The Department of Communication Studies offers a program of study leading to the master of arts degree. The program is a 30-hour interdisciplinary field of study designed to promote understanding of the functions of human communication in its various forms and venues. The program emphasizes four substantive research areas: rhetoric and political discourse, interpersonal communication, organizational leadership, and communication and culture. This academic degree program can be completed entirely online, with a 12-hour, elective emphasis in Organizational Leadership.
Faculty
Professors
- Beth S. Bennett
- Robin Boylorn
Associate professors
- Meredith Bagley
- Robin M. Boylorn
- Heather Carmack
- Darrin J. Griffin
- Sara Hartley
- Leah LeFebvre
- Mary M. Meares
- Jessy Ohl
- Joshua R. Pederson
Assistant professors
- Anneliese C. Bolland
- Adam Sharples Brooks
- William Sim Butler
- Nikita Harris
- Peter Jensen
- Caroline S. Parsons
- Cynthia Peacock
- Benjamin Pyle
Interim Chair
- Darrin J. Griffin
Adjunct instructors
- Jane S. Baker
- Dan Mangis
Associate professor emeritus
- Frank M. Thompson, Jr.
Professor emeritus
- Thomas Harris
Courses
This course is an introduction to graduate level learning in the discipline of Communication Studies. The primary goal is to provide new graduate students with an orientation to the discipline and the department. This course provides a broad introduction to the various topics and approaches of studying communication, including the metatheoretical principles guiding knowledge production. As such, students will be introduced to theories and concepts of Communication, as well as how these can be applied to understand phenomena across various contexts. Another goal of the course is to prepare students for success in graduate studies by reinforcing skills such as critical reading, writing, information gathering, syntheses, and presentation. The course covers program requirements, degree completion options, and professional development within and outside academia.
The primary goal of this course is to facilitate the instruction of COM 123 Public Speaking. Graduate students enrolled in this course will provide lesson plans for their classes and discuss options for improving classroom learning.