Communication Studies
Eric C. Pierson, Ph.D. , Chair
Leeva C. Chung, Ph.D.
Esteban del Rio, Ph.D.
Bethami A. Dobkin, Ph.D.
Gregory Ghio, M.A.
Carole L. Huston, Ph.D.
Kristin C. Moran, Ph.D.
Roger C. Pace, Ph.D.
Linda A. M. Perry, Ph.D., Emerita
Susannah Stern, Ph.D.
David B. Sullivan, Ph.D.
Larry A. Williamson, Ph.D.
The Communication Studies Major
The communication studies program offers four areas of concentration within the major: Foundations and contexts, communication and contemporary practice, images and influence, and media arts and culture. These concentrations are intended to provide students with the knowledge, background, and skills necessary to work in a communication-related profession, or to pursue advanced study in the field of communication or a related field.
Students who complete the major will have knowledge of foundational theories of communication; prevailing communication research paradigms; media industry structure and practices; prevailing criticism of media practice and performance; media influence on individuals and groups; the interplay of media systems in a global context; roles and functions of communication in interpersonal, group, organizational, and public contexts; conventions of public address and advocacy; and the impact and ethics of persuasion. Students will also have the ability to think critically; develop and present an argument; conduct and evaluate social scientific, interpretive, and critical research; communicate effectively in interpersonal, group, organizational, and public contexts; and invent, arrange, and deliver effective and ethical messages via oral, print, and electronic modes.
All students in the communication studies major must complete 36 units of coursework in the major, including 12 units of lower-division core courses, 9 units of upper-division core courses, and 15 units within their area of concentration.
Students who major or minor in communication studies are encouraged to participate in practicum (491, 492) and internship (498) courses as part of their upper-division elective experience. No more than 3 units of 498, and a maximum of 6 units combined of 491, 492, and 498, may be applied toward the major or minor.
COMM 101, 103, and 130 satisfy the Core Curriculum requirement in the social sciences.
Required Lower-Division Core (12 units)
COMM 101, 103, 130, 220
Required Upper-Division Core (9 units)
COMM 300, 336, 365
Concentration Requirements
6 units of required upper-division courses and 9 units upper-division electives within the concentration.
The Communication Studies Minor
The communication studies minor consists of 6 lower-division units – COMM 101, and either 103, 130, or 220 – and 12 upper-division units to be selected in consultation with an advisor.
Communication Studies Concentrations
Students who major in communication studies are required to choose one of four concentrations. There are two required courses in each concentration (6 units); students must take an additional 9 units in the concentration or in consultation with an advisor.
Foundations and Contexts
A broad survey of the discipline designed to give students both depth and breadth in the foundations of and approaches to the study of communication. Particularly suited for students interested in a liberal arts education or preparation for graduate work.
Required Courses
COMM 325 – Interpersonal Communication
COMM 370/W – Rhetorical Theory
Electives in the Concentration
COMM 330 – Media Processes and Effects
COMM 350 – Small Group Communication
COMM 353 – Organizational Communication
COMM 366W – Interpretive Research Methods
COMM 380 – International Media
COMM 422W – Family Business Communication
COMM 432/W – Film and Cultural Politics
COMM 445/W – Gender and Communication
COMM 460 – Persuasion and Propaganda
COMM 462 – Political Communication
COMM 475 – Intercultural Communication
COMM 482/W – Children and Media
Communication and Contemporary Practice
Advances an understanding of, and competency in, communication practices across professional contexts. Particularly suited for students interested in studying business, leadership, education, law, and/or relational communication.
Required Courses
COMM 325 – Interpersonal Communication
COMM 353 – Organizational Communication
Electives in the Concentration
COMM 403 – Advanced Public Speaking
COMM 422W – Family Business Communication
COMM 435 – Video Production
COMM 445W – Gender and Communication
COMM 450 – Small Group Communication
COMM 455 – Interviewing and Negotiation
COMM 460 – Persuasion and Propaganda
COMM 462 – Political Communication
COMM 475 – Intercultural Communication
COMM 485W – Writing for Electronic Media
Images and Influence
Explores the role of public communication in a mediated world, with a focus on issue and image management. Particularly suited for students interested in studying broadcasting, journalism, advertising, marketing, and public relations.
Required Courses
COMM 338 – Media and Conflict
COMM 460 – Persuasion and Propaganda OR
COMM 370/W – Rhetorical Theory
Electives in the Concentration
COMM 330 – Media Processes and Effects
COMM 370/W – Rhetorical Theory
COMM 380 – International Media
COMM 403 – Advanced Public Speaking
COMM 421W – Advanced Journalism
COMM 432W – Film and Cultural Politics
COMM 435 – Video Production
COMM 439 – New Media and Technology
COMM 455 – Interviewing and Negotiation
COMM 460 – Persuasion and Propaganda
COMM 462 – Political Communication
COMM 482W – Children and Media
COMM 485W – Writing for Electronic Media
Media Arts and Culture
Explores the relationship of media to identity and cultural production. Particularly suited for students interested in various forms of mediated expression and activism, such as television, radio, film, theater, and advertising.
Required Courses
COMM 330 – Media Processes and Effects
COMM 380 – International Media
Electives in the Concentration
COMM 338 – Media and Conflict
COMM 366W – Interpretive Research Methods
COMM 432W – Film and Cultural Politics
COMM 435 – Video Production
COMM 445W – Gender and Communication
COMM 439 – New Media and Technology
COMM 475 – Intercultural Communication
COMM 482W – Children and Media
COMM 485W – Writing for Electronic Media
Communication Studies Courses (COMM)
101 Introduction to Human Communication / 3 UNITS
An examination of the principles and contexts of human communication. Some of the principles surveyed are perception, listening, nonverbal communication, and persuasion. The primary contexts examined include interpersonal, group, organizational, and public communication. This course is a prerequisite for all upper-division communication studies courses, and fulfills a core curriculum requirement in the social sciences.
103 Public Speaking / 3 UNITS
An introduction to several forms of public communication. Emphasis is placed on the development and practice of public speaking about salient political, cultural, and social issues. Students are taught an audience-sensitive approach to the invention, arrangement, and delivery of public messages. Fulfills a core curriculum requirement in the social sciences.
130 Introduction to Media Studies / 3 UNITS
An introduction to media and media theory, this course covers the origins, history, and development of mass media. Additionally, the present structure, characteristics, and challenges in the areas of radio, television, and cable are addressed. Fulfills a core curriculum requirement in the social sciences.
220 Introduction to Media Writing / 3 UNITS
A general introduction to the skills and strategies associated with print and electronic journalism. Students are exposed to methods of news gathering, reporting, writing, and editing. The elements of the news story, interviewing, and the news conference are among the topics covered.
300 Human Communication Theory / 3 UNITS
This course provides a comprehensive survey of the various theories that comprise the communication studies discipline. Students are exposed to the dominant philosophical, conceptual, and critical perspectives germane to communication as a distinct academic pursuit. This class is intended as an overview of both speech communication and media studies traditions and is a recommended prerequisite to all upper-division courses in Communication Studies. Prerequisite: COMM 101.
325 Interpersonal Communication / 3 UNITS
An examination of the dynamics of one-to-one communication. Various humanistic and social scientific perspectives are explored. Emphasis is placed on the individual as an active participant/consumer in interpersonal communication settings. Prerequisite: COMM 101.
330 Media Processes and Effects / 3 UNITS
This course examines the various functions or roles that media perform for individuals and society. Specific topics include: the influence that economic, political, and aesthetic forces have on media programming; the structure and functions of media organizations; and theories and studies of media effects. The development of informed, critical consumption of mass media messages is emphasized. Prerequisite: COMM 130.
336 or 336W Communication Criticism / 3 UNITS
This course explores scholarly methods of media analysis, including structuralism, narrative media analysis, genre criticism, ideological criticism, and semiotics. This course emphasizes the importance of symbolic qualities of mediated messages. Prerequisites: COMM 130 and 330 are recommended.
338 Media and Conflict / 3 UNITS
This course examines the role media play in the progression and public perceptions of conflict. Relevant topics will include media and military intervention, portrayals of protest movements, and news and entertainment coverage of crime, rumors, domestic politics, violence, and ethnicity. Prerequisites: COMM 130 and 330 are recommended.
350 Small Group Communication / 3 UNITS
An examination of theories and principles of group communication. Students study interactional and attitudinal variables which influence the nature of group communication. Topics include group norms and roles, leadership, motivation, coalition formation, communication networks, and persuasion. Prerequisite: COMM 101.
353 Organizational Communication / 3 UNITS
This course examines the form and function of messages within organizations, with special emphasis on business communication. The course will focus on the role of communication in developing productive work relationships, human-resource practices, and organizational cultures. Topics include past and current management practices, communication networks and technologies, interpersonal relationships in organizations, public communication, and organizational communication assessment.
365 Communication Research Methods / 3 UNITS
An overview of communication research methodologies. Students are exposed to the prevailing paradigms of qualitative and quantitative research. The descriptive and explanatory values of historical, statistical, and survey methodologies will be examined. Ethical principles governing the process of research will also be explored. Prerequisite: COMM 101.
366W Interpretative Research Methods / 3 UNITS
A survey of contemporary interpretive methods in communication research. This course will help students understand bases of knowledge and value of communication not covered in COMM 365. Students will be exposed to methods such as field observation, ethnography, and content analysis. Prerequisite: COMM 101.
370 or 370W Rhetorical Theory / 3 UNITS
An examination of rhetorical thinking from its birth in Athens to the present time covering basic rhetorical principals and tenets. Students explore issues such as rhetoric as a humane discipline, the place of rhetoric in democracies, and the worth of rhetoric as a means of inducing change. Prerequisite:
COMM 101.
380 International Media / 3 UNITS
This course examines media systems, uses, and social impact around the world, with an emphasis on trans-national comparisons of media development. Topics to be addressed include globalization of the media environment, media and national identity, communication for social change, and the influence of U.S. media on cultures around the world. Prerequisite: COMM 130 is recommended.
403 Advanced Public Speaking / 3 UNITS
This course includes training in the types of professional presentations that occur in business, politics, education, and other forms of public communication. Through instructor and peer evaluation, students will gain proficiency in such skills as manuscript, extemporaneous, and impromptu speaking, and the use of conventional and electronic visual aids. Recommended as preparation for management, graduate work, and all levels of teaching. Prerequisite: COMM 103.
421W Advanced Journalism / 3 UNITS
This course combines instruction in contemporary theories about press performance with advanced newsroom skills. The course introduces students to newsroom management, advanced news gathering, press ethics, and the organizational norms that drive journalistic styles. Students develop advanced reporting and editing skills in completing print and electronic news assignments. Prerequisite: COMM 220.
422W Family Business Communication / 3 UNITS
This course examines organizational communication theory as it applies to management, conflict resolution, and effective communication in family business contexts. Unique to family businesses is the way communication functions in the processes of management succession, compensation, ownership succession, and employee motivation. Students will also examine how cultural issues affect family-owned businesses both within and outside the United States. Students will develop and practice their written and oral skills by editing and rewriting various projects that are presented as a final portfolio of their work.
432 or 432W Film and Cultural Politics / 3 UNITS
This course looks at the role of film in responding to and defining culture and politics. It focuses on mainstream, commercial, and narrative film, and includes an introduction to historical and ideological approaches to film criticism. Students will be encouraged to appreciate historically significant movies, learn sophisticated methods of film criticism, and assess the contributions contemporary films make to students’ understanding of themselves and others. Prerequisite: COMM 336 is recommended.
435 Principles of Video Production / 3 UNITS
This course introduces students to basic production skills while incorporating discussions of aesthetics, film theory, and ethics. Students are introduced to three phases of broadcast production: writing and planning (storyboarding, scripting); audio (actualities, sound effects, music); and visual production (composition, lighting, editing). By the end of the course students will produce a short video and/or audio presentation. Prerequisite: COMM 130.
439 New Media and Technology / 3 UNITS
This course surveys the development of new media forms, including the Internet, digital video, and interactive multimedia programs, and explores the future of media convergence. The course introduces students to theories and concepts with which they may assess the influence of information delivery systems on traditional media forms. Students learn the basics of interface design, Web site development, and database structure with a focus on improving the communication potential of new media technology.
440 Symbolic Processes / 3 UNITS
A comparison and contrast of various theories and philosophies of human symbol use. Several perspectives will be examined: General Semantics; Linguistics; Semiotics; and Dramatism. Prerequisite: COMM 101 is recommended.
445 or 445W Gender Communication / 3 UNITS
An overview of the relevant research on gender issues. Communicator styles of women and men are discussed. Attitudes and beliefs concerning female and male cultural stereotypes as they are manifested through communication are investigated. Prerequisite: COMM 101 is recommended.
455 Interviewing and Negotiating: Principles and Practices / 3 UNITS
An examination of methods and techniques applicable to a variety of interviews and negotiations. Students prepare, participate in, and critique employment, journalistic, and appraisal interviews. Students also learn techniques and principles of negotiating, including alternative dispute resolution, distributive bargaining, and principled negotiations. Prerequisite: COMM 101.
460 Persuasion and Propaganda / 3 UNITS
In this course students will examine the various forms of interpersonal, public, and mass persuasion messages that they encounter daily. Students will understand rhetorical, cognitive, and behavioral theories of persuasion, with emphasis placed on propaganda and the ethical critique of human persuasion. Prerequisite: COMM 101.
462 Political Communication / 3 UNITS
A survey of the centrality of communication processes in substantive areas of political activity. Areas of study include political speeches, election campaigns, debates, government and media relations, advertising and propaganda, and political movements. Special emphasis is placed on the relationship between public opinion and the use of rhetorical strategies, imagery, and symbolism.
475 Intercultural Communication / 3 UNITS
This course allows students to explore intercultural communication theory and research within both broad and interpersonal contexts. Topics include similarities and differences in values, norms, interethnic/intergroup communication, and adaptation, and the course explores mindful ways of enhancing such encounters. Prerequisite: COMM 300 is recommended.
482 or 482W Children and Media / 3 UNITS
This course is an overview of the relevant research on the role of electronic media in the lives of children. Some topics include: sex role stereotypes, violence; advertising; relationships, body image; and materialism. Students will also explore the positive influence of electronic media including its use for pro-social and educational purposes. Prerequisite: COMM 130 and 330 are recommended.
485W Writing for Electronic Media / 3 UNITS
This course introduces students to the skills and strategies associated with writing and production in various electronic media industries. Course material surveys the industry standards media professionals bring to their work, as well as academic criticism of these practices. Students will learn how to create and criticize a variety of electronic media texts, including news packages, television narratives, and advertisements. Prerequisite: COMM 220 is recommended.
491 Vista Staff / 1-3 UNITS
By consent of instructor.
492 USDtv Staff / 1-3 UNITS
By consent of instructor.
494 Special Topics in Communication Studies / 3 UNITS
Selected topics in Communication Studies will be examined.
495 Senior Project / 2-3 UNITS
A capstone course in which seniors will produce an original research or creative project. Addresses research methods, critical thinking, and the writing process. Students will present the results of their work. Recommended for students planning on pursuing graduate studies.
498 Communication Studies Internship / 2-3 UNITS
An experiential education course in which students participate as interns in either radio or television, public relations, advertising, or some facet of organizational communication. Open only to communication studies majors or minors of second-semester junior status or higher. No more than 3 internship units may be applied toward the major or minor. Students should consult the communication studies intern coordinator or go to www.sandiego.edu/commstudies/interns for details about enrollment and qualification. Prerequisite: Students must either have completed or be concurrently enrolled in COMM 300; second-semester junior status or higher.
499 Independent Study / 1-3 UNITS
By consent of instructor.
