tution, or governmental agency. Students who
select the thesis option take 15 credits of elec-
tives and complete three credits of thesis
research which requires writing and defending
a prospectus, conducting systematic inquiry of
a communication phenomenon, and applying
pertinent communication theories and method-
ologies.
Internship Track Option
If students have no professional experience,
they will be encouraged to complete a 12-cred-
it internship in addition to their core, area and
elective coursework, in which case the total
number of credits required for graduation
would increase to 48. Internships cannot be
substituted for any cohort of courses.
Certificate Programs
These programs are available in Information
Technology, Gender Studies, and Conflict
Management (proposed). Other areas of
emphasis and suggested courses (beyond the
Core courses) include:
Management Communication:
Public Relations Management
COMM540
Small Group Communication
COMM640
Organizational Communication
COMM660
Communication Consulting COMM740
Managerial and Leadership
Communication COMM760
Critical Communication Studies:
Criticism of Mass Media COMM510
Gender and Communication COMM680
Rhetorical Theory and Criticism
COMM650
Language and Human Conduct
COMM700
Communication and Social Process
COMM730
Intercultural and International Communica-
tion:
Advanced Intercultural
Communication COMM570
Intercultural and International
Communication COMM670
Communication and Social Process
COMM730
International Relations and Comparative
Government POLI784
Selected history courses of special inter-
est (e.g. HIST613, HIST697, HIST715,
HIST717, etc.)
Communication Law and Policy:
Political Communication COMM550
Civil Liberties POLI563
International Law and Organization
POLI550
Language and Human Conduct
COMM700
Public Relations and Advertising:
Communication Strategies in Advertising
COMM500
Technology of Communication
COMM502
Public Relations Management
COMM540
Rhetorical Theory and Criticism
COMM650
Persuasion and Propaganda COMM750
Other Program Requirements
An individual plan of study will be developed
in consultation with the student's advisor and
will be designed around the individual needs
of each student. The student may opt to pursue
a generalized level of development, or the stu-
dent may elect to strengthen competencies in
specialized areas congruent with the goals and
objectives of the MA in Communication Stud-
ies program.
Admission to candidacy will be considered
after successful completion of 12 credit hours
(four courses). A comprehensive examination
must be taken during the final 12 hours of
coursework, prior to the defense of the non-
credit project or the master's thesis.
Speech and
Communication Studies
Courses
COMM500 COMM STRATEGIES IN
ADVERTISING
3 sem. hrs.
This course teaches dynamics of communica-
tion in the creation, implementation, and criti-
cism of advertising. Students learn to analyze
communication research, message strategies,
execution of advertisements, and client-
media-consumer relationships from theoreti-
cal, critical and applied perspectives.
COMM502 TECHNOLOGY OF
COMMUNICATION
3 sem. hrs.
This course examines how technology is used
as a medium of communication, with a partic-
ular focus on Computer Mediated Communi-
cation (CMC), Group Decision Support Sys-
tems (GDSS), and net meetings. It takes up
how communication technology structures
perceptions and interactions through web
pages, digital stories and multimedia texts.
COMM504 ADVANCED BROADCAST
NEWS
3 sem. hrs.
The course offers a detailed look at the televi-
sion/video applications of broadcast news
journalism. Areas of focus will include the
daily process of producing a television news-
cast, the relationship between the assignment
editor and the reporter, and practical elements
of electronic news gathering. Prerequisite:
COMM407.
COMM510 CRITICISM OF MASS
MEDIA
3 sem. hrs.
This course examines methods for the critical
analysis of mass media messages generated
through radio, television, film, and newspa-
pers. Students gain insight into the effect of
media on society with particular focus on
news bias, mediated politics, advertising, cen-
sorship, television violence, economic support
systems, and media stereotyping.
COMM520 INTRODUCTION TO
GENDER
COMMUNICATION
3 sem. hrs.
This course examines the problems of gender
and communication in interpersonal, organiza-
tional, and mass-media contexts, with a focus
on the role of communication theory in the
development of gender studies.
COMM530 ADVANCED MESSAGE
DESIGN
3 sem. hrs.
This course examines the communication
process with a focus on the design and pro-
duction of messages in various media. Mes-
sage strategy, goals and objectives, audience
analysis, and evaluation research are presented
in an applied communication context.
COMM540 PUBLIC RELATIONS
MANAGEMENT 3 sem. hrs.
This course provides in-depth study of how
organizations manage media, consumer, gov-
ernment, investor, employee, and community
relations. It focuses on successful program
development through the knowledge and
application of public relations management
principles and communication techniques.
COMM550 POLITICAL
COMMUNICATION
3 sem. hrs.
This course examines communicative aspects
of national political campaigns and related
decision-making processes. The role of mass
media in political processes is of particular
concern, but interpersonal, group, and organi-
zational practices as they pertain to electoral
procedures are also examined.
COMM560 MANAGING CONFLICT
3 sem. hrs.
This course teaches strategies for productive
conflict management in interpersonal, group,
and organizational contexts. It examines the
causes and types of conflict, develops knowl-
edge of the communicative and relational
nature of conflict, and reviews strategies and
tactics for resolving conflict situations.
48/Communication Studies Program