Within the broader field of Communication, our faculty can be loosely grouped into the following research areas: critical cultural studies; film studies; global media, technologies, and policy; (inter)cultural communication; interpersonal communication; language and social interaction; media effects; and rhetoric and performance. Other research areas by the faculty include: media ethics; communication theory; ethnography of communication; political economy; postcolonial theory; global communication; gender studies; race and whiteness studies; critical pedagogy; Latin American studies; screenwriting; folkflore; politics of sexual representation; media literacy; advertising and commercial culture; and nationalism and collective memory. To learn more about each faculty member's research, please visit their profile page.
Critical Cultural Studies
This area examines popular culture and the establishment and maintenance of social values and power relationships.
Professors: Briankle Chang, Henry Geddes, Lisa Henderson, Sut Jhally, Shawn Shimpach, Emily West
Film Studies
The area offers courses in film history, theory, and impact. Many courses in the Department can count toward a separate Film Certificate.
Professors: Carolyn Anderson (Emerita), Anne Ciecko, Bruce Geisler, Martin Norden, Shawn Shimpach, Demetria Shabazz,
Global Media, Technologies, and Policy
Courses in this area are designed to give the student an understanding of how and why the mass media operate and function as they do.
Professors: Mari Castañeda, Paula Chakravartty, Martha Fuentes-Bautista, Jarice Hanson, Michael Morgan, Jan Servaes
(Inter)Cultural Communication
Courses in this area focus on the cultural nature of communicative processes, ethnic and racial identities, and intercultural contact.
Professors: Benjamin Bailey, Donal Carbaugh, Vernon Cronen
Interpersonal Communication
This area focuses on the intersection of language, meanings, and relationships in social interaction.
Professors: Benjamin Bailey, Donal Carbaugh, Leda Cooks, Vernon Cronen
Language and Social Interaction
Professors: Benjamin Bailey, Donal Carbaugh, Vernon Cronen
Media Effects
How do media affect people, e.g. does violence on television lead to acceptance of violent behavior in society?
Professors: Michael Morgan, Erica Scharrer
Rhetoric, Performance, and Public Culture
Courses focus on public, strategic discourse and the performative nature of language use.
Professors: Briankle Chang, Leda Cooks, Stephen Olbrys Gencarella, Claudio Moreira
Courses by Area of Focus
The Communication Major does NOT have required concentrations or tracks within the major. However, we recommend that students try to focus their course selections in the area or two that are of greatest interest to them. This can help students to achieve a more coherent course of study within the major and to succeed in upper-level courses that build on lower-level ones in a particular area.
The lists of courses below reflect recent and proposed offerings. Check the Schedule of Classes in SPIRE for the exact listing of courses for any given semester. Note that all Communication majors must take certain courses to fulfill major requirements, e.g. Comm 118, 121, and 375, that are not listed below as part of any of these areas of focus.
Critical Cultural Studies:
287/ Advertising as Social Communication
297/ Introduction to Popular Culture and Cultural Studies
318/ Comparative Communication Theory
387/ Advertising and Public Relations as Social Control
397/ Media Audiences
397/ Global Communication
397/ Consumer Culture
397K/ Objectivity and Power
491S/ Introduction to Semiotics
494P/ Advanced Pop Culture
497K/ Freedom of Expression
497L/ International NewsFilm Studies:
240/ Modes of Film Communication
297D/ Film & TV Production Concepts
331/ Introduction to Television Production
340/ Film History I
342/ Film History II
397T/ Contemp World Cinema
433/ Advanced TV Production/Direction
441/ Principles and Techniques of Film Style Production
444/ Film Styles & Genres
493E/ Screenwriting
493F/ Documentary Film
593D/ Advanced ScreenwritingGlobal Media, Technologies, and Policy:
222 Media Programming & Institutions
226/ Social Impact of Mass Media
297/ Political Economy of Media
297A/ Introduction to Global Communication
334/ Media History and Communication Policy
397/ Media Ethics
397/ Information Technology in Social and Historical Perspective
397C/ Global Communication
397J/ Media & Public Policy
391B/ Communication and International Development
497/ New Communication Industries and Labor
497/ Issues in Information Technology and Society
497F/ Spanish Language Media
497/ Digital Media and the Built Environment(Inter)Cultural Communication:
212/ Cultural Codes in Communication
397/ Interracial Communication
397/ Communication and Culture
397K/ Intercultural Communication
497/ Native American Culture and Communication
497C/ Field Research in Social Interaction
497G/ Family Communication
497M/ Communication and Nature
514/ Social Uses of LanguageInterpersonal Communication:
212/ Cultural Codes in Communication
260/ Public Speaking
263/ Introduction to Argumentation/Debate
310/ Persuasion Theory
318/ Comparative Comm Theory
352/ Small Group Communication
355/ Behavioral Research in Comm
397/ Interracial Communication
397/ Communication and Culture
397B/ Discourse Analysis
494S/ Conflict Mediation
494T/ Advanced Interpersonal
497/ Health Communication
497/ Talk Radio
497/ Native American Culture and Communication
497C/ Field Research in Social Interaction
497G/ Family Communication
497M/ Communication and Nature
514/ Social Uses of LanguageMedia Effects:
222/ Media Programming & Institutions
226/ Social Impact of Mass Media
397P/ TV & the Public
397U/ Children, Teens, and Media
497/ Media ViolenceRhetoric and Performance:
260/ Public Speaking
263/ Intro to Argumentation/Debate
297C/ Democracy & Discourse
310/ Persuasion Theory
366/ Approaches to Rhetorical Criticism
397B/ Discourse Analysis
412/ Political Communication
495K/ Rhetorical Criticism
