Emeritus Faculty Ray Schroeder, Larry Smith
Adjunct Faculty Thomas Bartl, Kavitha Cardoza, Sharon Hutson, Nancy Zimmers
The Communication Program is concerned with the exchange of symbolic messages, how that exchange may be hindered or facilitated, and how it affects groups and individuals. Courses offer students opportunities to improve their skills in writing, speaking, and understanding the messages of others in interpersonal, organizational, and public contexts. The courses also provide a detailed understanding of the role of communication in human affairs. To accomplish these goals, the curriculum addresses the theoretical, critical, and technical aspects of communication. Both the bachelor's and master's degree programs cover two topical areas: interpersonal/organizational communication and mass media.
UIS Theatre is part of the Communication Program. Theatre course offerings are listed in the course schedule under the COM prefix.
The undergraduate program in communication has three main objectives: 1) to instruct the student in general communication theory and technology, 2) to provide the student an opportunity for more intensive study in a specific area of communication, and 3) to ensure that the communication graduate is capable of applying knowledge of general communication theory and technology to specific social problems. The baccalaureate curriculum covers two topical areas: interpersonal/organizational systems and mass media systems.
Requirements for admission to the program as a candidate for the bachelor of arts degree are identical to general UIS requirements but must be met at the time of admission to the program. Students who are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination must achieve a score of 580 or above to be admitted to the program.
Faculty members work with new students to plan courses of study. Based on instructors' assessments of writing ability in required courses, advisers may require advisees to take remedial courses. Generally, advisers assist students in developing personal programs of study and in identifying all necessary requirements.
Students with extensive life or work experience in some area of communication may apply for academic credit through credit for prior learning (CPL). The Communication Program awards such credit in each of its two topical areas (interpersonal/organizational communication and mass media) through COM 431 and COM 451. Prior learning credit is not awarded for specific program courses. The program will award a maximum of four hours of credit for prior experiential learning in any one topic area and a maximum of 8 hours of CPL credit to any undergraduate student.
Communication majors may not take any COM course as part of the requirements for the major on a credit/no credit basis.
COM 380 and COM 480 may be taken for credit more than once provided the course topic is different each time. No more than eight semester hours of credit for COM 499 (tutorials) will be accepted for the degree. All other communication courses may be repeated for grade improvement only once.
Communication majors must complete 32 hours in the major. In addition, they may take up to 8 hours in communication courses to satisfy the upper-division general electives. COM 302 and 303 should be taken prior to or concurrent with any other course work in their respective curricular areas.
All undergraduate students are required to take a program assessment examination during their first semesters and during their last semesters before graduation. The program entrance examination is normally administered during a regular class and is used by the program to assess its curriculum. It does not affect students' grades in any way.
Students should consult with advisers in the major for specific guidance regarding completion of general education requirements.
COM 302 Introduction to Interpersonal/Organizational Communication 4 Hrs.
COM 303 Introduction to Mass Media 4 Hrs.
Communication emphasis requirements (primary topical area) 16 Hrs.
Communication distribution requirements (from other than primary area) 8 Hrs.
Total 32 Hrs.
Crosslisted courses from other programs used as part of the 32-hour major must bear the COM course prefix.
Transfer credits from other institutions may not be used to substitute for introductory core courses. However, students may petition to use them to satisfy other parts of the major or minor, provided the credit is for an upper-division course equivalent to one offered by the Communication Program and that the grade earned was a C or better.
Core
COM 302 Introduction to Interpersonal/Organizational Communication or
COM 303 Introduction to Mass Media 4 Hrs.
Plus a choice of two courses in the same curricular area as the course selected above 8 Hrs.
Elective
Any 300-level or 400-level COM course
or COM 210 or COM 274 (by petition) 4 Hrs.
Total 16 Hrs.
There are no prerequisites for entry into the minor. Students are advised to take the basic core courses (COM 302 or 303) before or concurrent with other courses in the same curricular area. The elective course may be from within or outside this curricular area; if outside, it may be taken without the corresponding introductory course. Communication minors may not take any COM course as part of the requirements for the minor on a credit/no credit basis.
The graduate program in Communication has two main objectives: 1) to guide students in an intensive exploration of the structure and function of human communication and 2) to educate students in the methods and theory of communication inquiry. The graduate curriculum covers two areas of study: interpersonal/organizational systems and mass media systems.
Although 400-level courses are open to both B.A. and M.A. candidates, graduate students enrolled in 400-level courses should expect more stringent grading standards and/or more assignments (and perhaps differently structured assignments) than undergraduates enrolled in the same courses.
For admission to the master of arts program, the student must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent and pass the program's graduate admission writing examination. The program reserves the right to require additional course work where deficiencies are indicated. A student must have an undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or greater (on a 4.00 scale) for regular admission to the program. Students with GPAs below 3.00 may petition the program for admission and should contact the program for details. Students who are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination must achieve a score of 580 or above to be admitted to the program.
Each new graduate student should consult with a faculty adviser before initial registration. Advisers work with students to develop a tentative course of study based on program requirements and on the students' personal interests.
Communication students with extensive life or work experience in some area of communication may apply for academic credit through credit for prior learning (CPL). The Communication Program awards such credit in each of its two topical areas (interpersonal/organizational systems and mass media systems) through COM 431 and COM 451. Prior learning credit is not awarded for specific program courses. The program will award a maximum of four hours of credit for prior experiential learning in any one topic area and a maximum of four hours of CPL credit to any graduate student.
No grade below B- in a communication course may be applied toward the degree. Communication courses to be counted toward the degree requirements may not be taken on a credit/no credit basis except for COM 431, 451, and 501.
COM 570 and 580 may be taken for credit more than once provided the course topic is different each time. No more than six semester hours of credit for COM 499 and COM 599 (tutorials) will be accepted for the degree. All other communication courses may be repeated for grade improvement only once.
Students must complete program-required courses (COM 501, COM 504, COM 506) at UIS to graduate. No waivers or substitutions are accepted. Courses with a 300 number that advisers require of graduate students as prerequisites must be passed with a minimum grade of B. Hours so earned may not be counted toward the graduate degree.
All communication M.A. candidates are required to complete at least 36 hours of graduate study in communication, including at least three 500-level graduate seminars. Graduate seminars are numbered 511 through 589.
No more than eight semester hours of COM courses may be taken before taking COM 504. A student may not register for COM 501 Closure Experience until he/she has registered for COM 506. At least 12 semester hours of course work, including at least eight semester hours of seminars, must be in the student's area of concentration unless otherwise arranged.
Requirements
COM 504 Introduction to Graduate Study in Communication 4 Hrs.
COM 506 Research Methods in Communication 4 Hrs.
500-level graduate seminars in Communication 12 Hrs.
Graduate-level COM courses (400- or 500-level) 12 Hrs.
*Elective (400- or 500-level) 4 Hrs.
COM 501 Closure Experience (minimum) 4 Hrs.
Total (minimum) 40 Hrs.
*If elective is outside of Communication, it must be approved by petition to the Communication Program.
Additional courses may be required by the adviser, with program approval, in order to meet deficiencies. COM 599 Tutorial credit may not be used to satisfy the 500-level seminar requirement.
In accordance with campus requirements, all graduate students must complete a closure experience (COM 501) consisting of either a thesis, a project, or a comprehensive exam. The proposed thesis or project must be approved by a faculty committee before it is begun. Students must have completed a minimum of 32 (preferably 36) credit hours to be eligible for comprehensive exams. Students write comprehensive exams over five areas during a two-day period. Comprehensive exams will be offered once every semester at a regularly scheduled time. More specific guidelines on any of the three options listed above are available from the Communication Program or from program faculty.
Students must enroll for a total of four hours credit in the closure experience; however, they may accrue the total in increments. Campus policy requires that students be enrolled in at least one semester hour of closure experience for each semester after they have begun their graduate closure exercise until that exercise is completed. For communication students, this means that if the thesis/project/comprehensive exam has not been completed by the end of four continuous credit hours of enrollment in COM 501, students must register for COM 502 Closure Experience Continuing Enrollment (zero credit hours, one billable hour) each semester (excluding summer terms) until the thesis/project/exam is completed.
Cross-listed courses may be accepted for the program major. Students should be careful to register for the course with the appropriate program prefix (COM) to ensure that credit is received. Other courses may be accepted toward the major through petition to the program committee.