Graduate Courses

Introduction to methods and findings of critical, analytical, qualitative, and quantitative research and techniques of preparing graduate-level research papers.

Students study how we use messages (Written, oral, and visual) to create and maintain political and social movements. The course examines how messages influence and constrain these movements. All study public messages created and used by rhetors within American social movements, as well as the political campaigns and programs of U.S. Republican, Democratic, and third parties.

This course overviews relationships between computer-mediated communication (CMC) and several forms and functions of human activity. It explores how humans use computers to construct knowledge, relationships, and specific realities. Utilizing different social media applications and tools will help identify, explain, and understand interrelationships among CMC, culture, language, and identities.

This graduate-level survey course is designed to develop an advanced understanding of First Amendment law as it relates to citizens, mass media, and democratic practice. The course examines core questions about how communities function and how civil society can be constructed and maintained through free and robust public discussion from diverse and antagonistic sources.

This course investigates major explanatory theories of communication, with emphasis on understanding theorizing as a process of constructing visions of reality. Students develop the ability to analyze and critique the assumptions underlying theoretical models of communication.

This course explores and critiques barriers to effective communication between members of differing social groups (sexes, races, generations, etc.). Consideration is given to problems' causes and effective strategies for solutions.

An intensive study of orientations toward managing disputes and of specific processes and techniques currently in use. Course includes consideration of both organizational and interpersonal disputes and also focuses on the role of the mediator.

Introduces students to rhetorical theories and analysis vital to understanding and evaluating key public messages. Students analyze cultural persuasion created in ever-changing forms of mediated messages.

Students in this course analyze rhetorical artifacts from the environmental, business, and sociocultural realms that employ and exemplify the rhetoric of sustainability. Applying rhetorical theories to the environment and sustainability, this course explains mechanisms regarding how organizations and others have constituted their work, promoted their products and services, and advocated environmental and social policies using the term sustainability.

Investigates the dynamics of human communication in building, maintaining, or altering interpersonal relationships. Particular emphasis is given to family communication.

Course provides an introduction to the dynamics of intercultural communication. Content includes learning the importance of understanding one's own culture, navigating culture similarities and differences through communication, and negotiating skilled, adaptive identities within and across cultures.

The course examines alternative perspectives on international development, especially gender analysis in intercultural relationships, cross-cultural communication, peace and security, and nation building.  Focusing on dignity and social justice, students review the research literature to analyze narratives about gender and culture pertaining to several aspects of international development, and to understand best models and practices for such development.

This course investigates major topics in organizational communication theory, such as culture and identity, gendered work, work/family life balance, organizational power and decision making, and organizational and interorganizational leadership. An underlying theme of this course is to explore the possibilities for meaningful work in various work contexts, such as for-profit, nonprofit, and global organizations.

This course focuses on qualitative research methods in various organizational settings. Students explore designing and implementing qualitative research projects.

Students study theory and analysis of visual public messages to understand the means of visual persuasion by rhetors who create important images, pictures, and designs. Students investigate ethical and effectual dynamics of visual message design.

Students study and write televisual criticism which closely analyzes messages as cultural repositories of meaning or which investigates the interaction between television and culture. Emphasis is on the method, stance, and purpose of broadcast critics.

Explores the influence of movies on American culture. Students explore theories and ideas concerning film, society, conflict, visual persuasion, and narrative. Students view popular American movies as focal points for lecture and discussion.

Provides instruction in news reporting of public affairs, including crime and police, courts, governments, politics and education. Students learn about the problems and challenges of serving a watchdog role over the institutions and processes that shape civic life. Includes an advanced investigative reporting component in which graduate students produce a series of investigative stories on an important public issue.

Students evaluate and critique current online journalism practices and gain experience in editing, collaborating, and producing multimedia stories.  Students analyze current digital storytelling practices of big and small news organizations in order to address some of the key ethical and entrepreneurial challenges associated with digital journalism, including commenting capabilities and revenue streams.

Surveys various forms of opinion writing. Includes instruction in writing and critiqued written assignments.

Instruction in writing feature stories. Students study, write, and critique a number of kinds of stories, including recollections, profiles, issue stories, travel and leisure features, and trend articles.

Course designed to help students attain professional-level competence in oral and written business communication. Students learn rhetorical principles and apply them to business communication situations, such as: making formal oral presentations, conducting meetings, and writing business correspondence and reports.

Credit arranged.

Credit arranged.

Credit arranged.

This course is for students nearing completion of their academic program. It will provide an opportunity for students to explore a research project in more depth and explore areas of special interest in communication.

Credit arranged.

Academic internships are available for qualified students. Graduate students may be assigned to on-the-job training positions with professional organizations. An average of 20 hours of work per week is required.

3-6 cr. hrs., 1 or 2 semesters.