(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): ESC 202 and CVE 412. Dynamic response of single and multiple degree-of-freedom and continuous structural systems to general force inputs by integration and modal methods; approximate design methods of structural systems under dynamic loading.
(3 credits) Prerequisite(s): CVE 422 Properties of hydraulic cements, aggregates, plastic, and hardened concrete; effect of admixtures and curing conditions; specifications and acceptance tests; placement, consolidation, finishing, and durability of concrete.
(3 credits) Prerequisite(s): CVE 422 Immediate and long-term stress losses in post-tensioned and pre-tensioned members; analysis and design of post-tensioned and pre-tensioned members for flexure and shear; proportioning of members, calculation of the amount, and positioning of reinforcement.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Restriction for undergraduates in graduate courses and enrolled in the college
of Engineering Methods of nondestructive evaluation are studied. Topics include ultrasonics, acoustic emissions, penetrants, eddy current, X-ray and neutron radiography, digital radiography, computed tomography, and thermography. Cross-listed with MME 524.
(3 credits) Topics in reinforced concrete and steel design-plastic design of beams and frames, composite construction, plate girder design, torsion, two-way slab design, and limit state design.
(4 credits) Vertical dead and live loads due to gravity, roof, and floor. Lateral design loads due to wind and seismic. Properties and grades of sawn lumber and glulam members, modification factors of allowable stresses; analysis and design of axially loaded members, combined axial and bending effects. Properties and grades of plywood and other rated sheathing; analysis and design of horizontal diaphragms, chords, drag struts, and shearwalls. Design of nailed, bolted connections; timber connectors and connection hardware.
(3 credits) Prerequisite(s): Restriction for undergraduates in graduate courses and enrolled in the college
of Engineering Soil mineralogy, determination of soil composition, clay-water electrolyte systems, soil composition, and engineering properties. Conduction phenomenon. Frozen soil engineering.
(3 credits) Prerequisite(s): Restriction for undergraduates in graduate courses and enrolled in the college
of Engineering Subsurface explorations; shallow foundations; design of spread footings, mats, retaining walls, and deep foundations; design of piles, piers, and caissons.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Restriction for undergraduates in graduate courses and enrolled in the college
of Engineering Engineering classification of soils, clay mineralogy, properties of different types of soils, such as strength, permeability, volume-density characteristics; soil contaminant interaction, method of soil stabilization, method of soil decomposition, process selection, and site remediation. Soil decontamination design project.
(4 credits) The Traffic Flow Theory course provides the basic concepts and theories of traffic flow characteristics and the associated analytical techniques. This course reviews the foundations of traffic science and presents the major classes of models derived for traffic flow. Recent developments and topics of current research are introduced. The course also addresses the implications of the models and the traffic system properties for traffic operations and control.
(4 credits) Focus on factors involved in the process of urban planning and regional transportation systems, encompassing all modes. Provides students with theory and applications of urban transportation planning studies, traffic models, investment models, programming and scheduling.
(3 credits) Survey of transportation development, characteristics, and planning; traffic characteristics capacity of various systems, including basic procedures, controls, and criteria in highway design; environmental considerations.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): CVE 446 Properties of materials used in highway construction. Effects of loading and the environment on pavement life. Design of flexible and rigid pavement systems. Construction methods and management.
(3 credits) Prerequisite(s): Restriction for undergraduates in graduate courses and enrolled in the college
of Engineering Characterization and analysis of the hydrologic cycle and associated hydrologic abstractions. Statistical analysis of hydrologic events, hydrologic routing, and the effects of urbanization on the hydrologic response of a watershed.
(3 credits) Prerequisite(s): Restriction for undergraduates in graduate courses and enrolled in the college
of Engineering Application of the principles of the conservation of mass, energy, and momentum to open channel flow phenomena. Analysis of open channel hydraulic structures and floodplain hydraulics. Emphasis is on computer applications and numerical methods.
(3 credits) Prerequisite(s): Restriction for undergraduates in graduate courses and enrolled in the college
of Engineering Analysis and hydraulic design of water resource engineering subsystems, including subsurface drainage, pressure flow systems, pumps and turbines, reservoirs, spillways, and landfills.
(3 credits) Prerequisite(s): Restriction for undergraduates in graduate courses and enrolled in the college
of Engineering Analysis of the physical properties and the resultant groundwater flow in porous media. Application of the principles of the conservation of mass, energy, and momentum to groundwater flow systems. Includes well hydraulics, well design, aquifer analysis, infiltration, flow in the unsaturated zone, and introduction to groundwater contamination.
(3 credits) Prerequisite(s): CVE 561 Numerical and statistical methods employed in computer models that simulate the movement of surface water through the hydrologic cycle. Emphasizes the utilization of computer programs to evaluate the hydrologic response of watersheds.
(3 credits) Prerequisite(s): CVE 564. Numerical and statistical methods employed in computer models that simulate the movement of groundwater through the hydrologic cycle. Emphasizes the utilization of computer programs to evaluate the groundwater flow system.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Restriction for undergraduates in graduate courses and enrolled in the college
of Engineering Topics of current interest to the civil engineering profession. Offered on sufficient demand.
(1 credits) Prerequisite(s): Undergraduate students, Nondegree graduates ineligible to enroll in 600/700/800 level graduate courses. Provides students with experience and instruction on research and presentation methods and oral communication of technical information, focused on civil engineering issues. Invited experts from industry and academia, from various civil engineering field, present and discuss current issues and trends in research and professional practice. Students will present a research paper at the end of the course.
(1 credits) Prerequisite(s): Undergraduate students, Nondegree graduates ineligible to enroll in 600/700/800 level graduate courses. This internship provides students with practical experience in civil/environmental engineering. Students are required to submit a final project report and make a presentation at the end of the course. May be taken up to two times for credit.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): CVE 513 Elasticity topics include tensor algebra, fundamentals of stress analysis, fundamentals of deformation theory, thermo-elastic constitutive relationships, uniqueness of solution, Airy’s stress function, and various solution techniques for two-dimensional problems.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): CVE 512 or MCE 580 Advanced techniques in the formulation of the Finite Element with applications. Development of three dimensional elements, tetrahedrals and hexahedrals. Formulation of thin and moderately thick plate bending elements and shell elements. 3D isoparametric beam, plate and shell elements, solutions of engineering problems using computer software.
(3 credits) Prerequisite(s): closed to non degree grads, all undergrads and grads who are
not in the college of engineering Isoparametric finite element discretization, incremental equations of motion. Total and updated Lagrangian formulations. Nonlinear geometry, nonlinear material problems in two and three dimensions. Computer solution of problems.
CVE 620 - Fracture Mechanics and Plasticity Theory
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): CVE 604. The stress and deformation field in the region of a crack are derived using linear elastic analysis. Topics include analyzing the change in potential energy due to crack propagation (Griffith’s analysis), understanding the origin of critical fracture toughness parameters, and developing fundamental fracture criteria. In addition the course focuses on time-dependent plastic deformation analysis. Relationships between stress and strain that agree with experimental observations beyond the yield stress are constructed. Applications of these inelastic constitutive relationships in predicting plastic deformations in simple components are presented. Drucker’s stability postulates are discussed, and the principles of slip-line theory are given. General theorems of limit analysis and their application in structural analysis are highlighted. The J-integral and fundamentals of elastic-plastic fracture analysis are presented.
(2 credits) Prerequisite(s): CVE 620 The fundamental concepts of crack growth in the presence of cyclic stress are considered. The fracture mechanics approach is adopted. Similitude concepts, common empirical and semi-empirical equations, variable amplitude loading, and rain-fall analysis are discussed.
(2 credits) Prerequisite(s): CVE 604 Modeling of continua as a viscoelastic material in which stress and strain fields in deformable bodies are time and spatially dependent. Viscoelastic models include Maxwell fluids and Kelvin solids. Creep phenomena, stress relaxation, hereditary integrals, viscoelastic beams, beams on continuous supports, vibration, and wave propagation in viscoelastic materials are studied.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): closed to non degree grads, all undergrads and grads who are
not in the college of engineering Detailed study of a special topic under the guidance of a faculty member.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): closed to non degree grads, all undergrads and grads who are
not in the college of engineering Detailed individual study on a special topic under the guidance of a faculty member.
(8 credits) Prerequisite(s): closed to non degree grads, all undergrads and grads who are
not in the college of engineering Prerequisite: Graduate standing in civil engineering. Up to eight credits may be considered toward thesis credit requirements.
(8 credits) Prerequisite(s): closed to non degree grads, all undergrads and grads who are
not in the college of engineering A design project or a research problem under the guidance of a faculty member, culminating in the writing of a thesis.
(1 credits) Prerequisite(s): Undergraduate students, Nondegree graduates ineligible to enroll in 600/700/800 level graduate courses. Prerequisite: Graduate Standing. Provides students with experience and instruction on research and presentation methods and oral communication of technical information, focused on civil engineering issues. Invited experts from industry and academia, from various civil engineering field, present and discuss current issues and trends in research and professional practice. Students will present a research paper at the end of the course.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): CVE 513 Elasticity topics include tensor algebra, fundamentals of stress analysis, fundamentals of deformation theory, thermo-elastic constitutive relationships, uniqueness of solution, Airy’s stress function, and various solution techniques for two-dimensional problems.
(3 credits) Prerequisite(s): CVE 604 or permission of instructor Development of the principles of virtual work, total potential energy, complementary virtual work, total complementary energy, and Reissner’s principle for solid mechanics problems. Castigliano theorems, Ritz, Galerkin, and finite element methods. Applications in structural mechanics problems for bars, beams, columns, plates, and shells. Offered on sufficient demand.
(3 credits) Prerequisite(s): closed to non degree grads, all undergrads and grads who are
not in the college of engineering Theory and application of finite element methods as an analysis tool for two- and three-dimensional stress analysis problems in engineering.
(3 credits) Prerequisite(s): CVE 512 Extension of the finite element method to the solution of advanced three-dimensional stress analysis problems. Offered on sufficient demand.
(3 credits) Prerequisite(s): closed to non degree grads, all undergrads and grads who are
not in the college of engineering Isoparametric finite element discretization and incremental equations of motion. Total and updated Lagrangian formulations. Nonlinear geometry and nonlinear material problems in two- and three-dimensions. Computer solution of problems. Offered on sufficient demand.
(3 credits) Prerequisite(s): CVE 511 Euler buckling of bars, beam/columns, and plates using matrix methods; concepts of geometric nonlinearity, including bifurcation and limit point analysis using iterative numerical techniques; applications to load eccentricity and system imperfection.
CVE 720 - Fracture Mechanics and Plasticity Theory
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): CVE 604. The stress and deformation field in the region of a crack are derived using linear elastic analysis. Topics include analyzing the change in potential energy due to crack propagation (Griffith’s analysis), understanding the origin of critical fracture toughness parameters, and developing fundamental fracture criteria. In addition, the course focuses on time-dependent plastic deformation analysis. Relationships between stress and strain that agree with experimental observations beyond the yield stress are constructed . Other highlighted topics include the application of these inelastic constitutive relationships in predicting plastic deformations in simple components; Drucker’s stability postulates; the principles of slip-line theory; general theorems of limit analysis and their application in structural analysis; and the J-integral and fundamentals of elastic-plastic fracture analysis.
(2 credits) Prerequisite(s): CVE 620 The fundamental concepts of crack growth in the presence of cyclic stress are considered. The fracture mechanics approach is adopted. Similitude concepts, common empirical and semi-empirical equations, variable amplitude loading, and rain fall analysis are discussed.
(2 credits) Prerequisite(s): CVE 604 Modeling of continua as a viscoelastic material where stress and strain fields in deformable bodies are time and spatially dependent. Viscoelastic models include Maxwell fluids and Kelvin solids. Creep phenomena, stress relaxation, hereditary integrals, viscoelastic beams, beams on continuous supports, vibration, and wave propagation in viscoelastic materials are studied.
(3 credits) Prerequisite(s): CVE 561 Numerical and statistical methods employed in computer models that simulate the movement of surface water through the hydrologic cycle. Emphasizes the utilization of computer programs to evaluate the hydrologic response of watersheds.
(3 credits) Prerequisite(s): CVE 564. Numerical and statistical methods employed in computer models that simulate the movement of groundwater through the hydrologic cycle. Emphasizes the utilization of computer programs to evaluate the groundwater flow system.
CVE 771 - Physical and Chemical Principles of Environmental Engineering
(3-0-3 credits) The study of environmental legislation and the resultant regulations as they apply to the environmental engineering profession. Addresses federal, state, and local regulations as applied to soil, water, air, and multimedia engineering activities.
(3-0-3 credits) Prerequisite(s): CVE 570 Study of sources of industrial wastewater and their treatability by physical, chemical, and biological processes; problems and solutions involved in combining municipal and industrial waste treatment; and treatment of wastewater from selected industries.
(3-0-3 credits) Prerequisite(s): CVE 572. Biological treatment processes and systems used in water-quality control; biological and engineering considerations of wastewater treatment, including theory, purpose, evaluation, and design of secondary and tertiary processes. Offered spring semester.
CVE 782 - Air Pollution Control Engineering Design
(3-0-3 credits) Prerequisite(s): CVE 581. Design of air-pollutant-control systems for mobile and stationary sources of pollutants. Offered on sufficient demand.
(3-0-3 credits) Prerequisite(s): CVE 476 and CVE 570. Principles and application of occupational health engineering for the control of physical and chemical hazards in the workplace. Includes ventilation design, noise control,
ionizing and non-ionizing radiation controls, and ergonomics. Offered on sufficient demand.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): closed to non degree grads, all undergrads and grads who are
not in the college of engineering Detailed study of a special topic under the guidance of a faculty member. Offered on sufficient demand.
CVE 796 - Independent Study Independent Study in Civil Engineering
(1-4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Chair approval. Detailed individual study on a special topic under the guidance of a faculty member. Available every semester.
(16 credits) Prerequisite(s): closed to non degree grads, all undergrads and grads who are
not in the college of engineering Prerequisite: Standing in Engineering Doctoral Program. Up to 10 credits may be used toward the dissertation credit requirements. Available every semester.
(16 credits) Prerequisite(s): closed to non degree grads, all undergrads and grads who are
not in the college of engineering Prerequisite: Successful completion of candidacy examination and Dissertation Proposal Approval Form on file with the College of Graduate Studies. A design project or a research problem under the guidance of a faculty member, culminating in the writing of a dissertation. Available every semester.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Grad course eligibility for undergraduates: credits earned greater than or equal
to 144 and gpa 2.75 OR level is graduate. Introduction to the history of science, communication theories, and the nature of scientific inquiry. Focuses on a survey of major theories, the logic of communication inquiry, techniques in literature search and review, and the skills in critiquing research. Also examines the structure and logic of the scientific method, as well as different research methodologies and when they are employed. Introduces students to key principles of design, sampling, reliability and validity, measurement, and hypothesis testing.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Grad course eligibility for undergraduates: credits earned greater than or equal
to 144 and gpa 2.75 OR level is graduate. Examines specific quantitative and qualitative research methods, including survey, experimental, content analytic, and observational designs. Emphasis is on design and execution of research for exploratory, descriptive, and explanatory purposes. Students also learn statistical procedures employed in analyzing data through an introduction to multivariate statistics and an overview of t-tests, analysis of variance, and multiple regression techniques.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Grad course eligibility for undergraduates: credits earned greater than or equal
to 144 and gpa 2.75 OR level is graduate. The examination of the structure, assumptions, and testing of various theories in the physical and social sciences and their application to communication science as well as theory construction techniques.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Grad course eligibility for undergraduates: credits earned greater than or equal
to 144 and gpa 2.75 OR level is graduate. Examines how mediation works, factors that determine whether mediation can be used to resolve disputes, and the conditions under which mediation is most effective.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Grad course eligibility for undergraduates: credits earned greater than or equal
to 144 and gpa 2.75 OR level is graduate. Focuses on the structure, functions, and processes of organizational teams and work groups. Special attention is given to promoting effective teamwork in today’s organizations through methods of team building and examining leadership issues confronting teams.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Grad course eligibility for undergraduates: credits earned greater than or equal
to 144 and gpa 2.75 OR level is graduate. Focuses on interactions of people involved in the health care process and the dissemination and interpretation of health-related messages. Emphasis is on provider-recipient communication, communication in health concerns as they relate to physical, mental, and social health issues.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): COM 501 or permission of instructor. Focuses on three main issues: 1) major theoretic approaches to studying organizations, and the communication models emphasized in each approach; 2) major variations in processes and effects of organizational communication when analyzed by the structure, function, and level of communication system; 3) applications of concepts and principles for describing and analyzing organizational communication processes and effects.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): COM 501 or permission of instructor. Focuses on communication networks and the relational dimensions of communication behavior, including control and affective functions of verbal and nonverbal communication and examination of human communication models as they relate to both information theory and the “systems approach.” Emphasis on interaction theories of personality in explaining interpersonal communication behavior.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Undergraduate students, Nondegree graduates ineligible to enroll in 600/700/800 level graduate courses. Provides students with an introduction to the major theories and concepts in the field of mass communication. Attention is devoted to communication perspectives and to psychological perspectives. Topics include determinants of mass media news, effects of television news, political advertising and debates, television violence effects, TV and children, media economics, and the sociology and psychology of the mass media audience.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): COM 512. Advanced methods course on multivariate statistical methods used in analyzing research in human communication. Focuses primarily on understanding these methods and statistics rather than on their actual performance and calculation. Students should be able to critically read and analyze published research in communication, including the methodological and statistical sections of these articles, as well as to use computer programs to apply multivariate statistical tests, including factor analysis, multiple regression, discriminant analysis, MANOVA models, cluster analysis, and multi-dimensional scaling.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Undergraduate students, Nondegree graduates ineligible to enroll in 600/700/800 level graduate courses. Introduction to applied research methods in public relations, advertising, and media in relation to the nature of and relations between audience and media. Focuses on demographic and psychographic research methods, audience measurement techniques such as audience ratings, quantitative and qualitative research data gathering, analysis and interpretation methods, such as focus groups, surveys, and experiments.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Undergraduate students, Nondegree graduates ineligible to enroll in 600/700/800 level graduate courses. An empirical and systematic investigation of documented messages in print, graphical, and audio-visual forms and observed human communication behaviors. Focuses on the design and execution of content analytic studies, including form vs. content variables, measurement issues, reliability and validity assessment, a systems view of research findings, use of a computer text analysis program, and traditional human-coder techniques.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Undergraduate students, Nondegree graduates ineligible to enroll in 600/700/800 level graduate courses. Assumptions behind and strategies for conducting ethnographic research. Qualitative techniques of data collection, including intensive interviews, field observations, and use of various cultural texts. Methods of data analysis and the writing of ethnographic studies. Emphasis on the ethnography of communication.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Undergraduate students, Nondegree graduates ineligible to enroll in 600/700/800 level graduate courses. An examination of the basic principles and strategies of participant observation, a method of collecting information utilizing creative judgment and systematic procedures. Theoretical basis for collecting data using the combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies is discussed. Techniques of interviewing and mini-fieldwork participant observation are discussed and practiced.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): COM 501 or permission of instructor. Study of persuasive communication and campaigns. Focuses on major communication theories of persuasion, current issues and problems in persuasive communication, and an examination of mass and interpersonal persuasive campaign issues such as attitude formation, fear appeals, cognitive dissonance theory, and interpersonal persuasion. Students may construct campaigns and persuasive appeals for application.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Undergraduate students, Nondegree graduates ineligible to enroll in 600/700/800 level graduate courses. This seminar explores theory and research on political communication. The role of mass media and public opinion in American politics is examined, focusing on media and elections, agenda setting, political advertising, campaigning, and presidential debates. Contemporary and classic theories of press and politics are critically examined.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Undergraduate students, Nondegree graduates ineligible to enroll in 600/700/800 level graduate courses. An in-depth study of the fundamental nature and components of existing and emerging communication technologies and their relationship to society. Focuses on the discussion of current sociocultural, economic, and regulatory issues relevant to the development of these technologies and their ongoing convergence in the information society as well as their impact on communication systems.
(4 credits) Examines research, perspectives and controversies in urban communication. Focuses on mass and interpersonal communication patterns that make up communication systems in neighborhoods and cities and the importance of technology, with attention to both macro and micro questions about the relationship between communication and environment. In addtion, traditional models and theories from communication and a variety of methodologies are applied to the study of urban issues. Active research projects are integrated into the class.
(4 credits) Focuses on the Strategic Communication (planned response) processes often associated with Strategic Management. It is an in-depth and hands on approach to the mechanics, development and implementation of Public Relations Plans, which include elements of Public Relations, Organizational, Advertising and Marketing principles. Research processes will be implemented and used at several levels to identify issues amd audiences as well as to design, manage and evaluate campaigns. Students will learn how to better work with such key publics as media, employees, community members and investors.
(4 credits) Negotiations, both professional and personal, take place on many fronts. This course is designed to raise your negotiation competency by examining negotiation from an intercultural communication competency perspective. You wil learn how to develop strategic goals for the international marketplace. This course will allow you to identify and address areas of strength and weakness in your negotiation style.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Grade of “B” or higher in COM 531. Exit option for completion of the master’s program. Students work with faculty on a significant team project and are involved in conceptualization, project design, data collection, data analysis and evaluation, preparing and writing reports, and presentation of results to clients. The nature of the project selected is announced in advance. Graded S/F.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Undergraduate students, Nondegree graduates ineligible to enroll in 600/700/800 level graduate courses. In-depth analysis of one or more specific issues in communication theory in relation to an applied problem in communication. Area of primary emphasis varies depending on the instructor. Theory or methodology course; may be repeated once with change in topic.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Undergraduate students, Nondegree graduates ineligible to enroll in 600/700/800 level graduate courses. In-depth examination of a student-selected communication topic via independent study. Typically involves the utilization of appropriate research methods (e.g., field survey, attitude poll, experimental investigation) as applied to the student’s proposed research topic. Students may serve as research interns in a faculty member’s program of research. Offered every semester; see advisor for help in scheduling. No more than four credit hours from either COM 596 or COM 590 may be counted toward degree completion.
(2 credits) Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and Graduate Director, and completion of 36 hours required for graduation. Students enroll in the course the semester they take the comprehensive examination. May be repeated. Graded S/F.
(9 credits) Prerequisite(s): Permission of School Graduate Director. Design and execution of an individual research project directed toward analysis of a communication problem found in a career-related setting. May be repeated until completed. Graded S/F.
(9 credits) Prerequisite(s): Permission of School Graduate Director. Writing of a master’s thesis under the direction of a member of the department faculty. Thesis research must be conducted within the boundaries set by faculty expertise. May be repeated until completed. Graded S/F.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): COM 501 or permission of instructor. Focuses on three main issues: 1) major theoretic approaches to studying organizations, and the communication models emphasized in each approach; 2) major variations in processes and effects of organizational communication when analyzed by the structure, function, and level of communication system; 3) applications of concepts and principles for describing and analyzing organizational communication processes and effects.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): COM 501 or permission of instructor. Focuses on communication networks and the relational dimensions of communication behavior, including control and affective functions of verbal and nonverbal communication and examination of human communication models as they relate to both information theory and the “systems approach.” Emphasis on interaction theories of personality in explaining interpersonal communication behavior.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Undergraduate students, Nondegree graduates ineligible to enroll in 600/700/800 level graduate courses. Provides students with an introduction to the major theories and concepts in the field of mass communication. Attention is devoted to communication perspectives and to psychological perspectives. Topics include determinants of mass media news, effects of television news, political advertising and debates, television violence effects, TV and children, media economics, and the sociology and psychology of the mass media audience.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): COM 512. Advanced methods course on multivariate statistical methods used in analyzing research in human communication. Focuses primarily on understanding these methods and statistics rather than on their actual performance and calculation. Students should be able to critically read and analyze published research in communication, including the methodological and statistical sections of these articles, as well as to use computer programs to apply multivariate statistical tests, including factor analysis, multiple regression, discriminant analysis, MANOVA models, cluster analysis, and multi-dimensional scaling.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Undergraduate students, Nondegree graduates ineligible to enroll in 600/700/800 level graduate courses. Introduction to applied research methods in public relations, advertising, and media in relation to the nature of and relations between audience and media. Focuses on demographic and psychographic research methods, audience measurement techniques such as audience ratings, quantitative and qualitative research data gathering, analysis and interpretation methods, such as focus groups, surveys, and experiments.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Undergraduate students, Nondegree graduates ineligible to enroll in 600/700/800 level graduate courses. An empirical and systematic investigation of documented messages in print, graphical, and audio-visual forms and observed human communication behaviors. Focuses on the design and execution of content analytic studies, including form vs. content variables, measurement issues, reliability and validity assessment, a systems view of research findings, use of a computer text analysis program, and traditional human-coder techniques.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Undergraduate students, Nondegree graduates ineligible to enroll in 600/700/800 level graduate courses. Assumptions behind and strategies for conducting ethnographic research. Qualitative techniques of data collection, including intensive interviews, field observations, and use of various cultural texts. Methods of data analysis and the writing of ethnographic studies. Emphasis on the ethnography of communication.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): COM 501 or permission of instructor. Study of persuasive communication and campaigns. Focuses on major communication theories of persuasion, current issues and problems in persuasive communication, and an examination of mass and interpersonal persuasive campaign issues such as attitude formation, fear appeals, cognitive dissonance theory, and interpersonal persuasion. Students may construct campaigns and persuasive appeals for application.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Undergraduate students, Nondegree graduates ineligible to enroll in 600/700/800 level graduate courses. This seminar explores theory and research on political communication. The role of mass media and public opinion in American politics is examined, focusing on media and elections, agenda setting, political advertising, campaigning, and presidential debates. Contemporary and classic theories of press and politics are critically examined.
(4 credits) Prerequisite(s): Undergraduate students, Nondegree graduates ineligible to enroll in 600/700/800 level graduate courses. An in-depth study of the fundamental nature and components of existing and emerging communication technologies and their relationship to society. Focuses on the discussion of current sociocultural, economic, and regulatory issues relevant to the development of these technologies and their ongoing convergence in the information society as well as their impact on communication systems.