I. The Department of Communication awards the Master of Arts degree with a major in Communication and concentrations in Communication or Film and Video Production. The department also awards the PhD degree with a major in Communication.

II. MA Program

A Master’s Degree in Communication from The University of Memphis prepares students for success in the many professional opportunities in this field and success in pursuing a doctoral degree in Communication. Students have a choice of two concentrations: communication or film and video production.

1. The concentration in communication provides students with fundamental grounding in communication theory and rhetorical theory. The program is then tailored to meet the needs and interests of individual students.
2. The concentration in film and video production combines technical instruction with courses in both motion picture and traditional communication studies to provide students with the tools and concepts necessary to function in the multifaceted world of audiovisual production. The approach to media practice is broad enough to address the needs of the independent artist, as well as those who seek to enter the industry.

Program objectives are: (1) advanced understanding of classical rhetorical social science research tradition, and the dominant thinkers, theories, and methods current in the field; (2) practice of effective communication education; and (4) ability to conduct and communicate scholarly research.

1. All students applying for admission are required to submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) verbal and quantitative scores. In addition to meeting university admission requirements, the department uses the following criteria in consideration of applications:
   1. in general, a verbal score of 500 and a quantitative score of 450 or more on the GRE;
   2. an undergraduate GPA of 3.0, a GPA of 3.2 for the last 60 credit hours, or a GPA in the major of 3.25;
   3. if English is a second language, a TOEFL score of 600 (or 250 on the computer-based TOEFL) and a TSE score of 280.

B. Initial Graduate Advising

1. Before registering for courses beyond 9 hours of study, the student will form an MA advisory program committee consisting of at least two members of the department's graduate faculty. One of these two (who must be a full member of the graduate faculty), by request of the student and the consent of the faculty member, will serve as committee chair. These two members will assist the student in identifying a third member to be added before registering for courses beyond 18 hours of study.
2. After completing a minimum of 18 hours of study and prior to starting a thesis, practicum, or special project, the student will form an MA thesis committee consisting of at least three members of the department's graduate faculty. One of these three, by request of the student and the consent of the faculty member, will serve as committee chair.

1. Role and Duties of MA Advisory Committee Chair and Members: All decisions pertaining to a student’s program should be approved by a consensus of the MA advisory committee, including meeting to approve an initial plan of study, approving the content of independent studies, and evaluating comprehensive examinations.
2. Roles and Duties of MA Thesis Committee Chair and Members: All decisions pertaining to a student's thesis, practicum, or special project should be approved by a consensus of the MA thesis committee.

1. Successful completion of a minimum of 36 hours of graduate courses, including thesis, practicum, or special project; 70% of the minimum must be at the 7000 level or above. Permission to pursue the thesis or practicum option must be obtained from the student’s MA committee.
2. All students choosing the non-thesis option must complete three credits of COMM 7993 or COMM 7994 Special Problems in their last semester.
3. All students must successfully complete the following core courses: COMM 7321 Communication Theory and COMM 7350 Rhetorical Theory.
4. All students with a concentration in Film and Video Production must take 3 credits of COMM 7892 Film and Video Production before beginning their practicum or final special problem.
5. Up to 9 hours outside the department may be applied to the minimum hour requirement with the approval of the student’s MA committee.
6. Up to 6 semester hours earned at another institution may be applied to the minimum hour requirement with the approval of the student’s MA committee.

All candidates must pass both a written and an oral comprehensive examination during or after their last semester of course-work.

1. A pass on the written examination is necessary for admission to the oral examination.
2. The quality of the comprehensive examination as a whole is determined at completion of the oral examination.

1. Graduate assistantships are available and are awarded on a competitive basis within the department. Assistantships are normally renewed for one year depending upon the performance of assistantship duties and the progress being made towards a degree.
2. All assistants must register for 12 hours of credit (or for 6 hours if enrolled in thesis or dissertation hours only). It is advised that 3 of these be chosen from COMM 7001, 7002, or 7003.

1. Students may choose either the thesis or non-thesis option. This decision should be made in consultation with their MA thesis committee.
2. Thesis Option
1. A thesis or practicum (production thesis) of 3 to 6 semester hours may be presented as partial completion of degree requirements.
2. On completion of the thesis, the student must successfully complete an oral defense administered by the student’s MA thesis committee. The thesis must be acceptable to all members of the committee and recommended to the Graduate School after a successful defense.
3. Permission to pursue the practicum option will be granted by the student’s MA thesis committee on approval of a detailed proposal.
3. Non-Thesis Option
1. In lieu of a thesis, the student may choose to complete a special project under the supervision of a graduate faculty member. Registration for this special project must be approved by the student’s MA committee and may not occur prior to the last semester of course-work.
2. The special project provides an opportunity for a student to demonstrate mastery of an area of concentration and an ability to work independently, as a special project is designed and carried out solely by the student. The project may take one of several forms: an original screenplay, a rhetorical essay, a quantitative or qualitative study, or a film or video production. On its completion, the special project should be presented to the student’s MA committee for approval by all of its members.

All requirements for the degree must be completed in 6 calendar years.

II. Departmental MA Guidelines

Additional details and information are available in the departmental MA Guidelines given to students following admission.

III. PhD Program

A. Introduction

The PhD program in the Department of Communication at The University of Memphis provides fundamental grounding in the theory and practice of communication, media, and rhetoric as directed toward a variety of contexts, especially that of the urban environment.

B. Program Admission

The Department uses the following criteria in consideration of applications:

1. Fulfillment of university requirements for admission to the graduate school and a verbal score of 500 and a quantitative score of 450 or more on the GRE. If English is a second language, a TOEFL score of 600 (or 250 on the computer-based TOEFL) and a TSE of 280 are required.
2. MA or other advanced degree from an accredited institution. The MA thesis or other evidence of scholarly writing must be provided with the application.
3. Three letters of recommendation submitted by persons competent to judge the applicant’s academic record and potential for advanced graduate work.
4. Transcript of prior academic work at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Individual copies should be sent to the Graduate School and to the department’s coordinator of graduate studies. A minimum graduate GPA of 3.5 for the MA (on a 4-point scale) is expected.
5. A vitae/resume.
6. A statement of purpose that explains the applicant’s reasons for seeking the doctoral degree from the Department of Communication at The University of Memphis.

A student will be retained continuously in the program within university time limits until completion of the degree, provided the following conditions are met.

1. It is expected that students maintain a GPA of 3.5 throughout the PhD program. Should the student’s GPA fall below 3.5, 9 semester hours will be allowed to correct the deficiency. At the request of the student’s PhD committee and at the discretion of the department chair and the graduate program committee this period may be extended 9 additional semester hours. The student must have obtained a GPA of 3.5 before registering for dissertation credit hours. A student who falls behind the satisfactory progress schedule may be put on probation. Any assistantship is forfeited if a student is put on probation.
2. After being notified by the Graduate School of acceptance as a graduate student in the department, the student will meet with the coordinator of graduate studies or the department chair, who will assign the student a temporary advisor in the student’s area of interest. That advisor will assist the student in registering for the first semester.
3. Before registering for courses beyond 9 hours of study, the student will select a temporary PhD program advisory committee of at least 3 members. That committee will assist the student in registering for the first semester.
4. Before registering for courses beyond 18 hours of study the student must form his or her PhD program advisory committee consisting of a chair and at least three other members, of which one must be from outside the Department of Communication. Three members of the committee must be members of the Graduate Faculty and the chair must be a full member. See the Graduate Catalog for graduate faculty listings.
5. Students are expected to demonstrate satisfactory progress in fulfilling the graduation requirements.

1. Students must earn at least 60 semester hours beyond the master’s degree as approved by their PhD committee, including a minimum of 15 hours for combined major area paper and dissertation credits and a minimum of 6 hours taken from outside of the Department of Communication.
2. Research Tool or Analytic Specialty. Students must demonstrate mastery in a research tool or analytic specialty. Examples of research tools or specialties include facility in a foreign language, qualitative or quantitative methodologies, rhetorical criticism, knowledge of a body of communication law, or computer programs or techniques. A minimum of 9 hours of graduate work is necessary to meet this requirement.
3. Core Competencies. Students must have competency in three areas: Communication Theory, Media Theory, and Rhetorical Theory. These competencies can be satisfied academically in a variety of ways. If a student enters without having satisfied the Communication Theory and Thetorical Theory competencies, he or she will be expected to make up these deficiencies as soon as possible as recommended by the graduate program coordinator and/or the department chair. Those hours will not count toward the hours required to complete the doctoral degree.
4. Residency Requirements. A minimum of 2 consecutive semesters (Fall/Spring or Spring/Fall) in residence (with a course load of 9 hours per semester) beyond the master’s degree must be completed prior to registering for dissertation credit. The summer session will not count as one of the required semesters.
5. Comprehensive Examination. The examination will consist of a written and an oral portion. At the completion of the students’ course-work (at least 45 hours), the student shall take a comprehensive exam over the areas covered in the student’s program. The content of the examination for each student will depend on the nature of the student’s program and the areas of concentration. The precise distribution of the 10 hours of the written exam and the areas that it will cover will be determined by the student’s PhD committee within the following parameters:
   1. At least 2 hours of the written exam will be devoted to theoretical issues;
   2. At least 2 hours to research tool or analytic specialty issues;
   3. The remaining hours will be divided among themes pertinent to the student's specialization, including cognate areas of study; and
   4. When appropriate, questions may be solicited from other faculty members to supplement those provided by the PhD committee members. Preparing for the Comprehensive Examination. Prior to the comprehensive examination students will take 6 hours of COMM 8992 Major Area Paper. This independent investigation, approved in advance by the student’s PhD committee, leads to the preparation of a publishable paper. This course is counted towards degree requirements. The paper produced in COMM 8992 is to be submitted to the PhD committee prior to the other written comprehensive exams. The comprehensive examination is taken during the semester in which the major area paper is completed or in a subsequent semester. The PhD committee evaluates the major area paper at the same time that the written comprehensive examinations are evaluated.If all the members of the student’s PhD committee believe that the student has demonstrated the intended skills and outcomes for which the major area paper is designed (a publication, a prize awarded at a conference, etc), the committee may waive this requirement. That decision will be made by the committee during the last semester of the student’s coursework. The comprehensive examination, which is both written and oral, is the primary basis on which the faculty of the department determine whether the student is ready to embark upon the program of research and writing culminating in the dissertation. The PhD committee administers the comprehensive examination. At the close of the oral portion, the PhD committee, after considering the quality of both oral and written responses, will determine the outcome. Students will not be allowed to take the comprehensive examination or submit a dissertation prospectus if they have any Incompletes outstanding in the approved program of study.
6. Dissertation Requirements
   1. On successful completion of the comprehensive examination the student shall select a dissertation director and, in consultation with the director, invite three additional faculty members to serve as the students’ dissertation committee. It is recommended that one member of the committee be from outside the discipline. The dissertation diretor serves as the chair of the dissertation committee.
   2. Dissertation Proposal Defense. The student shall submit a proposal for the dissertation to the dissertation committee and defend the proposal before the committee. To be considered as "making satisfactory progress," a candidate must have his/her prospectus approved within two semesters of completion of the comprehensive examination.
   3. Dissertation Defense. The dissertation director will circulate a complete draft of the dissertation to all committee members, who will be given the opportunity to provide feedback. If need be, the student will then write a revised dissertation, approved by the dissertation director, and circulated to all committee members. This process will continue until a majority of the dissertation committee formally agrees that the dissertation is ready to be defended. At that time, the dissertation director will schedule an oral defense of the dissertation. On approval of all of the members of the dissertation committee, the dissertation will be submitted to the Graduate School for final approval and the degree awarded.
7. Departmental PhD Guidelines

Additional details and information are available in the departmental PhD Guidelines given to students after admission into the program.

6011. Communication in Organizations. (3). Communication systems and problems in contemporary organizations with emphasis on the role of communication in corporate culture and in organizational change.

6012. Health Communication. (3). Examination of the role of communication in health care; application of communication theory and practice to the health care context from provider-patient interaction to cultural influences on health.

6013. Communication in Political Campaigning. (3). Forms and effects of communication between politicians and constituencies with emphasis on campaign rhetoric via the mass media, debates, model speeches, etc.

6014. Computer-Mediated Communication.(3). Examination of theories of computer-mediated communication in interpersonal relationships and organizations, and the role and impact of the Internet and computer technology in society.

6210-19. Special Topics in Communication Studies. (1-3). Topics are varied and announced in the online class listings. May be repeated for maximum of 9 hours when topic varies.

6220-29. Special Topics in Film. (1-3). Topics are varied and announced in online class listings. May be repeated for maximum of 9 hours when topic varies.

6340. Listening. (3). Exploration of communication theory and practice from the perspective of listening; emphasis on philosophical, practical, and personal dimensions of listening as an art of being as well as a mode of doing.

6341. Interpersonal Communication. (3). Theory, research, and practice regarding dyadic communication.

6342. Small Group Communication. (3). Advanced study of group communication theory emphasizing group membership, member perceptions, group development, group process, and group outcomes.

6360. Great American Speeches. (3). Examination of notable speeches from before the founding of the republic through the twentieth century; religious and secular foundations of American rhetoric; tensions of inclusion and exclusion in development of national self-understanding.

6373. Interracial Communication. (3). The social problems encountered in communication between blacks and whites; readings, discussion, and field study on how prejudice, stereotypes, and self-concepts can affect communication; exploration of rhetorical methods to minimize these problems.

6375. Intercultural Communication. (3). Special problems encountered in communication between people of different cultural backgrounds; focus on understanding communicative interaction between and among people with different national/cultural backgrounds and functioning more effectively in multicultural settings.

6380. Communication and Conflict. (3). Theories and methods of conflict management and resolution, focusing on practical communication skills; emphasis on concepts of perception, listening, and peacemaking.

†6802. Internship. (1-3). Field studies in communication; supervised practical work with government institutions, private business, film company, or broadcast and electronic media firm; written analysis of experience required. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 semester hours. PREREQUISITE: Permission of instructor.

6810. Broadcast Regulation and Program Policy. (3). Effects of FCC and other governmental regulations on broadcasting and electronic media management and operations; licensing, renewals, content control, politics, and copyright.

6811. Radio and Television Programming. (3). Analysis of individual program formats (with examples); use of this information along with ratings and other audience research to study the design of program schedules.

6812. Communications Law in the Performing Arts. (3). Artist, performer, management contractual relationships; acquisition, copyright, and disposition of literary and audio-visual properties; production and distribution agreements; advertising law and other matters for TV, motion picture, radio, and stage businesses.

6822. Audio Production for Broadcasting and Film. (3). Intermediate principles and practices of audio (recording, editing, mixing, and design) with emphasis on film and video production. PREREQUISITE: Minimum grade of "C" in COMM 3824 or permission of instructor.

6824.Cinematography/Videography. (3). Art of visual interpretation with a strong concentration in the theory and techniques of lighting. Experience with professional film and video cameras and lighting equipment. PREREQUISITE: COMM 3824.

6825. Editing and Post-Production. (3). Aesthetics of continuity development in variety of editing styles; editing techniques and post-production procedures for both video and double system film. PREREQUISITE: Minimum grade of "C" in COMM 3824 or permission of instructor.

6831. Broadcast and Cable Sales and Advertising. (3). Relation of broadcasting and cable sales and advertising to networks, station representatives, and salespeople; role of sponsors, agencies, and allied groups.

6841. Television Workshop. (4). Production of television programming for local cablecasting. May be repeated for a maximum of 8 semester hours; repetition will not result in change of any grade previously given. PREREQUISITE: Permission of instructor.

6842. Television Studio Production II. (4). Advanced training in TV studio/multiple camera techniques; extensive production work. PREREQUISITE: COMM 3842.

6850. Film History I. (3). (6852). Historical survey of motion pictures from medium’s pre-history to 1940 with emphasis on narrative film.

6851. Film History II. (3). Historical survey of major movements, genres, and themes in narrative film from 1940 to 1960.

6853. Documentary Form in Film. (3). Development of non-fiction film as rhetorical and expressive form; analysis of individual films, genres, and filmmakers.

6856. Women and Film. (3). Women as performers, viewers, subjects, and creators in American and international film.

6857. History of Broadcast and Electronic Media. (3). Comprehensive history of broadcast and electronic media as developed from 1895 to present.

6858. Contemporary Cinema. (3). Major themes and styles in international and American narrative film from 1960 to present.

6871. Broadcast and Cable Management. (3). Theories of management; special problems and situations confronting managers of broadcast and cable outlets, including personnel, engineering operations, programming, and sales functions. PREREQUISITE: COMM 3800.

6891. Producing and Directing for Film and Video. (3). Research and script preparation; budgeting and production management; working with actors and crew. PREREQUISITE: Minimum grade of C in COMM 3824 or permission of instructor.

6960. Documentary Writing. (3). Writing for nonfiction media.

6970. Screenwriting. (3). Writing for fiction film and television. Basic dramatic theory, narrative structure, characterization, dialogue, adaptation and unique demands of audio/visual media.

†7001-8001.Research Assistantship. (3). Assisting professors with research projects. May be repeated for a maximum of 12 credit hours. PREREQUISITE: Graduate research assistant status in Department of Communication.

†7002-8002. Intermediate Teaching Techniques for Graduate Assistants. (3). Overview and practical demonstrations of the art of teaching oral communication; discussion of instructional issues including the role of race, ethnicity, and nationality in classroom interactions. May be repeated for a maximum of 12 credit hours. PREREQUISITE: Graduate teaching assistant in Department of Communication.

†7003-8003. Advanced Teaching Techniques for Graduate Assistants. (3). Discussion of pedagogy for the traditional classroom and other instructional settings (e.g corporate training); may include interning in and teaching courses in addition to oral communication. May be repeated for a maximum of 12 credit hours. PREREQUISITE: Graduate teaching assistant in Department of Communication.

7012-8012. Seminar in Health Communication. (3). Examination of current issues in health communication research, including patient-provider relationships, new technologies and health promotion, health organizations, and health in the mass media. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 credit hours.

7013-8013. Seminar in Political Communication. (3). Study of research pertaining to variables in political communication, such as debates, commercials, consultants, ethics, coverage. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 hours credit.

7210-19–8210-19. Special Topics in Communication Studies. (1-3). Topics are varied and announced in online class listings. May be repeated for maximum of 9 hours when topic varies.

7321-8321. Communication Theory. (3). Theories, models, and approaches to study of communication.

7322-8322. Persuasion and Interpersonal Influence. (3). Topical seminar examining how people use communication to alter attitudes and behaviors of others in public and face-to-face settings; covers various social-scientific theories and research areas of persuasion and interpersonal influence. May be repeated for maximum of 9 hours.

7331-8331. Seminar in Communication Theory. (3). Specific topics, issues, and research in communication theory. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 hours credit.

7332-8332. Seminar in Communication Research. (3). Examination of particular methodologies in communication research. Content will vary in response to current issues in the field. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 hours.

7350-8350. Rhetorical Theory. (3). Development of rhetorical theory from c. 500 BC to present. PREREQUISITE: Permission of instructor for non-degree-seeking students.

7362-8362. Seminar in Public Address. (3). Intensive study of selected topics in the analysis and criticism of public arguments; emphasis on cross-cultural comparison of arguments and appeal in common rhetorical situations. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours credit.

7369-8369. Seminar in Organizational Communications. (3). Selected variables of organizational communication with emphasis on methods of analyzing and auditing communication within the organizational setting. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 hours credit.

7371-8371. Rhetorical Criticism. (3). An examination of the nature, questions, perspectives, and explanatory aims of rhetorical criticism. PREREQUISITE: Permission of instructor for non-degree-seeking students.

‡7374-8374. Independent Studies in Communication Arts. (1-3). Independent research in areas of special interest including rhetoric, radio, television, and film. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 hours. PREREQUISITE: Permission of the instructor.

7432-8432. Quantitative Research Methods. (3). Survey of quantitative research in communication; practical experience in collecting and analyzing quantitative information.

7434-8434. Qualitative Research Methods. (3). Survey of qualitative research in communication. Practical experience in collecting and analyzing qualitative information.

7450-8450. Seminar in Interpersonal Communication. (3). Selected examination of theory about one-on-one interactions, related research, and application of that theory and research in diverse interpersonal contexts. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 hours credit.

7460-8460. Seminar in Group Communication. (3). Examination of the theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of group communication focusing on both the task and relational orientations of group interaction. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 hours credit.

7472-8472. Organizational Culture and Change. (3). Examination of the wide variety of theoretical and methodological approaches to culture, identification of types of organizational cultures, and tracking cultural evolution.

7474-8474. Supervisory Communication and Leadership. (3). Examination of the communication issues, strategies, and concepts involved in supervisory communication effectiveness. Review of current research regarding supervision, leadership, and teams.

7612-8612. Classical Rhetorical Theory. (3). Examines the development of Greco-Roman rhetorical theory from the Sophists through Quintilian and Augustine.

7614-8614. Modern Rhetorical Theory. (3). Examines central documents in the western rhetorical tradition from the fifteenth through the nineteenth centuries.

7616-8616. Contemporary Rhetorical Theory. (3). Examines the relationship between rhetorical theory and contemporary philosophy, especially poststructuralism, neo-pragmatism, and hermeneutics.

7632-8632. Seminar in Rhetorical Criticism. (3). Examination of the principal modes of contemporary rhetorical analysis such as Neoclassical, Burkean, Feminist, Cultural/Critical, and Poststructuralist. Repeatable for 9 hours.

7802-8802. Seminar in Film Criticism. (3). Intensive study of selected periods, genres, or filmmakers with emphasis on independent research project. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 hours.

7804-8804. Seminar in Media Theory and Criticism. (3). Major critical approaches to media form and content; emphasis on film and television. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours.

7806-8806. Seminar: Trends in Mass Communication. (3). Critical issue or issues facing communications today. Topics will vary each time offered. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits.

7807-8807. Seminar: Mass Communication Theory. (3). Selected concepts of mass communication with special attention to variables, media, and tools in mass communication research.

7808-8808. Seminar: Mass Communication and Society. (3). Interrelationships between mass communications, the individual, and society. Topics will vary each time offered. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits.

7809-8809. Seminar in Communication History. (3). Selected topics in history of communication, including public address, film, broadcasting, and electronic media. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours.

‡7892. Film and Video Production. (1-3). Workshop for film and video production. Students write, produce, direct, or assume crew responsibilities on productions. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits. See departmental guidelines for independent production requirements and procedures. PREREQUISITE: COMM 3824 or permission of instructor.

7991. Seminar in Comparative Media. (3). To demonstrate through intensive analysis what happens to the form and content of a creative work in its various adaptations: novel, condensation, stage, movie, and television. Open to all Theatre and Dance, Communication, and English majors.

‡7993-8993. Special Problems. (1-3). Directed individual investigation of special research projects not included in thesis.

†7994-8994. Culminating Project. (3). Culminating research project in lieu of a thesis.

†7995-8995. Production Practicum. (3-6). Creative performance or production project suitable for public presentation and/or a practical application. Project to be determined in consultation with and directed by the student’s supervisory committee.

†7996. Thesis. (1-6).

‡8992. Major Area Paper. (3-6). Preparation of a manuscript-length paper as determined by the student’s advisory committee. The topic will be approved by the committee. The paper may be a literature review, original research study, or other scholarly work of a quality similar to published research literature.

†9000. Dissertation. (1-9). For students who have passed their comprehensive exam and have an approved prospectus to write their dissertation under the direction of their advisor.

† Grades of S, U, or IP will be given.
‡Grades of A-F, or IP will be given.