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Careers and Combined Programs

Programs of study that combine a major in the department with carefully selected minors and electives in other departments can prepare students for careers and advanced studies in business, consumer and social advocacy, government, communication research and education, law, public relations, public service, politics, filmmaking, film criticism, television production, the ministry, and other professions demanding competence in communication. Interested students should consult with the department's director of undergraduate studies.

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Minor in Communication and Culture

Students may complete a minor in the department by meeting the following requirements:

1. A total of 15 credit hours in the department.
2. C190 or S205.
3. 9 credit hours of upper-division (300- and 400-level) courses in the department, of which at least 3 credit hours must be at the 400 level.

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Secondary Teacher Certification

The Indiana Teaching Certification in Speech and Theatre requires the following courses:

1. CMCL C121 or C130; C225 or C228; C305 or C427; C321 or C323; C324.
2. THTR T340; T120; T115; one of T100, T210, T370 or T371; one of T225, T230, T335 (T225 is suggested).
3. Six additional elective hours in CMCL or THTR at the 300 level or above.

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Departmental Honors Program

The honors program in the Department of Communication and Culture is designed to encourage outstanding students to undertake research and creative projects, to work closely with departmental faculty in directed readings and research, and to participate in courses reserved for honors students.

Students majoring in Communication and Culture may be invited into the honors program during their junior year. Those considered for the honors program may be nominated by a member of the faculty or they may nominate themselves. To be considered for the honors program, students must:

1. be of junior standing or have completed at least 15 hours in Communication and Culture, and
2. have maintained an overall GPA of least 3.3 and a GPA of at least 3.5 in the major.

To graduate with honors in Communication and Culture, students who are accepted into the honors program must take:

1. C399 Reading for Honors (3 credits; 6 credits max.), and
2. C499 Senior Honors Thesis (3-6 credits).

Students must fulfill all of the requirements for a major in the department. No more than 3 hours in C399 and in C499 (6 hours total) can be counted toward the 30-hour major requirement. Students completing the thesis may be invited to present their project in the context of a conference, colloquium, or symposium.

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Course Descriptions

C121 Public Speaking (3 cr.) Theory and practice of public speaking: training in thought processes necessary to organize speech content; analysis of components of effective delivery and language. Credit not given for both S121 and C121. I Sem., II Sem., SS.
C122 Interpersonal Communication (3 cr.) SHSI Introduction to core communication concepts and processes of face-to-face interaction from the perspective of communication competence. Analyzes variability in the design, production, exchange, and interpretation of messages in relational, family, professional, and cultural contexts. Credit not given for both S122 and C122. I Sem., II Sem., SS.
C130 Public Speaking, Honors (3 cr.) For outstanding students, in place of C121. Credit not given for both S130 and C130.
C190 Introduction to Media (3 cr.) AHLA Form, technique, and language of the media; analysis of specific film, television, and video productions; introduction to major critical approaches to media studies. Credit given for only one of CMCL C190 and CMLT C190.
C201 Race, Ethnicity, and the Media (3 cr.) SHSI Examines how the social construction of race impacts media content, audiences, and employment/access. Explores mechanisms of racism and considers efforts to overcome media racism in the United States. Includes screening, interpretation, and analysis of electronic media content and guest lectures/presentations.
C202 World Media (3 cr.) SHSI Exposes students to the increasing productivity of culture industries around the world by examining media institutions and practices outside the dominant Hollywood framework (e.g., Hong Kong film, British television, Indian pop music). Credit given for only one of CMCL C202 and TEL T202.
C203 Women in the Media (3 cr.) SHSI Examines the representation of women in the media and analyzes women's creative work as media producers. Includes screening, lecture, and discussion in areas of critical debate: positive images, visual representation; racial and ethnic stereotyping; women's employment in media industries; women as an audience/consumer group.
C204 Topics in Media, Culture, and Society (3 cr.) SHSI, CSB Relationship between communication media and a range of social institutions, practices, and beliefs. Course may focus on a particular medium and/or period (e.g., television and family film and the Cold War, censorship and the media). Topic varies. May be repeated once for credit with a different topic. Credit not given for both C204 and C395.
C205 Introduction to Communication and Culture (3 cr.) AHTI Critically examines communication as a cultural practice as it affects the beliefs, attitudes, values, and behaviors of individuals, groups, and publics. Credit given for only one of C205 and S205.
C223 Business and Professional Communication (3 cr.) SHSI R: C121. Examines organizational communication, with emphasis on skills acquisition. Developed skills include interviewing, group discussion, parliamentary procedure, and public speaking. Credit not given for both S223 and C223.
C225 Discussion and Decision Making (3 cr.) SHSI Leadership, participation, and decision making in group settings, including committee, conference, public discussion, and social dimensions of group process. Credit not given for both S225 and C225. I Sem., II Sem.
C227 Public Discussion and Debate (1 cr.) Participation in public or intercollegiate discussion and debate. Training in research and analysis of current public questions, organization of evidence and argument, and persuasive presentation. Credit not given for both S227 and C227. May be repeated for a maximum of 4 credit hours. I Sem., II Sem.
C228 Argumentation and Advocacy (3 cr.) AHTI R: C121 or C130. Reasoning, evidence, and argument in public discourse. Study of forms of argument. Practice in argumentative speaking. Credit not given for both S228 and C228.
C229 Ways of Speaking (3 cr.) SHSI Exploration in comparative perspective of the social use of language, with a focus on the interrelationships among verbal form, social function, and cultural meaning in ways of speaking.
C238 Communication in Black America (3 cr.) AHTI, CSA Communicative experiences of black Americans, including black dialect, language and ethnicity, interracial communication, recurring themes, spokespersons in black dialogue, and sociohistorical aspects of black language and communication. Credit not given for both S238 and C238.
C290 Hollywood I (3 cr.) SHHS Historical survey of the American motion picture industry from 1895 to 1948. Emphasizes narrative cinema and the classical studio system. Credit given for only one of C290 and CMLT C290.
C292 Hollywood II (3 cr.) SHHS Historical survey of the American motion picture industry from 1948 to the present. Emphasizes narrative cinema and its increasing relation to television and home entertainment. Credit given for only one of C292 or CMLT C290.
C299 Honors Seminar (3 cr.) P: freshmen or sophomore standing with a previous honors course in the department or approval of the departmental honors committee. A major contemporary problem in an area of communication and culture. Credit not given for both S299 and C299.
C301 Goals and Strategies in Interpersonal Communication (3 cr.) SHSI P: C205. Investigates the impact of interpersonal communication on influencing attitudes and behavior. Offers a theoretical foundation of communication as influence process. Elaborates methods of effecting strategic behavioral change through communication. Credit not given for both S301 and C301.
C304 Communication and Social Conflict (3 cr.) AHTI Examination of sources and functions of symbolic influence in contemporary society. Emphasis upon developing rhetorical skills for critiquing social conflict. Credit not given for both S304 and C304.
C305 Rhetorical Criticism (3 cr.) SHSI R: C121 or consent of instructor. The development of standards for evaluating and methods of analyzing rhetorical texts. Significant historical and contemporary texts are studied to exemplify critical principles. Credit not given for both S305 and C305.
C306 Writing Media Criticism (3 cr.) AHLA P: C190 or consent of instructor. Study of the main schools and methods of media criticism; emphasis on developing the analytical and critical skills necessary for writing film, television, and/or other types of media criticism. Credit not given for both C306 and C494.
C311 Media History (3 cr.) SHHS Surveys the historical development of mediated communication suggesting links between past and present. Examines a variety of time periods and media forms: telegraphy, telephony, radio, television, and computer communication.
C312 Introduction to Television Criticism (3 cr.) AHLA Study of the form, structure, and meanings of television programs. Historical development of genres and conventions examined in relation to issues of American culture. Credit not given for both T310 and R206. Credit given for only one of C312, TEL T310, or TEL R320.
C313 Performance as Communicative Practice (3 cr.) AHLA Introduction to performance as a communicative practice, focusing on performance as a special artistic mode of communication and performance and as a special class of display events in which the values and symbols of a culture are enacted before an audience.
C314 Communication, Culture, and Social Formations (3 cr.) SHSI Examination of cultural identities and related social formations as constituted by symbolic forms in structures around the world. Topic varies. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
C315 Advertising and Consumer Culture (3 cr.) SHSI P: C190 or consent of instructor. Critical examination of advertising's role in modern societies. Focuses on marketing and consumption as central activities in shaping personal identity and social relations.
C321 Rhetoric, Law, and Culture (3 cr.) AHTI This course examines the range of ways in which rhetoric, law, and culture intersect in the production and maintenance of social and political community. Credit not given for both S321 and C321.
C323 Speech Composition (3 cr.) AHLA R: C121 and one of the following: C223, C225, or C228. Advanced speech writing, focusing upon the content of speeches. The theory and practice of informative, persuasive, and ceremonial speaking. Topics include the principles of organization, exposition, and argumentation, and language and style. Credit not given for both S323 and C323.
C324 Persuasion (3 cr.) AHTI R: C121 or C130; and one of the following: C223, C225, or C228. Motivational appeals in influencing behavior; psychological factors in speaker-audience relationship; contemporary examples of persuasion. Practice in persuasive speaking. Credit not given for both S324 and C324.
C325 (Theatre and Drama T325) Voice and Speech I (3 cr.) R: junior standing. Anatomy and functions of vocal mechanism; introduction to phonetics; improvements of student's voice and diction through exercises and practical work in area of student's special interest. Credit not given for both S325 and C325. I Sem., II Sem.
C326 Authorship in the Media (3 cr.) AHLA P: C190 or consent of instructor. Topic varies: in-depth analysis of directors, producers, or creative individuals in the media, viewed as "authors." May be repeated once for credit with a different topic. A maximum of 6 credit hours may be earned for any combination of C326 and CMLT C491.
C334 Current Topics in Communication and Culture (3 cr.) Analysis of selected problems in communication and culture. Topics vary each semester. May be repeated once for credit if topic varies. No more than 6 credit hours may be earned for any combination of S335 and C334.
C335 Production as Criticism (3 cr.) AHLA Provides conceptual and hands-on experience for researching, writing, and producing different genres of video programs using VRA camcorders and editing systems. This course emphasizes conceptual processes from the original script to the completed video. Lab fee required. Credit given for only one of C335 and TEL T335.
C336 Using Popular Culture (3 cr.) SHSI Critical exploration of the form, content, and uses of popular culture in everyday life.
C337 New Media (3 cr.) This course aims to help students develop a framework for understanding this dynamic area of social life in the late twentieth century. It compares the "computer revolution" to prior eras of technological change, such as the advent to telephony, radio, and television. It also inquires into the distinctive qualities of computer-mediated communication, focusing on interactions among technological, industrial, regulatory, social, and cultural forces. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credits.
C339 Freedom of Speech (3 cr.) AHTI A brief survey of the historical development of the concept of freedom of speech, and a close examination of contemporary free speech issues, such as those relating to national security, public order, civil rights movement, antiwar protest, obscenity, academic freedom, and symbolic speech. Credit not given for both S339 and C399.
C360 Motion Picture Production (4 cr.) A hands-on introduction to the technical and aesthetic basics of making 16mm silent films. Students learn how to design, direct, light, shoot, and edit several short films working individually and in groups.
C361 Intermediate Motion Picture Production (4 cr.) P: C360. Introduction to the making of 16mm sound films, including the recording and editing of synch sound. The various stages of production are explored in lectures, lab exercises, and discussions. Each student designs, directs, and edits a short synch sound film, and participates as a crew member in the other students' productions.
C380 Nonverbal Communication (3 cr.) SHSI Provides a conceptual and theoretical foundation for understanding how nonverbal communication influences perceptions of others and the ways in which nonverbal communication reflects emotions, status, sex roles, etc. The course explores how nonverbal communication facilitates retention, comprehension, and persuasiveness of verbal information, including the ability to detect deceptive communication. Credit not given for both S380 and C380.
C392 Media Genres (3 cr.) AHLA P: C190 or consent of instructor. Topic varies. Analysis of typical genres, such as westerns, situation comedies, documentaries, etc. Problems of generic description or definition: themes, conventions, iconography peculiar to given genres. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credits. Credit given for only one of C392, C417, and TEL T417.
C393-C394 History of European and American Films I-II (3-3 cr.) AHLA P: C190 or consent of instructor. C393 is a survey of the development of cinema during the period 1895-1926 (the silent film era); C394 is a survey of European and American cinema since 1927. Particular attention paid to representative work of leading filmmakers, emergence of film movements and development of national trends, growth of film industry, and impact of television. Topics vary. Each course may be taken for a total of 6 credit hours with different topics. A maximum of 6 credit hours may be earned for any combination of C393 and CMLT C393.
C398 National Cinemas (3 cr.) AHLA Historical survey of major national cinemas. Subject varies. Topics include Brazilian cinema, British cinema, Chinese cinema, French National cinema, German film culture, India cinema, and Italian cinema. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credits.
C399 Reading for Honors (3 cr., 6 cr. max.) P: junior standing and approval of departmental undergraduate studies committee. Readings directed by member of faculty. Credit not given for both S399 and C399.
C401 Senior Seminar in Communication and Culture (3 cr.) P: senior standing and consent of instructor. Study of problems and issues in rhetoric and communication. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours. Credit not given for both S401 and C401.
C405 Human Communication Theory (3 cr.) P: senior standing or consent of instructor. Survey of contemporary theories of human communication, with emphasis on the nature of theory construction; contributions of allied disciplines to communication theory. Credit not given for both S405 and C405.
C406 The Study of Public Advocacy (3 cr.) P: senior standing or consent of instructor. Study of great rhetorical works in English. Focus on understanding the nature and role of public discourse in addressing significant human concerns. Credit not given for both S406 and C406.
C407 Rhetoric and History (3 cr.) P: senior standing or consent of instructor. Survey of ancient through contemporary thought on the art of rhetoric; identification of leading trends in the history of rhetoric and the assessment of those trends in light of surrounding context. Credit not given for both S407 and C407.
C410 Media Theory (3 cr.) P: C190 or consent of instructor. Survey of writings, concepts, and movements in media theory. Credit not given for both C396 and C410.
C411 Media Industries and Cultural Production (3 cr.) SHSI Examines the social, economic, and cultural forces that influence the creation of programs and genres in the media industries. Topic varies, but may explore the role of networks, advertisers, studios, and independent producers. May not be repeated for credit. Credit given for only one of C411 and TEL T411.
C412 Race, Gender, and Representation (3 cr.) SHSI Construction of race and gender identities across a range of media. Emphasis on the power of sound/image representations to shape and contest ideas about race and gender. Topic varies. May be repeated once for credit with a different topic. Credit given for only one of C412 and TEL T412.
C413 Global Villages (3 cr.) SHSI Electronic media's role in altering perceptions of time, space, locality, and identity. Explores changing economic, political, and cultural relations in the global media environment. Topic varies and may include global media events, transborder information flows, cultural differences in media forms and practices. May be repeated once for credit with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours. Credit given for only one of C412 and TEL T412.
C414 Topics in Performance and Culture (3 cr.) AHLA Examination of the relationship between performance and culture in specific domains of social life and aspects of social experience. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
C415 Topics in Communication and Culture in Comparative Perspective (3 cr.) SHSI Cross-cultural exploration of communication systems, ranging from face-to-face interaction to mediated forms of communication, with an emphasis on their cultural foundations and social organization. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
C418 Critical Media Analysis: Fiction (3 cr.) AHLA Critical analysis of the form and meanings of fiction genres, including drama, situation comedy, and made-for-TV movies. Explores the relationship between fiction programming and American culture. Credit not given for both TEL T418 and TEL R412. Credit given for only one of C418, TEL T418, and TEL R412.
C419 Classical Oratory (3 cr.) CSA History of Greek and Roman oratory from the fifth century B.C. to the third century A.D. Emphasis on the Attic orators and Cicero. Credit not given for both S419 and C419.
C420 Topics in Media History (1-3 cr.) SHHS P: C190 or consent of instructor. Media historiography, topics in national media history, national and international movements and trends. Topic varies. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours. Credit given for only one of C420 and TEL T419.
C421 Honors Seminar in Society and Culture (1-3 cr.) P: consent of the departmental honors advisor. Topical seminar in society and culture for telecommunications honors students. A maximum of 9 credit hours may be earned for any combination of C429 and TEL S419.
C424 Empirical Research Methods in Speech Communication (3 cr.) R: S205. Focuses on the objective appraisal of behavioral data in the study of speech communication. Introduces the theoretical foundation of empirical social science and offers guidelines for conducting descriptive and experimental studies. Credit not given for both S424 and C424.
C427 Cross-Cultural Communication (3 cr.) A survey study of national, cultural, and cross-cultural persuasion in theory and practice. Credit not given for both S427 and C427.
C440 Organizational Communication (3 cr.) Examination of internal and external communication in business and other professional organizations, with emphasis on theory, techniques, practices, goals, and the social environment in which such communication exists. Credit not given for both S440 and C440.
C444 Political Communication (3 cr.) Examination of communication in political campaigns and social movements in the age of television. Campaign topics include speech making, advertising, news coverage, and debates. Case studies in social movements, including anti-war and anti-nuclear protest, civil rights, contemporary feminism, and the New Right. Credit not given for both S444 and C444.
C445 Media, Culture, and Politics (3 cr.) Examines the role of media in the political process. Topic varies and may include censorship and free speech, social movements, politics of representation. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
C450 Gender and Communication (3 cr.) Examines the extent to which biological sex and gender role orientation and stereotypes influence the process of communication. Focuses on gender differences in decoding and encoding verbal and nonverbal behavior, development of sex roles, cultural assumption, and stereotypes regarding gender differences in communication. Analyzes how the media present, influence, and reinforce gender stereotypes. Credit not given for both S450 and C450.
C497 Independent Study in Communication and Culture (1-6 cr.) P: junior standing and approval of instructor. Independent study of practicum experience. Projects must be approved by faculty member before enrolling. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
C499 Senior Honors Thesis (3-6 cr.) P: senior standing. Original research project, culminating in honors thesis to be written under direction of faculty member. Credit not given for both S499 and C499.

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