DEPARTMENT OF SPEECH COMMUNICATION

The goal of this unique program is to prepare MA recipients for further graduate study toward a Ph.D. Additional objectives are to enhance the job and financial possibilities of public and private elementary and secondary school teachers, community and small four-year college instructors, and assistants to trained and licensed professionals in marriage and family counseling. The program’s teaching and research focus is family communication. There is a concentration in interpersonal communication as it relates to family issues. This area of study is increasingly in the forefront of scholarly activity in speech communication, with the creation of new journals devoted to family issues and the relatively new Family Communication Division within the National Communication Association. Private and governmental agencies increasingly look for help through workshops and seminars in parenting, remediation of family violence, and other related issues. Many universities offer degrees in speech communication, however no other offers a concentration in interpersonal and family communication.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Students seeking admission to the graduate program in Speech Communication must meet the following requirements:

1. Submit a Graduate Studies Application for Admission with the application fee to Graduate Studies.
2. Submit official transcripts of all college-level work, including the transcript that shows the date the undergraduate degree was conferred.
3. Submit GRE scores.
4. Submit three letters of recommendation that discuss the applicant’s suitability for graduate study.
5. Complete an undergraduate degree in speech communication or the equivalent from an accredited four year institution.
6. Submit a scholarly writing sample of at least 2000 words.

A holistic review of each student’s application file will be completed on a competitive basis.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Students enrolled in the Master’s Program in Speech Communication may choose either the thesis or the non-thesis option. Students who plan to pursue the Ph.D. degree in Speech Communication are strongly encouraged to select the thesis option.

Thesis Option: Students selecting the thesis option must complete 36 hours of coursework, including three hours each of SCM 698 and 699. Of these hours, 24 must be at the 500 level or above and include the specific courses listed below as required. Graduate students may enroll for graduate credit in a maximum of two foundation courses, if their undergraduate training did not include such courses.

Non-Thesis Option: Students selecting the non-thesis option must complete 36 hours of coursework, not including SCM 698 and 699, of which 24 must be at the 500 level.

All graduate students are required to take a comprehensive examination over all course work taken for the MA degree, which includes both written and oral sections. Those who select the thesis option also must defend their thesis orally. Students must be enrolled in the University the semester or summer session in which the comprehensive exam is administered.

SPEECH COMMUNICATION COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

SCM 465 NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION. The study of systems of nonverbal communication and their use, including body language, vocalic, facial, and spatial communication. Students will apply current theory and research in nonverbal communication to their own communication. Prerequisite: 12 hours SCM completed.

SCM 481 COMMUNICATION THEORY. A survey of classical and modern theories of communication. Prerequisite: 12 hours SCM completed.

SCM 486 FAMILY COMMUNICATION. A study of the contemporary family and of the role of communication in the family. Prerequisite: SCM 286 or the equivalent.

SCM 531 SPEECH COMMUNICATION METHODS AND RESEARCH. An introduction to graduate level research methods, including quantitative and qualitative approaches to data collection, analysis, and interpretation.

SCM 560 ADVANCED INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION. Methodological and theoretical issues in relational communication. Prerequisite: SCM 286 or the equivalent.

SCM 561 CHILD AND FAMILY ADVOCACY. Exploration of the use of advocacy theory and practice in an applied communication setting to analyze specific family problems, form positions, work with allied groups, and carry out a plan for advocacy. Prerequisite: SCM 284 or the equivalent.

SCM 570 HEALTH COMMUNICATION AND THE FAMILY. A study of a variety of health communication topics that relate to and influence the family and other relationships. Perspective and theories in public health, adolescent alcohol and drug abuse, parentchild-physician communication, telemedicine, and rural health concerns.

SCM 571 SEX & GENDER IN COMMUNICATION. Sex and gender differences and similarities in communication behavior.

SCM 580 ADVANCED FAMILY COMMUNICATION. Methodological and theoretical issues in family communication. Prerequisite: SCM 486.

SCM 590 SEMINAR IN INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION. Advanced topics in interpersonal communication theory and research. Topics rotate from semester to semester. May be repeated for credit when topics change. Prerequisite: SCM 560.

SCM 591 SEMINAR IN FAMILY COMMUNICATION. Advanced topics in family com munication theory and research. Topics rotate from semester to semester. May be repeated for credit when topics change. Prerequisite: SCM 580.

SCM 698 THESIS I: PRACTICUM. Initial phase of the thesis investigation, including review of the literature, establishment of the research design, collection of pilot data, and plan for completion. Prerequisite: Permission of thesis director.

SCM 699 THESIS II: COMPLETION. Final phase of the thesis investigation, including data collection and analysis, writing, and defense. The student must be registered in SCM 699 during the semester in which the thesis is completed and defended. Prerequisite: SCM 698.