Communication (Grad)

Department

Evelyn Spratt, Ph.D., Interim Dean, School of Arts, Sciences and Business
TBD, Chair

Campuses

Main Campus

Summary

The Master of Arts in Contemporary Communication is an interdisciplinary program for students seeking graduate education in new communication approaches. The Program of Study allows students options to explore their interests and goals ranging from development of communication skills in new and social media to strategic communication.

Through their coursework, students learn to bring critical analysis, creative insights, technological competence, and new media skills to their endeavors in communication. The curriculum prepares students for careers as effective, strategically-oriented communications professionals by providing them with a set of essential communication skills enhanced by knowledge of new communication technologies.

The M.A. in Contemporary Communication produces graduates who can write clear, purposeful, audience-oriented communications and apply creative approaches to communications planning and problem-solving. Job opportunities for students who complete the program include positions in public relations, organizational communication, website and social media development—some of the most rapidly-growing segments of the professional communication field.

In addition to the face-to-face course offerings at Notre Dame’s main campus, the Contemporary Communication program has a fully online option for students interested in exploring this mode of course delivery. The online program provides learners with flexible degree completion options that allow them to further their educations while continuing to pursue their careers and lives. Students may complete the degree totally through face-to-face courses, totally through online courses or through a combination of both. Consultation with an advisor will help the student determine which mode is best.

Program Objectives

  1. Integrate computer skills and creativity in media through visual images and written communication.
  2. Write clear, purposeful, audience-oriented communications across a variety of media.
  3. Apply creative approaches to communications planning and problem-solving.
  4. Coordinate the production of visually effective and informative print, graphic and electronic communications.
  5. Exhibit a solid grounding in communication theories.
  6. Employ research techniques, applications and organizational methods and skills in new and emerging technologies.
  7. Demonstrate a comprehension of the language and complexities of communication modes: visual, written and oral.
  8. Develop skills to pursue professional careers in new opportunities for communication or creative expression.

Students must maintain a 3.0 (B) Cumulative Grade Point Average to remain in Academic Good Standing. Students whose Cumulative Grade Point Average falls below 3.0 will be placed on Academic Probation. More than 2 grades of C or C+ will result in Academic Dismissal from the program.

Students may enroll in up to 6 hours of a different University Program of Study (graduate level) with the permission of their Academic Advisor and the Program Director of the additional Program of Study.

Degrees and Certificates

Courses

COM-505: Business Communication

Credits 3.00
Analyzes verbal and written communication patterns and messages in organizations. Learners evaluate the effectiveness of a range of methodologies and tools to persuade and inform different stakeholder groups. Learners will critique and create oral and written presentations ranging from communicating statistical information and offering a persuasive call to action, to creating executive summaries and editing the work of others. [3 credits]

COM-507: Film Themes

Credits 3.00
Provides students with a grasp of the communica- tive art of this global medium through analyzing selected films based in theories of film making, particular genre, specific director, culture phenomena or historical location. Discussion focuses on theoretical understanding of the art through an analysis of the selected topic. Students are allowed to take this course more than once if the focus topic is different. [3 credits]

COM-509: Media Criticism and Theory

Credits 3.00
Presents traditional and contemporary critical frameworks for evaluation of the rhetoric of diverse mediated messages. Students explore how to apply these critical theories to a number of media messages. The course examines the connection between the medium and message in successful communication. [3 credits]

COM-511: Communication Issues

Credits 3.00
Engages students in a critical examination of an emerging issue or problem of interest to communication practitioners. Possible topics: crisis communication, non-profit public relations, the computer/human interaction and impact of social media on human communication. [3 credits]

COM-515: Cross-Cultural Communication

Credits 3.00
Explores, in our diverse and global world, how an understanding of communication between persons, or groups, of different cultures or sub-cultures is essential. This course looks at the dimensions that differentiate cultures, the diversity of perceptual and behavioral habits and the role of language and rituals within cultures. Study is applicable to building awareness of communication problems and solving them in multicultural and international settings. [3 credits]

COM-517: Communication and Gender

Credits 3.00
Explores how communication creates, perpetuates and recreates gender roles. The course considers the perception and theoretical foundations that explain these situations. The rhetorical movements that provide the foundation for gender and communication in diverse settings are analyzed. This includes the role of the media and the personal environment be it workplace, social or educational setting. [3 credits]

COM-520: Digital Asset Management

Credits 3.00
Closely examines the nature and uses of media technology in organizations and aids students in developing skills in this technology. The course explores strategies for using multimedia as effective communication devices. These include uses of print, broadcast and/or Internet with a focus on the World Wide Web. Students also learn to develop skills in video conferencing, multimedia presentations and interactive computer instruction. [3 credits]

COM-530: Independent Study

Credits 3.00
Allows the graduate student an opportunity to explore independently under faculty supervision a specialized topic in contemporary communication that is not part of the regular curriculum. The nature, scope and design of this area of study or writing, as well as a schedule of prearranged meetings will be individually contracted between the instructor and student with the approval of the contemporary communication chair. Required forms must be completed through the Graduate Studies office. This course may not be repeated. [3 credits]

COM-535: Organizational Assessment

Credits 3.00
An examination of issues surrounding the topic of organizational effectiveness and development of knowledge and skills involved in the assessment process, including gathering information in a reliable and valid manner, analyzing data and reporting results. Additional topics will include research and evaluation with respect to personnel and the conduct of needs-assessment research in different contexts. Individual projects will be used to provide practice in applying course concepts. [ 3 credits ]

COM-550: Communication Theory

Credits 3.00
Provides students with a solid foundation in scholarly literature of the communication field. Application of theory to contemporary research questions is stressed. Systems theory, situational theory, theories of social influence and mass communication will be surveyed. The primary work of the course is preparation of a literature review regarding a topic of interest. [3 credits]

COM-556: Research Methods for Professionals

Credits 3.00
Develops the skills and knowledge central in engaging in human communication research. Students gain an understanding in how to formulate communication questions, review pertinent research literature, collect and analyze information/data from answers in research question and report research findings in both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Ethical and social/cultural implications of research findings are stressed. [3 credits]

COM-565: Campaign Design and Execution

Credits 3.00
Guides students through developing successful advertising, public relations and marketing campaigns. Through analysis of objectives, strategies, tactics and messages, students explore what is necessary and essential to reflect an organization's mission and strategic plans in order to devise a coherent campaign. Students will examine what succeeds, what fails, and why. [3 credits]

COM-610: Social Media for Professional

Credits 3.00
Explores the practical uses of, and rationale behind the strategic uses of various social media platforms in businesses and organizations. Students will engage in hands-on activities while developing a broad understanding of how social media can play a strategic role in developing an organization's mission and communication goals and objectives. [ 3 credits ]

COM-620: Public Relations Management

Credits 3.00
Analyzes the practices of public relations in the corporate and nonprofit sectors as a function of management. Effective ways of preparing public relations messages are explored in depth. Strategies for communicating with an organiza- tion's internal and external constituencies including employees, clients, stockholders, media representatives, consumer advocates and regulatory agencies are evaluated. Emphasis in the course is placed on trends in public relations since the 1970s. [3 credits]