Course Catalog 2008-2009
Associate Professor Jeffrey Kurtz, Chair
Professor Suzanne E. Condray; Associate Professors John Arthos, Jeffrey Kurtz, Laurel Kennedy, Lisbeth Lipari; Assistant Professors Amanda Gunn, Carol (Mimi) Harvey, David Oh, Erika Molloseau Pryor, Eric Saranovitz; Visiting Assistant Professors W. Buddy Howell, William Kirkpatrick, Erin McClellan; Visiting Instructor Cassandra Secrease-Dickson; Instructors (part-time) Philip Martin, Alan D. Miller; Academic Secretary Sally Scheiderer
Courses in the Department of Communication examine the process by which meanings are developed, shaped, and shared in interpersonal, mediated, and speaker-audience contexts across and within cultures. In and out of the classroom, faculty and students study communication processes and how people perceive them, assign meaning to them, and respond to them in different circumstances.
Courses in the department present opportunities for students who wish to gain a deeper insight into the communication process or who are considering careers in teaching, law, government, journalism, radio or television broadcasting, communication management, business and public policy.
A student majoring in Communication must complete a minimum of 36 semester hours of credit in the department. All majors must take Theorizing Communication (COMM 280) and Research in Communication (COMM 290) by the end of their sophomore year and before taking upper division (300-and 400-level) courses. In addition to completing these core requirements, students must complete one course at the 100-level, one course at the 200-level, three courses at the 300-level, one course at the 400-level, and one course at any level.
A student minoring in Communication must complete a minimum of 24 semester hours of credit in the department. All minors must take Theorizing Communication (COMM 280) and Research in Communication (COMM 290) by the end of their sophomore year and before taking upper division (300-and 400-level) courses. In addition to completing these core requirements, students must complete one course at the 100 or 200-level, two courses at the 300-level, and one course at the 400-level.
Public Address (COMM-101). This course is designed to help students develop skills for effective oral communication. At a minimum, students will emerge more confident on the public platform. When refined by practice and experience, the critical thinking, composition, and performance skills learned should prove most useful in personal and professional endeavors. 4
Introduction to Writing for Print (COMM-108). This course focuses on the fundamentals of reporting and writing nonfiction for print. Topics include storytelling and narrative, lead writing, point of view, information gathering, interviewing, and more. The class aims to help students develop overall research, writing, and thinking skills; questioning, listening, and interviewing skills; and a more sophisticated understanding of print journalism. 4
Ethics and Society (COMM-111). This course explores communication ethics from philosophical and applied perspectives in a variety of social contexts. Weekly theoretical discussions are grounded in applied cases that resolve around issues such as whistleblowing, free speech, group think, lying, confidentiality, privacy, coercion, and consensus. 4
Argumentation (COMM-122). In this course students will explore the art of inquiry and advocacy known as argumentation. In order to become better audiences and practitioners of argument, students will consider the nature of argument, the building blocks of argument and the practice of argument in public debate. 4
Media Structures (COMM-126). This course is designed to initiate students into critical and intelligent debates surrounding the issue of communication and its pertinence to mass, modern and postmodern societies. We consider specifically how mass communication has been defined from the 19th through to the beginning of the 21st century and how this history is relevant to issues of mass society today. Given that almost every person in America is affected by mass culture and media, we will discuss through the lectures, discussions and exercises a number of controversial suggestions, critical paradigms and mainstream assumptions. Throughout the course, students will be expected to understand these approaches and be able to both criticize and recognize the legitimacy of these models. 4
Introduction to Media Literacy (COMM-147). While most of us are proficient consumers of visual electronic media - we have the speed of symbol-recognition and comprehension skills to be adept "readers" - few of us have learned to bring to that reading the critical skills we learn in the study of literature, music or art. This course examines how sound and images construct the "realities" that media presumably represent. 4
Introductory Topics in Communication (COMM-199). A general category used only in the evaluation of transfer credit. 1-4
Global Communication (COMM-205). The purpose of the course is to acquire an understanding of the key concepts and ideas about globalization and the role the mass media plays in the process. While the term "globalization" has been bandied about among the popular press, academic and the business community, this course will attempt to contextualize and ground the concept by developing a multiperspectival approach to some of the political, economic and social processes that have been associated with the development of a world communication system. Throughout the course, we will examine the growing centrality that the mass media and information technologies play in our daily lives and the ways in which they contribute to or hinder our daily practices of identity, community and culture in a global context. 4
Communication Special Topics (COMM-215). Special Topics in Communication provides a venue in which to explore in depth an aspect or issue related to communication study. May be taken more than once by majors or non-majors to address special topics. 4
Theories of Group Communication (COMM-221). This course explores the communication processes in and around social, organizational and political groups. The dynamic nature of group formation, flexibility and sustainability will serve as the foundation of the course. Questions regarding the desire for belonging, how belonging gets enacted, and the tensions of group identification and membership will serve as the thread for exploring groups in a variety of contexts. 4
Rhetoric (COMM-223). Rhetoric is the art of the spoken and written word, and its study and practice has been the foundation of a liberal education for two thousand years. It grounds the traditions and practices of politics, law, commerce and religion, and its power is felt in every sphere of public life. In this course we focus on the practice and theory of rhetoric as the medium of civic engagement, and the constituting act of self and community. 4
Theories of Interpersonal Communication (COMM-224). This course provides students with an interpretive and critical perspective for investigating the process of our making social worlds. Students will analyze interactional patterns of communication in personal and cultural mythology, in family communication, and in college students' culture. 4
US Broadcast History and Theory (COMM-225). The broadcasting industry is undergoing dramatic change as new technologies and shifting attitudes toward regulation alter relationships within the industry, rechannel audience viewing, and redirect revenues. This class explores these phenomena though the lens of U.S. broadcast history, and studies the structure of the broadcasting/cable industries, the objectives of radio and television as social forces and cultural influences, program types and existing programs aimed toward the development of acceptable standards for broadcasting. 4
Mediating Gender and Sexuality (COMM-229). In this class we will examine and evaluate the cultural construction and representation of gender and sexuality in contemporary American mass media, and trace their development throughout the 20th century. We will focus on a variety of mass-produced commercial media texts, surveying television, magazines, advertising, and popular music. Although gender is the primary identity construction examined in this course, we will also pay close attention to other aspects of identity that define American women, such as ethnicity, class, and sexuality. We will investigate representational issues in relation to their political repercussions, and draw from a broad range of academic literature, including feminist television criticism, film theory, cultural studies, communication theory, and popular music criticism. 4
Racialized Perspectives of Media (COMM-239). This course critically examines the forms that racial and ethnic representations have taken in American media. The course will attempt to chart changes in public perception of racial and ethnic difference in the context of cultural and social transformations, as well as adjustments in the U.S. media industry. We will first establish a foundational knowledge of media criticism and explore theories and perspectives on how ethnicity is experienced in American culture. We will then focus on the topic of the representation of ethnicity in American media, surveying it historically, in relation to specific ethnic groups, at particular moments, and in a variety of genres. 4
Theories of Intercultural Communication (COMM-244). This course examines the processes and politics of intercultural communication in both domestic and international contexts. Students will enhance their cross-cultural awareness by exploring differences in value orientations, thought patterns and (non)verbal behaviors, challenges of transition and adaptation across cultures, identity management in intercultural settings, intergroup relationship development and conflict resolution, and intercultural communication competence and ethics. Throughout the course, special considerations will be given to power and privilege issues in bridging differences and embracing diversity. 4
Theorizing Communication (COMM-280). This course introduces students to selected theoretical perspectives and vocabularies for understanding human communication. This course is designed to both introduce and provide an overview of the discipline of communication studies. First-Year or sophomore standing or consent. Required of all majors and minors. 4
Research in Communication (COMM-290). The purpose of this course is to expose students to major research methods used in the communication discipline. The course will sensitize students to issues in the field, familiarize students with types of research methods used in the discipline and enable students to formulate research questions, and design appropriate studies to answer those questions. In addition, the course will facilitate students' ability to understand the logic and process of research and to engage in critical analyses of reports and studies published in communication journals. First-year or sophomore standing or consent. Required of majors/minors. 4
Intermediate Topics in Communication (COMM-299). A general category used only in the evaluation of transfer credit. 1-4
Comparative Media Systems (COMM-305). This course examines media systems in developed and developing nations. It explores the ways in which various media systems have been shaped and influenced by the social, political and cultural systems in which they are located and, in turn, how the media shape and influence those systems. Investigating the different contexts that determine how a medium such as television, radio, or the internet is used in terms of who decides what is conveyed to the public, and with which rationale, students will examine the ways in which media outlets around the world have or have not served popular expression and democracy. 4
Organizational Culture (COMM-306). This course is informed by the claim that communication is the means through which we construct, participate, and convey the cultures we a part of. The constitutive nature of communication is explored by investigating an existing organizational culture through an application of communication concepts and theories, cultural studies theories, and qualitative research methods. 4
Ethics and the Public Sphere (COMM-311). This course explores the intersection between communication ethics and political communication in the context of democratic pluralism. After being introduced to the central themes, questions, and literatures of discourse ethics and dialogic philosophy, students then explore the relationships between response and responsibility, and ethics and politics, in deliberative public spheres. 4
Listening, Thinking, Being (COMM-313). Although we know listening is central to communication, we rarely think about it. In this course we place listening at the center of communication and explore a range of sound environments and listening practices including auditory cultures, acoustic ecology, animal communication, film sound, music, human dialogue, and deaf cultures. Rather than focus on technical questions such as how to be a more effective listener the course asks the basic question of how we listen and explores the indissoluble relationships between listening, speaking, thinking, and being. Along the way, we will also consider the cultural, philosophical and ethical dimensions of listening. 4
Special Topics in Communication (COMM-315). These classes focus intensively upon a particular aspect of communication. May be taken more than once for elective credit as an upper division course. Examples of recent topics include: Critical Theory in Communication. 4
The Rhetoric of Citizenship (COMM-324). This course explores the symbolic dimensions of the American public discourse about rights and citizenship. Students will undertake historical and rhetorical examinations of the key texts and issues that give these their tone and tenor. 4
Communication Law (COMM-328). Communication Law examines the constitutional and statutory principles associated with the First Amendment issues of free speech and free press. The course examines legal decisions, governmental regulatory doctrines, and self-regulatory practices which inform First Amendment law. Particular topics discussed include censorship, obscenity and pornography, libel law, privacy, governmental secrecy, free press/fair trial, regulation of telecommunications, advertising and the Internet. 4
Gender and Communication (COMM-329). This course focuses on (1) the role of interpersonal, social and political communication in the construction of gender expectations in American culture, and (2) how those expectations get communicated/performed, and thus reified, in our daily lives. We will explore the complex interplay between self expectations and social expectations of gender that get expressed, challenged, and ultimately influenced by and within a variety of social and interpersonal contexts: education, the body, organizations, friends and family, romantic relationships, the media, and politics. 4
Exploring Rhetorical Texts (COMM-344). This course examines the art of rhetorical criticism. In becoming a practicing rhetorical critic, students will learn to situate, interpret, and judge historical and contemporary public persuasive discourse. Topics include the nature of criticism and the role of the critic, the process of contextual reconstruction, key issues in textual reading, and methods of rhetorical analysis. Prerequisite: COMM 101, 222 or 223. 4
Advanced Journalism (COMM-350). This course allows students to explore the planning, reporting, and writing of in-depth news stories. It also explores the ethical considerations of such projects. The organic and collaborative process provides students the opportunity to hone their writing skills by focusing on the importance of story structure and content. Prerequisites: COMM 208 or consent. 4
Directed Study (COMM-361). 1-4
Directed Study (COMM-362). 1-4
Independent Study (COMM-363). 1-4
Independent Study (COMM-364). 1-4
Advanced Topics in Communication (COMM-399). A general category used only in the evaluation of transfer credit. 1-4
Special Topics Seminar (COMM-401). These seminar courses focus intensively upon a particular aspect of communication. Recent examples include Visual Culture and Media and Cultural Policy. 4
Language, Identity and Politics: Discourse and the Public Sphere (COMM-402). This course examines the role of language and discourse in constructing, maintaining and transforming identities, publics and politics in late 20th century democracies. Throughout, we will consider the relationship between language use and unequal relations of power. We will begin with an introduction to discourse studies and explore discourse as symbolic power, social practice and ideology. Next, we will examine the role of discourse in constructing and maintaining identities and communities, including those of sublatern and marginalized publics. Finally, we will examine and critique the role of discourse in public sphere(s) from Afrocentric, feminist and queer perspectives. 4
Culture and Communication (COMM-403). This seminar takes a historical and critical approach to understand the role communication plays in creating various cultural experiences. Major theories on culture and race are examined. Topics include: How can we best understand and study the construct "culture?" What does "American culture" mean within a pluralistic and diverse society? How are different cultural voices created, heard or erased? How is "America" constructed from international scholars' perspectives? 4
Media and the Presidency (COMM-404). This course examines the relationship between the media and the American presidency from both a historical and contemporary perspective. The seminar focuses on the historical dynamics of the relationship, the role of institutional factors in White House coverage, the influence of presidential press coverage on public perception of the presidency, and the influence of the media on presidential election campaigns. Resources and texts represent a diversity of views among scholars, journalists and presidential administration personnel. 4
Rhetoric and Social Movements (COMM-406). This course focuses on the historical rhetorics of discontent and transformation. Students will examine the characteristics and functions of persuasive discourse produced by social movements; the ways in which symbolic action sought to shape perceptions of concrete realities. Of particular interest will be the intersection of cultural context, biography, and creative rhetorical strategy. 4
Critical Perspectives in Communication (COMM-408). This course is designed to acquaint students with criticism as a method for answering research questions in communication. Students will be provided with opportunities to apply various methods in the writing of essays analyzing various kinds of communication texts - both discursive and non-discursive. Public communication via public speaking, broadcast, film and print media as well as art, architecture and music will be among the texts examined over the course of the term. 4
International Communication (COMM-409). This seminar examines the nature of information flows within and between nations, the issues raised by such communication, and the institutions involved and patterns evident in the development of and relations between nation-states. The course explores issues surrounding the constituent role that the news and entertainment media have played in the formation and maintenance of the nation-state. Topics raised will include uses of information in domestic and foreign policy, the extension of cultural imperialism, corporate invasion of privacy, and incursions upon sovereignty and national security. In examining the resolution of such issues, the course analyzes how nations' power is distributed and utilized among multiple forces. 4
Rhetoric and the American Experience (COMM-413). This course explores the American rhetorical tradition and some of the speakers, ideas, and movements that have given it its voice and texture. We will read broadly and deeply key oratorical texts from the nineteenth century to the present and examine the scholarship that has attempted to explain these acts of symbolic influence. Our work will culminate in the drafting and thorough revising of article-length research essays. Students will be invited throughout the seminar to stretch and refine their voices as working rhetorical scholars. Class sessions will be discussion-driven and substantial preparation and participation from all students will be encouraged. 4
Conflict and Communication (COMM-415). A study of how the use of communication during the process of social interaction creates and resolves conflict. The course will explore theories relating to the nature of conflict, strategic negotiation models, issues revolving around third party intervention, and other topics related to the current research in peace, reconcilliation, conflict and communication theory. 4