
Communication and public relations as a managed function of organizations are introduced. Students learn how managing communication contributes to organizational effectiveness. Using organizational theory, theories of Excellence in public relations and communication management, communication metrics and communication ethics, students build their communication strategic management skills beyond the programmatic level to the functional and organizational levels of decision-making.

COMM 607 Seminar in Communication Management Publics (3 credits)
Restricted to GCPS (Z045) in Communication or Executive Masters in Public Management (EXPM). Course may not be applied to the MA or PhD in Communication.
Research and analysis of publics and how the use of this information builds more effective relationships with strategic constituencies of organizations are emphasized. Students learn and apply to communication management problems the theories of audience segmentation, stakeholders, behavior of activist organizations, conflict resolution, environmental scanning, ethics of organization-public relationships and the situational theory of publics.

COMM 611 Semniar in Global Communcation Mangement (3 credits)
Restricted to GCPS (Z045) in Communication or Executive Masters in Public Management (EXPM). Course may not be applied to the MA or PhD in Communication.
Global Communication Management extends the theories of communication management developed in COMM606 and COMM607 to a global level. Students move beyond Western communication management assumptions to examine how practices of communication management differ in different national and/or cultural contexts. Students are challenged to build generic principles of communication management with specific applications that can be used and adapted in the differing countries and cultures of the world whether working in multinational corporations, national governments, or non-governmental organizations (NGO's).

COMM 625 Negotiation (3 credits)
Role of communication in shaping negotiation processes and outcomes.

COMM 626 Conflict Management (3 credits)
Formerly SPCH626.
Role of communication in managing conflict processes.

COMM 628 Organization Communication: Research and Intervention (3 credits)
Prerequisite: COMM 424 or permission of instructor. Repeatable to 6 credits if content differs. Formerly SPCH628.
The role of the internal and external communication consultant as an organizational change-agent. Emphasis upon data gathered to facilitate the communication development of the organization.

COMM 630 Seminar in Public Relations Management (3 credits)
Not open to students who have completed JOUR 630. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: COMM 630 or JOUR630. Formerly JOUR630.
Relationship of public relations management to organizational structure and communication functions. Objectives, planning, staffing, budgeting, administering, and evaluation of public relations programs.

COMM 631 Seminar in Public Relations Publics (3 credits)
Not open to students who have completed JOUR 631. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: COMM 631 or JOUR 631. Formerly JOUR631.
Analysis of public relations programs aimed at organizational publics. Media, issue-related, community, employee, governmental, consumer, financial, and student/educator publics. Theories of the nature of publics, communication behavior of publics, and effects of public relations programs aimed at different publics.

COMM 633 Global Public Relations (3 credits)
Not open to students who have completed JOUR 633. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: COMM 633 or JOUR 633. Formerly JOUR633.
Application of principles of public relations to countries or regions with different cultures, political systems, economic systems, levels of development, media systems, and levels of activism.

COMM 634 Seminar in Ethics and Philosophy of Public Relations (3 credits)
Not open to students who have completed JOUR 634. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: COMM 634 or JOUR 634. Formerly JOUR634.
Exploration of the emergent philosophy of public relations; ethical issues including accountability, social responsibility, philanthropy, multicultural and gender issues, fee structure, professionalism, divided loyalties, and confidentiality.

COMM 652 Contemporary Rhetorical Theory (3 credits)
Formerly SPCH652.
A study of twentieth century theories of rhetoric. Special attention will be devoted to Richard Weaver, Kenneth Burke, Lloyd Bitzer, Ernest Bormann, Walter Fisher, and the continental theorists of communication such as Chaim Perelman and Jurgen Habermas.

COMM 655 Seminar in Speechwriting (3 credits)
Formerly SPCH655.
Theoretical and practical aspects of speechwriting at an advanced level.

COMM 661 Communication and Social Change (3 credits)
Place of rhetoric as the union of the moral and historical in moments of social definition. Reviews theories of discourse in social change including political change, social movements, consciousness change, and more global change. Application to contemporary change.

COMM 668 Risk Communication (3 credits)
Prerequisite: permission of department. Repeatable to 9 credits if content differs.
Principles and approaches to risk communication. Emphasis is placed on theoretical trends in risk communication and application to industry. Topics include how to be an effective source of risk communication, understanding audiences, handling the media and designing messages.

COMM 670 Seminar in Listening Behavior (3 credits)
Prerequisite: COMM 470 or permission of instructor. Formerly SPCH670.
A study of research in and measurement of listening behavior.

COMM 680 Communication Programs in Education and Training (3 credits)
Formerly SPCH680.
An analysis of instructional development in communication. Instructional objectives, strategies and evaluation are applied to educational, corporate and industrial training programs.

COMM 681 Communication Issues in Human Resource Development (3 credits)
Formerly SPCH681.
Research in and theory of contemporary communication issues in the human resource development of governmental, corporate, business organizations.

COMM 683 Intercultural Communication Theory (3 credits)
An in-depth coverage of the essential theories of intercultural communication is provided.

COMM 686 Teaching Communication (1 credits)
Formerly SPCH686.
Principles of effective teaching--content and process--in the college communication classroom.

COMM 687 Professional Development in the Communication Discipline (1 credits)
Knowledge and skills required for advancement as an academic professional in the communication discipline. Topics include types of academic institutions and posts, elements of academic performance, documentation of professional qualifications, how academic posts are secured, processes associated with tenure and promotion, processes of academic publication and history of the discipline.

COMM 688 Communication Field Experience (1-6 credits)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Formerly SPCH688.
Applications of communication principles and research in professional communication settings.

COMM 698 Special Problems in Communication (1-3 credits)
Formerly SPCH698.

COMM 700 Introduction to Graduate Study in Communication (3 credits)
Prerequisite: admission to the Ph.D. program in COMM. Formerly SPCH700.
Basic skills in communication research.

COMM 701 Quantitative Methods in Communication Research (3 credits)
Prerequisite: COMM 700. Formerly SPCH701.
Logic and methods of quantitative data collection and statistical analysis as applied to communication studies. Research strategies for communications: experimentation, survey research, field research, and content analysis.

COMM 702 Intermediate Quantitative Data Analysis in Communication Research: The General Linear Model (3 credits)
Prerequisite: COMM 700 or permission of instructor. Formerly SPCH702.
Data analysis in current communication research. Techniques include regression, correlation, factor analysis, matrix algebra, covariance structure, and path diagrams. Students will be expected to have completed a methods course and a statistics course or tested equivalent competencies.

COMM 703 Advanced Quantitative Data Analysis in Communication Research: Structural Equation Models (3 credits)
Prerequisites: COMM 702 and permission of instructor. Formerly SPCH703.
Model evaluation and theory construction in communication research. Causal systems in current communication research: recursive, nonrecursive, and unobserved variable models. Students must have a dissertation research project requiring quantitative methods.

COMM 711 Historical/Critical Methods in Communication Research (3 credits)
Prerequisite: COMM 700 or permission of instructor. Formerly SPCH711.
Methods for historical and critical research in communication. Formulation of significant research questions, systematic collection of bibliographic and phenomenal information, formulating substantial claims, organizing and writing research for disciplinary outlets.

COMM 712 Advanced Historical/Critical Methods in Communication Research (3 credits)
Prerequisites: COMM 711 and permission of instructor. Formerly SPCH712.
Critical assessment of qualitative approaches to communication. Introduction to significant schools of historical and critical research. Advanced techniques for inquiry and manuscript preparation. Students must have dissertation research project requiring historical or critical method.

COMM 714 Introduction to Qualitative Methods in Communication Research (3 credits)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
Methods for field research in communication including interiewing, ethnographic and participant intervention, focus groups, and content analysis. Formulation of significant research questions, systematic collection of field data, formulating substantial claims from the research, organizing and writing research from disciplinary outlets.

COMM 715 Advanced Qualitative Methods in Communication Research (3 credits)
Prerequisite: COMM714 or equivalent.
Advanced data analysis of qualitative data in Communication research. In-field research and techniques for analysis of data from in-field work.

COMM 718 Practicum in Research Proposal and Design (3 credits)
Three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Completion of Method Sequence for Communication Degree. Repeatable to 6 credits. Not open to students who have completed JOUR 632. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: COMM 718 or JOUR 632. Formerly JOUR632.
Development of research proposal through research team interaction. In different semester the course focuses on different subdisciplines of communication.

COMM 720 Seminar in Small Group Communication (3 credits)
Formerly SPCH720.
Small group communication theory, research, and applications.

COMM 724 Seminar in Organizational Communication (3 credits)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Formerly SPCH724.
Theories and problems of human communication within, between, and/or among formal organizations will be emphasized.

COMM 730 Seminar in Health Communication (3 credits)
Formerly SPCH730.
Communication processes in health care and promotion.

COMM 738 Seminar in Mediated Communication (3-12 credits)
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Repeatable to 12 credits if content differs.
The examination of special topics related to the study of mediated communication.

COMM 739 topics in Public Relations (3 credits)
Repeatable to 6 credits if content differs. Formerly JOUR739.
Seminar on specialized areas of scholarly research in public relations or on the practice of public relations in specialized organizational settings.

COMM 748 The Rhetoric of the Presidency (3 credits)
Repeatable to 09 credits if content differs. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: COMM 748 or COMM 768. Formerly COMM768.
The study of the historical and contemporary rhetoric of the presidency in appropriate historical and political contexts. Scholarship related to public address studies and theories of the presidency will be featured.

COMM 758 Seminar in Rhetorical Theory (3 credits)
Prerequisite: COMM 460, COMM 461, or COMM 450. Repeatable to 12 credits if content differs. Formerly SPCH758.
Examination of selected theories of style drawn from the fields of rhetoric and literature, and analysis of model speeches.

COMM 760 Seminar in Political Communication (3 credits)
Formerly SPCH760.
A blend of theory and practice to integrate rhetorical-critical theory and empirical methods with politics. Practitioners in political communication will be drawn in as resource persons. Students will map the communication strategy for candidates and analyze actual campaign strategies.

COMM 762 The Rhetoric of Political Institutions (3 credits)
The role of discourse in major political institutions is examined. The specific institutional focus may change from instructor to instructor. Examples include Congress, the courts, or the state legislatures.

COMM 768 Seminar in Public Address (3 credits)
Repeatable to 12 credits if content differs. Formerly SPCH768.
An in-depth study of national and international speakers and issues throughout the history of the spoken word. Emphasis will be placed upon the application of rhetorical principles to the analysis of world speakers and their speeches.

COMM 775 Seminar in Persuasion and Attitude Change (3 credits)
Prerequisite: permission of department. Formerly SPCH775.
This seminar will concentrate on the problem of making message strategy decisions. Course content will consist of study of both theoretical and empirical research on attitude and attitude change in persuasive communication.

COMM 776 Seminar in Interpersonal Communication (3 credits)
Formerly SPCH776.
Interpersonal communication theory, research, and practice.

COMM 777 Persuasive Message Strategies (3 credits)
Credit will be granted for only one of the following: COMM 698P or COMM 777. Formerly COMM698P.
Examines which persuasive messages are effective to change attitudes and behavior at what times and with what people.

COMM 779 Seminar: Special Topics in Persuasion and Attitude Change (3 credits)
Recommended: COMM 775. Repeatable to 09 credits if content differs.
This seminar explores special topic areas with the study of persuasion and attitude change, such as social cognition, humor, message production,and cognitive oscillation.

COMM 783 Seminar in Intercultural Communication (3 credits)
Prerequisite: COMM 683 or equivalent. Not open to students who have completed COMM 682. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: COMM 682 or COMM 783. Formerly COMM682.
Concentrates on theoretical and methodological issues in intercultural communication research.

COMM 789 Seminar: Special Topics in Intercultural Communication (3 credits)
Recommended: COMM 683. Repeatable to 09 credits if content differs.
Explores special topic areas within the study of intercultural communication, such as culture and conflict, intercultural negotiation, cross-cultural relationships.

COMM 798 Independent Study (1-3 credits)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Formerly SPCH798.
An individual course designed for intensive study or research of problems in communication.

COMM 799 Master's Thesis Research (1-6 credits)
Formerly SPCH799.

COMM 879 Special Research Problems in Persuasion and Attitude Change (1-4 credits)
Prerequisite: permission of department. Repeatable to 09 credits if content differs.
Directed team and individual research projects.

COMM 888 Doctoral Practicum in Communication (3-9 credits)
Repeatable to 9 credits if content differs. Formerly SPCH888.
Analysis of professional activity through personal observation. Evaluation of the purpose, process, effectiveness, and efficiency of professional activity. Recommendations for training and further research.

COMM 889 Doctoral Tutorial in Communication (3-9 credits)
Repeatable to 9 credits if content differs. Formerly SPCH889.
Individual research in communication.

COMM 898 Pre-Candidacy Research (1-8 credits)

COMM 899 Doctoral Dissertation Research (1-8 credits)
Formerly SPCH899.