SPCM Graduate Courses

The Department of Speech Communication offers programs leading to the PhD and MA degrees. PhD candidates select either an interpersonal communication track or a rhetoric track.

During their first year of study, students in the rhetoric track take SPCM 8200 and SPCM 8010 (1 hr.) in the Fall semester and SPCM 8300 in the Spring. Students in the interpersonal track take SPCM 8500 and SPCM 8010 (1 hr.) in the Fall semester and SPCM 8700 in the Spring semester. Additional requirements for PhD candidates include: (1) research skills, (2) competence in two areas within communication, (3) four hours of SPCM 8050, taken during the first four semesters in the program, (4) comprehensive examinations, and (5) dissertation.

Requirements for the MA in speech communication include: (1) SPCM 8200, SPCM 8500, SPCM 8010 (1 hr.), and SPCM 8020 (1 hr.) in the Fall semester and either SPCM 8300 or SPCM 8500 in the Spring semester of the first year of study (2) four hours of SPCM 8050, one per semester, (3) thesis, and (4) final oral examination on both the program of study and the thesis.


Course ID:	SPCM 6310. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Communication Strategies in Government
Course Description:	Communication strategies and activities in the executive and legislative branches of local, state, and national government. Case study approach incorporated into the class.
Oasis Title:	COMM IN GOVERNMENT
Semester Course Offered:	Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 6320. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Political Campaign Communication
Course Description:	The role communication plays in deciding which candidates will run for office, the nomination of candidates, and the election of candidates to office.
Oasis Title:	POLITICAL COMM
Semester Course Offered:	Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)

Course ID:

SPCM 6340. 3 hours.

Course Title:

Communication and Religion

Course
Description:

The nature and practice of communication in a variety of religious traditions. Notions of sacred symbolism, myth, revelation, hermeneutics, and apologetics are especially emphasized.

Oasis Title:

COMM REL

Semester Course
Offered:

Offered spring semester every year.

Grading System:

A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 6360. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Communication Strategies in Social Movements
Course Description:	The rhetorical nature, function, development, and impact of social movements on society as applied to one or more case studies and the role of the media in social change.
Oasis Title:	COMM SOCIAL MOVEMEN
Nontraditional Format:	This course is also offered through University System of Georgia Independent and Distance Learning (IDL).
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 6370. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Women and United States Public Discourse
Course Description:	History and criticism of speeches by United States women in nineteenth- and twentieth-century social reform movements, especially woman's rights and feminism.
Oasis Title:	WOM & PUB DISCOURSE
Semester Course Offered:	Offered every year.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 6540. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Interpersonal Conflict
Course Description:	An examination of the precursors, dynamics, and implications of interpersonal conflict in a variety of formal and informal relational contexts.
Oasis Title:	IPC CONFLICT
Semester Course Offered:	Offered every year.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 6550. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Organizational Communication
Course Description:	The relationship between communicating and organizing within complex organizations. Course content includes the ways in which communication creates organizational cultures, identities, networks, leadership, conflict, and other topics.
Oasis Title:	ORG COMM
Semester Course Offered:	Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM(HPRB) 6610. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Health Communication
Course Description:	Communication about health with physicians and other providers, within support groups and health care organizations, and by public figures, groups, and organizations.
Oasis Title:	HEALTH COMM
Semester Course Offered:	Offered fall semester every year.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM(AFAM) 6830. 3 hours.
Course Title:	African American Relational Communication
Course Description:	Interpersonal communication within African American relationships from a holistic framework. Historical, sociological, and psychological factors that affect individual behaviors within these relationships, including gender socialization from Africa to America.
Oasis Title:	AFAM RELATIONAL COM
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM(AFAM) 6840. 3 hours.
Course Title:	African American Family Communication
Course Description:	This course provides students with an opportunity to examine communication within the African American family from an African-centered perspective. It requires students to read and critically examine various theoretical and methodological approaches to the African American family.
Oasis Title:	AFAM FAMILY COMM
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 7000. 1-9 hours. Repeatable for maximum 9 hours credit.
Course Title:	Master's Research
Course Description:	Research while enrolled for master's degree under the direction of faculty members.
Oasis Title:	MA STER'S RESEARCH
Nontraditional Format:	Independent research under the direction of a faculty member.
Semester Course Offered:	Offered fall, spring and summer semester every year.
Grading System:	S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory)


Course ID:	SPCM 7200. 1-16 hours. Repeatable for maximum 16 hours credit.
Course Title:	Master's Comprehensive Preparation
Course Description:	Comprehensive examination preparation and research under the direction of a major professor.
Oasis Title:	MASTER'S COMP PREP
Semester Course Offered:	Offered fall, spring and summer semester every year.
Grading System:	S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory)

Course ID:	SPCM 7300. 1-12 hours. Repeatable for maximum 9 hours credit.
Course Title:	Master's Thesis
Course Description:	Thesis writing under the direction of the major professor.
Oasis Title:	MASTER'S THESIS
Nontraditional Format:	Independent research and thesis preparation.
Semester Course Offered:	Offered fall, spring and summer semester every year.
Grading System:	S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory)


Course ID:	SPCM 7500. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Seminar in Communication Training and Development
Course Description:	Practicum of communication training and development. Relevant theory and research and the opportunity to participate in and present extended training and development programs. Topics include needs assessment, design and presentation of training programs, proposal writing, multi-media skill development, and follow-up evaluation of program effectiveness.
Oasis Title:	SEM COMM TRAIN DEVE
Semester Course Offered:	Offered fall semester every even-numbered year.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM(JRMC) 7611. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Health Advocacy in a Multicultural Society
Course Description:	Applies principles of persuasion, cross-cultural communication, audience theory and small group dynamics to problems of equitable distribution of health care services and information to all population groups. Prepares students for roles in community outreach, legislative affairs and health care advocacy organizations. Class exercises include needs assessment and grant writing.
Oasis Title:	HEALTH ADVOCACY MUL
Semester Course Offered:	Offered every year.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM(JRMC) 7612. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Medical Interviewing and Information Dissemination
Course Description:	Theoretical foundations and interpersonal processes in medical interviewing. Information-seeking and dissemination strategies of consumers and providers; the use of conventional and new technologies; communicating bad news; health literacy; the depiction of illness, health, and disease in media and society; and media relations training will be addressed.
Oasis Title:	MED INTERVIEWING
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 8010. 1-3 hours. Repeatable for maximum 6 hours credit. 0-0 hours lecture and 2 hours lab per week.
Course Title:	Seminar in Communication Education
Course Description:	Teaching speech communication in postsecondary institutions, including communication training in organizations. Learner variables, such as communication apprehension, sociolinguistic diversity, and motivations for adult learning. Instructional strategies, including evaluation, technology use, and curriculum organization. Projects in analysis of instructional discourse and evaluation of learning outcomes.
Oasis Title:	SEM COMM ED
Nontraditional Format:	Students can elect to take the course as a lab/discussion only for a single credit, or they can elect to enroll in the lecture section as well for up to two additional credits.
Semester Course Offered:	Offered fall semester every year.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 8020. 1 hour.
Course Title:	Introduction to Graduate Study in Speech Communication
Course Description:	Introduction to graduate studies in the field of speech communication.
Oasis Title:	INTRO GRAD
Semester Course Offered:	Offered fall semester every year.
Grading System:	S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory)


Course ID:	SPCM 8050. 1 hour. Repeatable for maximum 6 hours credit.
Course Title:	Research Practicum in Communication
Course Description:	Research apprenticeship conducted under faculty supervision.
Oasis Title:	RES PRACTICUM
Nontraditional Format:	Collaborative research conducted with varying time commitments from week to week.
Semester Course Offered:	Offered fall, spring and summer semester every year.
Grading System:	S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory)


Course ID:	SPCM(JRMC)(PBHL) 8165. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Public Health Communication
Course Description:	The theory, research, and skills necessary to design and implement health communication interventions. Students will learn how to select objectives, how to segment and analyze audiences, how to use formative research techniques, how to design effective messages using behavior change and communication theories, how to select appropriate channels, how to implement interventions, and how to evaluate them.
Oasis Title:	PUB HEALTH COMM
Semester Course Offered:	Offered every year.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 8200. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Seminar in Rhetorical Theory
Course Description:	Rhetorical theory in classical, modern, and contemporary times.
Oasis Title:	SEM RHET THEORY
Semester Course Offered:	Offered fall semester every year.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 8210. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Seminar in Classical Rhetorical Theory
Course Description:	Rhetorical thought in the Graeco-Roman world, from the older Sophists to St. Augustine.
Oasis Title:	SEM CLAS RHET
Nontraditional Format:	Independent research under the direction of faculty members.
Semester Course Offered:	Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 8220. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Seminar in Argumentation
Course Description:	Examines argument from a rhetorical perspective focusing on reasoning as it occurs in a variety of public settings.
Oasis Title:	ARGUMENTATION
Semester Course Offered:	Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 8230. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Contemporary Rhetorical Theory
Course Description:	Influential twentieth-century scholarship in rhetorical theory, emphasizing a communication orientation.
Oasis Title:	CONTEMP RHET TH
Semester Course Offered:	Offered fall semester every year.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 8250. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Critical Theories of Discourse
Course Description:	The development of twentieth-century discourse theories from a variety of fields as they have influenced the study of rhetoric, including structuralism, critical theory, postmodernism, and poststructuralism.
Oasis Title:	CRIT THEO OF DISC
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 8300. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Seminar in Rhetorical Criticism
Course Description:	Analysis, evaluation, and practice of approaches to rhetorical criticism of public discourse.
Oasis Title:	SEM RHET CRIT
Semester Course Offered:	Offered fall semester every year.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 8310. 3 hours. Repeatable for maximum 9 hours credit.
Course Title:	Topics in Public Address
Course Description:	Research, analysis, and evaluation of selected topics of public address.
Oasis Title:	TOPICS PUBLIC AD
Semester Course Offered:	Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 8330. 3 hours. Repeatable for maximum 9 hours credit.
Course Title:	Topics in Rhetorical Theory
Course Description:	Specific areas of research of rhetorical theory from various eras. May focus on an author (e.g., Kenneth Burke, Michel Foucault, or St. Augustine) or a subject area (e.g., rhetoric and social change or rhetoric and culture or stylistics).
Oasis Title:	TOPIC RHET THEO
Semester Course Offered:	Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 8340. 3 hours. Repeatable for maximum 9 hours credit.
Course Title:	Methodologies of Rhetorical Criticism
Course Description:	A particular approach to rhetorical criticism, such as feminist criticism, Burkean criticism, or cross-cultural criticism.
Oasis Title:	METHS RHET CRIT
Semester Course Offered:	Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 8350. 3 hours. Repeatable for maximum 9 hours credit.
Course Title:	The Rhetoric of Science
Course Description:	Critical and theoretical study of scientific communication in public settings. Students may examine the intellectual and cultural roots of modern science, science's social and institutional characteristics, persuasive aspects of scientific inquiry and scientific social movements, and specific topical areas such as evolutionary biology, genetics, medicine, and ecology.
Oasis Title:	RHET SCI
Semester Course Offered:	Offered every even-numbered year.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 8360. 3 hours. Repeatable for maximum 6 hours credit.
Course Title:	Feminist Theory and Criticism
Course Description:	History, purposes, assumptions, and analytical and evaluative tools of feminist theory and criticism as they relate to various forms of public discourse, including rhetoric, film, television, and other forms of popular culture.
Oasis Title:	FEM THEORY & CRIT
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 8500. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Seminar in Interpersonal Communication Theory
Course Description:	Theories of interpersonal communication. Familiarizes students with the breadth, scope, and range of communication theories. Develops skills in theory development, hypothesis formation, and model building. Provides skills necessary to read and evaluate scholarly publications in speech communication.
Oasis Title:	INTERPERSONAL COMM
Semester Course Offered:	Offered fall semester every year.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 8510. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Seminar in Nonverbal Communication
Course Description:	Empirical and theoretical research that focuses on the major communicative functions of nonverbal behavior and cues. Particular emphasis is placed on research projects that focus on the impression management functions of nonverbal communication. Students examine contemporary impression management efforts in politics, the courtroom, and related contexts.
Oasis Title:	SEM NV COMM
Semester Course Offered:	Offered fall semester every odd-numbered year.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 8520. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Seminar In Communication and Social Influence
Course Description:	Familiarizes students with issues related to communication and social influence. Parameters of social influence, theories of social influence that emphasize communication processes, source and audience characteristics, message and channel properties, and attitudinal outcomes.
Oasis Title:	COM SOC INFLUENCE
Semester Course Offered:	Offered spring semester every even-numbered year.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM(LING) 8530. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Language and Communication Behavior
Course Description:	Surveys linguistic aspects of human interaction. Examines language patterns such as orality, intensity, immediacy, and power. Analyzes conversational data as well as language structures in public messages.
Oasis Title:	LANGUAGE AND COM
Semester Course Offered:	Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 8540. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Relational Communication
Course Description:	Issues and research related to communication in personal relationships. Issues and studies related to attraction, relational development, relational maintenance and repair, critical events in relationships, and relational termination.
Oasis Title:	RELATIONAL COMM
Semester Course Offered:	Offered spring semester every even-numbered year.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 8550. 3 hours. Repeatable for maximum 9 hours credit.
Course Title:	Advanced Topics in Interpersonal Communication
Course Description:	A readings and research seminar in theoretical topics of interpersonal communication. Areas of study will vary depending on the timelines of the topics and the research focus of the professor. Sample topics include communication in relational development and interpersonal communication competencies.
Oasis Title:	TOPS INTERPERS COMM
Semester Course Offered:	Offered fall and spring semester every year.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 8610. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Seminar in Health Communication
Course Description:	The multiple discourses and processes involved in communication about health. Advanced analysis of theories and research involved in the processes of naming, blaming, and shaming.
Oasis Title:	SEM HLTH COMM
Semester Course Offered:	Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 8620. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Seminar in Organizational Communication
Course Description:	Introduction to theory and research on the relationship between organizing and communicating within complex organizations and the communicative interplay between organizations and society. Examination of the communicative nature of organizations, structure, culture, socialization, identification, power, conflict, and leadership
Oasis Title:	SEM ORG COMM
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 8700. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Social Scientific Research Methods In Speech Communication
Course Description:	Topics covered include formalizing research questions, conceptual definitions, operational definitions, measurement, hypothesis testing, sampling, research designs, and computer assisted data analysis.
Oasis Title:	SOC SCI RES METH
Semester Course Offered:	Offered spring semester every year.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 8800. 3 hours.
Course Title:	Seminar in Intercultural Communication
Course Description:	The study of communication within and between diverse cultural groups. Examines communicative nature of social identity, effects of world view on communication, nonverbal and verbal codes, varying relational patterns, and rhetoric situated in varying cultures. An applied research project will be conducted.
Oasis Title:	SEM INTERCULT COMM
Semester Course Offered:	Offered fall semester every even-numbered year.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 8990. 3 hours. Repeatable for maximum 12 hours credit.
Course Title:	Directed Study and Special Topics in Speech Communication
Course Description:	Individual directed study or research in selected areas of speech communication conducted under the supervision of a faculty member.
Oasis Title:	DIRECTED STUDY
Semester Course Offered:	Offered fall, spring and summer semester every year.
Grading System:	A-F (Traditional)


Course ID:	SPCM 9000. 1-9 hours. Repeatable for maximum 36 hours credit.
Course Title:	Doctoral Research
Course Description:	Research while enrolled for a doctoral degree under the direction of faculty members.
Oasis Title:	DOCTORAL RESEARCH
Nontraditional Format:	Independent research under the direction of a faculty member.
Prerequisite:	Permission of department
Semester Course Offered:	Offered fall, spring and summer semester every year.
Grading System:	S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory)


Course ID:	SPCM 9300. 1-9 hours. Repeatable for maximum 36 hours credit.
Course Title:	Doctoral Dissertation
Course Description:	Dissertation writing under the direction of the major professor.
Oasis Title:	DOCT DISSERTATION
Nontraditional Format:	Independent research and preparation of the doctoral dissertation.
Semester Course Offered:	Offered fall, spring and summer semester every year.
Grading System:	S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory)

Graduate Course Offerings