Communication Studies (SCOM)

A survey of advocacy inquiry as a practice of communication by a number of professional and academic fields and disciplines. Students will examine and debate important theoretical, ideological, ethical and moral implications of advocacy practiced in politically, socially and culturally diverse societies. Emphasis will be placed on a multi-disciplinary approach to advocacy studies.

This course introduces students to the issues, methods and materials for teaching communication in the setting of higher education. Students will examine pedagogical and communication theory, analyze research in communication education/instructional communication, study learning theories and styles, and work to develop a competency in teaching communication skills and concepts to others. This course is required only of all those awarded Assistantships.

A survey of major communication theories. Historicizes the major theoretical perspectives and debates in Communication Studies. Focuses on application of communication theory toward advocacy.

A survey of classical, modern and contemporary theories of rhetoric. The course examines the historical circumstances, situated practices of communication and advocacy, and mediums of delivery that have influenced differing iterations of rhetorical theory; its influence upon historical and contemporary practices of communication and advocacy; and the invention, arrangement and styles of theoretical disputes related to rhetorical theory.

Advanced study of critical cultural theory and communication. Historicizes major theoretical perspectives and debates and considers implications for the study and practice of communication and advocacy.

This course adopts a "process advocacy" approach to environmental decision making. Students examine theories and techniques to develop and evaluate civic engagement and conflict resolution as well as collaborative approaches related to environmental science, resource management and public planning. Public participation legal requirements will be reviewed, case studies discussed and opportunities for improving public participatory processes will be assessed.

An examination of undergirding research design philosophies, as well as an introduction to qualitative and quantitative research methods used in communication and advocacy studies. Students complete a research prospectus.

This advanced skills course emphasizes effective advocacy communication for a variety of contexts and focuses on a range of media, formats and causes. Students will practice and refine writing, oral presentation, organization and visual design skills, while analyzing the most effective processes for strategic communication messages.

An advanced seminar focusing on persuasion theory and communication methodology relevant to strategic communication in diverse cultural settings. Emphasis upon message analysis in cross-cultural contexts at various communication levels including interpersonal, small group, organizational, and public. Consideration of communication strategies and tactics embedded in adversarial belief systems. This seminar will use lecture-discussion, case studies, guest speakers, and team projects.

Introduces practices and theories of political communication and advocacy in public policy. Students will be equipped with the knowledge and communication skills necessary to influence policy-making processes and to understand advocacy by citizens, businesses, labor and interest groups. Topics include history and current practices of public advocacy, communication plan development and management, legal and ethical considerations, and the future of the public communication industry.

An advanced seminar focusing on understanding stakeholders and decision-making processes. Engaging stakeholders is central to strategic communication. This seminar explores a wide range of stakeholder theories as a foundation for successful applied strategic communication. The seminar covers both the critical evaluation of theories and application in cases.

This seminar examines principles, methods, theories, practices, and cases central to the development and strategic management of communication advocacy campaigns. Focus is on designing, planning, implementing, and evaluating ethical persuasive communication programs, with emphasis on behavioral change as well as mutual understanding and support. Best professional practices, including case studies, will be utilized to extract and articulate pragmatic lessons.

Study of current topics and issues in strategic communication and advocacy. Emphasis on contemporary issues, theories and research. Course content varies based on faculty expertise.

This course explores theoretical approaches to interpersonal communication as advocacy. After reviewing theory and research related to interpersonal message strategies and designs, students will examine how interpersonal communication functions as advocacy in environmental, health and relational contexts. Students will also discuss the ethics of advocacy, compliance gaining and compliance-resistance.

This course offers training and practice in facilitation skills needed to guide advocacy groups, organizations, governmental agencies and communities as they grapple with complex challenges, make informed choices for action and work together to establish and achieve collective goals. In addition, this course will consider how these processes are best integrated with and play a role in community, organizational and institutional structures and influence policy change.

This course provides students with foundational perspectives in communication theory and the skills and processes that enable ethical and effective social justice advocacy in a variety of contexts. It covers both micro and macro perspectives to social justice communication.

This course provides an in-depth exploration and analysis of communication theory, context, topics or problems related to the study of social justice. Course content varies based on faculty expertise.

Examines organizational communication theory and research in applied organizational contexts using a case study approach. Attends to analysis of small group and organizational decision making processes, team functioning, and strategic communication among diverse stakeholders. Focus on organizational communication practice in non-profit advocacy groups.

Critical overview of the histories and perspectives of environmental justice movements, including discourses of environmental racism, classism, and sexism; environmental in/equity; and just sustainability. Examines the underlying principles guiding advocacy practices of various environmental justice movements, exploring rhetorical strategies used to advocate just access to nature resources and distribution of environmental burdens.

This course involves a survey of critical theory and perspectives related to the study of environmental communication. Critical theories and related topics such as popular and consumer culture, political economy, power and ideology, science and technology will be explored. Environmental campaigns and cultural practices will be examined from a variety of critical perspectives.

Addresses complex dynamics, strategies and tactics of environmental campaigns by grassroots organizations, interest groups, governmental institutions and international organizations to advocate for particular environmental (and anti-environmental) policies and social change. This course takes a case studies approach to environmental campaigns and analyzes campaigns from a variety of rhetorical and communication theories.

This course is an in depth exploration and analysis of communication theory, context, topic or problem related to the study of environmental communication. Course content varies based on faculty expertise.

This advanced seminar explores risk and crisis communication theories, models and approaches. Students learn to critically assess and evaluate risk and determine and formulate appropriate communication strategies, and they are provided an opportunity to explore best practices and application of theories in practice.

This course is an in-depth exploration and analysis of communication theory and applied contexts addressing a topic, process, problem, or controversy related to communication theory or practice. Course content varies based on faculty expertise.

This course systematically explores and elaborates key concepts, principles and underlying theories pertinent to public health communication campaigns and advocacy practices. Students are immersed in all facets of campaign conceptualization, design, delivery and evaluation.

This course explores how intra-cultural meaning systems intersect and compete across cultures in health and environmental communication focusing on advocacy practices between health care providers and individuals. Provider and patient intercultural competencies, cultural beliefs, traditions, assimilation levels, and medical care decision making models are examined across cultures to ascertain how those are negotiated and managed; with a particular focus on underserved, disenfranchised groups.

This course addresses a variety of communication challenges faced by members and clients of healthcare organizations. Topics examined include various organizational structures within the healthcare industry, provider communication education and competence, and the delivery of healthcare services to clients. Throughout the course, contemporary applications of content are analyzed and evaluated.

This course explores patient-provider communication from patient and provider perspectives. Advocacy can play a leading role for providers and patients with implications for decision making, mutual support and trust. Students will examine health patient-provider interaction, health decision-making, empowerment strategies, key impacts of managed care, salient factors that shape patient outcomes and selected theoretical frameworks for explaining health patient-provider communication.

This course is an in depth exploration and analysis of communication theory, context, topic or problem related to the study of health communication and/or advocacy. Course content varies based on faculty expertise.

Readings and research in the discipline. This course can only be taken twice for a total of six credits.

A graduate seminar in the theories and practices of rhetorical criticism. Examines and applies classical and contemporary theories and methods for analyzing and evaluating public address and other significant forms of communication. Students will produce an original scholarly essay using one or more types of criticism.

An intensive study of quantitative communication research methods, with emphasis on design and implementation of a research project.

Survey of autoethnographic methodologies with a focus on writing-based inquiry in communication studies scholarship. Utilizes a writing workshop model to build foundational skills in the development of autoethnographic narratives as a means of examining communication topics in varied cultural contexts. Students will write an original autoethnographic essay.

Survey of qualitative communication research methods. Overviews the paradigms in qualitative research, research planning and conceptualization; participant observation; in-depth interviews; focus group interviews; and qualitative data analysis. Students will write an original scholarly essay answering a communication question using qualitative research methods.

An independent study or practicum for students to pursue research projects under the guidance of faculty, or develop skills and gain professional experience working in the field of communication and advocacy. This course can only be taken twice for a total of six credits.

Continued preparation for the comprehensive examinations. May be repeated as needed.

Continued study, research and writing for the thesis. May be repeated as needed.

Original communication research toward the completion of a master's thesis Supervised by the chair of the student's thesis committee. This course is graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) basis.

Practical field experience in applying health and environmental communication advocacy to problems or issues encountered in professional settings. Internships can include: governmental, non-profit and for-profit organizations. This course is graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory/Incomplete (S/U/I).