Schedule of Classes

Social scientific inquiry into human communication; core theories of message production and reception in interpersonal, group and organizational contexts.

Humanistic approaches to inquiry in communication; qualitative research techniques; core theories of message production and reception in social, political, and mediated contexts.

Survey of the cultural, social, political, and economic impacts of new communication technologies, including written language, the printing press, the telephone, television, and cyberspace.

Survey of mass communication research; history, content, effects, theories, and policy implications of various media.

Principles and practices of effective oral communication; analysis of the speaking-listening process; selection and organization of speech materials; use of new presentation technologies.

Students address communication issues in a field setting. They will evaluate communication practices using interview methodology. Projects are jointly evaluated by internship supervisor and professor. Sophomore standing. Open to communication majors only. Graded CR/NC.

Examines cultural institutions, ideologies, artifacts, and productions; role of culture in everyday life; cultural studies as methodology; culture and power.

Theoretical foundation for understanding the construction, consumption, and consequences of entertainment from classical to contemporary times; situates entertainment within the ecology of information and communication. Recommended preparation: COMM 200, COMM 201

Experimental and survey methods for communication study; basic statistical concepts, procedures, and tests.

Theories and research in social influence; strategies and tactics of persuasive communications in such settings as politics, public relations, advertising, business.

Analysis of face-to-face interaction; role of communication in the development, maintenance and destruction of relationships; communication processes in managing interpersonal conflict.

Explorations of the effect of digital technology on the entertainment business. Relationships among technology, economy, popular culture, entertainment and art.

Music as inter-cultural communication and method for exploring race and ethnicity in the constitution of American culture and American self; role of music industry.

Nature and functions of communication in human conflict; development of communication skills for managing conflict productively in interpersonal, organizational and intercultural contexts.

Interplay between media and society, including family and children's socialization, inter-group relations and community, pornography and violence, gender and race, media ethics, conduct of politics.

Communication processes in global computer networks; formation, maintenance, and decline of virtual groups; privacy and access; introduction to computer networks for communication students and researchers.

Basic argumentation theory including analysis. Research and evidence, case construction, refutation; discursive and visual argument; diverse fields of advocacy including law, politics, organizations, interpersonal relations.

Cultural variables and social psychological processes that influence intercultural interaction; relationship between communication and culture in diverse settings including business, medicine, and education.

Examines urgent social and political issues as they are shaped, represented and expressed by the institutions of media, culture and communication within the United Kingdom.

Representations of Los Angeles communicated in diverse media; the city as rhetorical text; analysis of cultural identities, art, architecture, and representations in popular culture.

Theoretical approaches to the study of media consumption and audiences; examines international media and consumption practices; explores new media's impact on consumption.

Examines the modern city as a communicative text with London as the case study; taught as a part of the Spring Semester in London Program.

Students explore the theoretical and practical issues involved in designing effective media and communication projects for social change in international contexts.

The study of current and historical battles over the limits of free expression from press and public parks to television, movies, music and cyberspace. (Duplicates credit in former JOUR 371.)

Oral and written communication skills demanded in the workplace including informative and persuasive speeches; interviewing; team communication; and training material preparation. Recommended preparation: COMM 204

Directed individual research studies of contemporary problems. Supervised laboratory experience. Open only to members of the University debate squad.

An inside look at the symbiotic relationship of sports and the media -- from the interdependence of sports and media, to the coverage of sports in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. The economic and ethical issues involved, the conflicts of interest, the history and current status of sports coverage in American media today.

Popular culture as an indicator of cultural values, a producer and reflection of cultural meaning, and a means of communication; theory and case studies.

The role of information, persuasion, and meanings in organizations. Topics include organizational culture, leadership, decision-making, networks, power, diversity and the global workplace.

Issues of gender in communication, including: media representations of femininity and masculinity; and gender's role in communication at the interpersonal, public, and cultural levels.

Fashion as a form of communication and culutre; fashion's role in identity, body politics, art, nationhood, celebrity and Hollywood culture, youth cultures and subversive practices. Recommended preparation: COMM 384, COMM 395.

Advanced readings in communication theory and research (broadly defined); specialized interest areas of individual faculty on the frontiers of knowledge; seminar topics change each semester.

Methods and functions of criticism in forms of public communication; historical-contextual, textual, and interpretive procedures; diverse theoretical approaches including formalism, dramatism, genre, and ideology.

Examines laws and regulatory policies shaping new media, especially the Internet; impact of regulation on development and use of communication technology.

Survey of economic, political, and cultural dimensions of the global entertainment marketplace; focuses on the international production and distribution of media products and services.

Examines the history, technology, regulations, and business practices of American broadcast and entertainment industries.

Analysis of photographys evolution; new strategies for the photographic image, photo documentary work and global social issues; analysis of images on blogs and web sites.

Examination of the role of advertising in contemporary society as an economic force and a cultural form of representation. Recommended preparation: COMM 200, COMM 201

Explores construction of "childhood" in mdia and popular culture, including television, movies, video games, toys, magazines, and music. Examines children as a unique audience. Recommended preparation: COMM 200, COMM 201

Examines how race and ethnicity as social categories are shaped by communication media; focuses on how race and ethnicity sustain entertainment and media industries. Recommended preparation: COMM 200, COMM 201.

Historical, legal and ethical limitations to the misrepresentation of fact. Includes print and broadcast journalism, books, theatre, cinema and new technology.

Examination of the effect of gender stratification in media industries upon the cultural products they create, especially gender and gender/race role portrayals.

Reporting and portrayal of people of color in the United States; impact of racial diversity on media, employment and access, and development of media for individuals and communities of color. Open to non-majors.

Application of intercultural communication theories and negotiation theories in the preparation and execution of global negotiations; strategies for creating mutual gains and sustained partnerships

Communication about environmental controversies in the public sphere: history of environmentalism; forms of citizen participation; media coverage; advocacy campaigns and movements; scientific and industrial discourses.

Theory and research; examination of the influence of environmental factors, physical behavior, and vocal cues on human behavior.

Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit. Available to juniors and seniors only.

Students gain research experience in the design, implementation, analysis, and reporting of communication research. Students serve as research assistants to faculty members. Not available for graduate credit.

Advanced study of issues in communication; recent developments in communication and rhetorical theories. Open only to students in COMM honors program; recommended for seniors. Recommended preparation: COMM 301L.

Writing of the honors thesis. Not available for graduate credit.

Examines social and political controversies over conflicting ethical standards for communication in a variety of media: mass-media, communication technology, and entertainment. Recommended preparation: COMM 200, COMM 201

Selected topics in communication.

Theories of rhetoric from the eighteenth century to the present; emphasis on Perelman, Burke, Habermas, Grassi, and Booth. Not open to M.A. in Communication Management majors.

Study of the rhetoric of social change; methodologies for analysis and appraisal; investigation of specific collective protest and reform movements. Not open to M.A. in Communication Management majors.

Foundation of critical deliberation; the nature of informal reasoning; logical and ethical problems; analysis and appraisal of naturalistic argument. Not open to M.A. in Communication Management majors.

Overview of humanistic and social scientific approaches to the study of communication; emphasis on macro and micro social scientific, symbolic, and structural perspectives. Not open to M.A. in Communication Management majors,

Developing expertise in qualitative methods, including participant-observation, ethnography, discourse analysis and historiography in communication research.

Advanced analysis of variance, regression models, path analysis,MANOVA, and discriminant analysis.

Comparative analysis of social, cultural and political impacts of communication technology and media; emphasis given to communication's influence in the social dimensions of globalization. (Duplicates credit in former CMGT 559.)

Communication perspectives on the process and outcomes of globalization; role of large media organizations in the global flow of information; and leadership and multiculturalism.

Mass media in American political life, including political reporting, election campaigns, non-electoral politics, and the media as a political issue.

Research leading to the master's degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the school. Graded CR/NC.

Credit on acceptance of Thesis. Graded IP/CR/NC.

Credit on acceptance of Thesis. Graded IP/CR/NC.

Credit on acceptance of Thesis. Graded IP/CR/NC.

Development and assessment of research into global communication; selection of appropriate research methodologies; and production of scholarly research. Open to M.A. in Global Communication students only.

Classical and contemporary theories of persuasion, attitude formation and change; impact of cognition, affect and emotions; cultural and group influences; message strategies and framing.

Problems in rhetorical theory and criticism; advanced, specialized interest areas of individual faculty on the frontiers of knowledge.

Evaluation of research about communication in patient care, health campaigns for diverse publics, tools for disease management, and outreach to producers in mass media.

Current problems in communication theory and research; advanced, specialized interest areas of individual faculty on the frontiers of knowledge.

Analysis of communication and information networks in organizations and their relationships with communication technologies, organizational behavior, and management.

Advanced research seminar examining the interaction between communication technology, society, economy, politics, and culture from interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspectives. Not available for degree credit for M.A. in Communication Management students. Not available for Communication Management M.A. students.

Examination of theoretical models and best practices of academic research and advocacy relationships; students conduct a community-based research project using a model of community-based participatory research.

A supervised course tailored to specific student interests. The professor and student develop a syllabus that permits exploration of advanced or specialized topics. Graded CR/NC.

Independent research designed to demonstrate the student's ability to conceptualize, conduct, and present scholarly research. Parallel to COMM 794. Graded CR/NC.

Research leading to the doctorate. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

Credit on acceptance of dissertation. Graded IP/CR/NC.

Credit on acceptance of Dissertation. Graded IP/CR/NC.

Credit on acceptance of Dissertation. Graded IP/CR/NC.

Credit on acceptance of Dissertation. Graded IP/CR/NC.

Credit on acceptance of Dissertation. Graded IP/CR/NC.