School of Communications > Communication Program > Courses
Summer 2008 Schedule of Courses (PDF)
Fall 2008 Schedule of Courses (PDF)
Academic Courses
The following are the catalogue descriptions of the undergraduate and graduate courses we currently offer in the Communication Program.
B.A. Undergraduate Degree Courses
- Foundation Course (3 credits)
- 300 and 400 Level Electives Courses (30 credits)
- Senior Thesis Project (3 credits)
M.A. Graduate Degree Courses
Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program Courses
B.A. Undergraduate Degree Courses
Foundation Course (3 credits)
COM 201 Introduction to Communication (3)
Survey of the theories, research, and programs of communication to explain
major communication principles in interpersonal, mass, and telecommunications. *DS
300 and 400 Level Electives Courses (30 credits)
COM 320 Organizational Communication (3)
Communication in formal organizational contexts; research and theory of communication
within organizations; role of communication in organizational effectiveness.
Pre: 201 or consent. *DS
COM 330 Telecommunication Concepts & Technology (3)
Basic concepts of telecommunication; orientation to telecom technologies including
television, radio, cable, video disc, and telecom/computer convergence. Pre:
201 or consent.
COM 331 Fundamentals of Visual Media (3)
Orientation to procedure and techniques of production. Emphasis on history,
language, and theory of the creative process and application to video production
and multimedia. Pre: 201 or consent.
COM 335 Mass Communication (3)
Introduction to mass communication theory. Emphasis placed on theoretical approaches
to societal effects of media, human communication, and research traditions
in mass communication. Pre: 201 or consent. *DS
COM 337 Introduction to Multimedia (3)
Combined lecture-lab course providing an orientation and examination of procedures
and techniques of multimedia. Emphasis on new media literacy, human interaction
and basic design of electronic media. Pre: 201 or consent.
COM 340 Intercultural Communication (3)
Problems and opportunities of communication in a variety of intercultural contexts.
Focus on theory, research, and managing intercultural effectiveness. Pre:
201 or consent. *DS
COM 341 International Communication (3)
Problems and opportunities of communication in a variety of international contexts.
Focus on commerce, diplomacy, and mass communication. Pre: 201 or consent. *DS
COM 350 Communication in Interpersonal Relationships (3)
Theory and practice of interpersonal communication from a social science perspective.
Pre: 201 or consent. *DS
COM 401 Communication Research Methods (3)
Exploration of quantitative and qualitative research methods commonly used
in communication studies. Pre: 201 or consent. *DS
COM 420 Communication in Multicultural Organizations (3)
Cultural diversity in multicultural and multinational organizations is examined
regarding communication related aspects of working life. Pre: 320 and 340
or consent. *DS
COM 423 Applied Organizational Communication (3)
Principles of organizational communication applied in organizational assessment,
intervention, training and development. Pre: 201 and junior standing, or
consent.
COM 431L Video Production Lab I (3)
Production of studio and remote video programming including news/information,
instructional/educational, and dramatic formats. Lighting, sound, blocking,
and equipment competency. Pre: 331 or consent.
COM 432 Telecommunication Services (3)
Understanding human information needs as they relate to telecommunication services
developed from new technologies. Pre: 330 or consent.
COM 433 Video Scriptwriting (3)
Application of communication theory to creating and revising commercial and
dramatic script material for video production. Pre: 331 or consent.
COM 434L Video Production Lab II (3)
Creating, scripting, and producing complex programs, Media aesthetics and professional
production, preparation, and execution are emphasized. Pre: 331 and 431,
or consent.
COM 436 Media Effects (3)
Social, political, economic, and cultural effects of broadcast media are examined
to understand their impact on human behavior. Pre: 201 and junior standing,
or consent.
COM 437 Interactive Multimedia Design & Development (3)
Examination of the relationship between interpersonal communication processes,
development and utilization of the interactive telecom technologies and services.
Pre: 337 or consent.
COM 438 International Telecommunication (3)
Development of international telecommunication with emphasis on political theory,
social purposes, legal regulation, and competition among nations. Pre: 330
or consent. *DS
COM 440 Intercultural Training and Intervention (3)
This course describes programs designed to prepare, support and train individuals,
groups, and communities for effective intercultural interaction at home and
abroad. Pre: 340 or consent.
COM 441 Communication Policy & Planning (3)
Alternative models in policy and planning which bring about or inhibit social,
economic, and technical development in communication systems and their environments.
Pre: 201 and junior standing, or consent. *DS
COM 442 Communication in the Pacific Hemisphere (3)
Comparative communication processes, development communication, technology,
knowledge and skill transfer, and regional communication issues in the Pacific
hemisphere. Pre: 201 and junior standing, or consent.
COM 444 Communication & Gender (3)
Theories, myths, and the missing links in gendered communication. Application
of established and emerging theories of gender and communication to interpersonal,
organizational, intercultural, and mass communication. Pre: 201 and junior
standing, or consent. *DS
COM 451 Communication & Law (3)
Role of communication in the legal process; impact of law on communication
processes. Pre: 201 and junior standing, or consent. *DS
COM 452 Building Communication Theory (3)
Major theories of communication in terms of requirements for a theory, theory
development, associated research, and application. Pre: 201 and junior standing,
or consent. *DS
COM 453 Ethnography of Communication (3)
The interactional basis of communication in normal everyday living. Students
analyze face-to-face and mediated communication using ethnographic methods.
Pre: 201 and junior standing, or consent. *DS
COM 454 Communication Campaigns (3)
Communication strategies and research methods that lead to effective campaign
programs. Focus on political, marketing, and public communication campaigns.
Pre: 201 and junior standing, or consent. *DS
COM 459 Special Topics in Communication (3)
Topics of interest to faculty and students. Taught by regular and visiting
faculty. Repeatable on different topics to six credit hours. Pre: 201 and
Junior standing, or consent.
COM 460 Media Ethics (3)
Ethics and social responsibility for media professionals. Application of ethical
theories and principles to case studies and research projects. Pre: any 300-level
course in communication or journalism. (Cross-listed as JOUR 460)
COM 480 Communication Seminar (3)
Application of theoretic and methodological criteria to researchable questions.
Topics will vary. Pre: 201 and senior standing, or consent.
COM 495 Communication Internship (V)
Analysis of communication processes under faculty supervision through participation
in the operations of an organization. Repeatable up to three credit hours.
Pre: 201 and junior standing, or consent.
COM 499 Special Problems (V)
Independent study of selected topics under faculty supervision. Repeatable
up to three credit hours. Pre: 201 and junior standing, or consent.
Senior Thesis Project
COM 490 Senior Thesis Project (3)
Completion of a thesis project appropriate to the selected area of concentration
within the context of a seminar. Pre: 201 and senior standing, or consent.
*DS = can be applied to the Social Sciences Diversification Requirements
M.A. Graduate Degree Courses
Foundation Courses (6 credits)
COM 611 Communication Theories (3)
Systematic study of major theories of communication and current status of communication
research.
COM 612 Communication Research Methods (3)
An introduction to major steps in the research process. Emphasis on the methodological
approaches to making choices among alternatives at each step of the research
cycle.
Areas of Specialization Core Courses
COM 623 Organizational Communication (3)
Communication theory/research applied to social system needs in formal organizations.
Practically assessing the strengths and weaknesses of organizational communication
systems. Pre: 611 (or concurrent) or consent.
COM 633 Telecommunication Architectures (3)
Telecommunication structures, processes, and networks as an area of research
and study in the social sciences. Pre: 611 (or concurrent) or consent.
COM 634 Telecommunication Services (3)
Systematic study, from a social science perspective, of current and emerging
teleservices. Attention to user needs and impact, and to teleservice design.
Pre: 612 (or concurrent) or consent.
COM 643 Intercultural Communication (3)
Problems and opportunities of intercultural communication from theory and research,
consulting and training, and policy and program perspectives. Pre: 611 or
(concurrent) or consent.
COM 644 International Communication (3)
Principles and practices of international communication from the perspectives
of relevant theories, focusing on problems of an information age. Pre: 612
(or concurrent) or consent.
COM 645 Mass Communication (3)
An introduction to major mass media theories, research trends and literature.
Pre: 611 or (concurrent) or consent.
Program Electives
COM 624 Organizational Communication Training (3)
Designing and implementing training systems in organizations; conducting training
programs; evaluating training program effectiveness. Pre: 612 (or concurrent)
or consent.
COM 646 Intercultural Training/Intervention (3)
This course describes programs designed to prepare, support, and train individuals,
groups, and communities for effective intercultural interaction at home and
abroad. Pre: 643 (or concurrent) or consent.
COM 650 Communication Policy (3)
Examination of the formation and implementation of communication policy in
world, national, and local arenas. Key concepts; role in development. Pre:
611 (or concurrent) or consent.
COM 660 Communication Planning (3)
Processes and methods of planning appropriate to the communication sector,
including cultural, information and media industries and organizations.
Pre: 611 (or concurrent) or consent.
Seminars
COM 691 Communication Topics (3)
In depth coverage of some area of theory and research. Repeatable for six credits.
Pre: 611 and 612, or consent.
COM 692 General Research Seminar (3)
Application of theoretic and methodological criteria to a researchable question.
Repeatable for six credits. Pre: 611 and 612, or consent.
Directed Research
COM 699 Directed Reading & Research (V)
Individual reading and/or research. Repeatable for up to six credits. Pre:
consent.
Capstone Activities
COM 695 Communication Practicum (V)
Supervised work experience, study of an organization, and career planning.
Required of Plan B students in the main communication program. Repeatable.
CR/NCR only. Pre: 611 and 612, or consent.
COM 700 Thesis Research (V)
Repeatable CR/NCR only. Pre: 611 and 612, or consent.
Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program Courses
For a listing of the core courses required for a PhD in Communication and Information Sciences, please see the CIS Home Page.
