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COMMUNICATION (COMM)

Robert Brady, Department Chair, 417 Kimpel Hall, (479) 575-3046

Dennis Bailey, Thomas Rosteck, Graduate Coordinators, 417 Kimpel Hall, (479) 575-3046

Professors Frentz, Rogers, Rushing, Smith, Webb • Associate Professors Allen, Amason, Bailey, Brady, Rosteck, Scheide, Wicks • Assistant Professor Warren

Degree Conferred:

M.A. (COMM)

Areas of Concentration: Communication, with general studies of the discipline or with specific emphasis areas in: (1) rhetoric and public communication; (2) interpersonal/small group/organizational communication; or (3) mass communication (television and film studies). Each student will design a specific curriculum of study in consultation with his or her major professor, and it may include one of the above emphasis areas. A student who plans to teach in the public schools may elect a combination of courses appropriate for the teaching area.

Prerequisites to Degree Program: A student entering graduate studies should have a minimum of 24 semester hours in undergraduate credit within the area of communication or closely related studies. A student who presents less than 24 hours may be admitted with deficiencies subject to the decision of the Department. A student may eliminate deficiencies while concurrently enrolling in graduate courses. In addition, a prospective student must supply three letters of recommendation and a writing sample. The student is also encouraged to submit a GRE score.

Requirements for a Master of Arts Degree: A minimum of 30 semester hours in graduate-level courses or 24 hours of course work and a thesis (6 hours). All students should take two graduate courses in communication research methods and at least one course from two of three emphasis areas. Each student must enroll for COMM 5111 during each semester of resident graduate study and must pass a comprehensive examination over the thesis and/or all course work. Hours earned in COMM 5111 will not count towards the minimum hours listed above. With the consent of the major professor, a student may present 6 hours from a cognate field of study outside the department toward the required course work for the degree in communication.

COURSES: COMMUNICATON (COMM)

COMM4113 Legal Communication (FA) Examines communication processes in the legal environment and focuses on communication skills and behaviors among judges, attorneys, litigants, and jurors. Particular attention will be given to verbal strategies and nonverbal messages related to interviews, negotiation, mediation, and litigation and to the rhetorical functions of legal pleadings and judicial opinions.

COMM4143 American Film Survey (FA, SP, SU) A survey of major American film genres, major directors and films that have influenced the development of motion pictures. (Same as ENGL 4143)

COMM4283 Communication in Contemporary Society (FA) An examination of research and theory on the process and effects of communication in modern society.

COMM4313 Language and Society of Japan (FA) The primary objective of this course is to investigate the way the Japanese language reflects the beliefs and customs of the Japanese people as a social group. For comparison purposes, this course makes reference to studies in American language and culture. Proficiency in Japanese not required. Prerequisite: junior standing.

COMM4323 Communication and Conflict (SP) Study of the processes, effects, and managements of communicative conflict, including a consideration of conflict styles, power, goals, tactics, assessment, self-intervention and third-party intervention. Prerequisite: COMM 1313 and junior standing.

COMM4333 Communication and Gender (SP) Study of the nature, construction, functions, and effects of gender and gender-role stereotypes related to verbal and nonverbal communication, small-group and organizational interaction, and mass medicated images in contemporary culture.

COMM4343 Intercultural Communication (FA) Study of intercultural communication skills, intercultural issues and their impact at home and abroad, and cross-cultural comparisons of communication phenomena from a variety of theoretical perspectives.

COMM4353 American Public Address (IR) Historical and critical study of the leading American speakers, their speeches, the issues with which they were identified. Lectures, discussion, reports, and critical papers. Prerequisite: junior standing.

COMM4373 Political Communication (SP) Study of the nature and function of the communication process as it operates in the political environment. (Same as PLSC 4373)

COMM4383 Rhetoric of the Modern American Presidency (FA, SP, SU) A study of the increasing reliance of contemporary presidents on public persuasion through rhetorical discourse.

COMM4393 Freedom of Speech: Cases & Issues (FA, SP) Study of philosophy, cases, and issues relevant to the first amendment right to the free expression, with focus on issues relevant to internal security, obscenity, pornography, slander, and the regulation of communication.

COMM4413 Communication, Negotiation, Mediation and Conflict (IR) Examines Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) research and techniques focusing primarily on negotiation and mediation. Supplements and extends material presented in COMM 4323 (Communication and Conflict). Explores the verbal and nonverbal messages occurring during negotiation and mediation situations in business, legal, and counseling environments. Prepares students for roles involving negotiation and mediation.

COMM4633 History and Development of Motion Pictures II (IR) A critical survey of motion pictures as a distinctive art form and as a medium of expression and communication with attention given to films and cinema innovators from 1940 to the present. Prerequisite: COMM 1003.

COMM4683 Documentary Film (FA) A study and analysis of the documentary film as a discrete film form and as an important contribution to the international cinematic scene. Prerequisite: advanced standing.

COMM4793 Directing Forensics (IR) Planning, directing, and coaching co-curricular forensics at the high school or college or both.

COMM4833 Television Writing (FA) Comprehensive analysis of the techniques and styles of television commercials, documentaries and dramatic TV plays. Class projects. Prerequisite: 5 hours radio-television-film and junior standing.

COMM4843 Computer-Mediated Communication (SP) Provides an in depth consideration of the nature of computer-mediated communication by examining its use and effects in interpersonal, work, educational, and societal contexts and in an introduction to the technologies and skills required for navigating the Internet. The course focuses on the social aspects of computer-mediated communication, rather than specific software or hardware technologies.

COMM4853 Telecommunication Policy (SP) Research and discussion of social, ethical, education, cultural, and technological aspects of telecommunications with attention given to changing programming patterns, world systems of broadcasting, data transmis
sion, emerging technology, international politics, and regulatory policies. Prerequisite: junior or senior or graduate standing.

COMM4863 Seminar in Television (SP) Research/discussion of contemporary problems in television. emphasis on the economic and social impact of commercials, news, censorship, children's programs, blacks and women on television, future developments in telecommunications.

COMM4883 Television and American Culture (FA) Historical and critical study of how television shapes American culture and is shaped by it. Attention will be given to the study of television history, programs, and audiences, particularly how race and gender shape content and reception of programming. Prerequisite: COMM 2333.

COMM5111 Colloquium in Communication Research (FA, SP) Presentation, evaluation, and discussion of research proposals or on-going research projects. Graduate students are required to register for this course each semester of residence.

COMM5113 Communication Research Methods I (FA) Emphasizes the assumptions and procedures of historical, critical and ethnographic research methods in communication. Includes the creation of research proposals and the critical assessment of existing interpretive studies in communication.

COMM5123 Communication Research Methods II (FA) Emphasizes the assumptions and procedures of social scientific research methods in communication. Includes the creation of research proposals, the analysis of existing communication data sets, the assessment of existing studies, and the reporting of research.

COMM5133 Mass Communication Inquiry (SP) Introduction to scholarly research in mass communication, including processes and effects, law and policy, critical/cultural studies, and economic analysis. Emphasis will be placed on theories within each area of inquiry.

COMM5193 Seminar in Communication (FA, SP, SU) Research, discussion, and papers focus on one of a variety of communication topics including symbolic processes in communication, philosophy of rhetoric, communication education, criticism of contemporary communication, interpersonal communication, organizational communication, and contemporary applications of rhetoric. Maximum credit is 9 semester hours. Prerequisite: graduate standing.

COMM5303 Seminar in Classical Rhetoric (SP) Systematic investigation of the development of rhetorical theory in the Classical world with emphasis upon the contributions of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Cicero and Quintilian. Gives some consideration to the chief treatises of the medieval period. Lectures, oral and written reports, including a major research essay. Prerequisite: graduate standing.

COMM5323 Seminar in Persuasion (FA) Focus is on comparing theoretical accounts of persuasion and research evidence concerning the effects of various factors on persuasion.

COMM5333 Communication Theory (SP) Survey of the theoretical orientations in communication theory with primary focus on conceptual, theoretical, and philosophical issues.

COMM5343 Interpersonal Communication (FA) Theory and research concerning the exchange of information and the mutual influencing of behavior among people. Prerequisite: graduate standing.

COMM5353 Rhetorical Criticism (SP) A seminar in rhetorical criticism. A study of the development of standards of rhetorical appraisal from the foundations of the art of speaking to the modern period; examination of contemporary approaches to rhetorical appraisal. Practice in critical analysis of contemporary address.

COMM5363 Seminar in Small Group Communication (SU) A consideration of recent developments in small group research which relate to problem solving tasks, leadership and other kinds of human interaction through speech communication. Emphasis given to the interpersonal speech transaction and to the emergence of participant roles. (Same as SOCI 5363) Prerequisite: COMM 3303 or SOCI 4193.

COMM5373 Content Analysis (IR) Techniques for observing and analyzing the overt communication behavior of selected communicators. Prerequisite: graduate standing.

COMM5383 Seminar in Political Communication (IR) Research seminar focusing on selected topics such as candidate imagery, diffusion of political information, or political symbolism. (Same as PLSC 5383) Prerequisite: graduate standing.

COMM5393 Seminar in Contemporary Rhetoric (SP) Systematic study of contemporary perspectives on rhetoric including scholars such as Burke, Richards, Weaver, Grassi, MacIntyre, Derrida, and Rorty. Prerequisite: graduate standing.

COMM5403 Organizational Communication Theory (SP) A seminar on the historical development of theory and research into communication processes occurring within an organizational setting. Lecture, discussion, oral and Prerequisite: graduate standing.

COMM5413 Organizational Communication Research (SU) A seminar on conducting applied research within an organizational setting. Prerequisite: COMM 5403 and graduate standing.

COMM5423 Seminar in Mass Media Cognition (FA, SP, SU) Seminar exploring how people learn from written, aural and visual mass media messages. Topics to include attention, memory, comprehension, emotional response, arousal, unconscious processing, picture perception and person perception. Seminar will be concerned with most popular media (e.g., television radio, newspaper, and film), and with several content genres (e.g., entertainment, news, advertising).

COMM5453 Myth and Communication Criticism (SP) Seminar in major theories of mythology, including archetypal and ideological perspectives, and their applications to the criticism of public communicative events. Practice in written critical analysis. Prerequisite: graduate standing.

COMM5503 Communication and Cultural Studies (FA) Examinations of the role of communication in modern culture. Emphasis is upon the production and circulation of meanings with society, and special attention is given to the role of popular and mass media in this process. Prerequisite: graduate standing.

COMM569V Seminar in Film Studies (1-3) (IR) Research, discussion; papers on a variety of film genres and areas including the new American film, the science-fiction film, directors, film comedy, the experimental film, criticism, the film musical. (Same as ENGL 569)

COMM590V Special Problems (1-6) (FA, SP, SU) Credit by arrangement. Prerequisite: graduate standing.

COMM5913 Internship in Communication (FA, SP, SU) Internship in applied communication within public and private organizations. Prerequisite: 15 hours graduate level communication in residence.

COMM600V Master's Thesis (1-6) (FA, SP) Prerequisite: graduate standing.