In consultation with the Graduate Advisor of Record, students will select a specialized area of study. This specialized area of study must constitute a coherent, approved plan of coursework.
Specialized areas may include interpersonal and small group communication, organizational studies, new media and information design, and international and intercultural communication. All students are also required to take the series of courses included in the Communication Core.
The Communication Core is required of all students.
The introductory course (5003) maps the field, introduces its epistemological foundations, and provides grounding in the field's diverse literature. The two research methods courses (5023 and 5033) explore the roots and recent developments in quantitative and qualitative communication inquiry. The theory course (5013) sensitizes students to diverse conceptual approaches in the field. The "theory and practice" courses (5103) extend students' knowledge of communication theories and applications in a specialized area of study.
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Interpersonal and Small Group Communication courses comprise the 5200 sequence.
This specialized area of study offers students the opportunity to investigate the processes of communication in human relationships. General emphasis is on verbal and nonverbal transactions as they occur in interpersonal and small group settings. More specialized topics may include interpersonal communication and health, narrative, marriage and family, difficult communication, emotion and social interaction, and gender. The faculty members teaching in this area share an interest in the social dynamics of health communication.
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Organizational Studies courses comprise the 5400 sequence.
This specialized area of study offers students the opportunity to analyze the functions and processes of communication in complex organizations. It takes an interdisciplinary approach to organizational studies, with general areas of emphasis in organizational communication, conflict resolution and negotiation, and integrated communication. More specialized topics may include leadership, crisis management, philosophy and ethics in organizations, organizational culture, planning, managing and assessing communication programs, organizational change and development, and public relations and strategic planning.
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New Media and Information Design courses comprise the 5600 sequence.
This specialized area of study offers students the opportunity to work as both creators and analysts of new media. The area will emphasize the technical, economic, organizational and regulatory aspects of new media as well as principles of rhetorical structure, visual design, audience analysis, and other aspects of information presentation. The courses are designed for students with interests in both theoretical implications of new media and in design principles.
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International and Intercultural Communication courses comprise the 5800 sequence.
This specialized area of study offers students the opportunity for advanced study of communication across social, political, economic, and cultural boundaries in the United States and around the world. This interdisciplinary area highlights critical yet flexible thinking in theory and practice. Courses in international communication examine the structures, institutions, and processes of collective transnational communication, while those in intercultural communication focus on communication among diverse individuals and communities in multicultural settings. The topics in this area draw upon research and practice from a wide range of fields, including the humanities, social sciences, public policy and business.