Alan L. Sillars, Chair

Communication is the branch of the social and behavioral sciences concerned directly with human message systems. Courses in Communication Studies examine the nature, use and role of messages within and among individuals, small groups, organizations and societies.

The program focuses on preparation for a variety of careers: (1) positions in business and industry (e.g. sales, public relations), government and social services (speech writer, negotiator), education (administrator, student services), and professional (law, ministry, dispute resolution), and (2) graduate work in communication studies and related behavioral sciences.

Undergraduates are awarded the Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies. Students interested in entering business, government, human services or graduate work, and desiring a liberal arts background, may select the general degree requirements or the organizational communication emphasis.

Students majoring in other disciplines may augment their majors by selecting a communication studies minor. Minors in communication studies should have an advisor in communication studies in addition to an advisor in their major field.

Graduate students are awarded a Master of Arts degree.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the communication studies major, a student must satisfy the following requirements:

1. overall G.P.A. of 2.5

2. completion of Comm 110S, 111A, and one other Comm course

Students who intend to major in communication studies but who have not yet met the above requirements are admitted to the program as pre-communication majors. Pre-communication majors may enroll in 100- and 200-level courses only. Students must be fully admitted as communication majors to enroll in 300- and 400-level courses. Before a student can graduate, he or she must meet the requirements to become a communication studies major.

Special Degree Requirements

Refer to graduation requirements listed in the catalog. See index.

Core Requirements

To graduate with a degree in communication studies, the student must complete 35 total communication credits with 18 of those credits in courses numbered 300 or above. In addition, the following courses are required:

1. a course in statistics

2. Comm 110S Introduction to Interpersonal Communication

3. Comm 111A Introduction to Public Speaking

4. Comm 250L Introduction to Rhetorical Theory

5. Comm 460 Research Methods

Allied Fields

The major is advised to take courses in other academic units throughout the University that will provide an increased understanding of communication such as anthropology, English, political science, psychology, social work, and sociology. Of particular interest to students interested in helping professions and associated content areas (e.g., children, families, aging) is the human and family development minor. Further, students interested in selected professional or vocational areas might take courses in the Schools of Business Administration, Education, Forestry, and Journalism and in special programs such as Environmental Studies and Linguistics. At a minimum, it is expected of the student to take courses in the social and behavioral sciences, humanities, fine arts, natural sciences, Native American and African-American studies, and professional schools to provide a liberal education as expected of a university graduate.

Organizational Communication Emphasis

Students who elect to concentrate in organizational communication must complete 35 credits in Communication Studies with 18 of those credits at the 300-level or above. As part of the 35 credits, students must complete:

1. all the core requirements listed previously

2. Comm 220-Professional Communication

3. Comm 240-Communication in Small Groups

4. Comm 320-Introduction to Organizational Communication

5. Comm 420-Communication and Quality of Worklife or Comm 421-Communication Power and Organizations

Students in the organizational communication emphasis must also complete the following courses in the School of Business Administration:

1. Mgmt 100 Introduction to Business

2. three other Mgmt courses at the 300-400-level

Requirements for a Minor

To be admitted to the communication studies minor, a student must satisfy the following requirements:

1. overall G.P.A. of 2.5

2. completion of Comm 110S, 111A, and one other Comm course

Students who intend to minor in communication studies but who have not yet met the above requirements are admitted as pre-communication minors. Pre-communication minors may enroll in 100- and 200-level courses only. Students must be fully admitted as communication minors to enroll in 300- and 400-level courses.

Once admitted to earn a minor, the student must complete a minimum of 20 credits in communication studies courses, with at least 9 credits in communication courses numbered 300 and above.

Courses

U = for undergraduate credit only, UG = for undergraduate or graduate credit, G =for graduate credit. R after the credit indicates the course may be repeated for credit to the maximum indicated after the R.

U 110S Introduction to Inter-personal Communication 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. An overview of the process of human communication with special emphasis on analyzing communication patterns and improving interpersonal communication skills.

U 111A Introduction to Public Speaking 2 cr. Offered every term. Preparation, presentation, and criticism of speeches. Emphasis on the development of public speaking techniques through constructive criticism. Credit not allowed for both Comm 111A and Com 160A.

U 173 Introduction to Language 3 cr. Same as Ling 173. A survey of the elements of language (structure, meaning, and sound) including language use in its social and cultural contexts.

U 195 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-9) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

U 198 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr. (R-3) Prereq., consent of instr. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Cooperative Education Office.

U 202 Nonverbal Communication 3 cr. Nonverbal code systems and how they function in human communication including gestures, facial expressions, personal space, and others.

U 203 Listening 3 cr. Principles and practices of effective cognitive and empathic listening skills.

U 220 Professional Communication 3 cr. Principles and practices of effective interviewing in a variety of professional situations including screening of clients and job candidates, performance appraisal, and data-gathering. Advanced public speaking in professional contexts.

U 240S Communication in Small Groups 3 cr. Theory and research related to communication patterns, cohesion, leadership, and decision making. Experiences provided in task oriented groups and field analyses of group processes provided.

U 241S Persuasive Communication 3 cr. The use of communication in attitude and behavior change as experienced in personal, organizational, and public contexts.

U 242 Argumentation 3 cr. Prereq., sophomore standing. Development of argumentation skills and critical judgment in decision making and debate. Includes criticism, construction, presentation, and refutation of spoken and written arguments.

U 250L Introduction to Rhetorical Theory 3 cr. Prereq., Comm 111A. An overview of rhetorical theory including an exploration of classical rhetoric, British and Continental rhetorical theory, and contemporary theories of language and persuasion.

U 295 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-9)

U 310 Communication and Emotion 3 cr. Study of how emotion pervades communication; how emotion is communicated verbally and nonverbally; how communicating or withholding emotion affects well-being; how emotion is managed effectively through communication; how emotion is woven into the larger social, moral and cultural fabric.

U 320 Organizational Communi-cation 3 cr. Focus on current theories and research on communication in organizations..

U 330 Message Composition 3 cr. Prereq., Enex 101 and Comm 111A, and one lower-division writing course. The preparation and presentation of oral and written messages with an emphasis on organization, style, and comparison of effective oral and written communication.

U 350 Persuasive Speaking and Criticism 3 cr. Prereq., Comm 111A. The persuasive process through the criticism and creation of speeches and other rhetorical artifacts emphasizing the role persuasion plays in creating and shaping our culture.

UG 380 Gender and Communication 3 cr. The meaning of gender in our culture and how gender is displayed and perpetuated through our private and public verbal and nonverbal interactions.

U 395 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-9) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

U 398 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr. (R-3) Prereq., consent of instr. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Cooperative Education Office.

UG 410S Communication in Personal Relationships 3 cr. Prereq., Com 110S. An examination of the functions, types, and historical context of close personal relationships with an in-depth study of the role of communication in friendships and romantic relations.

UG 411 Family Communication 3 cr. Prereq., Comm 110S. An examination of communication in husband-wife, parent-child, and extended family relationships. Topics include intimacy, power, decision making, problem solving, identity formation, and interpersonal perception.

UG 412 Interpersonal Conflict 3 cr. Prereq., Comm 110S. The nature of interpersonal struggles across a variety of contexts, focusing on styles, tactics, power, goals, negotiation, and conflict intervention modes such as mediation.

UG 420 Communication and Quality of Worklife 3 cr. Prereq., Comm 320. Focus on issues confronting individuals and organizations in the rapidly changing world of work. Topics include coping with bureaucracy, managing participation, maintaining cooperative work relationships, confronting ethical dilemmas, promoting diversity, and humanizing organizations.

UG 421 Communication, Power and Organizations 3 cr. Prereq., Comm 320. In-depth consideration of issues of power in society, particularly in modern organizations. Emphasis on analysis of organizational messages, interactions and situations.

UG 450E Ethics in Communication 3 cr. Prereq., lower-division course in Perspective 5 or consent of instr. Offered alternate years. The study of ethical issues in human communication in relation to traditional Western value systems.

UG 451S Intercultural Communi-cation 3 cr. Communication principles and processes in cross-cultural environments. Non-Western cultures are emphasized by contrasting them to Western communication norms.

UG 460 Communication Research Methods 3 cr. Prereq., a course in statistics. Introduction to the major types of communication research and the foundations of quantitative research methods.

UG 461 Research Seminar 3 cr. Prereq., Comm 460 and consent of instr. Application of quantitative and qualitative research methods to specialized contexts. Emphasis on direct student involvement in research activities.

UG 495 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-3)

UG 496 Independent Study Variable cr. (R-9) Prereq., consent of instr.

G 500 Theories of Communication 3 cr. Offered alternate years. Overview of the major theoretical approaches to the study of communication in various contexts.

G 501 Seminar in Language 3 cr. (R-6) Prereq., consent of instr. Offered alternate years.

G 502 Seminar: Nonverbal Communication 3 cr. Prereq., consent of instr. Offered alternate years. Theory and research on the codes and functions of nonverbal communication.

G 510 Seminar in Personal Relationships 3 cr. (R-6) Prereq., consent of instr. Offered alternate years.

G 512 Seminar in Dispute Resolution 3 cr. (R-6) Prereq., consent of instr. Offered alternate years.

G 520 Seminar in Organizational Communication 3 cr. (R-6) Prereq., consent of instr. Offered alternate years.

G 521 Practical Issues in Organizational Communication 3 cr. (R-6) Prereq., consent of instr. Offered alternate years.

G 540 Seminar in Instructional Communication 3 cr. (R-6) Prereq., consent of instr. Offered alternate years.

G 550 Rhetorical Criticism 3 cr. Basic issues and trends in rhetorical criticism; theoretical and methodological perspectives including traditional criticism, experiential criticism, dramatism, narrative criticism, feminist criticism, postmodern criticism, etc.

G 541 Teaching the Basic Course 2 cr. (R-8) Prereq., consent of instr.

G 561 Qualitative Research Methods 3 cr. Offered alternate years. An emphasis on the philosophy and practice of qualitative inquiry, the development and use of descriptive frameworks, and gathering and testing qualitative data to develop human communication theory.

G 580 The Rhetorical Construction of "Woman" 3 cr. Topics include the early women's rights conventions, debates over marriage and divorce, "social feminism" and women's sphere, the link between gener and race; intersection of rhetoric and the contemporary understanding of femininity.

G 593 Professional Paper Variable cr. (R-3) Prereq., consent of instr.

G 594 Topical Seminar Variable cr. (R-6) Prereq., consent of instr. Offered alternate years.

G 595 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-9) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

G 596 Independent Study Variable cr. (R-9) Prereq., consent of instr.

G 599 Thesis Variable cr. (R-6) Prereq., consent of instr.

Faculty

Professors

Betsy Wackernagel Bach, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1985

Eldon E. Baker, Ph.D., Purdue University, 1966 (Emeritus)

Wesley N. Shellen, Ph.D., Ohio University, 1973

Alan L. Sillars, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1980 (Chair)

William W. Wilmot, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1970

Associate Professors

George E. Cheney, Ph.D. Purdue University, 1985

Sally Planalp, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1983

James H. Polsin, Ph.D., University of Kansas, 1971 (Emeritus)

Assistant Professor

Sara E. Hayden, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1993

Instructor

Debra C. Stevens, M.A., The University of Montana, 1987 (Visiting)

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