508 Organizational Cultures
This course examines “culture” as a metaphor for the study of organizations. The course begins by examining conceptions of culture that are found in the popular business press and ends by focusing on scholarly conceptions of culture. Scholarly conceptions of culture are characterized by multiple lenses drawing from such traditions as post-positivism, critical theory, and postmodernism. Students are asked to apply this material through a cultural analysis of an organization. Students form self-managing teams whose goal is to select an organization, collect and analyze data, and integrate course content with the observations garnered in the field. Student teams get one grade for the paper and oral presentation, which accounts for 50% of the course grade. Essay exams account for the other 50%.

COMM 557 Communication and Presidential Campaigns
This course is an examination and analysis of the communication strategies and techniques used by modern (1960 and beyond) presidential candidates. Specific topics for study and discussion in presidential campaigns include the impact and roles of the media, the functions of communication, the importance of image building and maintenance, the increasing importance of the "new" technologies, the ways in which specific candidates approached the task of getting elected, and the impact of face-to-face confrontations (debates).

COMM 605 Rhetoric of Social Movements
This course has four major objectives: 1) to develop an awareness of the major theories of social movement formation and development; 2) to develop an understanding of the role rhetoric plays in the evolution of social movements; 3) to develop an awareness of a variety of social movements, including their agitational appeals and strategies and corresponding establishment responses; and 4) to develop the ability to conduct field research related to the formation, evolution, and rhetoric of active social movements. To accomplish the above objectives, students complete a variety of written assignments, participate in seminar discussions, and take a final examination over course materials.

COMM 643 Advanced Interpersonal Communication Theory
This course is an advanced-level overview of the predominant areas, approaches, and theoretical perspectives of interpersonal research within the Communication discipline. The goal of the course is to provide students with an understanding of the major theories and concepts underpinning current interpersonal communication research and how these are being applied and advanced by contemporary communication scholars.

COMM 702 Seminar in Mass Communication
This course is designed to provide students with an in-depth and fundamental understanding of the influence of mass communication on the individual, with particular emphasis on media processes and effects. The course will provide students with an opportunity to: 1) understand the nature and functions of media effects, 2) become acquainted with current perspectives on media effects, and 3) apply this knowledge to a specific area of inquiry. The course will cover such questions as: who is affected, what effects occur and how much, what different media content is involved, what situations make effects more or less likely, and the role of audience members’ activity when using the media.

COMM 703  Seminar in Mediated Communication

Social Systems Approaches.  An examination of current theories and research regarding the role of mass media and other forms of communication in varied types of social systems. 

COMM 704  Seminar in Mediated Communication: New Technology.

Critical and cultural approaches to the role of new media and technology in modern societies and cultures.

COMM 705 Persuasion Theory
This course is an examination and analysis of the major social-scientific theories and research relevant to persuasive communication as published in the books and scholarly journals of a variety of academic disciplines. The persuasion "case-study" is the 70-plus year campaign for the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States--women's suffrage.

COMM 725 Advanced Interpersonal Communication Research
This course undertakes an advanced level of study in interpersonal communication theory, concepts, and research. The course seeks to explore concepts and issues that are understudied or represent the “dark side” of interpersonal communication. In addition, the course seeks to introduce students to issues faced in qualitative methods of inquiry, specifically, in utilizing the in-depth interview approach. The goal of the course is to provide students with an understanding of theories and concepts that have been understudied in interpersonal communication because of perceived “negativity,” and also how qualitative methods can be effectively used at any research stage to advance current knowledge in interpersonal communication.

COMM 741 Empirical Communication Research Methods
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to methods of designing, conducting, and analyzing empirical communication research. The course seeks to overview the predominant empirical approaches used in the Communication discipline to study and analyze communication phenomenon. The goal of the course is to provide students with a basic understanding of research methods and statistical analyses in order to become more critical consumers of research and potential future contributors to creating new knowledge in the public or private sector.

COMM 742 Rhetorical/Critical Communication Research Methods
This course is intended to introduce graduate students to methods of doing rhetorical communication research. The course introduces students to a survey of critical methods and perspectives in the field of rhetoric and public address. Class activities focus on both conceptual and design issues in order to prepare the student to select a meaningful research question to investigate on his or her own.

COMM 743 Applied Communication Research Methods
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the role of applied research in various communication contexts; to provide students with a basic understanding of the following methodologies: ethnography, qualitative interviewing, focus group discussions, organizational surveys, and communication audits; to articulate positions on ethical issues of applied research; to design, execute and present an applied communication research project for a non-profit organization; and to gain experience working with actual research clients and in collaborative research teams.

COMM 772 Contemporary Rhetorical Criticism
This course involves an in-depth study of a particular approach or perspective toward rhetorical criticism. For example, students would read the corpus of critical work produced by rhetorical critic Kevin DeLuca as an illustration of various critical approaches to the study of public communication.

COMM 801 Advanced Rhetorical Theory
This course involves an in-depth study of a particular area of contemporary rhetorical theory, such as the public sphere; communication, nature, and culture; or communication in the nuclear age.  Students lead discussions of common readings and complete homework questions on those readings.

COMM 807 Advanced Communication Theory
This course examines the role of theory in the field of communication at an advanced level. Students gain an understanding of how meta-theoretical assumptions influence the study and practice of communication, as well as insight into the process of building, applying, testing, and criticizing theories within and across different research traditions.

808 Seminar in Organizational Communication
This course uses the structuration theory of Anthony Giddens as an organizing framework for a survey of the organizational communication literature. Organizational communication scholars widely adopt structuration theory to study such topics as technology appropriation, organizational climate, leadership, downsizing, standard setting, organizational identity, organizational change and many others. Students begin the course with reading a selection of Giddens’ writings followed by the research that this theory inspires. There are no tests or major papers in this course. Students are expected to read each week’s readings and write a 3-4 reaction paper, which critically synthesizes the material. This course alternates with 809.

809 Seminar in Interpretive and Critical Approaches to Organizational Communication
This courses surveys interpretive and critical approaches to Organizational Communication. As such, the focus is on organizational discourse defined in terms of a) language in use and interaction process, or b) discursive formations that are systems of thought that encapsulate but go beyond the linguistic. The theoretical traditions that are studied include social constructionism, ethnomethodology, critical theory, and poststructuralism. Various forms of discourse analysis are also reviewed including conversation analysis, critical discourse analysis, and Foucauldian analyses. There are no tests or major papers in this course. Students are expected to read each week’s readings and write a 3-4 reaction paper, which critically synthesizes the material. This course alternates with 808.

COMM 873 Studies in Public Address
This course involves an in-depth study of a particular time period or aspect of the history of American public address.  Sample topics include the rhetorical history of American liberalism, environmental advocacy, rhetorical dimensions of terrorism, and the rhetoric of scientific controversies.