DENNIS K. MUMBY, Chair
Robert C. Allen, V. William Balthrop, Carole Blair, J. Robert Cox, Paul Ferguson, Lawrence Grossberg, Madeline Grumet, Gorham A. Kindem, Dennis K. Mumby, Della Pollock, Lawrence B. Rosenfeld, David Sontag, Julia T. Wood.
Cori Dauber, Kenneth Hillis, Steven K. May, Patricia Parker, Francesca Talenti, Michael S. Waltman, Eric K. Watts.
Richard Cante, Renee Alexander Craft, Sarah Dempsey, Christian O. Lundberg, Edward Rankus, Anthony Perucci, Joyce Rudinsky, Sarah R. Sharma.
Joan Darling, Arturo Escobar, William R. Ferris, Jacquelyn Hall, John McGowan, John Pickles, Jack M. Richman, William Svanoe.
Stephen Neigher.
Elizabeth Czech-Beckerman, Howard D. Doll, Robert J. Gwyn, William M. Hardy, Beverly Long Chapin, James W. Pence Jr.
The study of communication is essential for participating in an increasingly complex and mediated global environment. Through its teaching, research, and service, the Department of Communication Studies addresses the many ways communication functions to create, sustains, and transform personal life, social relations, political institutions, economic organizations, and cultural and aesthetic conventions in society; promotes competencies required for various modes of mediated and nonmediated communication; and develops skills for analyzing, interpreting, and critiquing communication problems and questions.
The program of study offered by the department thus provides a firm foundation for enriched personal living, for professional effectiveness regardless of the specific career one may pursue, and for informed participation in the human community.
The degree offered is bachelor of arts in communication studies. The minor in writing for the screen and stage is an interdisciplinary program drawing upon the faculties and resources of the Department of Dramatic Art, Department of Communication Studies, and the Creative Writing Program of the Department of English. For information, see the Department of Dramatic Art in this bulletin.
Majors in the Department of Communication Studies must take a total of 30 credit hours in the department, including three of the four courses identified as core courses and at least three courses numbered 400 or higher. The core courses are COMM 120, 140, 160, and 270. Students must successfully complete these core requirements with a C or better. The core courses also serve as prerequisites for further work within each concentration.
Additionally, each major must have a coherent program of study, defined as at least four courses in an area of study/concentration identified by the department, or at least four courses selected and justified by the student and approved by the director of undergraduate studies.
Option A: Pre-Selected Concentrations in Communication Studies
Students should select one of the following concentrations and take a minimum of four courses within that concentration. Note: core courses do not count as one of the four required courses within the selected concentration.
Interpersonal and Organizational Communication (Note: COMM 120 is a prerequisite for most of the IOC courses; consult course descriptions.)
COMM 223 (MNGT 223) Small Group Communication
COMM 224 (WMST 224) Gender and Communication
COMM 312 Persuasion
COMM 325 (MNGT 325) Introduction to Organizational Communication
COMM 410 Introduction to Quantitative Research
COMM 411 Introduction to Critical Perspectives
COMM 521 Communication and Social Memory
COMM 522 Family Communication
COMM 523 Communication and Leadership
COMM 525 Organizational Communication
COMM 526 Nonverbal Communication
COMM 620 Theory of Interpersonal Communication
COMM 629 Topics in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication
Media Studies and Production (Note: COMM 140 is a prerequisite for most of the Media courses; consult course descriptions.)
COMM 130 Introduction to Media Production
COMM 142 Popular Music
COMM 230 Audio/Film/Video Production and Writing
COMM 330 Introduction to Writing for Film and Television
COMM 410 Introduction to Quantitative Research
COMM 411 Introduction to Critical Perspectives
COMM 431 Advanced Audio Production
COMM 432 Directing for Media
COMM 433 Advanced Scriptwriting for Television, Film, and Stage
COMM 434 Minorities and the Media
COMM 440 Mass Media Criticism and Theory
COMM 441 Audio Theory and Criticism
COMM 450 Popular Culture
COMM 532 Media Acting and Performance
COMM 534 Narrative Production
COMM 543 History of National Media in the West
COMM 544 Communication and Information Technologies
COMM 546 History of Film I (1895-1945)
COMM 547 History of Film II (1945 - present)
COMM 553 Community and Media
COMM 635 Documentary Production
COMM 636 (ART 406) Interactive Media
COMM 639 Special Topics in Media Production
COMM 645 The Documentary Idea
COMM 649 Third World Media
COMM 651 Contemporary International Film/Television
COMM 656 Women and Film
COMM 658 Latin American Cinema
COMM 659 Special Topics in Media Studies
Performance Studies (Note: COMM 160 is a prerequisite for most of the Performance courses; consult course descriptions.)
COMM 162 Oral Traditions
COMM 260 Introduction to Group Performance
COMM 261 Performance of African/African-American Literature
COMM 364 Production Practices
COMM 464 Poetry in Performance
COMM 466 Narrative Fiction in Performance
COMM 561 (WMST 561) Performance of Literature by Women of Color
COMM 562 (WMST 562, HIST 562) Oral History and Performance
COMM 563 Performance of Children's Literature
COMM 565 (FOLK 565) Ritual, Theatre, and Performance in Everyday Life
COMM 566 Narrative in Fiction and Film
COMM 660 Group Performance
COMM 667 The Politics of Performance
COMM 669 Special Topics in Performance Studies
Rhetorical Studies (Note: COMM 270 is a suggested first course for all Rhetorical COMM courses; consult course descriptions.)
COMM 171 Argumentation and Debate
COMM 312 Persuasion
COMM 372 The Rhetoric of Social Movements
COMM 374 The Southern Experience in Rhetoric
COMM 375 (ENST 375) Environmental Advocacy
COMM 376 (PWAD 376) The Rhetoric of War and Peace
COMM 411 Introduction to Critical Perspectives
COMM 470 Political Communication
COMM 571 Rhetorical Theory and Practice
COMM 572 Public Policy Argumentation
COMM 573 The American Experience in Rhetoric
COMM 574 (PWAD 574) War and Culture
COMM 675 (ENST 675) Environmental Communication and the Public Sphere
COMM 679 Special Topics in Rhetoric and Cultural Studies
Option B: Specialized Concentration in Communication Studies
A student may create her or his own concentration by selecting at least four courses that constitute a coherent program of study. The courses selected in this option must be justified by the student and must be approved by the director of undergraduate studies.
Option C: Concentration in Speech and Hearing Sciences
Students majoring in Communication Studies with a concentration in speech and hearing sciences shall take the following sequence for their concentration:
COMM 530 (SPHS 530) recommended spring of junior year
COMM 540 (SPHS 540) recommended fall of senior year
COMM 570 (SPHS 570) recommended fall of junior year
COMM 582 (SPHS 582) recommended spring of junior year
Three COMM electives
Also, the following courses are strongly recommended in accordance with the pre-professional standards for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (www.med.unc.edu/ahs/sphs/ms_prepro.htm):
Fall Junior Year
LING 101 or PSYC 432 (Prerequisites of PSYC 230 or LING 101 or LING 400)
Fall Senior Year
LING 523
Spring Senior Year
STOR 151 or PSYC 210
Students in this concentration should be aware that the required and recommended courses will satisfy the pre-professional school expectations of UNC-Chapel Hill as well as many other graduate programs; however, completing this concentration does not guarantee admission to the UNC-Chapel Hill program, nor do these courses fulfill requirements for all graduate schools. Students should examine and investigate the specific requirements for each graduate school and program to which they intend to apply.
Students are encouraged to join NSSLHA, the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association: A Sertoma Collegiate Club. NSSLHA is a UNC-Chapel Hill student group of people interested in the speech and hearing sciences.
A maximum of 45 hours of COMM courses will count toward graduation.
Students are invited to work closely with faculty in courses and through independent study, cocurricular programs, and research projects. The department offers major programs leading to the B.A. and M.A. degrees. Courses are also open to non-majors whose personal and professional goals require understanding of human communication.
The department participates in the University's Honors Program. Students eligible for the program (see University requirements) may consult with the departmental honors advisor about enrolling in COMM 693H and 694H.
Independent Study
Opportunity for independent study is available through enrollment in COMM 396. Interested students should consult a faculty advisor in the department.
Internships
The department offers an extensive internship program in media related industries, business, public service, and other organizations. Internships allow students to explore the relationship between communication theory and its practice in everyday life. Credit can be obtained through consultation with the internship advisor and enrollment in COMM 397. More than 100 organizations participate in the program. Note: Internship credit counts as elective hours and does not count toward the 30 credit hours required for the major.
WUNC Radio and WUNC-TV
Limited opportunities exist for internships and employment with the public radio and television stations in Chapel Hill and in the Research Triangle Park.
Performance Opportunities
Student groups adapt scripts, direct, and stage productions for the public. Additionally, individual students often appear in regular performance hours sponsored by graduate students in Communication Studies and in productions directed by faculty members.
Student Television (STV)
STV is a student-run video production operation that provides hands-on opportunities in a variety of programming assignments.
Study Abroad
Students may take course work toward the major through the University's study abroad program. Departmental approval for major credit is required. The department also offers a London-based summer internship in media production and performance studies for qualified students.
Undergraduate Awards
The department offers a number of awards for leadership and contribution to the field, including the Lucia Morgan Award for excellence in the discipline of communication studies, the Sherrill-Pence Award for outstanding work in applied communication, the Wallace Ray Peppers Award in Performance for outstanding work in African and African American literature, and awards for outstanding work in media production, such as the James C. Lampley Award.
Facilities
The department has extensive media production and performance studies facilities located in Swain Hall and Bingham Hall. Swain Hall is home to state-of-the-art media production equipment, classroom space, and editing suites, and it houses Studio 6, where numerous live performances are staged. Bingham Hall contains the Martha Nell Hardy Performance Space.
Advanced study and research may be pursued in any of the concentrations specified above. A substantial number of graduate assistantships allow master of arts (M.A.) and Ph.D. candidates to gain experience in research, teaching, production, and administration. Graduate study is characterized by intensive participation in seminars, original research and creative activities, and close work with individual faculty members.
The career outlook for students with degrees in communication studies is promising, and graduates enter a variety of professions that value communication knowledge and skills. Communication studies majors are prepared to serve as communication specialists in business; in federal, state and local governments and agencies; and in public service. Some of the more specific areas in which majors pursue careers are teaching, social advocacy, public relations and advertising, personnel management and training, video and film production, and emerging technologies. Students are also prepared for graduate study and research in communication studies and in related academic disciplines such as law.
An understanding of communication provides a strong base for a wide range of career options. The mission of the department is to go beyond narrow technical training by providing a liberal arts approach to communication. This provides the student with maximum latitude for promotion and advancement and avoids limited career opportunities resulting from narrow approaches to the field.
The burgeoning growth of communication industries and support fields provides a wide range of career opportunities.
Graduates of the department, who number over 4,000, are engaged in a variety of occupations ranging from work for international corporations to jobs at local nonprofit organizations.
The Department of Communication Studies, CB# 3285, 115 Bingham Hall, (919) 962-2311. Web site: comm.unc.edu.
COMM
050 [006E] First-Year Seminar: Helping Families Manage the Effects of Disasters (3). Considers the effects of disasters on children, families, and communities, and offers an understanding of and practice in how to lessen victims' trauma and decrease chances of long-term damage when disaster strikes.
051 First-Year Seminar: Organizing and Communicating for Social Entrepreneurs (3). This first-year seminar is designed to show how we can better understand organizational communication through the medium of different metaphors (e.g., machine, organism, culture, political system, psychic prison).
052 [006F]: Cynicism, Politics and Youth Culture (3). After initially exploring the meaning of cynicism and apathy and the problem of cultural diagnosis, this seminar will look at these issues in the political arena.
060 [006M] First-Year Seminar: Organizing and Communicating for Social Entrepreneurs (3). This course examines the historical and current development of social entrepreneurship as a field of study and practice, with particular attention to successful organizational communication strategies designed to solve community problems.
061 First-Year Seminar: The Politics of Performance (3). In this course students will explore the possibilities of making political performances, or making performances political. We will be particularly concerned with how performance may contribute to processes of social change.
062 First-Year Seminar: African American Literature and Performance (3). The course examines- through performance- the question of what characterizes "Blackness" as it is manifest through experience, history and symbol in the United States (as well as the impact of African practices and identities upon Blackness in the U.S.). The course is concerned with what has been termed the "black literary imagination."
063: First-Year Seminar: The Creative Process in Performance (3). The Memorial Hall Carolina Performing Arts Series sets the stage for this course, and students will be engaged with its multimedia, music, dance and theater performances. We will explore the creative processes and cultural contexts of these performances and compare the arts as a way of knowing the world to the creative processes of academic scholarship.
070 [006F] First-Year Seminar: Southern Writing in Performance (3). A performance-centered seminar focusing on the works of North Carolina writers, especially those who write fiction and poetry, and on researching, discussing, adapting, and performing that content.
071 First-Year Seminar: Conflict, Culture and Rhetoric: The Search for Peace in Northern Ireland (3). This seminar will explore culture, conflict, and rhetorical practice through an extended case study of the conflict in Northern Ireland. The discourse will include speeches, pamphlets, political flyers, music, poetry, fiction, film, and graffiti.
074 First-Year Seminar: Remembering Dixie: Exploring Rhetoric, Memory and the South (3). We will begin by looking at controversies over such issues as public display of the Confederate battle flag, public commemorative displays like Silent Sam, arguments over "Southern Heritage," and other controversial issues.
082 First-Year Seminar: Globalizing Organizations (3). In this course, we explore the communication issues that arise within international contexts. Through the analysis of readings and films, we will delve into the contentious debates surrounding globalization and explore the ethical and social issues that arise within global forms of communicating and organizing.
100 [010] Communication and Social Process (3). Addresses the many ways our communication - including language, discourse, performance, and media - reflects, creates, sustains, and transforms prevailing social and cultural practices.
109 Oral Communication (1). Prerequisite, test out of ENGL 101 and ENGL 102. Required of all first-year students testing out of ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 with the exception of those satisfying the first-year honors literature requirement (ENGL 135H, ENGL 135HW, CLAS 133H, SLAV 029, GERM 190H, or ROML 229). Includes theory and practice in small group problem solving, oral argument, and public speaking.
120 [022] Introduction to Interpersonal and Organizational Communication (MNGT 120) (3). An introduction to communication theory, research, and practice in a variety of interpersonal and organizational contexts. This course examines the role of communication in both personal and professional relationships.
130 [014] Introduction to Media Production (3). Prerequisite for all production courses. Introduces students to basic tools, techniques, and conventions of production in audio, video, and film. Interactive laboratory work included.
131 [030] Writing for the Stage and Screen (DRAM 131) (3). Introduction to the fundamentals of writing for the screen and stage, including how to create story, structure, scenes, character, and dialogue. Students will also complete a short play and screenplay.
140 [041] Introduction to Media History, Theory, and Criticism (3). An introduction to the critical analysis of film, television, advertising, video and new media texts, contexts, and audiences.
142 [042] Popular Music and Youth Culture (3). Prerequisite, COMM 140; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. This class explores the historical, social, political, and cultural significances of popular music as a communicative practice in the United States from 1950 to the present.
160 [060] Introduction to Performance Studies: Performing Literature (3). Study of a variety of literary texts (lyric, epic, dramatic) through the medium of performance.
162 [062] Oral Traditions (3). Introductory course in the form and functions of oral traditional practices. Topic areas may include: dynamics of orality, slang, childlore, storytelling, the trickster, and oral history.
171 [071] Argumentation and Debate (3). Prerequisite, COMM 270; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. Analysis of issues, use of evidence, reasoning, brief making, and refutation. Argumentative speeches and debates on legal cases and on current issues. Designed for prospective law students, public policy students, speech teachers, and college debaters.
223 [023] Small Group Communication (MNGT 223) (3). Prerequisite, COMM 120 or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. Introduction to the theory and practice of communication in the small group setting. Topics may include group development, conformity, and deviation, gender, problem solving, and power and leadership.
224 [024] Introduction to Gender and Communication (WMST 224) (3). Examines multiple relationships between communication and gender. Emphasizes how communication creates gender and power roles and how communicative patterns reflect, sustain, and alter social conceptions of gender.
230 [034] Audio/Video/Film Production and Writing (3). Prerequisites, COMM 130 and 140. The material, processes, and procedures of audio, video, and film production; emphasis on the control of those elements of convention that define form in the appropriate medium. Lecture and laboratory hours.
260 [061] Introduction to Group Performance (3). Prerequisite, COMM 160 or permission of instructor. Performance theory and rehearsal techniques explored through ensemble performance.
261 [063] African and African American Literature and Performance (3). Prerequisite, COMM 160; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. Study and performance of African American literary expressions and literary movements ranging variously from antebellum, reconstruction, Harlem renaissance, Black aesthetic, and post-modern.
270 [070] Rhetoric and Social Controversy (3). Examines the basic nature and importance of rhetoric and argumentation. Attention is devoted to interpreting the persuasive function of texts and their relation to modern forms of life.
275 History of German Cinema (GERM 275) (3). This course explores the major developments of German cinema. All films with English subtitles. Readings and discussions in English.
312 [112] Persuasion (3). Prerequisite, COMM 120; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. Examines contemporary theory and practice of influencing others' attitudes, beliefs, and actions. Focuses particularly on analyzing and developing persuasive messages.
318 [080] Cultural Diversity (3). Introduction to basic paradigms of thinking about cultural difference, encouraging students to examine how these paradigms shape how we think, act, and imagine ourselves/others as members of diverse cultures.
325 [025] Introduction to Organizational Communication (MNGT 325) (3). Prerequisite, COMM 120; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. The course explores the historical and theoretical developments in the research and practice of organizational communication.
330 [033] Introduction to Writing for Film and Television (3). Prerequisite, COMM 140; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. An introduction to screenwriting for film and television.
364 [064] Production Practices (1-3). Prerequisite, departmental permission required. The design and application of technical production concepts to a literary text. Includes lighting, set design, costuming, and stage management.
372 [072] The Rhetoric of Social Movements (3). Explores the discourse of dissident voices in American society, particularly as they speak about grievances pertaining to race, gender, the environment; focuses on rhetorical strategies that initiate and sustain social movements.
374 [074] The Southern Experience in Rhetoric (3). Examines recurrent themes in the rhetoric of significant Southerners and important campaigns. Considers both the rhetoric of the establishment and the rhetoric of change.
375 [075] Environmental Advocacy (ENST 375) (3). Explores rhetorical means of citizen influence of practices affecting our natural and human environment; also, study of communication processes and dilemmas of redress of environmental grievances in communities and workplace.
376 [073] The Rhetoric of War and Peace (PWAD 376) (3). Explores philosophical assumptions and social values expressed by advocates of war and peace through a critical examination of such rhetorical acts as speeches, essays, film, literature, and song.
390 [095] Special Topics in Communication Study (3). A special topics course on a selected aspect of communication studies.
396 [091] Independent Study and Directed Research (1-3). Departmental permission required. For the COMM major who wishes to pursue an independent research project or reading program under the supervision of a selected instructor. Intensive individual research on a problem designed by instructor and student in conference.
397 [090] Internships (1-3). Departmental permission required. Individualized study closely supervised by a faculty advisor and by the departmental coordinator of internships. Cannot count toward the COMM major.
410 [110] Introduction to Quantitative Research (3). Basics of data collection, measurement instrument development, and data analytic approaches to communication research are presented to the student. Emphasis is placed on practical application of research.
411 [111] Critical Perspectives (3). This course explores theories of criticism and symbolic action through readings, lecture, and practical criticism of literature, media, discourse, and other symbolic acts.
431 [130] Advanced Audio Production (3). Prerequisite, COMM 230, COMM 140, or permission of instructor. Advanced analysis and application of the principles and methods of audio production.
432 [131] Directing for Media (3). Prerequisites: COMM 140 and COMM 230 or permission of instructor. Overview of, and intensive practice in, advanced directing techniques for film, video, and digital media.
433 [132] Advanced Scriptwriting for Television, Film, and Stage (3). Prerequisite, COMM 330 or permission of instructor. A major writing project will be completed by each student, either dramatic or nonfiction for radio, television, film, or stage.
434 [152] Minorities and the Media (3). Prerequisite, COMM 140; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. The course traces the development of minorities in film, radio and television, and the press, looking at trends and treatment of minorities by the media, and how and if they have changed.
436 [117] Gender, Science Fiction and Film (WMST 437) (3). Greater attention has been given to the role of gender in scientific fields, examining the role of subjectivity of the researcher and its impact on research questions and study outcomes, as well as the construction of gender identities through scientific research. Similarly, contemporary science fiction films also address these issues of gender identity. The course will combine these fields in an inquiry of the role and making of gender in and through science, science fiction, and film.
440 [140] Media Theory and Criticism (3). Prerequisite, COMM 140; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. Intensive investigation of the nature and role of theory in media studies, as well as the nature and role of the critical encounter with particular media texts.
441 [141] Audio Theory Criticism and Aesthetics (3). Prerequisite, COMM 140; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. An examination of theories of aurality, psycho-acoustics, and the development of the audio aesthetic. Course includes, but is not limited to, audio in film, video, and multimedia.
442 Cultural Studies (3). Prerequisite, COMM 140; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. This class will introduce students to the major theoretical and methodological commitments of cultural studies as a perspective on communication, culture, and society.
450 [150] Media and Popular Culture (3). Prerequisite, COMM 140; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. Examination of communication processes and cultural significance of film, television, and other electronic media.
451 Special Topics in Media and Popular Culture (3). Prerequisite, COMM 140; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. A special topics course on a selected aspect of media and cultural studies.
452 Film Noir (3). Prerequisite, COMM 140; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. Course combines reading about and viewing of 1940s and '50s films combining narrative techniques of storytelling, novels, and the stage with purely filmic uses of spectacle, light, editing, and image.
464 [164] Poetry in Performance (3). Prerequisite, COMM 160 or permission of instructor. Critical, aesthetic, and rhetorical approaches to performed poetry.
466 [166] Narrative Fiction in Performance (3). Prerequisite, COMM 160 or permission of instructor. Study of selected short stories and novels in performance with emphasis on narrative point of view.
470 [113] Political Communication and the Public Sphere (3). A course covering the relationship between communication and political processes and institutions. Topics include media coverage and portrayal of political institutions, elections, actors, and media influence on political beliefs.
521 [121] Communication and Social Memory (3). An investigation of psychological aspects of communication, particularly the perceptual and interpretive processes underlying the sending and receiving of messages.
522 [124] Family Communication (3). Prerequisite, COMM 120; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. Analysis and exploration of personal experiences, family systems theory, and communication theory to describe, evaluate, and improve family communication patterns.
523 [125] Communication and Leadership (3). Prerequisite, COMM 120; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. Critical examination of alternative theories of leadership and trends in the study of leadership; focuses on the communicative dimensions of leaderships.
524 Gender, Communication, and Culture (3). Prerequisites, COMM 224 and 372; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. Course examines the speeches and other texts that announced and embodied the goals and political strategies of multiple branches of three waves of feminist activism in the United States.
525 [123] Organizational Communication (3). Prerequisites, COMM 120 and 325; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. Provides a critical exploration of organizational communication theory, research, and application, examining the factors involved in the functioning and analysis of complex organizations.
526 [126] Nonverbal Communication (3). Prerequisite, COMM 120; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. Examines the roles and functions of nonverbal behavior in the communication process. Topic areas may include physical appearance; body, face, and eye movements; paralinguistics; haptics; nonverbal deception; the effects of environment; and personal space.
530 [127] Introduction to Phonetics 127 (SPHS 530) (3). A detailed study of the international phonetic alphabet with emphasis on the sound system of American English. Application of phonetics to problems of pronunciation and articulation. Includes broad and narrow phonetic transcription.
532 [133] Media Acting and Performance (3). Study and practice in acting and performance for radio, television, and motion pictures.
534 [134] Narrative Production (3). Prerequisite, COMM 230 and corequisite, one of COMM 645, 546, or 547. The course focuses on narrative, representational, and aesthetic strategies of narrative production.
540 [182] Speech Science (SPHS 540) (3). Introduction to the science of speech, including production, acoustics, and perception.
543 [143] History of National Media in the West (3). Study of the development of the art and craft of the film through examining individual films and topics stressing the interaction of aesthetic considerations with sociocultural and institutional settings.
544 [144] Electronically Mediated Communication and Information Machines (3). Prerequisite, COMM 140; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. A survey of developing telecommunication systems and technologies and their impact on the traditional electronic media and society.
545 [138] Pornography and Culture (3). Examines the social, cultural, political, legal, historical, and aesthetic implications of pornography.
546 [146] History of Film I, 1895 to 1945 (3). Prerequisite, COMM 140. Study the development of the art of film through World War II by examining individual films and filmmakers and the emergence of national cinemas through interaction among aesthetic, social, economic, and technological factors.
547 [147] History of Film II, 1945 to Present (3). Prerequisite, COMM 140. Study of the development of the art of film from the end of World War II to the present day by examining individual films and filmmakers and the emergence of national cinemas through interaction among aesthetic, social, economic, and technological factors.
548 Humor and Culture (3). Prerequisites, COMM 140; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. Investigates how humor, comedy, and laughter function socially and culturally through close examination of selected U.S. popular media texts and the primary modern theoretical writings on these issues.
549 [137] Sexuality and Visual Culture (3). Examines questions about sexuality and how it has changed over time, through various media of visual communication.
553 [153] Media and Activism (3). A study of the electronic media as a feedback mechanism for community organization and social change. A variety of broadcast and nonbroadcast uses of the media are studied.
561 [160] Performance of Literature by Women of Color (WMST 561) (3). Prerequisite, COMM 160 or permission. Explores through performance, contemporary poetry, fiction, non-fiction and feminist thought by women of color in the United States.
562 [161] Oral History and Performance (FOLK 562, HIST 562, WMST 562) (3). This course combines readings and field work in oral history with study of performance as a means of interpreting and conveying oral history texts. Emphasis on women's history.
563 [163] Performance of Children's Literature (3). Prerequisites, COMM 160 and permission of instructor. The course explores advanced performance theory while focusing exclusively on contemporary poetry, prose fiction, and drama intended for young audiences. Both solo and group performances for young viewers are included.
565 [165] Ritual, Theater, and Performance in Everyday Life (FOLK 565) (3). Prerequisite, COMM 160 or ENGL 126 or permission of instructor. This course will explore the dynamics of performance as it is broadly produced within the texture of individual experiences, the interaction of community memberships, and the dramas of cultural aesthetics.
566 [168] Narrative in Fiction and Film: Adaptation and Performance (3). Study of narrative in selected short stories and novels and their adaptation for film.
570 [183] Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism (SPHS 570) (3). Anatomy and physiology of the speech producing and aural mechanism.
571 [171] Rhetorical Theory and Practice (3). Prerequisite, COMM 270; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. Investigates contemporary theories of purposive symbolic behavior; focus is upon rational, psychological, and dramatistic explanations of human behavior.
572 [172] Public Policy Argument (3). Prerequisite, COMM 270; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. Analyzes argument in a variety of contexts with an emphasis on public policy and exploring tensions involved in addressing both expert and public audience in the political sphere.
573 [173] The American Experience in Rhetoric (3). Prerequisite, COMM 270; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. Examines public discourse from the colonial period to the present. Discourses, critical perspectives, and historical periods studied will vary.
574 [174] War and Culture (PWAD 574) (3). Examines American cultural myths about war generally and specifically about the causes of war, enemies, weapons, and warriors, and the way these myths constrain foreign and defense policy, military strategy, and procurement.
582 [180] Introductory Audiology I (SPHS 582) (3). Theory and practice of the measurement of hearing, causative factors in hearing loss, evaluation of audiometric results, and demonstration of clinical procedures.
596 [191] Advanced Independent Study/Directed Reading (1-3). Prerequisites, completion of at least one 300-level COMM course, departmental permission. For the communication studies major who wishes to pursue an advanced independent research project or reading program under the supervision of a selected instructor. Intensive individual research on a problem designed by instructor and student in conference.
617 [684] Introduction to Communication Disorders (3). Explores the etiology, epidemiology, assessment, and educational implications of speech and language disorders.
620 [120] Theories of Interpersonal Communication (3). Prerequisite, COMM 120; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. Course focuses on how communication is used to build and sustain interpersonal relationships. Forms and functions of communication are examined as a means of testing and defining relationships.
622 Impact of Disasters on Families (3). Examination of the effects of disasters on children, families, and communities. Course considers strategies for disaster relief and methods for decreasing long-term psychosocial damage.
629 [129] Topics in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication (3). Prerequisite, COMM 120; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. Designed for advanced students, course provides in-depth examination of particular theories of human communication. Course focus varies. May be repeated.
635 [135] Documentary Production (3). Prerequisite, COMM 230 and corequisite, one of COMM 645, 546, or 547. A workshop in the production of video and/or film nonfiction or documentary projects. The course will focus on narrative, representational, and aesthetic strategies of documentary production.
636 [136] Interactive Media (ART 406) (3). Prerequisite, COMM 230, COMM 140, or permission of instructor. Explores interactive media through creative projects that include sound, video, and graphic elements. Technical information will serve the broader goal of understanding the aesthetics and critical issues of interactive media.
639 [139] Special Topics in Media Production (3). Prerequisite, COMM 140. A special topics course on a selected aspect of media production or writing. May be repeated.
642 Special Topics in Cultural Studies (3). Prerequisites, COMM 442; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. This course will explore various specific topics, theories, and methodologies in cultural studies.
645 [142] The Documentary Idea (3). Prerequisite, COMM 140; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. Historical and theoretical examination of expressions of the documentary idea in different eras and various modes including film, television, and radio.
646 [118] Animation (3). Prerequisite, COMM 130 and 230; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. An introduction to the art and mechanics of two-dimensional digital animation.
649 [149] Third World Media (3). The cultural and educational uses of radio and television are studied in the developing countries of Africa, Latin America, and India. Emphasis will be placed on the new electronic media and their effectiveness in serving developing countries.
651 [151] Contemporary International Media (3). Study of contemporary film/television within a specific international context, such as Great Britain, with particular attention to comparisons and contrasts with the United States and Hollywood.
652 Media and Difference (3). Prerequisites, COMM 140; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. This course examines critical and theoretical issues concerning the representation and study of various modes of difference, such as sexuality, race, and gender, in specific media texts.
656 [156] Women and Film (WMST 656) (3). This course examines the representation of women in contemporary American film, and also considers women as producers of film.
658 [158] Latin American Cinema (3). This course examines the films, audiences, and social contexts of Latin American cinema from the 1930s to the present.
659 [159] Special Topics in Media Studies (3). Prerequisite, COMM 140; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. A special topics course on a selected aspect of media studies, including but not limited to media texts, contexts, and/or reception. May be repeated.
660 [162] Group Performance (4). Prerequisites, COMM 160, COMM 260, one 100-level performance course, and permission of instructor. Theory and practice in adaptation, direction, and group performance of texts.
662 [262] Literature/Performance of Black Diaspora (3). Focuses on interpreting the literature and culture of black people in Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Americas, including fiction, nonfiction, and film, through performance. Participants may anticipate performing every class session.
667 [167] The Politics of Performance (3). Prerequisite, COMM 160 or COMM 162 or permission of instructor. Course will address the relationship between performance and power, focusing on topics concerned with the potential for performance to contribute to social change.
669 [169] Special Topics in Performance Studies (3). Prerequisites, COMM 160 and one 100-level performance course or permission of instructor. Advanced study of selected topics drawn from performance history, theory, and practice. May be repeated.
675 [175] Environmental Communication and the Public Sphere (ENST 675) (3). Examines communication practices that accompany citizen participation in environmental decisions, including public education campaigns of nonprofit organizations, "risk communication," media representations, and mediation in environmental disputes.
679 [179] Special Topics in Rhetoric and Cultural Studies (3). Prerequisite, COMM 270; or for nonmajors, permission of instructor. A special topics course on a selected aspect of rhetoric and cultural studies. May be repeated.
684 [184] Introduction to Communication Disorders (EDUC 617) (3). Explores the etiology, epidemiology, assessment, and educational implications of speech and language disorders.
693H [098] Honors (3). Departmental permission required. Individual projects designed by students and supervised by faculty member.
694H [099] Honors (3). Departmental permission required. Individual projects designed by students and supervised by faculty member.