Graduate Faculty
701-231-7705
Stephenson J. Beck, Ph.D.
University of Kansas, 2008
Research Interests:
Group and Organizational Communication, Interaction Analysis, Communication Strategy
Ann Burnett, Ph.D.
University of Utah, 1986
Research Interests:
Legal Communication, Small Group Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Gender and Communication
Ross F. Collins, Ph.D.
University of Cambridge, 1992
Research Interests:
Media History, International Media
Robert S. Littlefield, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota, 1983
Research Interests:
Intercultural Communication, Risk and Crisis Communication, Forensic History and Pedagogy
Zoltan Majdik, Ph.D.
University of Southern Californi , 2008
Research Interests:
Science and Risk Communication in Biotechnological Practice, Rhetorical and Argumentation Theory, Ethics and Moral Theory
Mark Meister, Ph.D.
University of Nebraska, 1997
Research Interests:
Rhetorical and Critical Theory, Environmental Communication
Paul E. Nelson, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota, 1968
Research Interests:
Educational Administration, Basic Course Pedagogy, Persuasion
Amy O'Connor, Ph.D.
Purdue University, 2004
Research Interests:
Organizational Communication, Corporate Advocacy, Public Affairs and Issues Management
Charles Okigbo, Ph.D.
Southern Illinois University, 1982
Research Interests:
Social and Behavioral Change Communication, Health Communication
Judy C. Pearson, Ph.D.
Indiana University, 1975
Research Interests:
Instructional Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Family Communication
Carrie
Anne
Platt, Ph.D.
University of Southern California , 2008
Research Interests:
Rhetoric of Cultural Politics, Gender and Technology, Media in Society
Amber N. W. Raile, Ph.D.
Michigan State University, 2008
Research Interests:
Organizational Communication, Organizational Change, Social Influence
TaiWoong Yun , Ph.D.
University of Texas at Austin, 2007
Research Interests:
Advertising, Consumer Psychology, Quantitative Methods and Psychometrics
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Program Description
The graduate program in communication offers
graduate study leading to the M.A., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees. The
program prepares students for advanced graduate work, management-level
positions, teaching or advancement within their current careers.
The department tailors student research projects and academic
programs to individual needs and interests. Students may take
interdisciplinary graduate course work to enhance their program
of study. For more information, please contact the director of
graduate studies for the master's program (Mark.Meister@ndsu.edu),
director of graduate studies for the Ph.D. program (Judy.Pearson@ndsu.edu),
or department head at 701-231-7705. Information also is available
on the department's Web site, www.ndsu.edu/communication.
Admissions Requirements
Programs are open to students holding baccalaureate degrees from
accredited universities or colleges. To be admitted with full
status to the program, the applicant must
- Have adequate study in communication,
journalism or a related area; and demonstrate potential for
advanced study and research as evidenced by academic performance
and experience.
- Have earned at the baccalaureate
level a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.25
or equivalent.
- Provide a score for the Graduate
Record Examination (GRE).
Direct-to-doctorate students are selected from among persons with
an undergraduate degree, a GPA of 3.50 or higher, and a Graduate
Record Examination (GRE) score of 1200 or higher in the combined
score for verbal and quantitative areas.
- Have an undergraduate GPA of 3.25
or higher in communication or a related area. If the undergraduate
record is more than 10 years old, the graduate committee may
evaluate a candidate's employment in responsible management
or professional positions as an alternative to the 3.25 GPA
requirement. However, applicants must meet the Graduate School
minimum GPA of 3.0 for full standing status.
- Provide a score for the Graduate
Record Examination (GRE).
- Provide transcripts for undergraduate
and master's degree in communication or a related area.
- Include a writing sample (e.g.,
thesis, publication or term paper).
- Include a current curriculum vita.
- Include three letters of recommendation.
(Personal reference reports are available from the Graduate
School or Graduate Bulletin.)
Students who fail to meet these requirements
for full status, or who have deficiencies in background preparation
but demonstrate potential for successful graduate study, may be
admitted under a conditional status. In general, evidence must
be offered demonstrating that an applicant's potential is
not reflected by the academic record. Students who do not show
sufficient evidence of communication study at the undergraduate
level may be asked to complete certain undergraduate course work
in addition to graduate requirements. After meeting the Graduate
School standards, the student may request a change to full graduate
standing. The student may not earn more than 12 semester graduate
credits in conditional status. The request for change of status
must be submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School by the major
adviser and approved by the department head.
The Department of Communication welcomes international students, but English language facility is a must. International students must have a minimum of 600 on the paper-based TOEFL, a 250 on the computer-based TOEFL, a 100 on the Internet-based TOEFL or a minimum 7 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Financial Assistance
Students admitted at full or conditional
status may apply for teaching assistantships at the master's degree level or
at the doctoral level. Teaching assistants teach two speech fundamentals
classes or media writing classes each semester. Doctoral-level
teaching assistants teach two classes each semester. Depending
on experience, a portion of the assistantship may be devoted to
assisting with other communication courses. Teaching assistantship
deadline is Feb. 15 for the following fall semester.
Graduate assistants receive a stipend and tuition waiver. Applications
are available from the department office or online from the department's
Web site (www.ndsu.edu/communication). Other assistantships requiring
specialized media knowledge may be available through other university
offices.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Arts or Master of Science program requires completion
of a minimum 30 credits of course work with an overall GPA of
3.0 or above. All students must elect to complete a research-based
thesis for 6 credits or a paper/experiential project for 3 credits.
The degree candidate defends the thesis or paper in an oral examination.
Core Courses (6 credit hours)
Comm 700 Research Methods in Communication
Comm 711 Communication Theory
Research Tools
Two of the following, one of which must be Comm 708 or Comm 767:
Comm 767 Rhetorical Criticism
Comm 708 Advanced Qualitative Methods in Communication
Comm 710 Advanced Quantitative Methods
Stat 725 Applied Statistics
Elective Specialization
12-15 credits of additional course work, depending on whether
the thesis or paper/project option is selected.
Thesis/Paper
6 credits of thesis (798) or 3 credits of paper (797).
Core Courses (6 credit hours)
Comm 700 Research Methods in Communication
Comm 711 Communication Theory
Research Tools
Two of the following, one of which must be Comm 710 or Stat 725:
Comm 767 Rhetorical Criticism
Comm 708 Advanced Qualitative Methods in Communication
Comm 710 Advanced Quantitative Methods
Stat 725 Applied Statistics
Elective Specialization
12-15 credits of additional course work, depending on whether
the thesis or paper/project option is selected.
Thesis/Paper
6 credits of thesis (798) or 3 credits of paper (797).
The Ph.D. requires 60 semester hours beyond the master's
degree. The 60 or more hours must be in a planned course of study
approved and overseen by the student's adviser and advisory
committee. The student's program will often contain more
than the minimum 60 hours. Students with a master's degree
in another discipline may be required to complete additional graduate
course work in specific areas of communication deemed necessary
by the student's adviser and advisory committee. Graduate
work taken beyond the master's degree may be judged applicable
by the advisory committee, but post-master's graduate credits
beyond 9 semester hours will not count toward the 60-hour minimum
required for the Ph.D.
To complete the program, students must demonstrate a/an
- thorough grasp of perspectives on the
nature of communication as an applied science and the process
of theory construction and testing.
- broad knowledge of theories and research
in various applied communication contexts.
- in-depth knowledge of the communication
context chosen as the student's area of specialization.
- competence in a cognate field which supports
the student's area of specialization.
- broad knowledge of various communication
research methods and statistical procedures, with expertise
in either qualitative or quantitative methodologies.
A. Minimum of 30 credit hours in didactic courses to include
- Core Courses (12 credit hours)
Comm 700 Research Methods in Communication
Comm 711 Communication Theory
Comm 705 Advanced Communication Theory
Comm 701 Action-Oriented Research for Communication Professionals
(Note: Persons with a communication master's degree may
be exempt from one, or more, of these core courses.)
- Major Concentration:
Minimum of 21 credit hours of courses including a major concentration.
(Generally, the core courses will not comprise a portion of
the concentration.)
Minimum of 15 credit hours in the departmental 700-789 courses.
Minimum of 6 credit hours at the 700-789 level in a cognate
area outside the department that represents a coherent unit
of study (such as education, sociology, psychology, or business).
B. 30 credit hours in research
and research courses to include
- Research Courses
Minimum of 15 total credit hours of research courses. Of these,
a minimum of 12 credit hours of didactic research courses (6
credit hours may be transferred from the master's degree).
A maximum of 9 credit hours of independent study conducting
research.
- Dissertation Credit Hours
Minimum of 15 credit hours of dissertation research. The department
does not limit the number of dissertation credit hours.
When course work is nearly completed,
doctoral students will meet with their advisers to determine if
they are prepared to write a synthesis of the student's
course work, in consultation with the Director of Doctoral studies,
presentations and publications, teaching or other applied work,
and professional or other service.
When the adviser and Doctoral Director agree, the student will
compose a scholarly comprehensive synthesis. After completion,
the doctoral committee will evaluate the written work. If the
committee deems the work to be generally acceptable, the adviser
will schedule an oral examination, during which the student will
defend his or her composition. If the work is unacceptable, the
student may be offered a second chance to rewrite the composition.
A student whose work is generally acceptable may or may not pass
the oral portion of the preliminary examination. If the committee
is willing, the student will be allowed a second opportunity to
defend his or her answers orally. Students can be offered a maximum
of two attempts to complete the written or oral portions of the
comprehensives. (For a complete description of the comprehensive
synthesis, please see the doctoral program description at www.ndsu.edu/communication/Phdstudy/html.)
Courses Offered
- 602 Contemporary Rhetoric 3
- Examination of the use of public address
in the contemporary culture to identify styles of usage and
ethical practices employed by communicators.
633 Legal Communication- Examines communication in the legal
process, including interviewing, negotiation, jury selection,
opening statements, witness examination, closing arguments,
and deliberation.
634 Communication Law 3- Exploration of speech and press protections
of the First Amendment. Topics include libel, privacy, electronic
media regulation, and speech regulation.
635 Popular Culture and Mass Media 3- Analysis of popular culture messages
(programming, content, and advertising) presented by the media
as an expression of social values. Mediums include television,
cinema, music, and radio.
636 Issues in Mass Communication 3- Topical studies of media technologies
and organizations in interaction with social, cultural, political,
and economic realities. Media's impact on national life
and thought. May be repeated.
642 Information Technologies and Mass Media 3- Study of mass media programming and
management with an emphasis on the impact of new information
technologies.
643 Mass Media and Public Opinion 3- Overview of theories and methodologies
used in the study of the role of mass media in attitude formation,
attitude change, and public opinion.
650 Issues in Communication 3- Theory and philosophy of research issues
in the field of communication. May be repeated.
672 Public Relations Campaigns 3- Social science research as applied to
public relations, case study analysis, construction, and implementation
of public relations campaigns. Prereq: Comm 370 or departmental
approval.
680 Health Communication 3- Designed to help individuals communicate
in the health professions. Exploration of professional behavior
as communication, staff-client communication, and team communication
in the healthcare setting.
700 Research Methods in Communication 3- Introduction to research planning and
design, methods of research, and presentation of research results.
- 701 Action-Oriented Research
for Communication Professionals 3
- Introduction to the doctoral program
in communication. Will explore concepts including engaged learning,
service learning, problem-based learning, collaborative learning,
learner-centered education, the scholarship of teaching, and
role of social justice in this emerging research genre.
- 705 Advanced Communication Theory
- Provides doctoral students with a structured
forum for discussion of communication theory and research. Prereq:
Comm 611 or Comm 637.
706 Advanced Interpersonal Communication 3- Interpersonal communication theory and
research methods are developed from the perspectives of uncertainty
reduction, conflict management, relationship reciprocity, constructivism,
compliance gaining, discourse dominance, and relational dynamics.
708 Advanced Qualitative Methods in Communication 3- In-depth application of one of the methods
used in qualitative communication research. Prereq: Soc 700.
- 710 Advanced Quantitative Methods 3
- Application of quantitative methods
to communication research, with an emphasis on testing theoretically
derived hypotheses, operationalizing variables, designing valid
and reliable measures, implementing a research design, analyzing
data, and reporting findings. Prereq: Soc 701 or Stat 725.
- 711 Communication Theory 3
- Major theoretical approaches to the study of communication from a social scientific tradition.
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- 714 Marriage & Family Communication 3
- Focuses on the dynamics of marriage and family communication. Theoretical frameworks include: symbolic interactionism; social constructionism; relational dialectics; social penetration; developmental theory; and relational culture. Prereq: COMM 700.
715 Theories of Small Group Communication 3- Survey of theoretical constructs of
communication in the small group setting. Examination of current
methods of research.
721 Intercultural Communication 3- Advanced theories of verbal and nonverbal
behavior, attitudes, and communication styles that affect interaction
between cultural groups.
725 Communication and Change 3- Investigation of the methods by which
innovations are communicated through the process of diffusion
to members of social systems, and adopted or rejected by them.
731 Communication Ethics Seminar 3- Focuses on individual and institutional
communication ethics, and considers ethical standards and responsibilities
guiding individuals, organizations, and institutions. Specific
attention to public, private, corporate, governmental, and professional
settings.
750 Issues in Communication 3- Advanced theory and philosophy of research
issues in the field of communication. Prereq: Ph.D. status,
or departmental approval. May be repeated.
752 Theory of Argument 3- Philosophy and theory of argumentation.
Exploration of analytical methods employed in argumentation.
- 755 Rhetoric of Environmental Science 3
- Investigation of how science shapes human perceptions about nature and the environment.
- 761 Survey of Rhetorical Theory 3
- Historical/descriptive examination of rhetorical theory from the classical through contemporary periods. Exploration of the foundations and evolution of modern rhetorical theory.
767 Rhetorical Criticism 3- Survey of critical methods of inquiry
that may be applied to oral discourse and frameworks for critically
evaluating communication processes and products.
- 780 Health Communication 3
- Exploration of the theory and research in health-care and health-practices communication settings.
782 Theories of Persuasion 3- Survey of the theories related to persuasion,
attitudes, and values of societal groups, and the assessment
of attitudes and values held by the public.
- 783 Advanced Organizational Communication I 3
- Exploration of the theory of management communication practices in organizations. Emphasis on the formal structure and interpersonal aspects of supervisor-subordinate relations. Cross-listed with Busn.
784 Advanced Organizational Communication II 3- Study of the structure and function
of communication interaction in formal organizations and survey
of methods of analysis including the communication audit.
785 Advanced Crisis Communication 3- Long-term and short-term issues for
managing communication related to organizational crises are
discussed in the states of pre-crisis, crisis, and post-crisis.
Prereq: Comm 700.
- 786 Risk Communication 3
- Investigates perception of risk and crisis and how communication function to shape these perceptions.
790 Graduate Seminar 1-3
793 Individual Study/Tutorial 1-5
795 Field Experience 1-15
796 Special Topics 1-5
797 Master's Paper 1-3
798 Master's Thesis 1-6
799 Doctoral Dissertation 1-15
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