Communication Studies (CMST)

CMST 1500    Exploring Communication    3 s.h.

Introduction to the world of media, journalism and communication with a focus on various functional areas and career opportunities. Development of the requirements of the communication professional including teamwork, information gathering and communication skills.

CMST 1545    Communication Foundations    3 s.h.

Theories, strategies, and skills for competent participation in interpersonal, group, and public communication situations. Application exercises in interpersonal, group, and public communication.
Prereq.: Qualified to take ENGL 1549 or ENGL 1550.
Gen Ed: Oral Composition.

CMST 1545H    Honors Communication Foundations    3 s.h.

Theories, strategies, and skills for competent participation in interpersonal, group, and public communication situations. Application exercises in interpersonal, group, and public communication.
Prereq.: Qualified to take ENGL 1550.
Gen Ed: Oral Composition.

CMST 2600    Communication Theory    3 s.h.

The study of significant theories of communication that reflect the diversity of communication studies and address different communication contexts: interpersonal, group, public, organizational, and mass.
Gen Ed: Social Science.

CMST 2610    Intercultural Communication    3 s.h.

The study of key historical and contemporary theories that affect communication across cultural boundaries. Exercises for improving communication skills in intercultural communication situations are included.
Gen Ed: Social Science, Social and Personal Awareness.

CMST 2620    Science Communication    3 s.h.

Project-based course in planning and disseminating public messages that explain and use science ethically and effectively to inform and influence people.
Gen Ed: Oral Composition.

CMST 2630    Social Media Literacy    3 s.h.

Analyze and evaluate social media communication in its variety of forms. Includes message evaluation, digital media curating, ethics and privacy.

CMST 2650    Rhetoric of Film    3 s.h.

Conceptual examination and critical analyses of film including mythic, feminism, Marxist, auteur, genre, and rhetorical perspectives.
Prereq.: ENGL 1551.

CMST 2654    Community Engagement & Relations    3 s.h.

Examination of various socio-cultural, leadership, and organizational theories relative to community engagement and relations. Exploration of the reciprocal relationship between organizations and community including mission and goal statements, programming, community feedback, internal and external communication and social movements.

CMST 2655    Communication in Groups    3 s.h.

An introduction to theories and concepts relating to group communication effectiveness with practical career applications.

CMST 2656    Interpersonal Communication    3 s.h.

An examination of the skills necessary to develop, maintain, and evaluate one-to-one relationships. Through practical experiences from everyday life, the class examines what occurs when one person communicates with another.

CMST 3700    Designing Communication Research    3 s.h.

A study of the processes involved in designing both qualitative and quantitative communication research projects. Communication research design and implementation.
Prereq.: 15 s.h. of Communication Studies including CMST 2600, and ENGL 1551.

CMST 3717    Intro to Media Relations Campaigns    3 s.h.

An experiential, service-learning course in designing and implementing Media Relations campaigns.
Prereq.: CMST 1545.

CMST 3740    Social Media Communication    3 s.h.

Examination of applications and strategies for communicating through social media, including managing personal and professional social media messages, social media content development, and dissemination.
Prereq.: CMST 2630.

CMST 3745    Individual Studies    1-3 s.h.

Student selects a special problem or issue in communication to research in detail under the direction of a faculty member, pending department committee approval. Repeatable to 6 hours.
Prereq.: Permission of instructor.

CMST 3746    Presentational Speaking    3 s.h.

In depth examination of the theory and practice of preparing and delivering presentations in today's work environment with emphasis of the impact of internet technology on the forms of oral communication presentations.
Prereq.: CMST 1545 or equivalent.

CMST 3747    Film Analysis: A Rhetorical Perspective    3 s.h.

Audience and critical rhetorical analysis of films. Approaches include Mythic, Genre, Auteur, Feminist, and Marxist with a focus on the rhetorical dimensions of the various perspectives.

CMST 3750    Gender Communication    3 s.h.

Principal concepts and issues of gender and communication as they apply to identity, and communication within and between the genders in a variety of contexts.

CMST 3754    Argumentation and Advocacy    3 s.h.

Developing critical thinking through systematic evaluation of critical thinking theories, principles, and practices of argumentation. This course will discuss critical thinking occurring in reading, writing, listening, and spoken discourse.
Prereq.: CMST 1545.

CMST 3754C    CE Argumentation and Advocacy    3 s.h.

Developing critical thinking through systematic evaluation of critical thinking theories, principles, and practices of argumentation. This course will discuss critical thinking occurring in reading, writing, listening, and spoken discourse.
Prereq.: CMST 1545.

CMST 3756    Interviewing    3 s.h.

Theories of communication applied to interview situations with a special concern for developing student understanding of and skills needed to participate in one-to-one and panel interviews.
Prereq.: CMST 1545.

CMST 3757    Media Relations Writing    3 s.h.

A lecture-lab course in writing pamphlets, advertisements, newsletters, and websites for media relations campaigns.
Prereq.: ENGL 1551.

CMST 3790    Personal Brand Communication    3 s.h.

Introduction to the concepts personal brand communication, media image management, personal image repair, review of name-image-likeness (NIL) principles and practices.

CMST 4850    Social Media Campaigns    3 s.h.

Integrated media campaign development using social media applications; theory and practice of social media campaign lifecycles including inception, implementation, and evaluation of client-based projects.
Prereq.: CMST 1545 .

CMST 4851    New Communication Media    3 s.h.

New media histories, technologies, and cultures. Considers promising future forms, and includes issues of authorship, community, identity, interactivity, visuality, the nature and power of technology, intelligent systems, and artificial life.
Prereq.: CMST 2600 .

CMST 4855    Interpersonal Communication Relationships    3 s.h.

Theories of relationship development, maintenance and termination. The impact of face-to-face and mediated communication on interpersonal relationships.
Prereq.: CMST 2600 and CMST 2656.

CMST 4859    Organizational Cultures    3 s.h.

Analysis of organizational cultures. Relationships between organizational culture and communication in modern organizations.

CMST 4879    Sports Communication Message Design    3 s.h.

Integrated media campaign development using theory and practice of communication. Students will explore lifecycles of sports information campaigns including inception, implementation, and evaluation of projects.
Prereq.: CMST 2600.

CMST 4896    Communication Internship    3 s.h.

Application of communication skills through supervised work experience. Students complete a minimum of 180 work hours. Internship placement is selective. May require travel.
Prereq.: Junior standing, 2.0 GPA, AND special approval required, OR special approval required.

CMST 4897    Communication Internship 2    3 s.h.

Application of communication skills through supervised work experience. Students complete a minimum of 180 work hours. Internship placement is selective. May require travel.
Prereq.: CMST 4896, Junior standing, 2.0 GPA, AND special approval required, OR special approval required.

CMST 4898    Media Analysis    3 s.h.

Application of methods of analysis to describe and critique the content of various types of media, including new media, news media, and entertainment media. Emphasis on the relationship between media content, uses, and effects.
Prereq.: CMST 3700.

CMST 4899    Senior Project    3 s.h.

Synthesis of research, writing, and presentation skills through the completion of a communication research project and professional development activity. Repeatable to a maximum of 6 s.h. Grading is Traditional/PR.
Prereq.: Senior standing, major in Communication Studies, 24 s.h. of communication studies major complete, including CMST 3700 or CMST 3799.
Gen Ed: Capstone.

CMST 5852    Conflict Management and Negotiation    3 s.h.

An in-depth analysis of the theories and variables influencing conflict management, resolution, and negotiation. Includes strategies and skills for meditation and arbitration.
Prereq.: Junior Standing.

CMST 5860    Persuasion and New Media    3 s.h.

Introduction to persuasion theory and application of theory to new communication media.
Prereq.: Junior standing.

CMST 5889    Theory of Sports and Communication    3 s.h.

CMST 5889. An overview of sports and communication, their symbiotic relationship and the social, cultural, and political impact of that relationship.
Prereq.: Junior Standing.

CMST 5898    Seminar    3 s.h.

A cooperative exploration of topics in communication studies. May be repeated up to 6 semester hours.
Prereq.: Junior standing.

CMST 5898X    Communication for Teachers and Trainers    3 s.h.

The study of communication theory and practice appropriate instructors and trainers. Theories and application focus primarily on interpersonal communication, group communication, and classroom speaking.
Prereq.: Junior standing.

CMST 6900    Survey of Communication Graduate Studies    3 s.h.

Orientation to teaching, learning, and research in the communication discipline for new graduate students.

CMST 6945    Communication for the Classroom Teacher    3 s.h.

The study of communication theory and practice appropriate for the prospective classroom teacher. Theories and application exercises focus on interpersonal communication, group communication, and classroom speaking.

CMST 6950    Computer Mediated Communication Research    3 s.h.

Theory, research, and application of CMC including examination of computer communication theories and relevant research methodologies, web design theory and critiques, blogging, podcasting, e-mailing, social media, multimedia storytelling. Design, implementation, and evaluation of CMC.

CMST 6953    Group Dynamics: Theory and Research    3 s.h.

Theory and research of group processes, critical thinking and creativity strategies, theory of group leadership and teamwork, conflict management and mediation, advanced group decision-making and problem solving, motivational strategies.

CMST 6957    American Corporate Culture    3 s.h.

Includes instruction in the types of cultures in American organizations, assessments of culture and climate, and best practices for shaping culture and improving climate to promote creativity, productivity, and employee satisfaction.

CMST 6970    Internship    3 s.h.

Communication-related work in a professional setting.
Prereq.: Special approval required.

CMST 6980    Qualitative Research Methods    3 s.h.

Introduction to and application of qualitative research methods relevant to business communication settings.

CMST 6990    Quantitative Research Methods    3 s.h.

Project-based course covering quantitative research methods, including surveys, experiments, and online analytics. Projects include data collection, analysis, and reporting using industry-standard software and platforms. 

CMST 6991    Communication Problems: Independent Study    3 s.h.

Individual study and practical application of communication research principles to various organizational, group and mediated communication problems.

CMST 6994    Capstone    3 s.h.

Applied research paper on a communication topic. Oral presentation required. For non-thesis option students only. Thesis option students should take CMST 6995: Thesis.
Prereq.: Completion of the MA core courses.

CMST 6995    Thesis    3 s.h.

Research study on an applied communication topic. Oral presentation required. Total of 6 s.h. required for the MA thesis option. For thesis option students only. Non-thesis option students should take CMST 6994: Capstone.
Prereq.: Completion of the MA core courses.

CMST 6996    Thesis 2    3 s.h.

Research study on an applied communication topic. Oral presentation required. Total of 6 s.h. required for the MA thesis option. For thesis option students only. Non-thesis option students should take CMST 6994: Capstone.
Prereq.: Completion of the MA core courses AND CMST 6995.

CMST 6997    Thesis 3    1-3 s.h.

Research study on an applied communication topic. Oral presentation required. Total of 6 s.h. required for the MA thesis option. For thesis option students only. Non-thesis option students should take CMST 6994: Capstone.
Prereq.: Completion of the MA core courses AND CMST 6995 and CMST 6996.