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.

Introduction to microeconomic and macroeconomic principles; analysis of contemporary issues in media, communication and journalism industries from an economic perspective.

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.

Group process theories relevant to communicative behavior in small group/team settings, including information exchange, decision making, leadership, and meetings; student team projects testing theoretic propositions.

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.

Cultural implications of computer-mediated communication and related media. Ideological responses to media innovation; debates over artificial intelligence, virtual communities, and virtual reality. Recommended preparation: COMM 339.

Social and economic impacts of information and communication technologies; social factors that shape technological change; issues include access, privacy, freedom of expression, productivity, democratic control.

Off campus coursework; title of course taken at host institution appears as a section title

Advertising as a mode of communication; US advertising history and institutions; economic and policy contexts (domestic and global); critical analysis of advertising texts

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.

Cross-national approaches to the study of US and UK media; focuses on news and entertainment media products; examines content, industries, technologies and audiences.

Examination of the modern city as a communicative text with London as the case study.

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.

Rhetorical and critical approaches to sports and public discourse; application to sports organizations, the news and popular media; representations of gender and race in sports.

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.

Value perspectives on communication in varied settings: interpersonal, organizational, and public. Issues of truth and responsibility in family and social interactions, advertising, and governmental communication.

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 culture; fashion's role in identity, body politics, art, nationhood, celebrity and Hollywood culture, youth cultures and subversive practices.

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.

Social and political movements as rhetorical phenomena; ideology, organization, and influence of such movements as civil rights, "New Left," feminism, "New Right," environmentalism.

Analytical and communicative aspects of judicial argument; philosophy and techniques of jury trials, cross examination, and appellate advocacy; research, preparation, and presentation of case briefs.

Genres of religious communication, including sermon, prayer, ritual, polemic, and revival. Impact of technological and cultural change on religious advocacy, beliefs, and practices.

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

How communication--interpersonal, mass media, and informationtechnologies--shapes health behavior. Topics: doctor-patient consults;public campaigns; health issues in entertainment, news, and on the internet.

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.

Money as communication; social scientific analysis of money and financial markets; money and popular culture; the business press; representations of Wall Street in Hollywood cinema.

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

Problems in political communication: creating an informed electorate, use of mass media, factors in voter persuasion. Guest experts in political analysis, opinion polling, communication evaluation.

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.

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.

Implications of feminist theory for communication; topics include epistemology, critique of science/technology, women and language, feminist approaches to media and film, women and the workplace. 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 rhetorical/critical and macro social scientific perspectives. Not open to M.A. in Communication Management majors.

Epistemological assumptions, design, and beginning methods of quantitative analysis in communication research.

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

Examination of how the digital revolution is creating news media entrepreneurs, and changing the way news is disseminated by journalists and heard by consumers.

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.

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.

Theoretical and research questions about mass communication effects; criticism and interpretation of current research and theory, and formulation of new theory.

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

Recent developments in organizational communication theory and research; emerging issues and methodologies; future directions.

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

Conceptual and analytic issues in network perspectives; emphasis on communication patterns, processes, content, influences and impacts.

Principles of survey construction and validation; format selection, sampling, question wording, adaptation for international audiences, response option formats, order, and avoiding acquiesence bias and breakoffs.

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.