Department of Communication Studies

COMM 1310. Fundamentals of Human Communication.

This course examines the principles and techniques of speaking and listening that are fundamental to human communication. Students analyze and apply verbal and nonverbal communication techniques across a range of contexts, including interpersonal, small group, and public speaking. The course examines multiple perspectives and professional standards related to ethical communication, and the ability to adapt messages appropriately for different audiences, occasions, and purposes. Skills gained in this course prepare students to analyze information, express ideas clearly, and collaborate effectively.

COMM 2111. Directed Speech and Debate Activities.

This course provides structured, supervised participation in intercollegiate speech and debate activities. Students engage in event preparation, performance practice, research, and tournament‑related responsibilities under faculty guidance. Coursework emphasizes skill development in argumentation, organization, delivery, and competitive communication contexts. Students receive individualized instruction and evaluation of their performances to strengthen applied communication competencies. Peer coaching and feedback reinforce conceptual competence and foster critical listening and audience adaptations skills necessary for competitive success. The course supports students’ involvement in a range of forensic events.

COMM 2315. Interpersonal Communication.

This course introduces interpersonal communication through the study of how individuals interact across personal, professional, and cultural contexts. Students examine message production, relational development, and communication processes using research‑based concepts and theories. Emphasis is placed on understanding how communication patterns vary across situations and on applying course concepts to practical examples. Coursework explores listening, verbal and nonverbal communication, and message adaptation as factors shaping interaction. Learning activities focus on analyzing communication patterns, evaluating communicative choices, and applying evidence‑based strategies to interpersonal scenarios. Communication behaviors are treated as subjects of academic study, with attention to how different approaches may influence interaction quality across relational, social, and professional environments. Prerequisite: COMM 1310 with a grade of "D" or better.

COMM 2326. Interpretive Reading.

This course examines the interpretation and performance of literature, focusing on how performance choices shape meaning. Students analyze prose, poetry, and drama using approaches grounded in performance theory. Content covers structural elements such as plot, characterization, and language choices, as well as practical instruction in vocal development and physical expression. Through guided practice, students explore how interpretation functions as a communicative act and how performance can illuminate textual complexity. The course develops students’ analytical, expressive, and critical listening skills across diverse forms of literature. Prerequisite: COMM 1310 with a grade of "D" or better.

COMM 2330. Small Group Communication.

This course examines communication processes in small groups and teams and explores strategies that influence productivity, cohesion, and collaborative decision making. Students analyze theories and research related to group roles, norms, leadership, conflict management, and participation patterns that shape group interaction. Course material considers problem-solving, team structuring, and meeting management as communicative practices that support effective group coordination and task completion. Activities include readings, discussion, experiential learning, and applied group work in which students analyze communication practices and evaluate group decision-making processes in small group and team contexts. Prerequisite: COMM 1310 with a grade of "D" or better.

COMM 2338. Public Speaking.

This course examines fundamental principles of public speaking with emphasis on speech composition and audience-focused presentation strategies. Students develop proficiency in topic research, organization, language selection, and delivery techniques. Course activities provide informative and persuasive speaking opportunities that familiarize students with the expectations of common professional and civic situations. To maximize effectiveness, students learn to identify available rhetorical resources and practice adapting to contextual, audience, and speaker constraints. Integrating the rhetorical tradition with iterative practice, students implement a rigorous process of performance, feedback, and revision to refine their presentation skills. Prerequisite: COMM 1310 with a grade of "D" or better.

COMM 3301. Empirical Research Methods.

This course focuses on the study of communication as a data-driven behavioral science. Students explore how to conduct and interpret communication research through valid interview and survey techniques, recruitment of participants, and appropriate study design. Emphasizing practical application, the course introduces key empirical methods used to investigate communication behaviors and outcomes. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to locate scholarly research, evaluate research findings, and apply methodological principles to real-world communication contexts.

COMM 3302. Rhetorical Research Methods.

This course is designed to introduce students to the process of critical and rhetorical methods to examine texts and messages in various contexts. Students learn how messages arise as responses to different situations, how speakers use rhetoric to achieve their purposes, and how different audiences interpret texts. Throughout the semester, students study and practice a variety of critical approaches and use them to understand the functions of messages of various kinds. Learning to apply theories and methods for rhetorical analysis will help students develop analytic and research skills. (WI) Prerequisite: COMM 1310 and COMM 2338 both with grades of "D" or better.

COMM 3310. Communication Theory.

This course introduces major theories used to understand, explain, and analyze human communication across interpersonal, organizational, cultural, and mediated contexts. Students explore how communication theories are developed and applied to everyday interactions, social institutions, and media texts. Emphasis is placed on understanding key concepts, comparing theoretical perspectives, and using theory to analyze communication issues. Through readings, discussions, and applied activities, students learn to think theoretically about communication while connecting abstract ideas to lived experiences and contemporary communication contexts.

COMM 3319. Organizational Communication.

This course examines how people communicate in organizations and how communication sustains organizational structures and processes. Emphasis is placed on communication studies perspectives that distinguish organizations as sites of ongoing communicative activity. Students apply communication and management theories to analyze messages in corporate, nonprofit, and volunteer organizations across U.S. and global contexts. Using course concepts, students examine communication processes related to leadership, conflict, organizational systems, culture, technology, and work‑life interaction. The course treats organizational communication practices as subjects of academic analysis using theory‑based and evidence‑informed approaches.

COMM 3320. Communicating Through Sport.

This course provides a theoretical foundation for understanding and applying interpersonal, organizational, team, and public communication skills in sport settings. Students will explore the evolution and likely future of sports communication strategies and messages, as well as the role of communication in sport within broader social contexts. This includes examinations of communication as media practitioners within sports contexts and of the culture of sport. Sample topics include: fan culture; player-coach interactions; analyses of identity-related dynamics (e.g., family roles, player–coach relationships, national affiliation) in sports; and crisis communication. Students gain practical knowledge and skills to optimize verbal and nonverbal messages in sport contexts.

COMM 3321. Science Communication.

This course introduces principles and research in science communication using an audience‑centered approach. Drawing on rhetorical and social‑scientific perspectives, students examine how scientific information is communicated, interpreted, and evaluated across diverse contexts. Topics include message design, public understanding of science, audience reasoning, and the circulation of scientific claims in digital environments. Students analyze examples of science communication and study how individuals assess competing claims. Through assignments and applied activities, students learn to interpret communication strategies, evaluate scientific information, and apply research‑supported principles to communicate scientific ideas clearly.

COMM 3322. Communication Career Readiness.

This course helps students discover communication careers by assisting them in building a personalized career pathway through hands-on experiences, mentoring, networking, and examining the field of Communication Studies. Readings and assignments prepare students for future professional workforce standards by developing organizational and group communication competencies. Students engage in self-assessment, career exploration, and professional skill development to strengthen their career readiness. Students also evaluate their growth in career knowledge, confidence, and employable skills across a variety of communication careers in corporate, professional, and nonprofit organizations. Prerequisite: COMM 1310 with a grade of "C" or better.

COMM 3324. Professional Skills for the Global Workplace.

This course examines professional communication and workplace skills used in international organizational settings. Students study competencies such as coworker communication, conflict management, leadership, and networking, and explore how these skills function across different organizational environments. Course activities include readings, discussions, structured site visits, and opportunities to practice professional presentations and training modules. Throughout the term, students integrate observations from business visits, class activities, and applied exercises to develop transferable strategies for their own career goals in global workplace contexts.

COMM 3325. Communication and Conflict Management.

This course examines how communication shapes the emergence, escalation, and management of conflict. Students study theoretical perspectives, research findings, and applied frameworks that explain how conflict develops and how communication affects interaction processes. Through case analyses and structured activities, students analyze listening behaviors, emotion management, and strategies used to navigate challenging interactions. The course focuses on describing communication patterns and evaluating evidence‑based approaches to conflict interaction rather than prescribing personal viewpoints. Students learn to interpret conflict dynamics, assess situational factors, and apply communication tools discussed in research to understand conflict across varied contexts. (WI).

COMM 3326. Family Communication.

This course examines how communication shapes family relationships, roles, and interaction patterns across a variety of family forms. Students examine theoretical frameworks, research findings, and applied perspectives that explain how messages influence family functioning, well-being, and relational development. Through case analyses, observation, and guided reflection, students analyze communication patterns related to cohesion, conflict, culture, parenting, sibling and inter-generational relationships, and family transitions. Rather than prescribing personal viewpoints, the course emphasizes interpreting evidence, evaluating family communication processes, and applying analytical tools that support clear, ethical, and context-aware communication in a range of family situations.

COMM 3328. Communication and Gender.

This course investigates how gender impacts communication and how communication impacts gender. Students will examine theories of gender and communication in a variety of settings, including in interpersonal relationships, small groups, organizations, healthcare, media, and society. Emphasis is placed on how gender is communicated across experiences, identities, contexts, and cultures. Through evaluating communication research and applied examples, students will analyze how social assumptions, norms, and processes related to gender are communicated across interpersonal, organizational, and public contexts. (MULT) (WI).

COMM 3329. Intercultural Communication.

This course examines how communication occurs across diverse cultural contexts, including differences in language, beliefs, traditions, and community practices. Students study theories of intercultural communication and analyze how messages are created, interpreted, and negotiated across cultural boundaries. The course explores verbal and nonverbal communication in global, historical, interpersonal, national, political, and social contexts. Through case studies and analytical activities, students learn to interpret intercultural interactions and apply research‑supported concepts to understand how culture shapes communication practices.

COMM 3330. Nonverbal Communication.

This course examines foundational theories, codes, and functions of nonverbal communication across interpersonal, organizational, and public contexts. Students study major nonverbal codes, identify a range of observable cues, and evaluate how nonverbal behaviors operate during interaction. Topics include identity expression, impression formation, emotion communication, relational processes, persuasion, power and status indicators, and research on deception. The course emphasizes evidence‑based analysis and the application of theoretical concepts to real‑world examples. Students analyze patterns in nonverbal behavior and interpret how nonverbal cues shape communication across diverse settings.

COMM 3332. The Dark Side of Communication.

This course examines communication that is considered challenging, complicated, stressful, or unpleasant. Topics include deception, teasing and bullying, jealousy, uncertainty, topic avoidance, criticism, and communicative aggression. The course explores these phenomena across a range of contexts, from everyday interactions to more extreme situations, and considers their impact on relationships and well-being. Students analyze theoretical and research-based perspectives on these forms of communication and examine how individuals interpret, manage, and respond to difficult communicative situations in personal and professional contexts.

COMM 3335. Communication and Identity in International Work Cultures.

This course explores how work identities (e.g., “I’m an IBMer,” or “I’m a teacher”) are formed, managed, and regulated in our interactions with organizations.  By examining workplaces across the world, students will compare how these processes vary across cultural contexts and global work environments. Students explore how identity is communicated through everyday practices, organizational narratives, and norms around belonging, professionalism, and work-life boundaries. Material includes discussion-based learning and guided reflections that connect course concepts to observed communication practices in diverse organizations.

COMM 3336. Communication across Social Contexts.

This course examines how communication scholars analyze differences among individuals based on identities and characteristics commonly studied in social science research. Topics may include gender, race, class, sexuality, ability, national origin, and citizenship status. Through research and case studies, students analyze how these identities and characteristics are examined within communication contexts such as workplaces, interpersonal settings, and intrapersonal communication.

COMM 3342. Interviewing Principles and Practices.

This course examines the components and techniques that distinguish interviewing from other communication practices. Students study interviewing goals, structures, and question formats, and apply communication strategies across different professional settings. Through guided activities and practice sessions, students develop interviewing guides and apply techniques used in a variety of interview types. The course emphasizes analytical understanding of interview design as well as skill development for roles ranging from job applicant to organizational representative.

COMM 3345. Argumentation and Debate.

This course introduces students to the study and practice of argumentation and debate through evidence‑based reasoning, structured analysis, and applied practice. Students examine how arguments are formed, tested, compared, and presented across multiple debate formats. Emphasis is placed on understanding argument structure, evaluating evidence, identifying reasoning patterns, and assessing claims in a variety of contexts. Students develop analytical and communication skills through written assignments, in‑class debates, and structured feedback. The course treats debate as a scholarly discipline concerned with examining issues from multiple perspectives rather than advocating particular viewpoints. Students learn to construct, critique, and deliver well‑supported arguments in academic and professional settings. Prerequisite: COMM 1310 with a grade of a "D" or better.

COMM 3350. Public Advocacy and Civic Engagement.

This course examines the role of public advocacy and civic engagement within contemporary democratic processes. Students study how individuals and groups communicate about public issues, how arguments are constructed and evaluated, and how civic forums function as sites for deliberation. Emphasis is placed on analyzing rhetorical strategies, understanding the structures of public controversies, and exploring how communication shapes civic participation. Through case studies, guided practice, and critical inquiry, students learn methods for evaluating diverse viewpoints and engaging responsibly in public discourse. Course content approaches civic and ethical questions as subjects of scholarly investigation, supporting students’ ability to form independent, evidence‑based conclusions.

COMM 3358. Professional Communication.

This course applies communication theories and concepts to professional contexts, including job searches, application materials, interviewing, and workplace interactions. Students examine how communication strategies support career development and learn techniques for creating résumés, cover letters, presentations, and digital professional profiles. Through readings, practice activities, and guided feedback, students analyze communication expectations in organizational settings and apply evidence‑based strategies for professional conversations and interviews. The course emphasizes the development of transferable communication skills relevant to a wide range of careers and prepares students to represent their qualifications effectively in written, verbal, and digital formats.

COMM 4307. Media Criticism.

This course introduces students to contemporary critical theories used to analyze the roles of media technologies, industries, messages, and audiences in society. Students learn twelve critical perspectives and apply them to examine how film and television construct social meanings. Emphasis is placed on developing analytical tools for interpreting media texts and understanding how media influence cultural narratives. The course focuses on methodological approaches and skills development rather than promoting particular political or ideological viewpoints.

COMM 4310. Methods of Teaching Communication Studies.

This course prepares students to teach speech communication at the secondary level (grades 7–12). Students examine effective instructional strategies for speech communication, emphasizing opportunities to discuss and demonstrate classroom teaching methods. Students explore the rules and regulations of the Texas Education Agency and consider both the practical and theoretical dimensions of becoming a speech educator. By the end of the course, students are equipped with foundational skills for a career in secondary speech teaching. Prerequisite: COMM 1310, COMM 2315, COMM 2330, or COMM 2338; with a grade of "C" or better.

COMM 4311. Instructional Communication Practicum.

This course provides students with an overview of instructional communication research and theory. Teaching and learning are explored from both teacher and student perspectives, focusing on verbal and nonverbal communication strategies included, but not limited to, immediacy, feedback, questioning techniques, and clarity. The curriculum is designed such that students will spend half of their course time working with a faculty supervisor as an instructional aide in an undergraduate course. As instructional aids, students will apply their instructional communication knowledge and skills through presentations, facilitation of experiential activities, and learning to assess low-stakes assignments.  Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

COMM 4315. Directed Research in Communication Studies.

This course provides students with guided instruction and supervised research opportunities in Communication Studies that extend beyond the standard undergraduate curriculum. Students may engage in scholarly projects such as synthesizing literature, designing methodological approaches, collecting and analyzing data, or writing and disseminating a research paper. Applied projects may focus on translating communication research for practical audiences across various contexts. Working closely with a faculty mentor, students identify research questions, project goals, and appropriate theoretical and methodological frameworks. The course emphasizes independent inquiry, analytical rigor, and the development of skills needed to conceptualize and complete a scholarly or applied communication research project. May be repeated with different emphasis for additional credit. Prerequisite: Instructor and department approval and 2.0 TXST GPA.

COMM 4320. Planning Communication Studies Activities and Events.

This course examines the processes involved in planning, coordinating, and evaluating communication‑focused activities and events. Students explore logistical, organizational, and audience‑related factors that shape event design, as well as the communication practices that support effective planning. Through applied projects, the course emphasizes skill development in scheduling, budgeting, documentation, collaboration, and implementation. Students will analyze a range of event formats common within communication studies and consider how communication principles inform planning choices across diverse contexts. Course activities may include needs assessments, logistical analyses, venue reviews, and reflective evaluations of planning outcomes. Students approach event planning as a systematic and communicative process grounded in clarity of objectives, professional standards, and research-based decision‑making.

COMM 4321. American Speeches.

This course surveys the history of American public address. The class studies significant and representative speeches from different periods of American history. Students read primary texts, including speeches and other public messages, from selected periods of American history. Students learn methods of rhetorical criticism that can be applied to these texts. This class examines what the study of American public address reveals to us about communication and social influence throughout American history. It approaches political and social topics analytically and does not promote particular viewpoints. Prerequisite: COMM 2338 with the grade of a "D" or better.

COMM 4322. Rhetoric of Protest Movements.

This course examines persuasive strategies used by protest and political movements and analyzes how rhetorical practices function within historical and cultural contexts in American society. The course applies rhetorical and analytical frameworks to examine movement development, leadership styles, and rhetorical appeals. Through readings, research, and case studies, students analyze historical and contemporary examples to evaluate how movements represent and respond to cultural contexts. Prerequisite: COMM 2338 with a grade of a "D" or better.

COMM 4324. Organizational Rhetoric.

This course examines how organizations use rhetoric to shape meaning for internal and external audiences. Students analyze organizational texts related to identity, issues, risk, crisis, and internal communication by applying concepts from rhetorical criticism and organizational communication. Emphasis is placed on developing analytical skills for identifying rhetorical strategies, evaluating organizational communication choices, and understanding how symbolic action influences stakeholder interpretations. Through reading, discussion, and applied assignments, students gain experience studying organizational rhetoric as an object of scholarly inquiry and learn to assess communication practices across various organizational contexts.

COMM 4325. Communication and Technology.

This course investigates communication processes within digital and technology supported environments. It examines interpersonal interaction, workplace communication, and digitally mediated public discourse, with attention to how technological features shape message creation and interpretation. Students study scholarly approaches to analyzing communication practices in various digital contexts and review research on relationships between technological systems and human interaction. The course draws on established evidence-based frameworks used to understand contemporary communication patterns in mediated settings.

COMM 4326. Health Communication.

This course provides an overview of theories and research that examine how health information is communicated in clinical, organizational, relational, and public contexts. Students study contemporary issues such as patient–provider communication, public health messaging, crisis communication, health campaigns, cultural considerations, digital health tools, and communication related to socio‑emotional experiences in health settings. The course emphasizes analyzing communication strategies and evaluating how message design can shape access to, and interpretation of, health information.

COMM 4327. Social Media in Organizations.

This course prepares students to be effective social media writers, resourceful workers, critical consumers, and savvy job seekers by examining how social media shapes communication inside and around organizations. Students explore organizations’ use of social media for community management, crisis communication, and stakeholder engagement, along with enterprise social media for knowledge sharing, culture, and policy. Material includes an applied social media audit in which students analyze an organization’s current practices using scholarly research and produce evidence-based recommendations.

COMM 4329. Communication Training and Human Resource Development.

This course provides an in-depth comprehensive exploration of theories, practices, and strategic applications of communication training and human resource development within organizations. Students examine concepts in instructional design, adult learning theory, organizational communication, and professional development, with focus on designing, delivering, and evaluating communication training programs that improve individual and organizational performance. Through a combination of assignments, case studies, and applied projects, students will analyze organizational communication needs, design evidence-based training interventions, and evaluate the effectiveness of learning programs. Prerequisite: COMM 2315 or COMM 2330 or COMM 2338 with a grade of a "D" or better.

COMM 4331. Persuasion.

This course examines rhetorical and social scientific theories of persuasion, focusing on how persuasive messages are created, interpreted, and evaluated. Students explore definitions of persuasion and analyze how different definitions shape ethical evaluations of persuasion. By studying contexts ranging from interpersonal relationships to political, social marketing, and advertising campaigns, students are familiarized with the scope and significance of persuasive practices. Course activities reinforce instruction in topics such as message design, audience analysis, source image and credibility, and message evaluation using evidence-based standards.

COMM 4332. Rhetoric and Public Memory.

This course introduces students to rhetorical approaches to public memory, examining how communities construct, negotiate, and circulate shared understandings of the past. Students study major theories of collective memory, commemorative practices, national identity, narrative construction, and memory sites such as monuments, museums, archives, and public rituals. The course emphasizes how rhetorical strategies shape interpretations of historical events, public identities, and cultural narratives. Students analyze case studies from diverse contexts to understand how memory is produced, contested, and communicated in public discourse.

COMM 4336. Communication and Training Across Differences.

This course focuses on communication practices and training strategies for working across social, cultural, and identity-based differences in educational, organizational, and community contexts. Students examine how communication shapes understanding, collaboration, and participation among individuals with varied lived experiences. Emphasis is placed on applied training design, audience analysis, facilitation strategies, and message development. Through partnerships with community organizations or applied showcase projects, students practice designing and delivering communication trainings that respond to real-world needs while developing professional presentation and teamwork skills.

COMM 4338. Advanced Public Speaking.

This course examines advanced principles of public speaking with emphasis on contextual analysis, speech composition, and audience-focused presentation strategies. Students develop proficiency in researching topics, organizing material, selecting language, developing memory, and applying verbal and nonverbal delivery techniques. Course activities introduce informative, persuasive, and ceremonial speaking opportunities to help students address rhetorical expectations across professional, civic, and cultural contexts. Students practice managing constraints such as preparation time, audience diversity, and the availability of presentation aids. Through repeated application and feedback, students learn adaptable, evidence-based approaches to preparing and delivering speeches in varied communication settings. Prerequisite: COMM 2338 with a grade of a "D" or better.

COMM 4345. Political Communication.

This course examines historical and contemporary examples of political communication in the United States, including communication practices in political campaigns and in the performance of public office. Students analyze how ethical frameworks are used to evaluate political communication as well as the impact of genre conventions, media, audience, identity, and institutions across different contexts. The course introduces major scholarly approaches and research findings in the field and applies them to various case studies to better understand communication strategies and their observable effects on audiences and political processes. Prerequisite: COMM 2338 with a grade of a "D" or better.

COMM 4346. Environmental Communication and Sustainability.

This course examines how environmental communication shapes public understanding of environmental topics, scientific debates, and policy discussions. Students analyze a variety of public messages, including speeches, debates, organizational statements, and media texts, using rhetorical, visual, and digital communication approaches. Emphasis is placed on identifying communicative strategies, framing practices, and representations of human and nonhuman environments. Students develop skills for assessing environmental discourse and for producing clear, evidence‑supported messages for diverse audiences while maintaining an analytical, non‑advocacy orientation.

COMM 4347. Leadership and Communication.

This course examines leadership as a set of communicative practices grounded in theory and research. Students analyze messages, leadership styles, and followership dynamics while evaluating how leadership operates across a variety of professional contexts. Through applied activities and case‑based analysis, students study how communication shapes leadership interactions and organizational processes. The course emphasizes analytical understanding of leadership communication and provides opportunities for students to practice applying leadership theories in structured, professional scenarios.

COMM 4350. Communication and Coping across the Lifespan.

This course reviews research on how communication processes relate to coping with stress across major life transitions and health challenges. Students examine theoretical models of stress and coping with attention to communication behaviors associated with adaptation across the lifespan, including during emerging adulthood, family transitions, caregiving, chronic illness, and end‑of‑life contexts. Topics include social support, disclosure, privacy management, narrative sense‑making, and stigma communication. The course emphasizes analyzing research evidence, interpreting communication patterns, and applying theoretical frameworks to understand how individuals and groups communicate during stressful situations.

COMM 4351. Relational Communication.

This course examines how communication relates to relational formation, interaction patterns, maintenance processes, and relational change. Students study major theories, models, and empirical research addressing friendships, families, and romantic relationships. Topics include relational development, maintenance strategies, conflict processes, turning points, and dissolution. Emphasis is placed on analyzing scholarly literature and applying research‑supported concepts to examples of interpersonal interaction. Students evaluate evidence to understand how communication functions within relational processes across a variety of contexts while maintaining autonomy in personal viewpoints and decisions. Communication behaviors are treated as subjects of academic inquiry rather than prescriptive guidance.

COMM 4390. Communication Internship.

This course provides applied organizational experience via on-the-job practice in a communication related internship role in an approved organization. As interns, students will apply communication theories, concepts, and skills in a professional setting that prepares them for their future workforce interests and goals. Students complete a minimum of 150 hours at their internship organization in their intern roles, a written contract and check-ins with the internship coordinator, and a final portfolio of work connecting their internship to communication concepts. May be repeated for additional credit. Prerequisites: 6 hours of upper level communication electives completed with a grade of “C” or higher and 2.0 TXST GPA and instructor approval.