College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Communication Studies Courses

Not all courses are offered each semester.

For Undergraduates

036:001 Core Concepts in Communication Studies	3 s.h.
Introduction to fundamental ideas in communication studies; concepts important for understanding communication in history and today. Prerequisites: g.p.a. of at least 2.60 and 30 s.h. of credit.

036:002 Workshop in Debate and Forensics	3 s.h.
Public argument on questions of value and policy; opportunities for demonstration and practice in discussion and debate. Corequisite: enrollment in the National Summer Institute in Forensics.

036:011 Group Communication	3 s.h.
Application of group problem-solving techniques; leadership, group participation; projects in social decision, action. Area: practice. Prerequisites: g.p.a. of at least 2.60 and 30 s.h. of credit.

036:012 Interpersonal Communication	3 s.h.
Informal social interaction between individuals; evaluation of students' own interpersonal skills. Area: practice. Prerequisites: g.p.a. of at least 2.60 and 30 s.h. of credit.

036:013 Practicum in Debate	1 s.h.
Specialized research, case construction, argument preparation, and practice for intercollegiate policy debate competition. Area: practice. Prerequisites: g.p.a. of at least 2.60 and participation in A. Craig Baird Debate Forum.

036:014 Elements of Debate	3 s.h.
Debate and debate procedures; teaching debate in school settings, directing interscholastic debate programs. Area: practice. Prerequisites: g.p.a. of at least 2.60 and 30 s.h. of credit.

036:015 Persuasive Communication	3 s.h.
Applications of persuasive communication, persuasive speaking; persuasive messages. Area: practice. Prerequisites: g.p.a. of at least 2.60 and 30 s.h. of credit.

036:016 Business and Professional Communication	3 s.h.
Basic concepts and skills of communication in workplace settings; interviewing, formal presentations, speeches, team-building, managing difference. Area: practice. Prerequisites: g.p.a. of at least 2.60 and 30 s.h. of credit.

036:017 Theory and Practice of Argument	4 s.h.
Public argument as practiced in law, social science, politics, other arenas; oral argument. Area: practice. GE: quantitative or formal reasoning. Prerequisite: completion of General Education Program rhetoric component.

036:018 Parliamentary Procedure	1 s.h.
Rules of order for meetings of committees, clubs, organizations; making and debating motions from the floor; presiding over parliamentary sessions. Offered only through Guided Correspondence Study. Prerequisite: g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:019 Organizational Leadership	2-3 s.h.
Focus on communication methods, motivation, parliamentary procedure. Offered only through Guided Correspondence Study. Prerequisite: g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:020 Clothing as Nonverbal Communication	3 s.h.
How clothing communicates culture, gender, self-concept, age, occupation, values, status, tastes, sexuality; clothing for international business, children, the elderly; fashion theory. Area: practice. Prerequisites: g.p.a. of at least 2.60 and 30 s.h. of credit. Same as 049:042.

036:021 Oral Interpretation	3 s.h.
Principles, practice of reading literary prose and poetry to audiences; analysis, interpretation, performance, evaluation. Area: practice. Prerequisites: g.p.a. of at least 2.60 and 30 s.h. of credit. Same as 07E:021.

036:022 Introduction to Media Production	4 s.h.

036:024 Media Industry Practices	3 s.h.

036:025 Writing for Television and Radio	3 s.h.
Basic writing skills for broadcast media. Area: practice. Prerequisites: 036:001 and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:026 Theory and Practice of Debate	3 s.h.
Case construction and refutation; organization of speeches; discussion and practice of specialized formats. Area: practice. Prerequisites: g.p.a. of at least 2.60 and participation in A. Craig Baird Debate Forum.

036:028 Communication Studies Internship	arr.
Communication skills, knowledge in work assignments related to students' academic and career interests; full- or part-time, on or off campus. Area: practice. Prerequisites: g.p.a. of at least 2.60 or higher, communication studies major with 12 s.h. of credit in communication studies, and consent of instructor.

036:029 First-Year Seminar	1-2 s.h.
Small discussion class taught by a faculty member; topics chosen by instructor; may include outside activities (e.g., films, lectures, performances, readings, visits to research facilities). Prerequisite: first- or second-semester standing.

036:040 Communication and Conflict	3 s.h.
Implications of communication theories, conflict theories; applications to everyday life. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001 and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:041 Gender Roles and Communication	3 s.h.
Gender roles and communication processes; function of communication in gender role development. Area: practice. Prerequisites: 036:001 and g.p.a. of at least 2.60. Same as 131:041.

036:042 Intercultural Communication	3 s.h.
Relationships among culture-based assumptions, values, thought patterns, communication behavior; theory and practice. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001 and g.p.a. of at least 2.60. Same as 042:042.

036:043 Rhetoric, Science, and Technology	3 s.h.
Role of technology in contemporary culture; representation of technology in film and advertising, technology's role in the physical and biological sciences, cultural implications of the information revolution. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001 and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:044 Rhetoric and Public Advocacy	3 s.h.
Rhetoric of campaigns at national, state, local levels; in election years, discussions with candidates, media representatives; individual investigations. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001 and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:048 The Rise of Electronic Media	3 s.h.
Technical, economic, legal development of electronic media in the United States; embedment in social institutions such as family, nation, consumer culture. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001 and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:051 Politics of Popular Culture	3 s.h.
Critical cultural approach to study of popular culture (e.g., television shows, movies, music); mainstream media, alternative forms of mass communication. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001 and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:052 Introduction to Health Communication	3 s.h.
Research, concepts, and theories on communication about health; interpersonal communication in contexts of provider-patient, family, and social support; mass communication and health, including health communication campaigns, public relations, advertising; how news media and Internet present health information. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001 and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:060 Communication Inquiry	3 s.h.
Social scientific methods used to generate knowledge about interpersonal, group, and mediated communication. Area: research and criticism. Prerequisites: 036:001 and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:061 Persuasion in Society	3 s.h.
Theories of public persuasion, types of persuasive campaigns and movements in society; rhetorical analysis of advertising, political processes, social unrest. Area: research and criticism. Prerequisites: 036:001 and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:062 Feminist Critical Practice	3 s.h.
Feminist approaches to communicative practices. Area: research and criticism. Prerequisites: 036:001 and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:064 Media, Advertising, and Society	3 s.h.
Media advertising in contemporary culture; marketing to ethnic, class, gender groups. Area: research and criticism. Prerequisites: 036:001 and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:065 Television Criticism	3 s.h.
Television form and content; roles of industry, audience, and textual conventions in defining the medium. Area: research and criticism. Prerequisites: 036:001 and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:066 Media Audiences	3 s.h.
Historical survey of major methods in mass communication and cultural studies that are used to understand effects of mass media on audiences; student projects involving audience research and analysis. Area: research and criticism. Prerequisites: 036:001 and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:068 Popular Music and Culture	3 s.h.
What makes popular music important for people; music's power to change culture; production, distribution, reception of popular music in cultural and historical contexts. Area: research and criticism. Prerequisites: 036:001 and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:070 Communication and Everyday Life	3 s.h.
Theory, research on basic skills, processes in everyday communication. Area: theory. GE: social sciences.

036:071 Communication and Contemporary Culture	3 s.h.
Culture in social, political, and rhetorical terms; how cultural theory is used as an analytical-critical tool; communication--speech, writing, material and embodied practices. Area: research and criticism. Prerequisites: 036:001 and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:073 Public Argument	3 s.h.
Theories of argument contexts, practice, strategies in public controversies. Area: theory. Prerequisites: 036:001 and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:074 Media and Society	3 s.h.
Processes and effects of mass communication; how mass media operate in the United States; how mass communication scholars develop knowledge. Area: theory. GE: social sciences.

036:075 Gender, Sexuality, and Media	3 s.h.
Media as a site for theorizing gender, sexuality, identity. Area: theory. Prerequisites: 036:001 and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:076 Race, Ethnicity, and Media	3 s.h.
Principal debates in media criticism about representation, circulation, and commodification of popular images of race and ethnicity. Area: theory. Prerequisites: 036:001 and g.p.a. of at least 2.60. Same as 129:076.

036:080 Radio Production	3 s.h.

036:081 Television Production	3 s.h.

036:083 Cultural History of Radio	3 s.h.
Development of radio as a sociocultural system. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001, 036:048, and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:084 Cultural Approaches to Mass Communication	3 s.h.
Methods of conceiving, observing, and analyzing media artifacts, processes, politics. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001, 036:048, 036:066 or 036:074, and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:085 Media Industries and Organizations	3 s.h.
Industry economics and organizational practices as contexts for media production. Area: practice. Prerequisites: 036:001, 036:048, 036:066 or 036:074, and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:086 Global Media Studies	3 s.h.
Development of media systems, content strategies, and audience formations internationally, comparatively. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001, 036:048, 036:066 or 036:074, and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:087 Culture and Intellectual Property Law	3 s.h.
How culture and media are shaped by intellectual property laws. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001, 036:074, completion of research and criticism requirement, and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:088 Mass Communication and American Democracy	3 s.h.
Philosophical foundations of American democracy; focus on contemporary issues of news, media and politics, culture, technology, freedom of speech. Area: theory. Prerequisites: 036:001, one course from 036:042 to 036:052, one course from 036:070 to 036:075, and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:089 Nonverbal Communication	3 s.h.
Theoretical approaches to nonverbal communication as it occurs in everyday context and situations. Area: theory. Prerequisites: 036:001, one practice requirement course, one context requirement course, one course from 036:070 to 036:075, and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:090 Topics in Communication Studies	3 s.h.
Topics vary. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001 and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:091 Organizational Communication	3 s.h.
Contemporary concepts of communication's meaning and function in organizations. Prerequisites: 036:001, 036:012 or 036:016, completion of research and criticism and theory requirements, and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:092 Advanced Video Production	3 s.h.

036:093 Rhetoric of War	3 s.h.
Argumentation and rhetorical strategies for going to war, for opposing war, for managing public opinion during the reverses of war, and for making peace; examples from ancient and modern wars in the light of classical rhetorical theory and as affected by modern media. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001, completion of research and criticism and theory requirements, and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:094 Topics in Production	3 s.h.

036:100 Independent Study	arr.
Creative or research project under faculty supervision. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001, g.p.a. of at least 2.60, and consent of instructor, advisor, and department chair.

036:101 Honors Workshop	1 s.h.
Preparation for honors thesis prospectus; coordination of student's individual thesis work, introduction to issues in research design, methods. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001, g.p.a. of at least 3.33, and honors standing.

036:102 Honors Thesis	3 s.h.
Individual research, writing, or creative production under faculty supervision. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001, 036:101, g.p.a. of at least 3.33, and honors standing.

036:105 Workshop in Teaching Communication and Forensics	arr.
Methods, materials, progression, evaluation in teaching and supervising students in courses and class activities; opportunities for observation, demonstration, practice in teaching theater, discussion and debate, individual speech, dramatic and forensic events. Prerequisite: g.p.a. of at least 2.60. Same as 07S:178.

036:106 Radio Production Workshop	3 s.h.

036:140 Communication and Relationships	3 s.h.
Communication issues that come into play as relationships are established, developed, maintained, dissolved. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001, one course from 036:040 to 036:052, 036:070, completion of research and criticism requirement, and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:141 Advanced Organizational Communication	3 s.h.
Organizational theory and trends in the field of organization studies; organizational culture, power, technology, decision making, teamwork, leadership, diversity, socialization, impact of globalization on organizing. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001, 036:091, and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:142 Advanced Intercultural Communication	3 s.h.
Culture and intercultural contact examined through positivistic, interpretive, and critical approaches to communication. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001, completion of research and criticism and theory requirements, and g.p.a. of at least 2.60. Recommended: 036:042.

036:143 Classical Rhetoric and Greek Culture	3 s.h.
Area: context. GE: humanities. Same as 010:131.

036:144 Contemporary Political Rhetoric	3 s.h.
Televised presidential speechmaking and political action, John F. Kennedy to present. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001, 036:017 or 036:044 or 036:051 or 036:093, completion of research and criticism and theory requirements, and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:145 Studies in Argument	3 s.h.
Advanced topics in argumentation within specialized personal, public, and technical forums; argument strategies, modes of decision making in social disputes. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001, 036:017, completion of research and criticism and theory requirements, and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:146 Issues in Rhetoric and Culture	3 s.h.
Case studies of relationships between public discourse, particular cultural contexts. Area: context. Same as 008:181, 010:160, 048:160, 160:160.

036:147 Family Communication	3 s.h.
Concepts, theories, and research on communication in family relationships; how information can be used to describe and understand communication behaviors in families. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001, 036:040 or 036:041, completion of research and criticism and theory requirements, and g.p.a of at least 2.60.

036:150 Cultural History of Advertising	3 s.h.
Evolution of consumer culture in the United States since the mid-19th century. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001, 036:064, 036:074, and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:151 Cultural History of Television	3 s.h.
Changing structure, content of U.S. television since World War II. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001, 036:048 or 036:065, 036:074, and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:152 Latin American Media	3 s.h.
History of Latin American media development; debates over U.S. media and cultural imperialism in the region. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001, 036:048 or 036:065, 036:074, and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:155 Visual Rhetoric	3 s.h.
Role of visual and material culture in American life; strategic use of images and objects, rather than language, to move audiences to attitude, action. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001, 036:051 or 036:061 or 036:062 or 036:064 or 036:065 or 036:068, 036:071 or 036:074 or 036:075 or 036:076 or 036:088, and g.p.a of at least 2.60.

036:157 Advanced Topics in Communication Studies	3 s.h.
Issues or problems in particular communication contexts. Area: context. Prerequisites: 036:001, completion of research and criticism and theory requirements, and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:158 Rhetoric and Past Public Controversy	3 s.h.
Rhetoric's role in public controversy, in particular time periods. Area: context. GE: historical perspectives. Same as 010:141.

036:159 Special Topics: Race, Ethnicity, and Media	3 s.h.
Same as 129:176.

036:161 Physician-Patient Communication	3 s.h.
Methods for studying physician-patient communication, patient outcomes, research on characteristics and qualities of physician-patient talk; in-depth study. Area: context. Prerequisite: 036:001, 036:052, completion of research and criticism and theory requirements, and g.p.a. of at least 2.60. Same as 172:144.

036:162 Rhetorical Strategies of Documentaries	3 s.h.

036:165 Introduction to Rhetorical Criticism	3 s.h.
Rhetorical discourses, situations. Area: research and criticism. Prerequisites: 036:001, 036:017, completion of research and criticism and theory requirements, and g.p.a of at least 2.60.

036:170 Theories of Persuasion	3 s.h.
Persuasion beyond advertisements, political speeches, and sales pitches; persuasion in interpersonal contexts; theories of persuasion examined from three points of view--psychological, social, cultural. Area: theory. Prerequisites: 036:001, 036:015 or 036:017 or 036:040 or 036:043 or 036:044, completion of research and criticism and theory requirements, and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:173 Technoculture and the Information Society	3 s.h.
The Internet and new media in economic, political, and historical context; perspectives from cultural theory, examples from business, popular culture, the arts. Area: theory. Prerequisites: 036:001, completion of research and criticism and theory requirements, and g.p.a. of at least 2.60.

036:176 Advanced Relational Theory	3 s.h.
Relational communication as a persuasive activity and a way of knowing in the world; theories of relational communication vis :gr.a vis rhetorical theories, theories of knowledge. Area: theory. Prerequisites: 036:001, 036:040 or 036:041, completion of research and criticism and theory requirements, and g.p.a of at least 2.60.

For Graduate Students

036:200 Introduction to Research	2 s.h.
Communication studies as a field of scholarship; selection of research problems, major lines of research represented in the department, bibliographical tools for scholarship in the field.

036:201 Issues in Teaching	1 s.h.
Continuation of 036:200; issues, practical tasks, and concerns relevant to effective college or university classroom teaching.

036:210 Introduction to Rhetorics of Inquiry	2-4 s.h.
Practice in invention and arrangement of academic prose through peer criticism; exemplary works, especially at and across disciplinary boundaries. Same as 160:200.

036:220 Rhetorical Criticism	3 s.h.
Approaches to rhetorical analysis of communicative artifacts, acts, events; rhetorical-critical essay writing. Same as 010:230.

036:222 Feminist Cultural Studies	3 s.h.
Same as 008:243, 010:243, 131:243.

036:223 Deliberation, Advocacy, Civic Engagement	3 s.h.
Practices of public deliberation in governance and civil society; counterpublic sphere discourses.

036:224 Movements and Media	3 s.h.

036:225 Seminar: Social Movements	3 s.h.

036:241 Theories of Mass Communication	3 s.h.
Major concepts, theories, schools of thought in media studies, mass communication.

036:242 Studies and Practices of Audio and Video Production	3 s.h.

036:270 Health Communication	3 s.h.
Same as 172:240.

036:299 Graduate Independent Study	arr.

036:310 Classical Rhetoric	2-4 s.h.
Discourse in the ancient world. Same as 008:267, 010:301, 20E:230.

036:311 Modern Rhetoric	2-4 s.h.
History of modernist rhetorical theory in the 20th century; relationships with philosophy, social and physical sciences, cultural change. Same as 008:268.

036:312 Rhetoric and Philosophy	2-4 s.h.
Contemporary philosophical approaches to the study of rhetoric.

036:313 Rhetoric and Argument Theory	2-4 s.h.
Approaches to study of argumentation, key issues at dispute in contemporary conceptualizations of argument.

036:315 Rhetorics of Technology and Technoscience	2-4 s.h.
Survey of rhetorical sites and situations involving technology; rhetorical criticism of technological and technoscientific discourses; evaluation and construction of theories about technological discourses and practices. Same as 160:307.

036:316 Foundations for Feminist Inquiry II	3 s.h.
Same as 010:201, 131:201.

036:317 Current Issues in Rhetoric	3 s.h.
Same as 008:315, 010:340, 160:340.

036:319 Practical Criticism	3 s.h.
Basics of rhetorical criticism; rhetoric as practice or technique; how to read rhetorically; fundamentals (i.e., figuration and tropes, form and genre, voice, style, topoi) and art of rhetorical critique.

036:330 Reading Group	1-2 s.h.
Analysis and discussion of important texts in rhetorical theory and criticism. Repeatable.

036:331 Studies in Language Theory	2-4 s.h.
Semiotics, speech acts, philosophy of language; emphasis on their relationship to rhetoric. Same as 160:331.

036:332 Visual Political Rhetoric	1-4 s.h.
Theoretical and critical studies of visual political discourse.

036:335 Proseminar: Contemporary Rhetorical Studies	2-4 s.h.
Problems in contemporary rhetorical studies; may include works of Kenneth Burke, Wayne Booth, deconstructionists, feminist theorists and critics, critics of communication technologies.

036:336 Seminar in Rhetorical Theory	1-4 s.h.
Topics in history and development of rhetorical theory; theory construction and application to critical practice. Same as 010:600.

036:337 Seminar: Public Address	1-4 s.h.
History and criticism of discourse addressed to the public; periods, approaches.

036:339 Seminar: Rhetoric and Culture	1-4 s.h.
Cultural theories, their utility in accounting for communication practices.

036:340 Media and Modernity	3 s.h.
Survey of classic and contemporary theoretical texts on cultural, social, political, and human consequences of 19th- and 20th-century media.

036:341 Topics in Mass Communication Scholarship	1-3 s.h.
Theory and research on problems in mass communication.

036:342 Critical Television Studies	3 s.h.
Introduction to canonical and contemporary readings in critical television studies; primary questions and theories associated with textual, industrial, ethnographic, and integrated approaches to studying television; how technological, economic, and cultural changes have altered television and how it is studied.

036:343 Rise and Fall of the American TV Networks	3 s.h.
Conditions supporting American television's 30-year domination by a commercial broadcast network oligopoly; the oligopoly's decline; the relationship between such institutional changes and television's cultural roles.

036:346 The Public Sphere	3 s.h.
Theories, intellectual history, critics, contemporary issues of the public sphere.

036:347 Nationalism as a Communication Process	3 s.h.
Nation building and construction of national identity as a problem in communication history and theory; the nation as a community constructed through discourse, role of the state and other social forces in creating and deploying nationalist discourse.

036:348 Audience Studies	3 s.h.
Tradition of critical, qualitative, and interpretive tradition of media audience research that has developed since the mid-1980s; recent ethnographic studies of audience experiences; institutional and global economic and cultural forces on audiences' engagement with media.

036:349 Visual Advocacy	3 s.h.

036:350 Seminar: Mass Communication	1-4 s.h.
Topics vary.

036:351 Global Media Seminar	3 s.h.
Theories and processes of globalization and the cultural implications of media globalization; local responses to globalizing processes with reference to questions of modernity and national/transnational identity.

036:352 Seminar: Media Theory	3 s.h.
Topics vary.

036:353 Seminar: Intellectual Property	3 s.h.
Areas of cultural production that have been affected by intellectual property law; notions of authorship and ownership that lie at the heart of intellectual property law, how they affect varied areas of cultural production. Same as 160:353.

036:370 Quantitative Research Methods	3 s.h.
Primary methods for conducting quantitative research on interpersonal and group communication.

036:371 Communication Theory	3 s.h.
Survey of primary theories of interpersonal, cultural, group, and organizational communication.

036:373 Persuasion Theory and Research	3 s.h.
Traditional social scientific approaches to research and theory; development of a cultural perspective on persuasion.

036:374 Relational Communication Theory and Research	3 s.h.
Communication in initiation, development, maintenance, breakdown, and repair of social and personal relationships.

036:375 Ethnography of Communication	3 s.h.
Research and theory on face-to-face communication, from ethnography of communication perspective.

036:376 Family Communication	3 s.h.
Theory and research on communication among and between family members (parents, children, marital partners, siblings); quantitative and qualitative research.

036:378 Critical Ethnography	3 s.h.
Same as 010:332, 160:332.

036:379 Health Communication Campaigns	3 s.h.
Design and analysis of health campaigns blending theory, practice, and methods to critique past, present, and future campaigns; mass media, community, organization, and interpersonal campaigns. Same as 172:246.

036:380 Seminar: Dialogic Communication	3 s.h.
Dialogic approaches to communication, including Bakhtin and Buber.

036:381 Seminar: Topics in Communication Research	3 s.h.

036:382 Seminar: Group Communication	3 s.h.
Issues in group communication.

036:383 Seminar: Constructs, Communication, and Identity	3 s.h.
Concepts of identity and sociality in George Kelly's Personal Construct Theory; their connection to theories of rhetoric, especially Burke, and social community, especially Mead.

036:395 Research Practicum	arr.
Individual projects.

036:399 Ph.D. Dissertation	arr.