Associate Professor David Roach, Chairperson.

Professor Stewart; Associate Professors Bliese, Olaniran, and Williams; Assistant Professors Hughes and McGee; Lecturers Neal and Webb.

This department supervises the following degree programs: COMMUNICATION STUDIES, Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts.

Study in communication at Texas Tech is designed to prepare professionals for careers in business, industry, social service, and education. To accomplish this goal, plans are offered that allow for the study of communication skills and theories and their applications to problems in work and social settings. In addition to classroom instruction, the department sponsors cocurricular and extracurricular activity in forensics (speech and debate) and maintains a local chapter of Delta Sigma Rho­Tau Kappa Alpha (national forensic honorary). For advanced students, an undergraduate internship in communication studies is an option. The internship, normally completed in the student's last spring semester, provides an opportunity for practice in applied settings.

Requirements for the Major. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or better to be admitted to the major in communication studies. Entering freshmen and transfer students are admitted on a provisional basis. Continued enrollment requires a 2.00 GPA or better in the first 15 hours taken at Texas Tech.

Students seeking an undergraduate degree in communication studies will complete a course of study that consists of 36 hours of communication studies courses with at least 18 hours of advanced courses. The department recognizes that each student has unique educational objectives and professional goals. Therefore, a flexible and individualized plan of undergraduate study is developed to be compatible with the student's aims. A total of 12 hours toward the major must be completed in residence at Texas Tech.

All students who major in communication studies must complete COMS 1300, 1301, 2300, 2301, 2302, and 3311. Students have the option to declare a specialization in one of three areas: Communication and public affairs (CPA), interpersonal communication (IPC), or corporate-organizational communication (COC). A student who declares a specialization will take 12 hours in the specialization and 6 hours of electives in communication studies. A student who chooses not to declare a specialization will take at least 6 hours but not more than 9 hours from each of the three specializations to meet the required total of 36 hours in the major. Courses in the communication and public affairs specialization include COMS 3311, 3313, 3314, 3315, 3318, 4304, and 4310. Courses in the interpersonal communication specialization include COMS 3331, 3332, 3333, 3334, 4304, and 4330. Courses in the corporate-organizational communication specialization include 3150, 3351, 3353, 3355, 3356, 3358, 4304, and 4350.

Requirements for the Minor. A minor consists of 18 hours of communication studies with at least 9 hours in advanced courses. At least 6 hours of the minor must be completed in residence at Texas Tech. Students who minor in communication studies must complete COMS 1300, 2300, and 2301. These three courses should be taken before enrolling in upper division courses. Remaining courses may be selected from other departmental offerings.

Teacher Certification. Students desiring secondary certification in communication studies must complete the following: COMS 1300, 2300, 3314, 3351, 4314; THA 2305, MCOM 1300, and 9 hours of electives, all of which must be at the upper division level.

Courses in Communication Studies. (COMS)

1300. Introduction to Communication Studies (3:3:0). A broad-based introduction to the field of Communication Studies, covering the major content areas in the discipline. Required for all majors and minors. May be applied toward the social-behavioral sciences Core Curriculum requirement. [SPCH 1311]

1301. Interpersonal Communication (3:3:0). A study of the human communication process in one-to-one encounters. Required for all majors. May be applied toward the social behavioral science Core Curriculum requirement. [SPCH 1318]

2300. Public Speaking (3:3:0). A course in the theory, preparation, delivery, and evaluation of public speeches. May be applied toward the oral communication Core Curriculum requirement. Required for all majors and minors. [SPCH 1315]

2301. Communication Theory (3:3:0). An introduction to communication theories and models in both social-scientific and humanistic research traditions. Required for all majors and minors. (Writing Intensive)

2302. Communication Research (3:3:0). An introduction to the theory and practice of research in communication studies, including the critical evaluation of communication research. Required for all majors. (Writing Intensive)

3102. Forensic Activities (1:0:3). Opportunity is offered the student who wishes to participate extensively in forensic activities to secure credit for this laboratory work. May be repeated up to 4 semester hours; 2 semester hours may be applied toward Communication Studies major. [SPCH 1144]

3105. Listening (1:1:0). A study of the basic factors in effective aural comprehension in various situations, such as lectures and interpersonal relationships.

3150. Parliamentary Procedures (1:1:0). Principles and procedures governing deliberative groups with practice in their usage.

3310. Theories of Interpersonal Communication (3:3:0). Prerequisite: COMS 1301 or consent of instructor. A broad-based theoretical approach to the study of interpersonal communication. Applications to a variety of interpersonal communication settings are also discussed. May be applied toward the social-behavioral sciences Core Curriculum requirement.

3311. Rhetoric in Western Thought (3:3:0). Explores theories of rhetoric ranging from ancient Greece to modern times. Students examine different conceptions of how rhetoric negotiates public character, social truths, and power. May be applied toward the Core Curriculum humanities and multicultural requirement. Required for all majors.

3313. Persuasion (3:3:0). A study of the psychological and rhetorical principles of motivation, suggestion, and other aspects of audience psychology as used in business, mass media, and public affairs. May be applied toward the social-behavioral sciences Core Curriculum requirement.

3314. Argumentation and Debate (3:3:0). Evolution of argumentation with emphasis on modern viewpoints, application of theory to selected controversies. [SPCH 2335]

3315. Political Campaign Communication (3:3:0). A study of the strategies of communication and persuasion in American political campaigns, focusing on the campaign currently in progress.

3318. Persuasion and Social Movements (3:3:0). Study of the role of persuasion in social movements, both historical and contemporary. Analysis of the various persuasive strategies employed as social movements evolve. May be applied toward the Core Curriculum humanities requirement.

3319. Rhetoric and American Issues (3:3:0). A study of principal American speakers and speeches associated with selected political, social, and religious issues. May be applied toward humanities credit for B.A. degree.

3331. Nonverbal Communication (3:3:0). The study of the origin, function, and control of nonverbal, symbolic elements inherent in Communication Studies. May be applied toward the Core Curriculum social-behavioral sciences requirement.

3332. Intercultural Communication (3:3:0). A study of the role of cultural differences in human communication; theoretical and experiential approaches toward gaining competence in communicating across cultural barriers. May be applied toward the Core Curriculum social-behavioral sciences requirement and the multicultural requirement.

3333. Communication in Relationships (3:3:0). Prerequisite: COMS 1301 or consent of instructor. A survey of research concerning the role of communication in the development, maintenance, and decay of interpersonal relationships.

3334. Gender and Communication (3:3:0). A study of the similarities and differences of important communication variables for males and females, with practical communication applications. May be applied toward the social-behavioral sciences Core Curriculum requirement. (W S 3312)

3336. Language and Social Interaction (3:3:0). An exploration of how people use language during social interaction in a variety of situations including ordinary conversations, routine service encounters, interviews, healthcare, and therapy.

3351. Communication in Instruction and Training (3:3:0). Instructional communication theory applied to the processes of instruction, training, and performance in varied learning contexts. Attention to delivery skills.

3353. Small Group Communication (3:3:0). An introduction to group process and interaction, the concepts of leadership, and effective participation. May be applied toward the Core Curriculum social-behavioral sciences requirement. [SPCH 2333]

3355. Communication in Organizations (3:3:0). A survey of research on communication in organizations with emphasis on relevant verbal and nonverbal factors; applications to basic communication skills and rudimentary research. May be applied toward the Core Curriculum social-behavioral sciences requirement.

3356. Leadership and Communication (3:3:0). A broad-based theoretical approach to the study of leadership and communication. Application to a variety of settings will also be discussed. May be applied toward the Core Curriculum social-behavioral sciences requirement.

3358. Business and Professional Communication (3:3:0). Basic principles of speech applied to the communication needs of the professional person. Practice in the construction and delivery of the various types of speeches and participation in interviews and group discussions. May be applied toward the Core Curriculum oral communication requirement. [SPCH 1321]

3359. Interviewing: Process and Procedures (3:3:0). Principles drawn from contemporary interpersonal communication theory are specifically applied to informational, employment, and persuasive interview situations. Practical application of theoretical concepts is encouraged through in-class role-playing interviews and through analysis of actual interviewing techniques.

3365. Communication in Health Care (3:3:0). Introductory survey of the influence of communication in health and health care delivery.

4300. Independent Research in Communication Studies (3). Prerequisite: 18 hours of COMS courses. Individual research under guidance of a member of the faculty, of a specific problem of student's choice in one of the areas of Communication Studies. Students required, in advance of registration, to consult with the instructor and secure his or her approval of the specific project to be pursued. May be repeated once for credit.

4304. Internship in Communication Studies (3:1:4). Prerequisite: 24 hours of COMS courses or consent of instructor. Student internship, under supervision of faculty coordinator, in a selected area of applied communication.

4310. Special Topics in Rhetoric (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Junior standing. Consideration of selected topics in rhetoric. May be repeated for credit. (Writing Intensive)

4314. Directing Speech and Debate Activities (3:3:0). Methods and principles involved in directing extracurricular speech activities such as debate, oral, interpretation, and public speaking.

4330. Special Topics in Interpersonal Communication (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Junior standing. Consideration of selected topics in interpersonal communication. May be repeated for credit. (Writing Intensive)

4335. Communication Competence (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 18 hours of Communication Studies. Surveys theory and research in communication competence. Evaluates definitions, indicators, and assessment procedures for determining competence in a variety of communication contexts.

4350. Special Topics in Corporate-Organizational Communication (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Junior standing. Consideration of selected topics in corporate-organizational communication. May be repeated for credit.