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Communication
The Princeton Review ranked communication studies as one of the top-ten college majors. MTSU’s program is student-centered with small classes and personal advising. Communication Studies offers flexibility in career choices as well as the opportunity for personal development. Our courses stress developing strong interpersonal skills, knowledge of diverse cultures, improved problem-solving abilities, and the ability to work well in a group as both member and leader. Exciting opportunities in the program include the Experiential Learning Scholars Program (EXL), our internship program, and debate, which is open to all students. Not only does debate improve research skills and boost confidence, it’s a great way to make friends!
Applying Knowledge
Dianne Guerrier studied in France! The Communication major worked part-time for the National Guard while taking classes at MTSU. As a senior, she participated in a study-abroad program and took classes in Caen, France. “Communication Studies has given me the ability to communicate confidently and effectively by providing me with the knowledge of diverse cultures. Classes, such as “Argumentation” and “Tradition and Change in Middle East Communication,” have allowed me to face my fears, challenge myself, and overcome my uncertainties. I am ready to travel the world and meet people from different cultural backgrounds!“ Diane realized she could have a great time expanding her horizons and learning important career skills.
A passion for Communication!
Elijah Longwell realized that Communication Studies is a perfect fit with his goals for success in his career and personal relationships. He wanted courses that would help him develop skills to work with people from all backgrounds and in a variety of settings. “Communication Studies courses have given me a toolbox of communication styles to use so that I can adapt to the needs of the situation and person I’m communicating with.” He also pointed out that when you look for a career, you can learn skills for a specific job but effective communication takes more time and understanding to master. “If you can grasp that (communicating well with others) first, you will be more successful in the future.”
Depending on the combination of elective courses and minor(s), successful Communications majors can pursue careers in areas as diverse as business, law, education, the government, and non-profits.
Career possibilities include such areas as
- Bank manager or loan officer
- Community outreach and education director
- Counselor
- Entrepreneur
- Event planner
- Human resources manager
- Intercultural and diversity trainer
- International study abroad director
- Lawyer
- Military officer
- Political campaign strategist
- Professor
- Public relations practitioner
- Recruiter
- Researcher
- Trainer
- University administrator
Employers of MTSU alumni include
- Advantage Sales and Marketing
- Army National Guard
- Asurion Protection Company
- Belden Street Music
- Birmingham Museum of Art
- Bounce U
- Broadway Brewhouse
- DLR Restaurants
- Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center
- Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County
- Kohl’s Department Store
- Motlow State Community College
- Nashville State Community College
- OSTO 360, LLC
- Propeller Entertainment Consulting
- redpepper (an advertising agency)
- Sam’s Club
- Shalom Foundation
- Signal Centers
- Southwest Airlines
- State Farm Insurance
- Tennessee Valley Authority
- University Ridge
For complete curriculum details, click on the REQUIREMENTS tab above.
The Department of Communication Studies offers a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Communication degrees. Additionally, students must select a concentration in Organizational Communication or Culture and Social Influence. The major is 45 student credit hours of coursework and students have the option of selecting a minor.
Communication
COMM 2100 - Introduction to Human Communication
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Introductory course provides a broad overview of communication processes, theories, research, and career options. Includes foundational terminology and principles associated with the field of human communication as applied in various contexts including interpersonal, organizational, rhetorical, and intercultural settings.
COMM 2150 - Voice and Diction
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Development of professional voice quality through classroom exercises, individual instruction, and recording assignments to achieve accurate pronunciation, articulation, and expression of American English needed to meet required non-regional accent standards in voice-based occupations.
COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Principles and processes of effective public oral communication including researching, critical thinking, organizing, presenting, listening, and using appropriate language. Counts as part of the General Education Communication requirement. TBR Common Course: COMM 2025
COMM 2300 - Interpersonal Communication
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Introduces fundamental theories and principles for communicating effectively with others in everyday relationships. Topics include development of self-concept, perception, verbal and nonverbal communication, conflict strategies, romantic relationships, and diversity. TBR Common Course: COMM 2090
COMM 3050 - Listening
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. Explores the function and impact of listening in the workplace and other relationships. Includes analysis, interpretation, and application of effective listening skills.
COMM 3100 - Critical Methods in Communication
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Explores multiple methods and approaches for analyzing public discourse. Offers opportunity for students to expand their critical thinking skills and improve abilities to develop effective written arguments.
COMM 3210 - Argumentation and Debate
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Theory and practice of advocacy with emphasis on organization, refutation, reasoning, and rebuttal. In-class discussions using proper debate and argumentation techniques on various topics.
COMM 3220 - Small Group Communication
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Exploration and application of pertinent concepts and theories of group dynamics, decision-making procedures, problem solving, and leadership.
COMM 3225 - Gender Communication
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Critical discussion of values, issues, and traditions in the field of gender communication. Focuses on the analysis of gender and communication as they relate to language, culture, media, relationships, and organizations.
COMM 3230 - Professional Public Speaking
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Building upon the concepts learned in COMM 2200, students will create a variety of live and mediated presentations that offer preparation for leadership in professional situations.
COMM 3240 - Introduction to Organizational Communication
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. An overview of organizational communication theories and processes examined through a hands-on approach. Includes communication networks, teamwork, leadership and power, information technology, crisis communication, and organizational trends.
COMM 3245 - Women, Leadership, and Communication
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. Communication behaviors and issues unique to women in leadership positions in gendered organizations. Activities and discussions designed to develop critical-thinking skills, broaden perspectives, adapt decision-making skills to the professional environment, and develop professional relationships.
COMM 3250 - Communication in Nonprofit Organizations
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or above. Theories and techniques involving communication between organizations and their constituencies. Identification and analysis of communication involving corporate philanthropy and fundraising, fundraising events, volunteers, image, and grant writing. Possible topics include health organizations, art organizations, and nonprofits.
COMM 3300 - Communication Theory
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Junior standing. Explores traditional and contemporary approaches to human communication. Topics include an overview and understanding of interpersonal, intercultural, organizational, and rhetorical theories. Students increase their critical analysis skills by applying the theories to their lives.
COMM 3340 - Interviewing
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of instructor. A critical study of professional interviewing techniques for employment, recruiting, counseling, persuasion, and appraisal.
COMM 3350 - Diversity in Communication
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
The study of communication and intergroup relationships among people of different ethnic/racial backgrounds in the United States. Goal is to expand a student's perspective of issues, values, and communication styles that vary among groups in the U.S. in order to facilitate the development of positive interethnic relationships.
COMM 3400 - Romantic Relationship Communication
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Provides a general overview of contemporary research on relationship communication with a particular emphasis on romantic relationship development. Theories about the role of communication in initiating, maintaining, and disengaging from romantic relationships.
COMM 3500 - Communication for Organizational Effectiveness
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or above. Organizational communication and its relationship to employees, leadership, corporate culture, diversity, change, and innovation. Possible topics include work-life balance and organizational identity.
COMM 3560 - Intercultural Communication
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Examines how perceptions, values, norms of behavior, and communication patterns can vary among people of different cultures. Focuses on increasing understanding of other cultures as well as improving abilities to facilitate cross-cultural interactions.
COMM 3580 - Political Communication
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Examines the nature and functions of communication with political institutions and groups, including campaign communication, decision-making strategies, deliberative discourse, lobbying, and interest groups.
COMM 3650 - Conflict in Communication
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: COMM 2300 and at least sophomore standing or permission of instructor. The role of communication in conflict management/resolution between or among individuals and groups. Also examines third party interventions (such as mediation and negotiation) and workplace policies (such as theft and employee assistance programs).
COMM 3680 - Dark Side of Interpersonal Communication
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: COMM 2300, COMM 3300, and COMM 3750. Students will use interpersonal theories to analyze, examine, and understand destructive communication strategies that may occur in interpersonal relationships. Covers communication topics such as lying, gossiping, bullying, abuse, and narcissism.
COMM 3750 - Quantitative Research Methods in Communication
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing, COMM 3300, or permission of instructor. Explores how quantitative methodologies used to study human communication. Students focus on basic principles and design concepts of communication research while developing a broad understanding of the role of statistics and other analytical techniques in the research process.
COMM 4100 - Rhetoric, Identity, and Difference
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: COMM 3300 or permission of instructor. Explores the topic of identity and identity formation as it relates to communication processes. Examines how race, sex, gender, class, disability, and other aspects of identity rhetorically constructed, negotiated, and performed.
COMM 4200 - Multinational Organizations
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or above. A critical study of multinational organizations and the expatriate experience, including analysis of organizational preparation and employee training.
COMM 4260 - Independent Study
1 to 3 credit hours
1 to 3 credit hours
Prerequisite:Junior standing and permission of instructor. Intensive study of a specific area of communication; topic chosen in an instructor-student conference. May include a major research project, applied communication project, or applied debate practicum. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
COMM 4320 - Persuasion
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Examines theories and concepts that explain key variables in the persuasion process. Emphasis on becoming more aware as consumers as well as users of persuasive techniques.
COMM 4350 - Nonverbal Communication
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: COMM 2300, COMM 3300, and COMM 3750 or permission of instructor. Examines the individual and social factors affecting the production and interpretation of nonverbal communication behaviors. Focuses on channels of nonverbal communication, functions of nonverbal communication, and applied topics in nonverbal communication.
COMM 4400 - Sexual Communication
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Junior standing. Overview of contemporary research on sexual communication with an emphasis on how people communicate about sex in varying relationships and throughout varying stages of life. Includes the role of communication in parent/child communication about sex, in dating and married relationships, and in varying contexts such as the media.
COMM 4500 - Senior Capstone in Organizational Communication
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of instructor. Practical application of tools and theories prevalent in the field of organizational communication involving an audit of organizational communication and culture and a consulting project.
COMM 4650 - History and Theory of Rhetoric
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Junior standing. Explores the foundations and development of rhetorical theories from classical to the contemporary era.
COMM 4700 - Senior Seminar in Communication
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Research and presentation of projects that demonstrate students' integrative thinking in communication theories and application. A synthesis of the Communication discipline.
COMM 4800 - Topics in Communication
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
Rotating topics in Communication discipline perspectives. May be repeated for a maximum of six credit hours.
COMM 4900 - Internship in Communication Studies
1 to 3 credit hours
1 to 3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Permission of department, at least junior status, minimum overall grade point average of 2.5, written consent from a supervising agency within which the internship will take place; departmental approval of a contract between the intern and the supervising agency. Practical experience in applying coursework to actual situations and projects in organizations, both on and off campus, in a supervised internship program. May be repeated for a maximum of six credits. Pass/Fail.
Student Resources
Contact and Student Information
Heather Hundley
Heather.Hundley@mtsu.edu
615-898-2412
Debate - Patrick Richey
Patrick.Richey@mtsu.edu
615-898-2273
Sonja R. Burk (A-M)
Sonja.Burk@mtsu.edu
615-898-5089 | JH 114
Erin Coker (N-Z)
Erin.Coker@mtsu.edu
615-904-8180 | JH 153
Department of Communication Studies
Middle Tennessee State University
MTSU Box 200
1301 East Main Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
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