DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES
SPEECH COMMUNICATION COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
FOUNDATION COURSES
COM 465 Nonverbal Communication. The study of systems of nonverbal communication and their use, including body language, vocalic, facial, and spatial communication. Students will apply current theory and research in nonverbal communication to their own communication.
COM 481 Communication Theory. A critical analysis of contemporary theories of communication. Students will analyze critically the research findings supporting the theories.
COM 486 Family Communication. A study of the contemporary family and of the role of communication in the family. Students will assess the scholarship examining the place of communication In the family with specific attention to applying the research to their own families.
GRADUATE COURSES
COM 531 Speech Communication Methods and Research. An introduction to graduate level research methods, including quantitative and qualitative approaches to data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Students will learn to develop individual research proposals.
COM 532 Statistical Methods for Communication. This course focuses upon various statistical techniques used in communication research, including univariate and bivariate techniques, hypothesis testing for single and multiple samples, as well as methods used to investigate relationships between two or more variables such as ANOVA, ANCOVA, and multiple regression analysis. Lectures, assigned readings and projects are used to describe and illustrate advanced literature on the logic, interpretation, and assumptions of each statistical model. Emphasis is placed upon understanding of the techniques and their assumptions as well as applications. Research activities based on the use of statistical techniques are included in the course.
COM 560 Advanced Interpersonal Communication. A study of methodological and theoretical issues in relational communication with special attention to building ongoing research projects in support of theory.
COM 570 Health Communication and the Family. A study of a variety of health communication topics that relate to and influence the family and other relationships. Perspective and theories in public health, adolescent alcohol and drug abuse, parentchild-physician communication, telemedicine, and rural health concerns.
COM 571 Sex & Gender in Communication. A study of sex and gender differences and similarities in communication behavior. Students will examine the sex and gender scholarship and assess Its Implications for understanding communication in interpersonal and family relationships.
COM 580 Advanced Family Communication. Methodological and theoretical issues in family communication.
COM 590 Seminar in Interpersonal Communication. Advanced topics in interpersonal communication theory and research. Topics rotate from semester to semester. May be repeated for credit when topics change.
COM 591 Seminar in Family Communication. Advanced topics in family com munication theory and research. Topics rotate from semester to semester. May be repeated for credit when topics change.
COM 698 Thesis I: Practicum. Initial phase of the thesis investigation, including review of the literature, establishment of the research design, collection of pilot data, and plan for completion. Prerequisite: Permission of thesis director.
COM 699 Thesis II: Completion. Final phase of the thesis investigation, including data collection and analysis, writing, and defense. The student must be registered in SCM 699 during the semester in which the thesis is completed and defended. Prerequisite: SCM 698.