Communication and Media Studies
Communication
and media studies is a general specialization in which students take a
self-designed course of study that draws across any master of communication and media specialization as well as courses in other areas of the School of
Communication and Information. Courses in organizational communication, mediated
communication, health communication, social interaction, knowledge management,
and media studies are offered throughout the year. Many of these courses are
cross-listed with the school's Ph.D. program or master of information
program.
Strategic Organizational Communication
The strategic organizational communication specialization emphasizes
theory-informed, research-based study of organizational process, structure, and
interaction, as well as use of new communication technologies in organizational
and societal contexts. Courses examine organizations in a variety of contexts
including businesses, nonprofits, civil society, and government. This
specialization may be especially appealing for those who have goals for
careers in organizational leadership, corporate communication, advocacy,
administration and/or management, training and development, consulting, change
management, stakeholder relationship management, and social media management.
Electives
in this specialization include:
- Organizational Leadership 17:194:540
- Organizational
Decision-Making 17:194:541
- Interorganizational
Relationships and Stakeholder Communication 17:194:542
- Organizational Training and
Development 17:194:547
- Persuasion and Advocacy 17:194:518
- Organizational Communication Networks 17:194:534
- Dynamics of Global Organizations 17:194:532
- Knowledge Management 17:194:515
- Information Policy 17:610:582
- Competitive Intelligence 17:610:535
- Social Media 17:194:546
- Special Topics classes such as Collaboration and Conflict, among others 17:194:501, 17:194:551
Digital Media (Available Fully Online)
The digital media specialization is intended for journalists and other media or
communication specialists who wish to retool and gain understanding of 21st-century media. This includes study of grassroots reporting and advocacy. The specialization will ensure students are conversant in digital video
capture, editing, and production as well as social media management. This
specialization is completely online, although face-to-face or online electives
in other specializations are available to these students.
Electives
in this specialization include:
- Critiquing Marketing
Communications 17:194:591
- Digital Journalism 17:194:590
- Digital Advocacy and
Persuasion 17:194:592
- Globalization, Media, and Social Change 17:194:593
- Special Topics classes
Other
electives are being considered, including digital media production and
interface design.
Health Communication
The health communication specialization is intended for students who wish to
specialize in various contexts related to community wellness and health
interaction such as public health communication; facilitated provider-patient
communication; health campaigns and advocacy; and community health and
wellness.
Electives
in this specialization include:
- Persuasion and Advocacy 17:194:518
- Health Communication 17:194:560
- Special Topics classes such as ePublic Health, Health Campaigns, Interpersonal Health, among others 17:194:561
Students
who have interests in health organizations may wish to combine study in this
specialization with study in the strategic organizational communication
specialization.
Communication and Media Research
The communication and media research specialization is intended for students who
wish to take a more research-oriented course of study. It is also designed for
those students who may wish to pursue a Ph.D. program after completing the
M.C.M. degree. These students have somewhat different requirements (9 credits
of core; 3 credits of research practicum; 3 credits of teaching internship; 21
credits of electives, and a zero-credit Colloquium requirement). In addition to
coursework, these students will be involved in empirical research with a
faculty member; assist in teaching a course; and focus their study and capstone
project with a research orientation.
Leadership Communication
The leadership communication specialization emphasizes theory-informed,
research-based study of the communication demands on leaders in the fast-paced,
complex organizational environment. We explore the competencies needed to be an
effective communicator in all three main modalities: one to one, one to
many, and various eforms of communication. This specialization may be especially
appealing for those who have goals for careers in organizational
leadership, want to improve their personal leadership communication skills, or
add to their professional leadership/management credentials.
Electives
in this specialization include:
- Organizational Leadership 17:194:540
- Interorganizational
Relationships and Stakeholder Communication 17:194:542
- Organizational Assessment 17:194:549
- Organizational Cultures and
Diversity 17:194:544
- Dynamics of Global
Organizations 17:194:532
- Special Topics Classes such as Organizational Change, Effective Presentations, Transmedia Storytelling, among others
Public Relations
The public relations specialization is designed for public relations professionals
to enhance their professional credentials or for those who wish to enter this
fast-growing and dynamic profession. Courses explore the competencies needed to
be an effective public relations practitioner in this dynamic, complex,
and social-driven environment. Students learn both the emerging theories of the
practice of public relations as well as the skills needed to compete
successfully in this profession. Many of these courses are taught by highly
experienced senior public relations practitioners.
Electives
in this specialization include:
- Public Relations Management 17:194:545
- Social Media 17:194:546
- Digital Journalism 17:194:590
- Advanced Communication
Analysis (PR Cases and Practice) 17:194:516
- Special Topics Classes such as Media Ethics, Reputation Management, among others
