The online catalog includes the most recent changes to courses and degree requirements that have been approved by the Faculty Senate, including changes that are not yet effective.
The Edward R Murrow College of Communication
murrow.wsu.edu
Goertzen Hall 117
509-335-7333
Dean and Professor, B. Pinkleton; Associate Dean for Research, P. Bolls; Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and College Operations, S. Hust; Director of Graduate Studies, R. Thomas; Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, S. Stout.
Communication is a vital force in society. New practices and techniques in communication require that instruction and research explain these phenomena and prepare students for careers in this exciting area that is being shaped by new communication technologies.
The curricula of The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication lead to the degrees of Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Production, Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communication, Master of Arts in Communication, Master of Arts in Strategic Communication, and Doctor of Philosophy (Communication).
Study in the College’s facilities provides exposure to and mastery of new digital production and content creation technologies. The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication has an adobe lab for digital content creation, a student run Public Relations and Advertising firm, a writing lab, the Murrow Innovation Community, a convergence newsroom, a broadcast news lab, television production studios and TV editing suites, a radio station and radio/audio labs, and a state-of the-art news production/broadcast lab. In addition, the College houses nationally acclaimed media outlets Northwest Public Broadcasting, and the Murrow News Service.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication will be able to: 1) effectively and efficiently collect and evaluate information utilizing traditional methods and new technologies; 2) communicate clearly and succinctly, in both written and verbal forms, to varied audiences; 3) carefully observe, interpret and accurately portray events, information, and activities to a diverse society; 4) shape messages to reflect the differing demands and strengths of different and developing media; 5) consider the legal, social, and economic contexts in which media operate and evolve; 6) examine the role and effects of media in contemporary society; 7) understand the ethical and civic responsibilities that accompany a lifelong career in communication in a democratic society; 8) understand the professionalism required to be successful in a highly competitive industry, and 9) compete successfully in regional, national and international job markets.
Undergraduate Minors
The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication offers a minor in general Communication as well as minors in Health Communication and Promotion (See Dept. of Strategic Communication); and Sports Communication (See Dept. of Journalism and Media Production). Students may apply to add one of these minors after they have completed 60 credits and are admitted to a major. Check with The Murrow Center for Student Success, for additional information.
Graduate Certificate
The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication offers a graduate certificate in Health Communication and Promotion within the Strategic Communication Department. Please contact the recruitment coordinator in the Murrow Center for Student Success for more information.
Minors
Communication
The minor in Communication requires a minimum of 18 credits from any COM, COMJOUR, or COMSTRAT courses. Nine credits of COM, COMJOUR, or COMSTRAT 300-400-level coursework must be taken in residence at WSU. COM 138, 199, and 399 are excluded from applying toward the minor requirements. Students may seek approval for one course to count toward the minor through WSU-approved education abroad or educational exchange. Students may be admitted to the minor after they have completed 60 total credits with a 2.7 or higher WSU cumulative GPA and have been admitted to a major outside the Murrow College of Communication. Students must adhere to the prerequisites for courses as listed in the catalog. Transfer students can be admitted to this minor after completing 60 total credits and one semester at WSU with a 2.7 or higher WSU cumulative GPA. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher to remain in the minor. Check with the Murrow College Student Services Office for additional information.
Courses
The online catalog includes the most recent changes to courses and degree requirements that have been approved by the Faculty Senate, including changes that are not yet effective. Courses showing two entries of the same number indicate that the course information is changing. The most recently approved version is shown first, followed by the older version, in gray, with its last-effective term preceding the course title. Courses shown in gray with only one entry of the course number are being discontinued. Course offerings by term can be accessed by clicking on the term links when viewing a specific campus catalog.
Communication (COM)
100 Grammar and Editing for Communication 2 (1-2) For Communication majors to ensure sufficient skills in grammar, punctuation, and AP style of writing. Typically offered Fall and Spring. S, F grading.
101 [SSCI] Media and Society 3 Mass media's influence in contemporary society. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer.
102 [COMM] Public Speaking in the Digital Age 3 Face-to-face and mediated communication in group and professional settings. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer.
105 [HUM] Communication in Global Contexts 3 Communication processes and how they influence human behavior and construction of social reality across global contexts. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer.
138 Introduction to Communication 3 Course Prerequisite: Admitted to a major or minor in the College of Communication; or for non-majors with an academic interest in communication. Introduction to training and discipline necessary to succeed in the field of communication; familiarization with media, news, news values, and the ability to critique news stories. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer. S, F grading.
199 Murrow Student Ambassador Training 1 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 2 credits. Course Prerequisite: By interview only. General elective training course for newly-accepted Murrow Ambassadors. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer. S, F grading.
210 [COMM] Multimedia Content Creation 3 Applied multimedia content creation and evaluation in graphic design, audio, and video production through communication theory and practice. Typically offered Fall and Spring.
225 Sports and the Media 3 Survey of the relationship between media and sports, including sports journalism, sports promotion, sports and Hollywood, sports and social change. Typically offered Fall and Spring.
230 Principles of Group Communication 3 Theoretical and practical aspects of communication in groups; classroom exercises and films demonstrate principles and develop skills. Typically offered Fall and Spring.
275 Communication Seminar V 1-3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 9 credits. Various specialty topics in communication studies. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer.
300 [M] Writing in Communication 3 (2-2) Course Prerequisite: COM 101; COM 102; COM 105; COM 138; admitted to a major or minor in the College of Communication; sophomore standing; cumulative GPA of a 2.70 or higher. Writing for a variety of communication professions, including advertising, broadcasting, print journalism, public relations, and science communication. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer.
309 Quantitative Research Methods 3 Course Prerequisite: MATH [QUAN]; admitted to a major or minor in the College of Communication; sophomore standing. Measurement, questionnaire construction, sampling, data collection techniques, analysis and hypothesis testing in communication research. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer.
320 Visual Communication 3 Course Prerequisite: COM 210 with a C or better; COM 300 with a C or better; admitted to a major or minor in the College of Communication; sophomore standing. Visual communication in today's print, electronic, and broadcast media to inform, educate, and persuade. Typically offered Fall and Spring.
321 [DIVR] Intercultural Communication 3 Course Prerequisite: Admitted to any major. Culture and cultural differences, race and ethnicity, stereotypes, and intercultural communication in contexts. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer.
325 Environmental Communication 3 Course Prerequisite: COM 101 or 105; COM 210 with a C or better; admitted to a major or minor in the College of Communication; junior standing. How communication shapes human understanding and decision making concerning the natural environment in local, national, and global contexts. Typically offered Fall.
388 Strategic Sports Writing 3 Course Prerequisite: Admitted to a major or minor in the College of Communication; junior standing. Development of writing skills and communication strategies for sports promotion; requires interviews and attendance at sports events and news conference outside of class. Typically offered Spring.
395 Science Writing 3 Course Prerequisite: COM 300 with a C or better; admitted to a major or minor in the College of Communication. Writing about science and technology for print, online, public relations, and broadcast formats. Typically offered Fall.
399 Murrow Student Ambassador Training II V 1-3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 12 credits. Course Prerequisite: By interview only; COM 199. General elective training course for Murrow Ambassadors. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer.
400 [COMM] Communicating Science and Technology 3 Course Prerequisite: Admitted to any major; junior standing. Communicating science and technological issues to professional and lay audiences. Typically offered Fall and Spring.
410 History of Mass Communications 3 Course Prerequisite: Admitted to a major or minor in the College of Communication; junior standing.
415 Media Law 3 Course Prerequisite: COM 300 with a C or better; admitted to a major or minor in the College of Communication; junior standing. Basic concepts and theories of the First Amendment's protection of speech and press. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer.
420 New Communication Technologies 3 Course Prerequisite: Admitted to a major or minor in the College of Communication; junior standing. New communication technologies, their impact on communication processes, access, regulation, and communication in organization/professional contexts. Typically offered Fall and Spring.
421 [CAPS] Intercultural Communication and Globalization 3 Course Prerequisite: Admitted to any major; junior standing. How global processes shape intercultural communication and how globalization is understood, advanced, and opposed by different groups. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer.
440 Media Ethics 3 Course Prerequisite: COM 300 with a C or better; admitted to a major or minor in the College of Communication; junior standing. Foundations and frameworks of media ethics; case studies in assessing media performance. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer.
460 Mass Media Criticism 3 Course Prerequisite: Admitted to a major or minor in the College of Communication; junior standing. Theoretical and philosophical basis for critical analysis of mass communication. Typically offered Fall and Spring.
464 Gender and the Media 3 Course Prerequisite: Admitted to any major; sophomore standing. How news and entertainment media shape and reinforce societal expectations of gender; consideration of race, age, class, and sexual orientation. (Crosslisted course offered as COM 464, WGSS 464.) Typically offered Summer Session.
470 Mass Communications Theories and Theory Construction 3 Course Prerequisite: Admitted to a major or minor in the College of Communication; senior standing. Theories of mass communication and the process of theory construction.
471 [CAPS] Stereotypes in Communication 3 Course Prerequisite: Admitted to any major; junior standing. Examines portrayals of social groups in the media and the impact portrayals have on perceptions, expectations, and aspirations of members of portrayed groups and nonmembers. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer.
475 Communication Seminar 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 9 credits. Course Prerequisite: Admitted to any major; junior standing. Topics with a broad array of interdisciplinary expertise including elements of communication, public policy, sociology, the humanities, and psychology. Typically offered Fall and Spring.
479 Youth and the Media 3 Course Prerequisite: Admitted to any major; junior standing. Effects of media messages on children and adolescents, and developing responsible and effective programming for youth. Typically offered Fall and Spring.
480 Science Communication Campaigns 3 Course Prerequisite: COM 309; COM 325; admitted to a major or minor in the College of Communication; senior standing. Develop an effective communication campaign to address a science communication challenge. Typically offered Spring.
481 Mobile Media 3 Course Prerequisite: COMSTRAT 310 or COM 320; junior standing. Theories, strategies, practices for strategic communication via mobile platforms. Typically offered Fall.
482 Computer Mediated Communication 3 Course Prerequisite: Admitted to a major or minor in the College of Communication; junior standing. Social and psychological implications of computer mediated communication and differences from face-to-face communication. Typically offered Spring.
484 Backpack Journalism 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Students travel abroad and report on stories that enhance global awareness and cultural understanding. Typically offered Summer Session.
486 Crisis Communication 3 Course Prerequisite: Junior standing. Crisis communication in health, environment, public safety, animal health, and other topics. Case studies and application of principles to in-class practice cases. Typically offered Fall and Spring.
490 Web Design and Usability 3 Course Prerequisite: COMSTRAT 310 or COM 320; admitted to a major or minor in the College of Communication; junior standing. Web design with an emphasis on user-centered design and usability. Typically offered Spring.
495 Communication Professional Internship V 2-12 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 12 credits. Course Prerequisite: COM 101; COM 102; COM 105; COM 138; COM 210 and 300, both with a C or better; admitted to a major in the College of Communication. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer. S, F grading.
497 Practicum in Communication V 1-3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Course Prerequisite: By college permission only; admitted to a major or minor in the College of Communication. Practicum experience for students in Communication. Faculty directed. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer. S, F grading.
499 Special Problems V 1-4 May be repeated for credit. Course Prerequisite: By interview only. Independent study conducted under the jurisdiction of an approving faculty member; may include independent research studies in technical or specialized problems; selection and analysis of specified readings; development of a creative project; or field experiences. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer. S, F grading.
500 Communication Colloquium 1 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 8 credits. Written and oral presentation of research topics in Communication; college colloquium. S, F grading.
501 Theory Building in Communication 3 Relationship of research to theory development; evaluation of current theory and research; planning and executing research within specified theoretical frameworks.
502 Consumer Analysis and Brand Development 3 Consumer analysis and brand development; skills to make strategic communication campaigns successful.
504 Instructional Practicum 1 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 4 credits. Course Prerequisite: By interview only. S, F grading.
506 Persuasion and Social Influence 3 Theories, concepts strategies and processes of persuasion and social influence.
507 Communication Ethics Seminar 3 Topics in communication ethics.
509 Quantitative Research 3 Introduction to quantitative research in communication; hypothesis development, testing; basic statistics, interpretation; field surveys, laboratory and field experiments, content analysis.
514 Health Communication Theories and Campaigns 3 Health communication theories with a focus on campaign construction and evaluation.
516 Health Communication and Society 3 3 Reviews, critiques and applications of research regarding the impact of social and cultural environments on health communication.
517 Youth and the Media 3 Explores how children, adolescents, and emerging adults use media in decision making and identity formation, health, and civic affairs.
521 Foundational Perspectives in Intercultural Communication 3 Overview of three current foundational research perspectives in intercultural communication; functionalist (post-positivist), interpretive and critical.
522 Theoretical Perspectives on Intercultural Communication 3 Advanced readings in intercultural communication theory and methods; paradigms in current theorizing.
524 Intercultural/International Communication and Social Change 3 Application of communication theory, research and technologies aimed at fostering social change in intercultural and international contexts.
526 Current Topics in Intercultural Communication 3 Topics in current intercultural communication research.
535 Organizational Communication Theory 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Traditional and emerging theories in organizational communication.
537 Organization and Society 3 Historical foundations, theoretical developments, contemporary issues and practical implications of communicative processes of organizations within society.
540 Risk Communication 3 Research and practice in risk communication.
541 Science Communication 3 Introduction to the role of communication in the formation of attitudes, opinions, and knowledge about important science issues. Typically offered Even Years - Fall.
550 Micro Media/Communication Theories 3 Introduction to basic concepts and theories at the intra-individual level of analysis in communication and media psychology. Typically offered Odd Years - Spring.
552 Theories and Methods of Emerging Communication Technology 3 Theories and study methods for emerging technologies; emerging communication technology in the context of politics, health and science. Typically offered Even Years - Spring.
561 Multimedia Content Creation 3 Course Prerequisite: Admitted to an online degree program or graduate certificate in communication. Exploration and application of strategies to communicate ideas clearly, concisely, and effectively through multimedia content.
562 Crisis Communication in Global Contexts 3 Course Prerequisite: Admitted to an online degree program or graduate certificate in communication. Prepare, plan, and execute crisis communication and management to protect the continuity of an organization's image and mission.
563 Ethics for Professionals 3 Course Prerequisite: Admitted to an online degree program or graduate certificate in communication. The understanding, discussion, and application of key theories of individual and institutional ethics; the articulation and defense of ethical reasoning.
564 Research Methods for Professionals 3 Course Prerequisite: Admitted to an online degree program or graduate certificate in communication. Understanding the role of research in media and related organizations and its application to organizational decision making through quantitative and qualitative research methods including research design, questionnaire construction, sampling, data collection techniques, and variable measurement.
570 Communication Theory 3 Relevant theories and research from mass and interpersonal communication.
571 Theoretical Perspectives on Media and Society 3 Theories explaining the social and cultural environments of communication processes emphasizing in mass communication.
572 Mass Media, Social Control, and Social Change 3 Study of the forces that influence the media's role as an agent of social control or social change.
573 Media and Public Discourse 3 Historical and contemporary concepts, questions and dynamics constituting the role of media and discourse among various publics.
574 Survey of Political Communication 3 Introduction to the field of political communication including agenda-setting, framing, political advertising, entertainment media and politics, political discussion, and selective exposure. Typically offered Even Years - Spring.
580 Topics in Communication 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 12 credits. Contemporary, specialized, or technical topics in communication.
591 Qualitative Research Methods 3 Historical, textual, and legal methodologies for theory-based evaluative and discourse studies in communication.
599 Seminar in Communication 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Special topics in rhetoric, communication, and public address.
600 Special Projects or Independent Study V 1-18 May be repeated for credit. Course Prerequisite: By interview only. Independent study, special projects, and/or internships. Students must have graduate degree-seeking status and should check with their major advisor before enrolling in 600 credit, which cannot be used toward the core graded credits required for a graduate degree. S, F grading.
700 Master's Research, Thesis, and/or Examination V 1-18 May be repeated for credit. Course Prerequisite: By interview only. Independent research and advanced study for students working on their master's research, thesis and/or final examination. Students must have graduate degree-seeking status and should check with their major advisor/committee chair before enrolling for 700 credit. S, U grading.
702 Master's Special Problems, Directed Study, and/or Examination V 1-18 May be repeated for credit. Course Prerequisite: By interview only. Independent research in special problems, directed study, and/or examination credit for students in a non-thesis master's degree program. Students must have graduate degree-seeking status and should check with their major advisor/committee chair before enrolling for 702 credit. S, U grading.
800 Doctoral Research, Dissertation, and/or Examination V 1-18 May be repeated for credit. Course Prerequisite: Admitted to the Communication PhD program. Independent research and advanced study for students working on their doctoral research, dissertation and/or final examination. Students must have graduate degree-seeking status and should check with their major advisor/committee chair before enrolling for 800 credit. S, U grading.
- Communication
Courses
- Communication
Minors
- Communication