George Mason University > University Catalog > College of Arts and Sciences
2003-04 University Catalog George Mason University


Communication

Web: gmu.edu/departments/comm
Phone: (703) 993-1090

Faculty

Professors: Boileau, Decker, Friedley, Lont (chair), Manchester, Sesno (University Professor), Taylor

Associate professors: Akwule, Finn, S. Muir, Rowan

Assistant professor: Sparks, Gibson

Visiting assistant professor: Forbes, Kimble, Mellen, C. Smith

Visiting instructors: M. Dickerson, Fahema, R. Smith, Tomasovic

Adjuncts: Bridge, Caron, Chaaban, Clarke, Copelin, N. Dickerson, Dickerhoof, Doyle, Elliott, Eves, Farrill, Garifo, Gladis, Gray, Hansche, Holsonbake, Hopper, Joffe, Kahn, Kehoe, Klein, Korn, LeValley, Lincoln, Mangus, Mathison, Mattox, M'Bayo, McKelvy, Mellom, Nadler, Piland, Riley, Rogers, Roller, Siegel, Singer, Slagle, Slaughter, Traynham, Van Zummeren, Winkler, Wright, Wood

Course Work

The Communication Department offers all course work designated COMM and TELE in the Course Descriptions chapter of this catalog.

Undergraduate Program

Communication, B.A.

Study in communication prepares students for graduate study or entry-level positions in fields such as international and intercultural communication, interpersonal and organizational communication, journalism, media production and criticism, persuasive and political communication, and public relations.

In addition to satisfying the university-wide general education requirements and the requirements for the B.A. degree in the College of Arts and Sciences, students majoring in communication must complete 36 credits in communication:

1. Fifteen credits of required communication courses, each with a minimum satisfactory grade or better: COMM 250, 300, 301, 302, and 305.

2. Twelve credits selected from an approved concentration (see below). A list of courses in each concentration is available on the department web site and in the department. With the approval of their advisor and the associate chair, students may construct an individualized concentration. Students must declare a concentration before they earn 90 or more credits. Transfer students with 60 or more credits are encouraged to declare a concentration by the end of their first semester at George Mason.

3. Nine credits of communication electives

Of the 21 credits in 2 and 3, 12 must be at the 300­400 level and the total may include no more than 10 credits from the following courses: COMM 140, 141, 142, 143, 145, 148, 157, 340, 341, 342, 343, 345, 346, 348, 349, 450, 451, 452, 499. Also, the total may include no more than 6 credits of internship (COMM 450). No more than 9 credits of internship (COMM 450 and/or GOVT 450) may be applied toward the 120 credits required for graduation.

Approved Concentrations

  • Interpersonal and Organizational Communication
  • Journalism
  • Media Production and Criticism
  • Persuasive and Political Communication
  • Public Relations
  • Individualized Concentration

All students are encouraged to participate in one of the communication activities: Broadside, debate, forensics, GMView, Mason Cable Network, PRSSA, or WGMU. Many students include an internship during their senior year as a way of gaining practical experience with national and international businesses, associations, or government agencies.

Writing-Intensive Requirement

The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated as writing intensive in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in communication fulfill this requirement by successfully completing COMM 300.

Presentation-Intensive Requirement

All communication majors are required to take at least one of the following courses to fulfill the presentation intensive requirement: COMM 100, 104, 210, 260, 310, 320, 356, or 399 (special occasion speaking).

Honors Program in Communication

Communication majors who have completed 80 credits with an overall minimum GPA of 3.500 and a minimum GPA of 3.500 in communication courses are eligible to enter the departmental honors program. Candidates for the honors program must have successfully completed or be enrolled in COMM 250, 300, 301, and 302. Students who meet the criteria for admission are invited to submit a proposal for an honors thesis. If the proposal is approved, they are admitted to the honors program. To graduate with honors in communication, students must complete COMM 499 Independent Study in Communication and an honors section of COMM 420, maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.500 in these courses and an overall minimum GPA of 3.500. For more information, contact the director of the honors program in Communication.

Minors

The department coordinates the minors in electronic journalism and in telecommunications (see below) and participates in several interdisciplinary minors: film and media studies, multimedia, and women's studies. For a description of these minors, see the Interdisciplinary Minors section of this chapter.

Teacher Licensure

Students who wish to become teachers should consult the Professional Licensure section in the Graduate School of Education chapter and attend an information session during their sophomore year. Information sessions for teacher licensure are offered every month. Call (703) 993-2892/4648, e-mail gseinfo@gmu.edu, or consult the web site at gse.gmu.edu for more information.

Minor in Electronic Journalism

Electronic Journalism provides a foundation in journalism with a focus on the writing style and research techniques unique to broadcast, online, and computer-assisted reporting. Students must complete 18 credits distributed as follows.

1. Four required courses: COMM 303, 351, 361, 475

2. Two electives (six credits) chosen from COMM 203, 352, 353, 370, 399*, 435, 450*, 454, 455 (*if topic or internship is approved by department)

Graduate Programs

Communication, M.A.

The M.A. in Communication prepares students for dynamic organizational, social, and economic climates where effective communication is key to success. The program offers students a foundation in theories of interpersonal and organizational communication and encourages research application in domains such as: health, risk, and crisis communication, and issues of gender and culture in the workplace.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the Application for Graduate Study and supporting materials required by the university, applicants should present the following:

1. 3 letters of recommendation from a person directly knowledgeable with the applicant's professional and academic competence (at least one from an academic source)

2. Scores on the Graduate Record Examination

3. A 500-word essay addressing the area of communication in which the applicant is interested

4. A GPA of 3.000 or better in the last 60 credits of their bachelor's degree

5. Resumé

Degree Requirements

Candidates for the degree must successfully complete 33 credits of graduate course work, distributed as follows.

1. 5 required core courses (15 credits): COMM 504, 605, 634, 635, and 650

2. 4­5 electives (12­15 credits) chosen from COMM 506, 530, 551, 590, 601, 602, 631, 636, 652, 653, 655, 656; and 694, 696, or 697 (students may apply only one of these courses toward their degree)

3. 3 credit capstone course COMM 798 or 3­6 credits of thesis COMM 799

Up to 6 credits of electives may be taken in other departments, with approval of advisor.

The Department of Communication coordinates the concentration in Video-Based Production within the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (M.A.I.S).

Telecommunications Faculty

Akwule, Behrmann, Finn, Kelley (director), Lont, Ruth, Wang

Undergraduate Program

Minor in Telecommunications

In its broadest sense, telecommunications includes technology (software and hardware), policy issues (national and international), mass media, and management. No longer can computer technologists sit alone working on code; they must be able to manage technical and nontechnical people, understand policy issues, and present technical material to others in the corporate setting. The required and elective courses in this minor provide a solid introduction to the work world of telecommunications.

Students in this minor complete 18 credits distributed as follows.

1. Two required courses (6 credits) chosen from:

  • IT 103 Introduction to Computing
  • IT 212 How Computers Work
  • CS 105 Computer Ethics and Society
  • COMM 104 Presenting with Technology
  • COMM 202 Mass Communication and Communication Systems
  • 2. Two additional required courses (6 credits):
  • TELE 350 TelecommunicationsSystems
  • TELE 450 The Structure of the Telecommunications Industry
  • 3. Two electives (six credits) chosen from:
  • COMM 320 Business and Professional Communication
  • COMM 435 Computers and Communication
  • COMM 450 Internship (in a telecommunications-related organization)
  • COMM 554 Telecommunications Policy and Regulation
  • ENGL 410 Technical and Report Writing
  • GOVT 359 Computers in Public Management
  • MIS 201 Introduction to Computer-Based Management Information Systems
  • MIS 301 Introduction to Business Information Systems
  • MSOM 302 Managing Information
  • MSOM 303 Marketing in a Digital World
  • NCLC 249 Internet Literacy
  • NCLC 348 Information in the Digital Age
  • NCLC 350 Counterculture, Cyberculture

This minor is not available to communication majors who have a concentration in journalism.

Graduate Program

Telecommunications, M.A.

The M.A. in Telecommunications is designed for telecommunications professionals, people who wish to make career changes, and others whose interests, talents, scholarly research or professions bring them into contact with the world of telecommunications. Because telecommunications has both technological and humanistic elements, our program includes courses of study in educational technology, electrical engineering, information systems, international telecommunications, management, policy, and visual technologies. Graduates are professionally prepared for a wide range of employment opportunities with the federal government, large firms that conduct business with the government, and a host of large and small national and international telecommunications firms.

Admission Requirements

In addition to university requirements for admission to graduate study, applicants should submit the following:

1. A GPA of 3.000 or better in the last 60 credits of their bachelor's degree

2. Three letters of recommendation from persons directly knowledgeable of the applicant's professional and academic competence (one from an academic source)

3. A 500-word essay addressing an important, substantive issue in telecommunications

4. Resumé

Advising

With guidance from a faculty advisor, students choose from a wide variety of courses available at the university to tailor course work to their particular interests and needs. Choice of an area of concentration also depends on the student's undergraduate preparation. A student advising form, which outlines the student's degree plan and serves as a guide, should be completed and submitted by the student soon after admission to the program. For more information about the program, contact the Telecommunications Programs Office at (703) 993-1314.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 30 credits of approved graduate course work, including 15 credits of core courses and 15 credits in one of nine concentrations: educational technology; information systems; international telecommunications; management, organization, and policy; network technologies and applications; production theory and practice; telecommunications systems; telecommunications systems modeling; and wireless communication.

1. Four courses (12 credits) chosen from the following

  • COMM 655 Theories of Visual Communication in Telecommunications
  • TCOM 500 Modern Telecommunications
  • LAW 181 Telecommunications Law and Regulations
  • PUBP 726 Telecommunications Policy
  • TELE 730 Telecommunications Management

2. TELE 750 Coordinating Seminar (3 credits)

3. Fifteen credits in a concentration

Educational Technology

One required course (three credits): EDIT 611

Four electives (12 credits) chosen from: EDCI 705; EDIT 526, 704, 730, 732, 750, 752 and 6 credits from 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 593, 771, 772

Information Systems

Three required courses (nine credits): INFS 501, 515, 590

Two electives(six credits) chosen from: INFS 601, 612, 614; ECE 542; SWSE 619, 632

International Telecommunications

One required course (three credits): COMM 656

Four electives (12 credits) chosen from: COMM 506, 554, 605; ITRN 500, 603, 604, 605, 612, 710, 711, 712, 716, 730, 731, 737, 750, 757, 769, 772, 773; PUAD 504, 634, 636, 701, 731, 732, 739; PUBP 820

Management, Organization, and Policy

One required course (three credits): TELE 730 (taken as one of the 4 core courses)

Five electives (15 credits) chosen from: COMM 506, 601, 635; ECON 600, 602; LRNG 583, 714, 720; MBA 613, 623, 653, 663, 678, 711, 712, 724, 725, 732, 734, 736; PSYC 532; PUAD 505, 610, 620, 621, 634, 636, 732, 739; PUBP 775

Network Technologies and Applications (see concentration requirements under the M.S. in Telecommunications in the chapter of the school of information technology and engineering)

Production Theory and Practice

Two required courses (six credits): COMM 656, 655 (taken as one of the 4 core courses)

Four electives (12 credits) chosen from: COMM 506, 554, 602, 635, 636, 694, 696, 697; EDCI 705; EDIT 563, 564, 611, 704, 750; ENGL 503, 505, 613, 670; VIT 676; COMM 590 (when topic is approved for this concentration)

Telecommunications Systems

Two required courses (six credits): ECE 542, TCOM 500 (taken as one of the 4 core courses)

Four electives (12 credits) chosen from: CS 571; ECE 513, 528, 535, 546, 563, 565, 567, 630, 633, 642, 643

Telecommunications Systems Modeling (see concentration requirements under the M.S. in Telecommunications in the chapter of the School of Information Technology and Engineering)

Wireless Communications (see concentration requirements under the M.S. in Telecommunications in the chapter of the school of information technology and engineering)

Certificate Programs

The M.A. in Telecommunications program in the Department of Communication offers three graduate certificates: International Telecommunications; Telecommunications Management, Organization, and Policy; and Telecommunications Production Theory and Practice. The M.S. in Telecommunications program in the School of Information Technology and Engineering offers three additional certificates in Network Technologies and Applications; Telecommunications Systems Modeling; and Wireless Communications.

Admissions Requirements

Students can earn a certificate as part of their work towards a M.A. or M.S. in Telecommunications or as a goal in itself. Students currently in a master's program who decide to receive a certificate should fill out a secondary degree application. Students not currently in a degree program can apply to the certificate program using the application for graduate studies. The admission requirements for the certificates below are the same as for the M.A. in Telecommunications. Certificate students may later apply for admission to one of the master's degree programs, but should be aware of the master's degree requirement that 18 credits have to be taken after admission to the master's program.

Certificate Requirements

To receive a certificate, students must complete 15 graduate credits as specified below, earning a minimum grade of 3.00 in each course. Students pursuing one of the master's degrees may use the coursework to fulfill both the certificate requirements and the concentration requirements of the respective degree program.

Students may not transfer courses earned at another institution into any of the six certificate programs.

Certificate in International Telecommunications

1. 3 required courses: COMM 656, ITRN 730 and 772

2. 2 electives chosen from COMM 506; PUAD 504, 732, 739; ITRN 773 or 769

Other electives may be possible with approval of the advisor.

Certificate in Management, Organization, and Policy

1. 3 required courses: TELE 730, COMM 635, PUAD 781

2. 2 electives chosen from PUAD 502, 680, 739; MBA 663, 711, 734, 736, 663, 678

The MBA courses are open to degree-seeking students only. Other electives may be possible with approval of the advisor.

Certificate in Production Theory and Practice

1. 2 required courses: COMM 655 and EDIT 730

2. 3 electives chosen from COMM 602, ENGL 670, EDIT 750, and COMM 590 (when topic is approved for this certificate)

Other electives may be possible with approval of the advisor.