Communication Studies (COMS)
1000 Freshman Level2000 Sophomore Level 3000 Junior Level4000 Senior Level
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1000 Level Courses
1300. [SPCH 1311] 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. Partially fulfills Core Communication (Oral) requirement.
1301. [SPCH 1318] Interpersonal Communication (3:3:0). A study of the human communication process in one-to-one encounters. Required for all majors. Fulfills Core Social and Behavioral Sciences – Individual or Group Behavior requirement.Back to Top
2000 Level Courses
2300. [SPCH 1315] Public Speaking (3:3:0). A course in the theory, preparation, delivery, and evaluation of public speeches. Required for all majors and minors. Partially fulfills Core Communication (Oral) requirement.
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)
2350. Introduction to Communication Disorders (3:3:0). Explores the range and types of communication disorders and examines the impact of these disorders on an individual’s psychological, social, emotional, cultural, and educational status. Fulfills Core Social and Behavioral Sciences – Individual or Group Behavior requirement.Back to Top
3000 Level Courses
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.
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. Required for all majors. Fulfills multicultural requirement. Fulfills Core Humanities requirement.
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. Fulfills Core Social and Behavioral Sciences – Individual or Group Behavior requirement.
3314. Argumentation and Debate (3:3:0). Evolution of argumentation with emphasis on modern viewpoints, application of theory to selected controversies.
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. Fulfills Core Humanities requirement.
3331. Nonverbal Communication (3:3:0). The study of the origin, function, and control of nonverbal, symbolic elements inherent in Communication Studies. Fulfills Core Social and Behavioral Sciences – Individual or Group Behavior requirement.
3332. Intercultural Communication (3:3:0). Studies the role of cultural differences in human communication; theoretical and experiential approaches toward gaining competence in communicating across cultural barriers. Fulfills Core Social and Behavioral Sciences – Individual or Group Behavior requirement and the multicultural requirement.
3333. Communication in Relationships (3:3:0). Prerequisite: COMS 1301. 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). Studies the similarities and differences of communication issues for males and females, with practical communication applications. Fulfills Core Social and Behavioral Sciences – Individual or Group Behavior requirement. (W S 3312)
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. Fulfills Core Social and Behavioral Sciences – Individual or Group Behavior requirement.
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. Fulfills Core Social and Behavioral Sciences – Individual or Group Behavior 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. Fulfills Core Social and Behavioral Sciences – Individual or Group Behavior 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. Partially fulfills Core Communication (Oral) requirement.
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 Healthcare (3:3:0). Introductory survey of the influence of communication in health and healthcare delivery.Back to Top
4000 Level Courses
4000. Independent Research in Communication Studies (V1-3). Prerequisite: 18 hours of COMS courses and consent of instructor. Individual research in COMS area of student’s choice under faculty member guidance. May be repeated once for credit up to 6 hours.
4304. Internship in Communication Studies (3:1:4). Prerequisite: Junior standing 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 or senior standing. Consideration of selected topics in rhetoric. May be repeated for credit.
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 or senior standing. Consideration of selected topics in interpersonal communication. May be repeated for credit.
4350. Special Topics in Corporate-Organizational Communication (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing. Consideration of selected topics in corporate-organizational communication. May be repeated for credit.Back to Top
5000 Level Courses
5111. Communication Instruction in Higher Education I (1:1:0). First of two courses required of all communication studies teaching assistants. Provides individual development in philosophies and practices unique to teaching basic oral communication courses.
5112. Communication Instruction in Higher Education II (1:1:0). Second of two courses required of all communication studies teaching assistants. Provides individual development in philosophies and practices unique to teaching basic oral communication courses.
5300. Communication Theory (3:3:0). A comprehensive overview of contemporary communication theories and research. Students will read original work beginning with general semantics theory and culminating with the most recently published reviews of theoretical work in communication studies.
5301. Qualitative Research Methods (3:3:0). The course will introduce research methods of discourse analysis, conversation analysis, ethnography, applied qualitative communication research, and development of grounded theory. Students must engage in field work, interview participants, and write essays based on gathered data to complete this course successfully.
5302. Intercultural Communication (3:3:0). An examination of the relationship between culture and communication and approaches to studying intercultural communication.
5303. Communication in Small Groups (3:3:0). A study of factors affecting interpersonal communication in small group settings. Course content includes consideration of both theoretical and applied orientations to the study of small group communication.
5304. Communication in Organizations (3:3:0). This course examines theoretical perspectives, contemporary research, and practical models of human communication in complex organizations.
5305. Quantitative Research Methods (3:3:0). The study of quantitative research methods in communication research, emphasizing research designs, quantitative treatments, and analysis. Course requirements will include data entry, statistical analysis, and a research prospectus.
5306. Theories of Rhetoric (3:3:0). An in-depth study of rhetorical theories which have had significant impact on the research, teaching, and practice of communication behavior. Students must write a lengthy research paper in order to successfully complete this course.
5307. Historical Critical Research Methods (3:3:0). Survey of contemporary methods of rhetorical criticism and their application in analyzing a wide variety of message types. Students must write multiple essays exemplifying rhetorical criticism in order to successfully complete this course.
5309. Conflict Management and Problem Solving (3:3:0). In-depth study of, and research into conflict resolution through mediation and negotiation.
5313. Theories of Persuasion (3:3:0). Analysis of representative theories and models of persuasive processes and their implications for communication behavior. Theories of public, interpersonal, and mass communication are included.
5314. Communication Issues in Health and Healthcare (3:3:0). An exploration of the nature and roles of discourse processes in healthcare interactions, including interpersonal, organizational, public, and intercultural communication contexts.
5315. Nonverbal Communication (3:3:0). Examines communicative functions of nonverbal message behavior. Considers a variety of behavioral domains and interaction contexts from both theoretical and practical perspectives.
5318. Interpersonal Communication (3:3:0). Communication theory and research on historical and contemporary topics in interpersonal communication contexts.Back to Top
6000 Level Courses
6000. Master’s Thesis (V1-6).
6302. Seminar in Interpersonal Communication (3:3:0). A research course focusing on specific topics in interpersonal communication. Topics vary with students’ needs. May be repeated for credit.
6303. Seminar in Organizational Communication (3:3:0). A research course focusing on specific topics in organizational communication. Topics vary with students’ needs. May be repeated for credit.
6304. Seminar in Rhetorical Theory (3:3:0). A research course focusing on specific topics in rhetorical theory. Topics vary with students’ needs. May be repeated for credit.
6307. Seminar in Instructional Communication (3:3:0). A research course focusing on specific topics in instructional communication. Topics vary with students’ needs. May be repeated for credit.
6308. Seminar in Cultural and Intercultural Communication (3:3:0). A research course focusing on specific topics in cultural and intercultural communication. Topics vary with student’s needs. May be repeated for credit.Back to Top
7000 Level Course
7000. Research (V1-12).Back to Top