Within the Master's Degree there are three separate tracks of study or concentration:
In order to qualify for the masters degree, you must complete the Core Courses, the Capstone Experience, one or more of the areas of concentration and required electives. A minimum of 36 semester hours is required.
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 6010 | Communication Theory | 3 |
| COMM 6020 | Qualitative Applications for Communication Research | 3 |
| COMM 6030 | Quantitative Applications for Communication Research (Statistics) | 3 |
| COMM 6040 | Professional Writing and Communication Technologies | 3 |
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 6890 | Master Capstone Internship | 6 |
| COMM 6892 | Masters Capstone Project | 6 |
| COMM 6900 | Masters Capstone Thesis | 6 |
Interpersonal/Corporate
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 6110 | Seminar in Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMM 6115 | Applied Research in Relational/Organizational Communication | 3 |
| COMM 6120 | Seminar in Organizational Communication | 3 |
Advertising/Public Relations
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 6210 | Seminar in Advertising/Public Relations | 3 |
| COMM 6220 | Applied Audience Research | 3 |
Mass Communication
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 6310 | Seminar in Mass Communication | 3 |
| COMM 6320 | Applied Mass Media Research and Management | 3 |
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 6000 | Graduate Teaching Seminar (Only required for GTAs) | 1 |
| COMM 6125 | Leadership in Communication | 3 |
| COMM 6130 | Mediation | 3 |
| COMM 6135 | Health Communuication | 3 |
| COMM 6140 | Communication & Popular Culture | 3 |
| COMM 6240 | Current Issues in Communication (repeatable up to 6 credits) | 3 |
| COMM 6300 | Media Ethics and Moral Reasoning | 3 |
| COMM 6800 | Graduate Readings | 1-3 |
| COMM 6810 | Individual Research Projects | 1-3 |
| COMM 6891 | Graduate Internship | 1-3 |
Degree Audit worksheet 2009-10
Degree Audit worksheet 2008-09
Degree Audit worksheet 2007-08
Degree Audit worksheet 2005-06
CORE COURSES
COMM 6000 Graduate Teaching Seminar 1 credit.
Effective teaching methods for basic communication courses or coaching methods in forensics. Required course for graduate assistants.
COMM 6010 Communication Theory 3 credits
This course involves the systematic discussion and analysis of message phenomena. Objective and interpretive theories will be studied across communication contexts, including interpersonal, small group and public communication, organization, mass media and culture.
COMM 6020 Qualitative Applications for Communication Research 3 credits
Examination of the fundamentals and relative strengths of various research designs, done with their associated theoretical bases and specific applications of the most common qualitative research methods in communication.
COMM 6030 Quantitative Applications for Communication Research 3 credits
An introduction to descriptive, inferential and non-parametric statistics. The content of the course will include descriptive indices of data, sampling distributions, test of significance, procedures for testing hypotheses, and an introduction to multi-sample designs. *Prerequisite: Undergraduate statistics course.
COMM 6040 Professional Writing and Communication Technologies 3 credits
This course is designed to strengthen and enhance the writing and presentation skills required by the professional communicator. It will teach students professional narrative styles that are used in preparing funding proposals, executive plans, narrative histories, organizational descriptions, web sites and marketing materials. Students will learn techniques of working with HTML to develop Internet applications and effective strategies for persuasive oral presentations in professional applications.
CONCENTRATION AND ELECTIVE COURSES
COMM 6110 Seminar in Interpersonal 3 credits
Applied research in dyadic and small group communication, with emphasis on recent research and theoretical developments, case studies, and experimental/experiential approaches.
COMM 6115 Applied Research in Relational/Organizational Communication 3 credits
The study of relationships in human life is an important area of applied research in communication. Research in attraction messages (verbal and non-verbal), relationship growth symbols and signals and how those apply in organizational contexts will be investigated.
COMM 6120 Seminar in Organizational Communication 3 credits
Applied research in organization communication, with emphasis on recent research and Theoretical developments, case studies, and experimental/experiential approaches.
COMM 6125 Leadership in Communication 3 credits
Examines various dimensions of leadership styles, concepts, principles, and theories of leadership in the context of communication in problem solving processes, leadership skills and management roles of leadership, in complex environments. (Fall, odd years)
COMM 6130 Mediation 3 credits
This course examines the fundamental principles, concepts and practices that are associated with the mediation process, with specific emphasis on learning mediation communication skills and understanding people. (Fall, even years)
COMM 6135 Health Communication 3 credits
Examines current research in health communication (e.g. patient provider interaction, advertising trends, health campaigns) with relevant application for practitioners and consumers of health communication messages/services. Provides research opportunities applicable to career goals in academic and professional work (Spring odd years)
COMM 6140 Communication & Popular Culture 3 credits
Examines influential texts (e.g. YouTube, TV, Film, Advertisements) students consume daily. Focuses on ways these discourses create identity and collective understanding. Explores message forms like irony and cynicism and their implications for critical thinking and consumption (Spring, even years)
COMM 6210 Seminar in Advertising/Public Relations 3 credits
This seminar discusses advanced issues in advertising and public relations and how practitioners respond to and manage issues and events with emphasis on recent research and theoretical developments, case studies, and experimental/experiential approaches.
COMM 6220 Applied Audience Research In Communication 3 credits
This course focuses on surveys, polls, and sampling procedures to generate information about targeted audiences and publics. Applications of select research methodologies such as ethnographic and psychographic research and other methods used to describe mass audiences.
COMM 6240 Current Issues In Communication 3 credits
Applied contemporary research addressing forces that affect mass, organizational or interpersonal messages. May be repeated twice with change of topic.
COMM 6300 Media Ethics and Moral Reasoning 3 Credits
This course helps students understand ethics as a philosophical discipline while developing foundations that will allow them to integrate moral reasoning with principled decision-making. A focus on normative ethics is designed to help students confront dilemmas involving truth, deception, fairness, bias, conflict of interest, privacy and censorship. (Summer, every other year)
COMM 6310 Seminar in Mass Communication 3 credits
Readings, investigation, and research concerning selected topics in mass media.
COMM 6320 Applied Mass Media Research and Management 3 credits
Applications of media research and how management uses that information in making decisions.
COMM 6800 Graduate Readings 1-3 credits
In consultation with a graduate readings advisor the student selects an area for individual research and through contractual agreement completes the readings and assignments
COMM 6810 Individual Research Projects 1-3 credits
In consultation with an instructor, the student selects and completes a research project.
COMM 6891 Graduate Internship 1-3 credits
The internship is individually arranged to provide students with an opportunity to gain professional experience in a communication field while working under and with practicing professionals.
CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE (One of the following)
COMM 6890 Masters Capstone Internship 6 credits
The internship option will require an internship under the direction of an approved faculty adviser/chair and an approved professional in a specific professional field. The internship will culminate in the presentation of an in-depth written report and a portfolio summarizing the experience. Internships require faculty supervision during a pre-approved time period in the workplace and the presentation of a formal portfolio of work, including (a) applied research designed and executed by the candidate and (b) examples of a variety of communication activities completed under the student’s direction.
COMM 6892 Masters Capstone Project 6 credits
The project option will require development, implementation, and evaluation of an original project, such as an audio/video/multi-media project approved by the student’s supervisory committee and the department graduate committee. Graduate projects are significant demonstrations of creative ability that include enabling applied research, development and planning a comprehensive report, in addition to the creation and execution of the project.
COMM 6900 Masters Capstone Thesis 6 credits
The thesis option will require an original research project approved by the student’s supervisory committee and the department graduate committee.