500 Proseminar in Communication Theory and Research
An overview of the theoretical and research issues that define the field with particular emphasis on the contemporary studies within the Department of Communication. Students evaluate theoretical and research perspectives, examine the relationship between theory/research and practice/application, and prepare a proposal related to their own research interests.

504 Quantitative Foundations of Communication
This course is designed to introduce the communication graduate student to the quantitative analysis of data. The first half of the course will be devoted to mastering mathematical fundamentals essential to this course and other courses in the Department. The second half of the course serves as a brief introduction to a variety of methodological techniques that the student will encounter over the course of his or her graduate career, either in readings or in the conduct of research. Additional course work and/or reading will be necessary for an in-depth understanding.

508 Basic Statistics for the Social Sciences
(Crosslisted with PCS 508)
An introduction to methods for constructing and testing simple empirical representations of theories about politics. The main topics include descriptive statistics, probability distributions, sampling theory, sample estimation, hypothesis testing and bivariate data analysis. Primary emphasis is on understanding statistical concepts, underlying principles, and their application to common problems of political analysis; e.g., measuring public opinion, predicting election outcomes, assessing the impact of economic change on political stability, determining the relationship between interest group lobbying and power differentials on the likelihood of states to go to war. Students will gain a modest amount of experience in using computers and statistical software.

515 Communication Theories
Surveys theoretical approaches employed in the study of communication processes. The first unit introduces and evaluates "covering law" theories, including examples from communication research. The second unit covers a variety of specific theoretical perspectives including systems theory, information theory, and rules theory. The third and final unit introduces critical theory and the impact of major postmodernist thinkers.

517 Theoretical Foundations of Communication
Prerequisite: COM 515
An in-depth treatment of the epistemological and ontological foundations of the social sciences, in general, and Communication Science, in specific. A discussion of alternative theoretical perspectives including systems theory, rules theory and critical communication thoery. In-depth thoery construction. It is hoped that by the end of the semester, students will be developing their own testable theories. Required of all majors.

518 Quantitative Foundations of Communication
Prerequisite: COM 504
Introduction to methodological approaches of communication research, including, experiments, surveys, direct observation, and content analysis. Required for all majors. LEC

526 Mass Communication Theory
Basic theoretical concepts, models, and perspectives that underpin the field of mass communication; with reference to our social systems. SEM

599 Supervised Teaching
Admission only by consent of department chair. Teaching assignments within the Department are delegated to all registrants, whose work is supervised by a member of Department staff. May be taken more than once for credit. TUT

600 Independent Study
May be used for any special study requirements, such as reading or research. May be repeated for credit. TUT
Required: Informal Graduate Study Form (PDF format)

620 Organizational Communication
Provides students with an introduction to systems theory and to the role communication plays in organizations (social systems). This course will stress the distribution of information within and among organizations and the effects of information on organizational processes. By the end of the course the student will become familiar with (1) systems theory, (2) analytical techniques for the description of communication systems and (3) how other perspectives are related to organizational communication. SEM

621-622 Seminar in Comtemporary Problems
Content varies from semester to semester, but focuses on an issue of current interest. May be repeated for credit. SEM

621 Media Literacy & Culture
SEM

622 Legal Communication
An overview of important legal issues that both affect and are affected by the communication process. For example, the effect of warning labels on product user receipt, understanding, and behavior. Students will review the relevant literature, participate in research projects and write appropriate seminar papers. SEM

624 Internship in Communication
Prerequisite: permission of instructor
Supervised experience for advanced communication students in selected agencies. Externship may be available. May be repeated for credit. SEM

627-631 Seminar in Mass Communication
Advanced study and research in mass communication problem areas. Topics vary each time course is offered, including TV News, Political Communication, TV Advertising, Sex/Pornography in the Media, Public Broadcating, TV Programming/Soaps, Uses and Gratification Theory, Mass Communication Technology, Audience Analysis, TV Criticism. SEM

627 Internet in Society
SEM

628 Virtual Communication
SEM

630 Communication & Social Change
SEM

631 Communication & Society in East Asia
Examines communication and communication-related issues in East Asian countries with a focus on the economic superpower Japan, the world's potential giant China, and the four "mini-dragons" South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong. Topics to be discussed include the changing East Asian societies and their changing communication/media systems and policies, the various types of relationships between media and government in East Asia, the influence of the Confucianism and East Asian cultures on the communication aspect, the informatization progress in those countries, and the impact of media and communication globalization on the East Asian region. SEM

700 Thesis Guidance
Writing and submission of thesis or disertation under supervision of major professor. May not be enrolled in until program of study has been submitted. TUT