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M.S. Pathways for Elective Courses

Students are encouraged to complete one curricular pathway as a main set of electives in the program.

Rhetoric

Foster community leadership through understanding and producing persuasive messages to promote action.

Coursework

Recommended Pathway Courses

  • COM 514: History of Rhetoric (available fall of odd years)
  • COM 516: Rhetorical Criticism (available fall of even years)
  • COM 554: Contemporary Rhetorical Theory (available spring of odd years)
  • COM 581: Visual Rhetoric (available spring of even years)

Complementary Elective Courses

  • COM XXX

Faculty

Rhetoric Faculty

  • Victoria Gallagher, professor
  • Ariel Seay, assistant professor
  • Roy Schwartzman, professor
  • Rico Self, assistant professor
  • Kenneth Zagacki, professor

Strategic Communication

Cultivate relationships between organizations and their publics to achieve organizational goals.

Coursework

Recommended Pathway Courses

  • COM 566: Seminar in Crisis Communication (available fall of even years)
  • COM 563: Public Relations Theory (available fall of odd years)
  • COM 529: Communication Campaigns (available every spring)
  • COM 596: Topics in Strategic Communication (coming soon)

Recommended Elective Courses

  • COM XXX

Faculty

Strategic Communication Faculty

  • Kalyca Becktel, assistant professor
  • Alice Cheng, associate professor
  • Tugce Ertem Eray, assistant professor

Media Studies

Analyze the connections among media technologies, culture and society, and create critical media projects.

Coursework

Pathway Courses

  • COM 521: Communication and Globalization (available fall of even years)
  • COM 526: Media Economics (available spring of odd years)
  • COM 528: Communication, Culture and Technology (available fall of odd years)
  • COM 587: Emerging Issues in Media Studies

Complementary Courses

  • COM XXX

Faculty

Media Studies Faculty

  • Fernanda Duarte, assistant professor
  • Nii Kotei Nikoi, assistant professor
  • Stephen Wiley, associate professor

Science, Health, Environment and Risk

Help experts and the public communicate with each other about science, health, environmental stability and risk.

Coursework

Pathway Courses

  • COM 530: Interpersonal Health Communication (coming soon)
  • COM 535: Research Communication for Scientists and Engineers (available every spring)
  • COM 536: Environmental Communication (available fall of even years)
  • COM 538: Risk Communication (available fall of odd years)
  • COM 579: Climate Change Communication (available every spring)

Complementary Courses

  • COM XXX

Faculty

Science, Health, Environment and Risk Faculty

  • David Berube, professor
  • Andy Binder, associate professor
  • Ryan Hurley, associate professor
  • Kami Kosenko, associate professor
  • Lynsey Romo, professor
  • Cindy Rosenfeld, assistant teaching professor
  • Jory Weintraub, director of science engagement