Academic Catalog

Communication (COMM)

COMM 5000.  Fundamentals of Theory, Research, and Design.  (3 Credits)  
Introduction to the fundamentals of communication theory, research, and design for incoming graduate students. Overview of the philosophy of science, different research paradigms, and approaches to the study of communication.
Enrollment Requirements: Recommended preparation: COMM 5001, which should be taken concurrently.  
  
COMM 5001.  Introduction to Graduate Communication Research.  (3 Credits)  
An introduction to quantitative research methods and statistics. Issues of measurement and design of communication studies as well as basic descriptive and inferential statistics are covered.
  
COMM 5002.  Research Methods.  (3 Credits)  
Integrative approach to modeling theory, research design, and statistical analysis, including mathematical models, scale construction, measurement issues, correlation, regression, and analysis of variance.
  
COMM 5003.  Advanced Communication Research Methods.  (3 Credits)  
Research techniques and procedures for the study of communication. Research design, multivariate statistics, and structural modeling.
Enrollment Requirements: COMM 5002.  
  
COMM 5004.  Qualitative Research Methods in Communication.  (3 Credits)  
Introduction to methods for collecting and analyzing qualitative data. Discussion of the diverse social scientific and humanistic traditions comprising qualitative research paradigms, ethical considerations, contemporary theoretical and epistemological debates in the field, and the use of qualitative data analysis software. Applied approach to writing, theorizing, and making a difference through qualitative research.
  
COMM 5005.  Computational Research Methods.  (3 Credits)  
Introduction to a theoretical and methodological foundation for the application of computational methods to answer important communication research questions. An overview of the basics of R programming and computational methods applied to communication, along with a discussion of both recent and fundamental literature on computational social science. No prior programming experience is necessary.
  
COMM 5010.  Theory Construction and Research Design.  (3 Credits)  
Conceptualization, theory construction, and review of communication methodologies. Students will write a proposal for independent research, thesis, or dissertation.
Enrollment Requirements: COMM 5002.  
  
COMM 5100.  Persuasion Theory and Research.  (3 Credits)  
Evaluation of current and traditional theories of persuasion and attitude change from communication, social psychology, and related disciplines.
  
COMM 5101.  Motivation.  (3 Credits)  
(Also offered as PSYC 5101.) Theories of motivation considered in relation to their supporting data.
  
COMM 5110.  Environmental Communication.  (3 Credits)  
Best practices for communicating environmental issues to diverse communities and audiences. Survey of the cognitive, affective, and behavioral theories relevant to effectively communicating about pressing environmental issues. Development of communication strategies to target different constituencies with important environmental messages.
  
COMM 5120.  Communication Campaigns.  (3 Credits)  
Campaign theory and planning. Students learn how to conduct interviews and focus groups with members of a target audience, and work with non-profit organizations to design a campaign.
  
COMM 5150.  Crisis and Risk Communication.  (3 Credits)  
Research, theory, and best practices in crisis and risk communication.
Enrollment Requirements: Open to graduate students in Communication, others with consent.  
  
COMM 5200.  Interpersonal Communication.  (3 Credits)  
Cognitive, emotional and behavioral interactions in specific contexts, including interpersonal relationships, groups, and work.
  
COMM 5220.  Group Communication Research.  (3 Credits)  
The group communication process with emphasis upon research methodologies for the study of interactions in a group setting.
  
COMM 5300.  Mass Communication Theory.  (3 Credits)  
Introduction to major theories, with emphasis on the structure, function, and effects of mass media.
  
COMM 5310.  Seminar in Mass Communication Research.  (3 Credits)  
Recent theories of social and political effects of mass communication, and the cognitive processing of media messages.
  
COMM 5330.  Children and Mass Media.  (3 Credits)  
This course provides an overview of important issues, theoretical perspectives, and research regarding children's and adolescent's reactions to mass media including developmental differences in the processing of media content and in the effects of such materials.
Enrollment Requirements: Open to graduate students in Communication and others with consent.  
  
COMM 5500.  Nonverbal Communication.  (3 Credits)  
The study of metacommunication: Kinesics, space, time and other concomitants of verbal messages. How the non-verbal band helps in the interpretation of verbal messages.
  
COMM 5640.  Social Media Use and Effects.  (3 Credits)  
Research and theory on the social and psychological predictors and effects of social media use as well as social media platforms: their technology, functions, and analysis of collected data.
Enrollment Requirements: Open to graduate students in Communication and others with consent.  
  
COMM 5650.  Communication Technology and Society: Theory and Research.  (3 Credits)  
Theory and research associated with the study of emerging communication technologies. Provides a comprehensive foundation in the scholarly literature addressing the content, adoption, uses and effects of new media.
  
COMM 5655.  Human Computer Interaction.  (3 Credits)  
Evaluation of human computer interaction including issues in the design of technology people use. Methods and theories for design that consider unique needs, capabilities, and limitations of users. Techniques for evaluating user-centered systems based on the latest research.
Enrollment Requirements: Open to graduate students, others with instructor consent. Recommended preparation: A social science or computer science course in research methods.  
  
COMM 5660.  Computer Mediated Communication.  (3 Credits)  
Communication networks, human-computer interaction and interface design, social and collaborative communication via computer.
  
COMM 5770.  Health Communication.  (3 Credits)  
Overview of health communication, including health behavior change interventions, emergency communication, risk assessment, media influences, provider-patient communication, socialization and identity, stereotyping, social support, diverse populations, and new communication technologies.
  
COMM 5895.  Special Topics in Communication.  (1-3 Credits)  
Instructor consent required. May be repeated for credit with a change in topic.
May be repeated for a total of 18 credits  
COMM 5899.  Independent Study in Communication.  (1-6 Credits)  
This course is an independent study course in which periodic conferences with the instructor are required.
May be repeated for a total of 18 credits  
COMM 5900.  Professional Communication.  (3 Credits)  
Theories and applications of communication in professional settings. Focus on effective design of relevant messages to reach various audiences. Preparation for future employment by cultivating high-caliber communication skills through lecture content and workshops.
Enrollment Requirements: Open to graduate students only.  
  
COMM 5979.  Masters Capstone Project.  (3 Credits)  
Capstone project addressing problems or opportunities in the field of communication.
Enrollment Requirements: Department consent. Recommended preparation: COMM 5001; should be taken in the last or next-to-last semester of study in the masters program.  
  
COMM 5981.  Internship in Communication.  (1-6 Credits)  
Completion of a departmentally-approved internship.
Enrollment Requirements: Open to graduate students in Communication, others with consent.  
May be repeated for a total of 6 credits  
COMM 6001.  Proseminar in Communication Research.  (3 Credits)  
Advanced topics in communication research presented by faculty and specialists. Topics include information theory, survey of sampling and data collection, time series analysis (time-domain and panel design), physiological measurement, interaction analysis, and meta-analysis.
Enrollment Requirements: COMM 5002, COMM 5003, and COMM 5010.  
  
COMM 6800.  Seminar and Directed Research in Communication.  (3-6 Credits)  
Completion and presentation of directed research projects to advance the scholarship of communication graduate students. Students taking this course will be assigned a grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory).
Enrollment Requirements: Open to graduate students in the Communication Program.  
May be repeated for a total of 6 credits  
COMM 6850.  Seminar in Marketing Communication Research.  (3 Credits)  
Theories of emotional and cognitive processing of communications; cognitive mapping and message construction; design, implementation and evaluation of information campaigns.
  
COMM 6895.  Topics in Applied Communication Research.  (3 Credits)  
Investigation of special research techniques and findings in selected areas of applied communication research.
  
COMM 6986.  Directed Research Practicum.  (1-6 Credits)  
Students work on projects under the supervision of faculty members. Projects will generally be faculty-led. Students may be involved with study design, data collection, data analysis, and/or the reporting of the results. Examples of projects that students may assist with include lab-based studies taking place in the Department of Communication lab spaces, studies involving online or remote data collection, and field work. Provides an opportunity for students to gain experience conducting Communication research. At the end of this course, students will be able to distinguish key aspects of the research process, contribute to the design and/or implementation of a research project, and understand the benefits of team science.
May be repeated for a total of 24 credits