Course Information
M.A., Communication in Instruction
COMM 600: Communication in the Classroom
This course focuses on the role of communication in the classroom environment, with particular emphasis on communication between students and teachers. Communication theories are introduced and applied to the instructional setting.
COMM 602: Interpersonal Communication
This course focuses on how interpersonal relationships play a negative or positive role in the instructional environment. Attention is paid to how interpersonal factors have a direct and indirect impact on students and teachers.
COMM 604: Theory and Research in Persuasion
This course provides teachers with effective tools for influencing people in the instructional setting (e.g., students, co-workers, administrators, parents). Attention is paid to relevant persuasion theories, models, and concepts.
COMM 608: Nonverbal Communication
This course studies the impact of nonverbal communication in the classroom. Attention is given to research on non-verbal codes of communication and their application in the instructional context.
COMM 609: Communication Apprehension and Avoidance
This course focuses on communication apprehension and avoidance in the classroom. Issues of major concern include the conceptualization of communication avoidance, its antecedents, outcomes, and methods of helping students overcome problems in this area.
COMM 612: Small Group Theory and Practice
This course provides teachers with the tools necessary to enhance their awareness of the role communication plays in small groups. Teachers explore the task issues their students will encounter when working in small groups.
COMM 615: Media in Communication and Instruction
This course addresses how the media influences how people think, feel, and behave, with special attention to how media impacts children. A goal of this course is to help teachers understand how they and their students can become more media literate consumers.
COMM 616: Communication in the Educational Organization
This course focuses on problems of communication within educational organizations with emphasis on elements that impact educational change, conflict management, and interpersonal influence.
COMM 617: Communication Problems of Children
This course addresses the normal maturation development of listening and speaking skills, their relationships to language acquisition, and influence upon achievement. Attention is paid to common problems that can arise in the developmental process.
COMM 619: Communication and Affect in Instruction
This course covers how communication in the classroom impacts affect (liking), for the teacher, the course content, and the learning process. Attention is paid to the teacher behaviors that are used to promote learning.
COMM 622: Gender and Communication
This course reviews contemporary and historical communication issues about sex, gender, and communication. Focus is on problems that can occur in different types of relationships as a result of gender communication differences (e.g., teacher-student, teacher-parent) along with recommendations for improving communication.
COMM 623 Leadership
This course covers leadership styles, models, and theories in classical and contemporary settings. Emphasis is given to leadership in groups and organizations.
COMM 624: Communication Ethics
This course focuses on communication ethics in the organizational and instructional contexts. Communication issues and situations are explored from various ethical perspectives.
COMM 625: Computer Mediated Communication
This course explores the impact of Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) and technology in our lives. A main topic that is addressed is how CMC and technology can be used effectively in the classroom.
COMM 626: Intercultural Communication
This course provides knowledge that will be helpful in interactions with diverse populations in the educational setting. Topics in the course include communicating across cultures, intercultural communication competence, and ethnocentrism.
COMM 627: Teachers in Film
This course focuses on how teachers and schools are portrayed in films, focusing on American films. Students will use course readings, as well as their own experiences, to offer critical analyses of these films.
COMM 629: Health Communication
This course examines how communication changes the way people think, feel, and behave about health. The class takes a pro-active approach in contending with risky behaviors and health issues.
COMM 693: Special Topics
This course involves a study of contemporary topics selected from recent research.
COMM 695: Independent Study
This course allows students to explore a topic that is not available through regular course offerings. This course requires the permission from the program coordinator.
COMM 701: Graduate Research Methods
This course is designed to expose students to the methods in which researchers study human communication behavior. The goal of the course is to develop a competency in critically evaluating research in all the sciences as well as the popular press.
COMM 792: Directed Study
This course involves independent work of designated readings and assignments under the direction of a faculty member.
COMM 792E: Communication Assessment
This course is designed to assist teachers in examining and evaluating current classroom assessment strategies to promote effective understanding and communication of student learning to relevant constituencies including students, parents and administrators.
