ESC Course Catalog
The Elliott School of Communication offers an integrated major in communication leading to the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. Students can develop a special (open) emphasis that respects their background and experience and is consistent with their educational and professional goals, or choose a structured emphasis in strategic communication, broadcast journalism, electronic media, integrated marketing communications, or print journalism.
This comprehensive communication degree has three distinguishing characteristics:
1. It is interdisciplinary in nature, reflecting the contemporary belief that all communication media are engaged in essentially the same functions (gathering information and creating and disseminating messages) and that the present-day communication professional must be schooled in the basic skills - writing, speaking, and visual communication - and must develop the ability to plan, organize, evaluate, and think strategically. Founded on the principle that communication specialists should also be communication generalists, this degree program combines disciplinary strengths in an inter-disciplinary matrix.
2. It is consistent with the mission of Wichita State University to offer programs that are responsive to the needs of the urban community that the University serves. The Kansas communication industry has its focus in Wichita, the major media center of the state.
3. Its location allows the program and its students to take full advantage of the communication opportunities afforded by the largest city in Kansas. The region of the state served by WSU includes one public and four commercial television stations, more than 15 radio stations, nine daily and 32 weekly newspapers, more than 25 advertising agencies, and a range of international, national, regional, and local industries, businesses, and public agencies, many with substantial communication operations. This setting allows students to combine academic and professional interests in a program that matches concept with example, education with experience .
Degree Requirements
Major. Students majoring in communication must maintain a 2.500 grade point average (overall and in the major), complete a minimum of 40 credit hours in communication, including 22 credit hours in the communication core, and submit a portfolio of their work during their senior year (see portfolio requirement below).
All students must take the communication core courses: COMM 130, 301, 305, 325, 472, 535, and two courses from 430, 630, and 631. At least 18 credit hours must be in either a structured or an open emphasis area. Specific course requirements in the emphasis areas are listed in the emphasis areas section.
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Courses for Graduate/Undergraduate Credit | Courses for Graduate Students Only
011. Reducing Fear of Speaking. (2). For students who feel an unwarranted degree of fear, nervousness, or stage fright when confronting situations calling for oral communication, especially but not exclusively, before groups of people. Goal is to reduce the fear of such situations through practice in supportive settings and other specific methods developed in the fields of counseling and speech communication that have been demonstrated effective in reducing communication anxiety.
111. Public Speaking. (3). General education basic skills course. Studies basic concepts of speech communication as applied to public speaking. For students wishing to enhance leadership potential by improvement in traditional public speaking situations. (The University's requirement in oral communication must be fulfilled by completion of Comm. 111. For especially qualified students, an exemption or advanced standing examination is available. For further information, contact the Elliott School of Communication.)
150. Debate Workshop. (2). Instruction in theory and techniques of debate and preparation for debating the national high school debate topic. Not repeatable for credit. Prerequisite: departmental consent.
190. Introduction to Human Communication. (3). General education introductory course. Explores several alternative frameworks by which humans cope with and control the communication environment. Use observational and experiential opportunities to discover the variety of patterns used by humans to symbolically interact with themselves, each other, and entire cultures. Utilizes multimedia instructional procedures.
202. Debate and Forensics. (3). Research and preparation for debate and individual speaking events, participation in intercollegiate debate and/or forensics competition, and debate and forensics squad meetings. Repeatable for a maximum of four hours credit. May not be counted toward a major. Prerequisite: departmental consent.
220. Introduction to Film Studies. (3). Emphasizes the nature and function of film as a mode of communication with attention to film theory and technical criticism. Selected films are shown in class.
221. Oral Interpretation. (3). General education further studies course. Cross listed as Thea. 221. Develops the mental, vocal and analytical techniques essential to the oral interpretation of literature.
222. Improving Voice and Diction. (3). Cross listed as Thea. 222. For students wishing to improve their speaking voices and gain greater control over their pronunciation of spoken English. Course is performance oriented; however, the anatomy of the vocal mechanism and the International Phonetic Alphabet are studied for practical application in the improvement of voice and diction.
260. Seminar in Communication. (1-3). Special seminars dealing with current problems, issues, or interests in various areas of communication. For the introductory student in communication. Repeatable for credit in different topics only.
290. Listening Strategies. (3). Provides students with an understanding of the process of listening in a variety of communication settings. Aids students in improving listening in the classroom, interpersonally, and professionally. Examines listening myths and barriers to effective listening, encourages growth in positive listening attitudes and behaviors. Prepares students for professional as well as personal lives in which they will spend more time listening than any other type of communication. Prerequisite: Comm. Ill or departmental consent.
Lower Division Courses | Upper Division Courses
Courses for Graduate/Undergraduate Credit | Courses for Graduate Students Only
302. Interpersonal Communication. (3). General education further studies course. Develops an awareness of the elements of interpersonal communication and aids the student in establishing more meaningful and effective interpersonal relationships, both personally and professionally.
303. Audio Production. (3). Production and direction of audio programs. Handson use of all standard audio production equipment to learn techniques of sound blending and reproduction.
304. Studio Video Production. (3). 211; 2L. Basic principles, procedures, and techniques of video production, including operation of studio equipment and direction of television programs and other video productions. Prerequisite: Comm. 303 or instructor's consent.
310. Introductory Photojournalism. (3). 2R; 3L. Lab fee. Basic photographic theory and technique emphasizing aspects of importance to journalists, writers, and editors. Students take, develop, and prepare pictures for publication. Prerequisite: Comm. 301.
311. Persuasion. (3). General education further studies course. Explores the history, development, and manifestation of persuasive techniques through the study and/or creation of persuasive messages in speeches, mass media, advertising, politics, and organizations. The student becomes a better user and critic of persuasive messages and strategies. Prerequisite: Comm. 111.
312. Nonverbal Communication. (3). General education further studies course. A study of theory and research in nonverbal communication. Students explore different aspects of nonverbal communication and engage in original research and study in the field of nonverbal communication. Emphasizes the application of nonverbal communication to the total human communication process. Prerequisite: Comm. 111.
313. Argumentation and Advocacy. (3). General education further studies course. Studies the principles of effective rational discourse, oral and written, dealing with controversial issues in public deliberative, forensic, and educational areas. Includes valid and fallacious reasoning as well as tests of evidence.
324. Introduction to Integrated Marketing Communications. (3). Introduces the theory and practice of the integrated fields of advertising and public relations viewed from the perspective of integrated marketing communications. Includes audience research, the creation of specialized messages, and message delivery systems. Prerequisite: Comm. 301 or departmental consent.
328. Teamwork, Leadership, and Group Communication. (3). Studies the nature and functions of groups and the development of skills for identifying and evaluating communication behavior in small group situations emphasizing the dynamics of teamwork and group leadership.
332. Writing for Electronic Media. (3). Writing formats, commercials, continuity, and drama for the electronic media, including audio and video programs and productions. Prerequisite: Comm. 301 with a C or better or instructor's consent.
340. Applied Photojournalism. (3). 3R; 3L. Lab fee. Covering photographic assignments for the campus newspaper and other publications, under the overall supervision of a journalism instructor. Prerequisite: Comm. 310.
398. Travel Seminar. (14). An interdisciplinary travel seminar that allows a student to gain credit for the study of one of the following: culture, art, literature, architecture, politics, society, science, and economics while visiting historic places of interest. Prerequisite: departmental consent.
401. Beat Reporting. (3). Reporting and writing about events in the community. Stories assigned and handled under the instructor's direction may be used in various publications. Prerequisite: Comm. 301 with a C or better.
402. Debate and Forensics. (2). Research and preparation for debate and individual speaking events, participation in intercollegiate debate and/or forensics competition, and debate and forensics squad meetings. Repeatable for a maximum of four hours credit. May not be counted toward a major. Prerequisite: departmental consent.
422. Broadcast News. (3). Theory and techniques of preparing news for the electronic media, including preparation of newscasts and news reports for radio and television. Prerequisite: Comm. 401 or instructor's consent.
460. Seminar in Communication. (1-3). Lab fee. Advanced photographic theory and technique emphasizing the feature page photo essay, advertising photography for daily news publications, and the photojournalists' personal viewpoints and philosophies. Using their own camera equipment and the department's laboratory facilities, students shoot, process, and print photographs for publications. Prerequisite: Comm. 310.
481. Cooperative Education. (14). Credit for cooperative field placement that integrates theory with a planned and supervised professional experience designed to complement and enhance the student's academic program. Individualized programs must be formulated in consultation with and approved by appropriate faculty sponsors. May by repeated, but limited to a total of four credits in Comm. 481 and Comm.
690. Graded Cr/NCr. Prerequisite: departmental consent.
Lower Division Courses | Upper Division Courses
Courses for Graduate/Undergraduate Credit | Courses for Graduate Students Only
500. Advanced Reporting. (3). IR; 4L. For juniors and seniors; the techniques of reporting and writing the more complex and important types of news stories. Covers police beat stories, sports and economic reporting and includes the study and practice of journalistic interviewing. Prerequisites: junior standing, Comm. 301 with a C or better and either 401 or 422.
502. Public Information Writing. (3). Uses basic journalistic skills of clear, precise writing to communicate effectively with various audiences. Students write press releases, speeches and popularization's of complex documents. Techniques learned in this course are valuable in writing grant proposals, committee reports, pamphlets and journal articles. Prerequisite: Comm. 301 with a grade of C or better, junior standing or departmental consent.
510. Editing for Print. (3). Selection, evaluation and preparation of copy and pictures for publication. Covers copy editing, rewriting, headline and caption writing and page layout. Prerequisites: junior standing and Comm. 301 with a grade of C or better.
511. Strategic Communication in Organizations. (3). Emphasizes the importance of effective face-to-face communication in building meaningful relationships, grooming civic leadership, and producing marketable employees. Human communication skills taught include: how to give effective presentations, facilitate small group discussions, handle conflict, manage diverse constituencies, and cultivate leadership and consulting skills in the workplace. Students are introduced to the basic principles of strategic communication at various levels: organizational, interpersonal, small group, public and contemporary topics and issues. Prerequisite: Comm.130 or instructor's consent.
522. Advanced Broadcast News. (3). 3R; 3L. Advanced techniques of preparing news for radio and television presentation emphasizing actual work in radio and television newsrooms. Lab periods arranged with instructor. Prerequisite: Comm. 422.
525. Advertising Copywriting. (3). Detailed practice at writing various kinds of advertising copy, including print and broadcast forms. Emphasizes terse, precise writing that evokes response sought by advertiser. Prerequisite: Comm. 324 and Comm. 301 with a grade of C or better or departmental consent.
526. Media Buying and Selling. (3). Principles, methods, and strategies of buying and selling media for advertising, including such topics as study of reach and frequency of the various mass media and specialized media, budgeting, research, rates, market share and other tools of current buying and selling strategies. Prerequisite: Comm. 324 or instructor's consent.
550. Opinion Writing. (3). Studies editorial judgment, including practice in the writing of print, broadcast, and electronic opinion pieces, and the examination of traditional and new technology research materials available to opinion writers. Prerequisites: Comm. 301 with a C or better and junior standing.
570. Magazine Production. (3). Magazine production, including the choosing of subjects, approaches and illustrations; the shooting and editing of photographic stories; layout; the handling of production and management concerns. Prerequisite: Comm. 301 and 510 or departmental consent.
571. Feature Writing. (3). Writing features for newspapers and magazines. Nonfiction topics may include personal experience essays, consumer pieces, travel articles, and personality profiles. Prerequisites: Comm. 301 with a C or better and junior standing.
581. Communication Practicum. (13). Application of theory, principles and practices to professional settings where students work under instructor supervision to continue their professional preparation in various areas of media and communication. Prerequisite: Comm. 301 and instructor's consent.
604. Video Storytelling. (3). Application of video equipment and techniques for field productions. Execution of visual and audio expression in relation to effective video productions in a field setting. Prerequisite: Comm. 304 or instructor's consent.
609. Interactive Media Production. (3). Investigation and application of production techniques for educational and instructional broadcasting, emphasizing television. Prerequisite: Comm. 304.
612. School Publications Advising. (3). Assists those who are preparing to advise and teachers who currently supervise a student newspaper or yearbook. Emphasizes techniques for teaching various forms of writing and design, duties relating to production and finance of school publications, and methods to help students become better communicators. Prerequisite: Comm. 301 with a C or better or instructor's consent.
622. Studio B: alive Television News. (3). Reporting and writing about events in the University and community. Story assignment and preparation under the instructor's guidance; story broadcast over WSU Cable Channel 13. May be repeated for credit with advisor's consent. Prerequisite: Comm. 422 or instructor's consent.
626. Integrated Marketing Communications Campaigns. (3). Instruction and practice in planning and developing integrated advertising and public relations campaigns. Teaches students to perform a situation analysis, identify objectives, develop strategies and tactics, and write a plans book, as well as produce advertising and public relations campaigns materials. Prerequisite: Comm. 324 or instructor's consent.
636. Advanced Public Speaking. (3). Skills development in a variety of advanced presentational methods, including speaking from a TelePrompTer, using PowerPoint technology, spokesperson/press conference speaking, conducting a training session, formal manuscript speaking, after dinner speaking, and writing a speech for another person. Prerequisite: Comm. 325
640. Issues in Corporate Communication. (3). Examines how corporations craft messages that are persuasive to their various publics. Special attention to how companies use communication strategies to cope with situations that threaten their reputations.
650. Communication Training and Development. (3). An examination of communication concepts, processes, technologies and strategies related to training and development. Course includes the application of these elements to formal instruction across disciplines and at various educational levels as well as in most professional training settings.
660. Seminar in Communication. (13). Special seminars dealing with current problems, issues or interests in various areas of communication. Repeatable for credit in different topics only.
661. Directing the Forensics Program. (3). A study of the methods and procedures in coaching and directing the high school and collegiate forensic programs (debate and individual events). The future teacher is made aware of the literature and professional organizations in the field.
675. Directed Study. (24). Cross listed as Thea. 675. Individual study or projects. Repeatable for credit with departmental consent. Prerequisite: departmental consent.
690. Communication Internship. (12). Credit for professional experience that integrates theory with a planned and supervised professional experience designed to complement and enhance academic program. Individualized programs must be formulated in consultation with and approved by appropriate faculty sponsors. May be repeated, but limited to a total of four credits in Comm. 690 and Comm. 481. Graded Cr/NCr. Prerequisite: departmental consent.
712. Advanced Interpersonal Communication. (3). Advanced exploration of concepts and variables in interpersonal communication through the study of different theories as well as practical experiences in dyadic and small group communication. Prerequisite: Comm. 302 or instructor's consent.
720. Dimensions of Mass Communication. (3). A detailed study of mass media, their role as social institutions; their control, support, content and audience; and their effects.
722. The Art of Conversation. (3). Conversation is the form of communication people engage in most naturally and frequently, but about which they seldom think seriously. Helps participants enhance their understanding and appreciation of, as well as their skill in, the art of conversation. Includes the nature of conversation, principles of conversational communication, types of conversation, conversation in the media and conversation analysis. Prerequisites: Comm. 302 and junior standing or departmental consent.
750. Workshops in Communication. (1-4).
770. The Audience. (3). Application of research techniques to the measurement of audience behavior emphasizing mass media audiences. Includes focus group interviews, survey research and radio and television ratings.
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801. Introduction to Communication Research. (3). An integrative approach to an understanding of the nature and scope of communication research and graduate studies in communication and theatre/drama. Provides an overview of current research in the discipline. Instruction in the basic steps of research; availability of library and other sources; bibliographic search; computer accessing of source materials; organization, style, and format of a research report and citation of sources in accordance with standard style guides. Course should be taken at the beginning of the graduate program.
802. Historical and Qualitative Methodologies in Communication Research. (3). An introduction to historical, critical and observational methodologies in communication research. Emphasizes historical, critical and observational research, particularly those forms of research common to communication studies. Prerequisite: COMM 801.
803. Empirical/Quantitative Research Methodology in Communication. (3). An introduction to empirical research methods in communication. Emphasizes both experimental and non-experimental research, particularly those forms of research common to communication studies. Studies research design, methods and reporting techniques. Prerequisite: COMM 801.
812. Contemporary Theories in Communication. (3). Study selected conceptual models useful in the academic study of human communication, including theories involving such contexts as interpersonal communications, public communication and mass communication.
820. Investigation and Conference. (2-3). Cross-listed as THEA 820. Directed research and experimentation for graduate students in some phase of (a) speech communication, (b) electronic media, or (c) speech education. Repeatable for credit up to a total of six hours.
825. Group Communication. (3). Examination of communication processes that operate in groups in various contexts. Provides an overview of relevant theory, as well as methodologies through which group communication may be critically analyzed in applied settings.
830. Theories of Rhetoric: Classical. (3). Cross-listed as ENGL 825. An intensive study of the rhetorical theories of classical writers from 466 B.C.
to the decline of Roman oratory. Principal emphasis on Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Quintilian, Cicero and Longinus.
831. Theories of Rhetoric: Renaissance to Early Modern. (3). Cross-listed as ENGL 826. A study of emerging patterns of rhetoric from the Second Sophistic to modern times. Analyzes the rhetorical systems associated with such figures as Augustine, Felenon, Bulwer, Sheridan, Steale, Rush, John Quincy Adams, Blair, Campbell and Whately.
860. Seminar in Communication. (1-3). Special seminars dealing with currently problems, issues or interests in various areas of communication. Repeatable for credit in different topics only.
865. Organizational Communication. (3). Cross-listed as MGMT 865. An analysis of communication models emphasizing their applications to communication problems in organizations. Explores social psychological processes underlying persuasion in interpersonal relations and through the mass media. Critically analyzes communication systems and techniques within formal organizations.
870. Directed Study. (1-3). Individual study or projects. Repeatable for credit with departmental consent. Prerequisite: departmental consent.
875. Thesis. (2). Prerequisite: departmental consent.
876. Thesis. (2). Prerequisite: departmental consent.
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