Phone: 801-581-6888

Department Chair, Ann Darling, Ph.D.

Director of Undergraduate Studies, Louise Degn, M.S.J.

Director of Graduate Studies, Karen Ashcraft, Ph.D.

Professors. J. Anderson, R. Avery, G. Cheney, C. Denton, M. Hasian, L. Hawes, T. Peterson, S. Planalp, R. Rieke, L.E. Rogers, M. Strine.

Associate Professors. K. Ashcraft, M. Bergstrom, C. Bullis, J. Corbett, K. Dace, A. Darling, L. Degn, N. Fleener, L. Flores, T. Larson, M. Mathison, H. Shugart, D. Vergobbi.

Assistant Professors. D. Emery, D. Endres, G. Feighery, V. Newman, C. Van Buren, R. Yaros.

Associate Professor/Lecturer. N. Elliott.

Assistant Professor/Lecturer. J. Fisher.

Adjunct Professors. I. Altman, B. Christenson, R.N. Mayer.

Adjunct Associate Professors. C. Birkhead, F. Davis, F. Esplin, I. Fisher, K. Foster, M. Hawes, S. Hess, P. Rose.

Adjunct Assistant Professors. D. Allred, B. Andersen, S. Asbell, R. Burns, S. Erwin, B. Hancock, J. Holbrook, B. Jensen, J. Merritt, T. Utzinger, K. Verdoia, C. Wirth, D. Woodward.

Adjunct Instructor. R. Adams.

Director of Undergraduate Studies. Louise Degn, 2413 LNCO, (801)581-8471; Undergraduate Advising Office, 2400 LNCO, (801)581-6302.

Speech communication offers undergraduate sequences in argumentation and decision-making, conflict management, cultural studies, intercultural communication, interpersonal communication, organizational communication, public communication, teaching and training, and a general major for students who want to pursue a focused course of study that can’t be met with one of the established sequences. Each of the sequences offers suggestions for electives.

Mass communication provides undergraduate program sequences in communication and technology, electronic journalism, news editorial and public relations.

The department also offers majors leading toward communication certification in secondary education.

Laboratories are provided for study of reporting, editing, graphics, photography, new media, cinematography, and radio and television production. The facilities of K-UTE radio, KULC-TV, Communique, Lessons, University News Service, and the Daily Utah Chronicle are used for student professional experience. Off-campus internships also are available.

Students needing assistance in selecting an area of specialization should contact the department.

Admission. Students may declare premajor status in one of the departmental majors through the University College, 450 SSB.

To be admitted to departmental degree programs, students must complete two criteria: (1) Students must attain a minimum 2.75 semester or overall GPA in at least nine credit hours of study at the University. (2) Students must complete, with a C or better, any 2000-level or above COMM course or one of the following: COMM 1270, COMM 1500, or UGS 3000-001, at the University of Utah.

Students should consult the department for specific application procedures.

Students interested in becoming a major should attend a major information session held three times weekly. See the department web site for times.

Transfer Students. Transfer students interested in a Communication major should consult the department’s Undergraduate Advising office. Certain courses may articulate between a previous school and the department. Transfer students may apply up to three articulated or equivalent courses from other institutions toward a major in the department.

Degree Requirements. A grade of C or better must be earned in any course counted toward filling the major requirement. Students may repeat each of these courses once only. A minimum of 33 but not more than 42 credit hours is required.

Upper Division Credit. Each student of the University of Utah must complete a minimum of 40 upper division credits. Upper division credits earned outside the major should enhance a student’s education at the University of Utah. The faculty encourages students to choose wisely and select upper division courses that supplement and enrich a person’s academic interests. A student’s upper division credits are NOT monitored by the Department of Communication.

For more specific degree requirements, students should consult the department office.

MASS COMMUNICATION MAJOR. Majors may select one of the following sequences:

Communication Technology. Technology orientation to the electronic media is provided for students planning careers in broadcasting and those interested in radio, television, the Internet and new media as humanistic studies. Courses introduce students to the complexities of programming, production, regulation, economics, management, and the social and psychological impact of radio, television, the Internet and new media. Sequence coordinator: Timothy Larson.

Electronic Journalism. Students prepare for careers in radio and television news. Emphasis is on reporting and news writing for radio and television; utilization of audiotape, videotape, the Internet and other audiovisual resources; and on-the-air news presentation. Sequence coordinator: Louise Degn.

News-Editorial. Students train for news careers in print media. Courses emphasize news gathering and writing, commentary and analysis of public affairs. Production courses are oriented toward print media, especially newspapers and magazines. Sequence coordinator: Craig Denton.

Public Relations. Students learn general communication theory and ways to approach, examine, and solve communication problems in public relations. Courses cover major topics associated with the construction of a communication campaign, including research, message strategy and execution, media selection, and public-relations program development. Sequence coordinator: Julia Corbett.

Mass Communication Major
All Mass Communication students must take (prerequisites in parentheses):

I. Core Requirements (4 courses)
1500, Introduction to Mass Communication
1610, Introduction to News Writing & Reporting  (WRTG 2010 or ESL 1060)
3550, Principles of Visual Communication
5300, Mass Communication Law (1500)

II. Sequence Core (choose one sequence)
A. Communication Technology (3 courses)
3560, Introduction to Visual Media (3550)
4550, Current Developments in Telecommunication (1500) (CW)
One of the following:
5520, Interactive Narrative (3550)
5640, Communication Technology & Culture

B. Electronic Journalism (3 courses)
3520, Radio Journalism (1610) (CW)
3560, Introduction to Visual Media (3550)
4520, Television Journalism (1610 & 3560; 3520 recommended)

C. News Editorial (3 courses)
3600, The Editing Process (1610) (CW)
3660, Intermediate Reporting (1610)
One of the following:
3610, Internship (1610)
3620, Editorial Conference

D. Public Relations (3 courses)
4580, PR Theory & Practice
5580, PR Cases & Campaigns (1500, 1610, & 4580) (CW)
One of the following:
3710, Intro to Quantitative Comm Research (QI)
5710, Communication Research (3710) (QI)

III. Professional Electives (ALL Mass. Comm. students choose 3 courses not used to fill another group)
1530, Basic Photography
2530, Photojournalism (1530)
3330, Negotiation & Interviewing
3500, Writing for Visual Media
3510, Intro to Web Site Design (3550)
3520, Radio Journalism (1610) (CW)
3530, Advanced Photo (1530) or (2530)
3540, Color Photography (3530)
3560, Intro to Visual Media (1500 & 3550)
3570, Newsbreak (3560)
3600, Editing Process (1610) (CW)
3610, Internship
3620, Editorial Conference
3660, Intermediate Reporting (1610)
3670, Principles of Advertising
3680, Ad Media Analysis & Planning (3670)
3710, Intro to Quant Research (Prerequisite: Any QA, QB course)(QI) 4520, Television Journalism (1610 & 3560; 3520 recommended)
4560, Visual Media Production I (3560) (3550)
4570, Visual Editing (3550)
4610, Magazine Writing (1610)(CW)
4650, Environ. Reporting(1610)
4660, Business Reporting (1610)
4670, Specialty Reporting (1610) (CW)
4680, Adv. Reporting (1610)
4690, Interpretive Writing (1610)(CW)
5310, Telecom Policy & Mngmt.
5510, Adv. Web Design (3510)
5520, Interactive Narrative (3550)
5550, Digital Imaging (3550)
5560, Visual Media Prod. II (4560)
5570, Adv. Visual Editing (4570)
5650, Video Games as Gendered Spaces (3550)
5710, Comm Research (3710 or any QI course) (QI)

IV. Integration/Enrichment Electives (ALL Mass Comm. students)
Choose any two courses in the Department of Communication, 2000 level or above, that have not been used to fill other major requirements.
----------------
NOTES:
1. These are the requirements for graduation with a B.A. or B.S. degree in Mass Communication. Students may take up to 42 credit hours in the department. Any credit hours above 42 are not counted toward the 122 hours to graduate. Example: If a student takes 45 hours in the department, s/he would need 125 hours to graduate.
2. A course can fulfill only one Department of Communication graduation requirement, although it may fulfill a University or General Education requirement, too.
3. All students will fulfill their Upper Division Communication Writing (CW) requirement by completing their Sequence Core Requirements.
4. Course prerequisites are in parentheses.
5. Students may include up to three hours of internship credit (3610 or 4190) in their programs.

For a listing of all communication courses, see the current course curriculum guide at www.hum.utah.edu/communication.

SPEECH COMMUNICATION MAJOR.  Majors may select one of the following sequences:

Argumentation and Decision-making. Students prepare to enter law school or seek leadership positions in business or professional organizations. Sequence coordinator: Richard Rieke.

Conflict Management. The Conflict Management sequence offers students both the conceptual and practical tools to untangle the intractable positions, interests and identities that often lead to conflict escalation by more creatively theorizing, researching and practicing communication processes that address differences in values, memories and histories. Sequence coordinator: Tarla Rai Peterson.

Cultural Studies. Students gain an in-depth understanding of communicative forms, practices, and performances in a variety of public environments. It provides the theoretical and practical basis for becoming a more competent producer/critic/consumer of public messages and for understanding the media within which cultural representations and performances are produced and circulated. Sequence coordinator: Mary Strine.

Intercultural Communication. The Intercultural Communication sequence is designed to study the intersection of communication and culture. In this sequence, culture is defined broadly to include a variety of contexts, such as race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, age, and sexuality. Students gain theoretical and practical understanding of the opportunities and obstacles that exist as individuals and communities communicate within and across cultures. Sequence coordinator: Lisa Flores

Interpersonal Communication. Students gain an understanding and practical view of communication processes. Emphasis is on how people interact in various communicative settings. Communication theory, two-person interaction, and group processes are stressed in humanistic and social-scientific philosophies. Sequence coordinator: Sally Planalp.

Organizational Communication. Students gain an understanding of the wide variety of communicative processes related to how organizations function in society. Students are prepared to assume professional positions or to enter scholarly careers in human communication. Students cross departmental sequences to develop an understanding of the humane and social-scientific concepts of human interaction. Sequence coordinator: George Cheney.

Public Communication. Students develop an awareness, appreciation, and critical understanding of communication as it occurs in a number of public contexts, including political, legal, and media arenas. The sequence is designed to assist students in becoming more sophisticated and critical consumers of public communication in its various forms. Sequence coordinator: Helga Shugart.

Teaching and Training. This major emphasizes the achievement of specific competencies required for teaching communication. Teaching minor also available. Sequence coordinator: Ann Darling.

General Major. The General Major is designed for those students who want an instructional core experience in Speech Communication but feel that none of the other Speech Communication sequences offers the focus they seek. The General Major provides flexibility so that a student can carefully design an individual program of study in a way that clearly defines an area of communication that the student can use to represent himself or herself for a career or graduate school. Students should map out their programs of study upon acceptance into the major to make sure they are crisp and coherent. Sequence coordinator: Louise Degn.

Speech Communication Major

Requirements for Organizational Communication Sequence (33-35 hours)(Please note that 3170 is a prerequisite for 4170, 4180, and 5170 and cannot be taken concurrently with 4170, 4180, or 5170).

Required Sequence Core (18-20 hours)
3170 Introduction to Organizational Communication (3)
two courses from the following five:
1270 Analysis of Argument (3)
2110 Introduction to Interpersonal Communication (3)
3050 Theoretical Perspectives in Communication (3)
3420 Performance and Culture (3)
3490 Communication & Public Issues: Special Topics (3)
two courses from the following three:
4170 Organizational Communication (3170) (4)
4180 Seminar: Organizational Communication (3170) (3)
5170 Contemporary Issues in Organizational Communication (3170) (3) one course from the following two:
3710 Quantitative Communication Research (3)
5710 Communication Research (4)

Electives: In addition to the above courses, 5 electives must be taken anywhere in the Communication Department. Suggested electives for this sequence are:
3030 Communication and Social Responsibility (3)
3190 Intercultural Communication (3)
3330 Negotiation and Interviewing (3)
3420 Performance and Culture (3)
3460 Communication Criticism (3)
3490 Communication and Public Issues (3)
3510 Introduction to Web Site Design(3550) (3)
3670 Principles of Advertising (3)
3680 Advert Media Analysis and Planning (3)
4180 Seminar: Organizational Communication (3170) (3)
4580 Public Relations Theory and Practice (3)
5150 Dialogue and Cultural Studies (3)
5200 Persuasion and Political Communication (3)
5360 Environmental Communication (3)
5530 Visual Communication(3550) (3)
5590 Integrated Marketing Communication (3)

Requirements for Argumentation and Decision Making Sequence (31-33 hours)

Required Sequence Core (15 hours)
1270 Analysis of Argument (3)
3050 Theoretical Perspectives in Communication (3)
one course from the following 4 courses:
2110 Introduction to Interpersonal Communication (3)
3170 Introduction to Organizational Communication (3)
3420 Performance and Culture (3)
3490 Communication & Public Issues: Special Topics (3)
one course from the following two:
5150 Dialogue and Cultural Studies (3)
5320 Freedom of Expression (3)
one course from the following two:
5270 Theories of Argument (3)
5340 Communication and Law (3)

Electives: In addition to the above courses, 6 electives must be taken anywhere in the Communication Department. Suggested electives for this sequence are:
3270 Forensics Lab (1)
3330 Negotiation and Interviewing (3)
3460 Communication Criticism (3)
3490 Communication and Public Issues (3)
4270 Forensics Practicum (3)
5120 Group Communication (3)
5150 Dialogue and Cultural Studies (3)
5200 Persuasion and Political Communication (3)
5260 History of Public Communication (3)
5270 Theories of Argument (3)
5320 Freedom of Expression (3)
5340 Communication and Law (3)
5360 Environmental Communication (3)
5450 Communication and Culture (3)
5540 Media and Ethnicity (3)

Requirements for Interpersonal Communication Sequence (33-34 hours).[Please note that numbers in parentheses signify the prerequisite to the course listed.]

Required Sequence Core (18 hours)
2110 Introduction to Interpersonal Communication (3)
3050 Theoretical Perspectives in Communication (3)
5110 Interpersonal Communication Concepts (2110) (3)
one course from the following four courses:
1270 Analysis of Argument (3)
3170 Introduction to Organizational Communication (3)
3420 Performance and Culture (3)
3490 Communication & Public Issues (3)
one course from the following two:
3710 Quantitative Communication Research (3)
5710 Communication Research (4)
one course from the following three:
3120 Family Communication (3)
5140 Communication and Aging (3)
5160 Communication and Emotion (3)

Electives: In addition to the above courses, 5 electives must be taken anywhere in the Communication Department. Suggested electives for this sequence are:
3070 Gender and Communication (3)
3120 Family Communication (3)
3170 Introduction to Organizational Communication (3)
3180 Communication and Social Behavior (3)
5120 Group Communication (3)
5140 Communication and Aging (3)
5160 Communication and Emotion (3)

Requirements for Public Communication (33 hours)

Required Sequence Core (15)
3050 Theoretical Perspectives in Communication (3)
3420 Performance and Culture (3)
one course from the following 4:
1270 Analysis of Argument (3)
2110 Introduction to Interpersonal Communication (3)
3170 Introduction to Organizational Communication (3)
3490 Communication and Public Issues:Special Topics (3)
one of the following two:
3410 Literature in Performance (3)
3020 Media Texts:Special Topics (3)
one of the following three:
5260 History of Public Communication (3)
5320 Freedom of Expression (3)
5350 Ethical Practices of Communication (3)

Electives: In addition to the above courses, 6 electives must be taken anywhere in the Communication Department.Suggested electives for this sequence are:
2210 Introduction to Performance Studies (3)
3020 Media Texts (3)
3070 Gender and Communication (3)
3180 Communication and Social Behavior (3)
3190 Intercultural Communication (3)
3200 Persuasion Theory and Practices (3)
3410 Literature and Performance (3)
3460 Communication Criticism (3)
3490 Communication and Public Issues (3)
5150 Dialogue and Cultural Studies (3)
5450 Communication and Culture (3)

Requirements for Cultural Studies (33 hours)
3050 Theoretical Perspectives in Communication (3)
3420 Performance and Culture (3)
Required Sequence Core (15 hours)
one course from the following 4:
1270 Analysis of Argument (3)
2110 Introduction to Interpersonal Communication (3)
3170 Introduction to Organizational Communication (3)
3490 Communication and Public Issues: Special Topics (3)
one course from the following two:
3400 Cultural Studies in Communication (3)
3460 Communication Criticism (3)
one course from the following two:
5150 Dialogue and Cultural Studies (3)
5450 Communication and Culture (3)

Electives: In addition to the above courses, 6 electives must be taken anywhere in the Communication Department.Suggested electives for this sequence are:
2210 Introduction to Performance Studies (3)
3020 Media Texts (3)
3070 Gender and Communication (3)
3180 Communication and Social Behavior (3)
3190 Intercultural Communication (3)
3200 Persuasion Theory and Practices (3)
3410 Literature and Performance (3)
3460 Communication Criticism (3)
3490 Communication and Public Issues (3)
5150 Dialogue and Cultural Studies (3)
5450 Communication and Culture (3)

Requirements for Conflict Management (31-33 hours)
Required Sequence Core (15 hours):
1270 Analysis of Argument (3)
3050 Theoretical Perspectives in Communication (3)
one from the following four:
2110 Introduction to Interpersonal Communication (3)
3170 Introduction to Organizational Communication (3)
3420 Performance and Culture (3)
3490 Communication & Public Issues:Special Topics (3)
one from the following two:
3330 Negotiation and Interviewing (3)
5150 Dialogue and Cultural Studies (3)
one from the following two:
5360 Environmental Communication
5450 Communication and Culture

Electives: In addition to the above courses, 6 electives must be taken anywhere in the Communication Department.Suggested electives for this sequence are:
3270 Forensics Lab (3)
3330 Negotiation and Interviewing (3)
3460 Communication Criticism (3)
3490 Communication and Public Issues (3)
Forensics Practicum (3)
5120 Group Communication (3)
5150 Dialogue and Cultural Studies (3)
5200 Persuasion and Political Communication (3)
5260 History of Public Communication (3)
5270 Theories of Argument (3)
5320 Freedom of Expression (3)
5340 Communication and Law (4)
5360 Environmental Communication (3)
5450 Communication and Culture (3)
5540 Media and Ethnicity (3)

Requirements for Intercultural Communication (33 hours)
Required Sequence Core (15 hours):
2110 Introduction to Interpersonal Communication (3)
3050 Theoretical Perspectives in Communication (3)
one from the following 4 courses:
1270 Analysis of Argument (3)
3170 Introduction to Organizational Communication (3)
3420 Performance and Culture (3)
3490 Communication & Public Issues: Special Topics (3)
one from the following 2 courses:
3070 Communication and Gender (3)
3190 Intercultural Communication (3)
one from the following 2 courses:
5540 Media and Diversity (3)
5140 Communication and Aging (3)

Electives: In addition to the above courses, 6 electives must be taken anywhere in the Communication Department.Suggested electives for this sequence are:
2210 Introduction to Performance Studies (3)
3030 Communication and Social Responsibility (3)
3110 Interpersonal Communication (3)
3180 Communication and Social Behavior (3)
3420 Performance and Culture (3)
3460 Communication Criticism (3)
3490 Communication and Public Issues (3)
5110 Interpersonal Communication (3)
5150 Dialogue and Cultural Studies (3)
5360 Environmental Communication (3)
5450 Communication and Culture (3)

Requirements for Teaching and Training (29-33 hours) ***Please refer to Education in the Colleges section of the University Bulletin for information on teaching major and minor course requirements and state secondary teacher certification.

Required Sequence Core (13-15 hours):
1270 Analysis of Argument (3)
2110 Introduction to Interpersonal Communication (3)
3050 Theoretical Perspectives in Communication (3)
5010 Teaching Speech and Communication (3)
one of the following three:
3270 Forensics Laboratory (1)
4270 Forensic Practicum (3)
Teaching Mentorship (1-3)

Electives: In addition to the above courses, 6 electives must be taken anywhere in the Communication Department.Suggested electives for this sequence are:
1120 Group Decision Making (3)
1200 Public Speaking (3)
3330 Negotiation and Interviewing (3)
3270 Forensics Laboratory (1)
3420 Performance and Culture (3)
3460 Communication Criticism (3)
4270 Forensics Practicum (3)

Graduate Program

Degrees. M.A., M.S., Ph.D. For additional information, see the Graduate Information section of this catalog.

Areas of Study The topical areas supported by the department faculty cut across the field of communication —ageing, argumentation, conflict resolution, communication and the law, communication education, critical and cultural studies, emotion, ethnography, environmental, ethics, family, forensics, gender studies, health, instructional, integrated marketing, intercultural, interpersonal, journalism, literacy, mediated, media management and economics, narrative, organizational, performance, press and society, public broadcasting, rhetoric, relationships, semiotics, technology, telecommunication policy, visual, writing and composition as well as the nearly infinite combinations that can be formed.

Master’s Degrees. See the Graduate Information section of this catalog for M.A./M.S. degree requirements. Additional documentation required by the department includes GRE, three letters of recommendation with Personal Recommendation Forms, sample of creative or scholarly writing, and a 1,000-word statement of personal and professional goals.

Ph.D. Degree. See the Graduate Information section of this catalog for general Ph.D. requirements. See Master’s Degrees, above, for additional documentation required for admission.

Candidates for the Ph.D.  in communication must achieve competency in a minimum of four areas of specialization. Typically, studies outside the department are expected. Standard proficiency in a critical-historical or a statistics research-tool proficiency is required. All courses taken as alternatives to the tool requirements must be approved in advance by the department.

Certificate Programs. The Conflict Resolution Certificate Program is a two-semester class that teaches basic methods of conflict resolution and the communication skills required to use each method effectively.

In addition to several traditional tracks for the Master’s and Ph.D. degrees that include Rhetorical Studies, Mass Communication, etc., the department now offers a Master’s and Ph.D. with an emphasis in Conflict Resolution.

The Integrated Marketing Communication Certificate Program is a two-semester, post-baccalaureate program targeted to those who want to become able and knowledgeable marketing communication and promotion managers.

Fellowships and Assistantships. Contact the department office for information.

COMM Course Descriptions