Department of Communication Studies
About
The Masters in Communication provides a totally online program whose goals are to prepare its recipients for further graduate study toward a Ph.D. or to enhance career or financial opportunities. The program's general focus is interpersonal communication with faculty being nationally recognized for their scholarship and teaching. Communication Studies is the modern heir to one of the world’s oldest disciplines, connecting thought and language and advancing careers regardless of field.
Chair
Terry M. Thibodeaux
Mission
The mission of the Department of Communication Studies is to provide students with understanding and competency related to human communication as it occurs in a variety of settings and contexts. In the process, faculty are devoted to developing their expertise to the highest level possible and to developing the potential of students to obtain the knowledge and skills they need to live fulfilled and productive lives.
Contact Information
(936) 294-1497
212C Dan Rather Communications Building
Graduate Director: Dr. Frances Brandau, 936-294-4668
Website
www.shsu.edu/~scm_www
Highlights
- Graduate assistantships are available on a competitive basis.
- Graduates have gone on to Ph.D. programs at elite universities.
- Faculty provide collaboration opportunities for publication.
- Travel support available for graduate students for professional conference attendance/presentations.
COMS 5331. Comm Studies Methods & Resrch. 3 Hours.
An introduction to graduate level research methods, including quantitative and qualitative approaches to data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Students will learn to develop individual research proposals.
COMS 5332. Statistical Methods For Comm. 3 Hours.
This course focuses upon various statistical techniques used in communication research, including univariate and bivariate techniques, hypothesis testing for single and multiple samples, as well as methods used to investigate relationships between two or more variables such as ANOVA, ANCOVA, and multiple regression analysis. Lectures, assigned readings and projects are used to describe and illustrate advanced literature on the logic, interpretation, and assumptions of each statistical model. Emphasis is placed upon understanding of the techniques and their assumptions as well as applications. Research activities based on the use of statistical techniques are included in the course.
COMS 5335. Advanced Communication Theory. 3 Hours.
(Prior SH course id: COM 535); This course is designed to help students understand and evaluate communciation theory from varied empirical and critical perspectives. Students will learn the process of theory building in order to evaluate existing theories.
COMS 5360. Adv Interpersonal Communicatns. 3 Hours.
A study of methodological and theoretical issues in relational communication with special attention to building ongoing research projects in support of theory.
COMS 5370. Health Communication. 3 Hours.
A study of a variety of health communication topics that relate to and influence the family and other relationships. Perspective and theories in public health, adolescent alcohol and drug abuse,parent-child-physician communication, telemedicine, and rural health concerns.
COMS 5371. Sex & Gender In Communication. 3 Hours.
A study of sex and gender differences and similarities in communication behavior. Students will examine the sex and gender scholarship and assess Its Implications for understanding communication in interpersonal and family relationships.
COMS 5375. Grad Readings in Communication. 1-3 Hours.
(Prior SH course id: COM 575); This course is an independent study of topics that are not covered elsewhere in the graduate curriculum. Special attention is given to students who need more in-depth study of a topic that is related to their thesis research.
COMS 5380. Advanced Family Communication. 3 Hours.
Methodological and theoretical issues in family communication.
COMS 5390. Seminar In Interpersonal Comm. 3 Hours.
Advanced topics in interpersonal communication theory and research. Topics rotate from semester to semester. May be repeated for credit when topics change.
COMS 5391. Seminar In Family Communicatn. 3 Hours.
Advanced topics in family communication theory and research. Topics rotate from semester to semester. May be repeated for credit when topics change.
COMS 6398. Thesis I: Practicum. 3 Hours.
Initial phase of the thesis investigation, including review of the literature, establishment of the research design, collection of pilot data, and plan for completion.
Prerequisite: Permission of thesis director.
Chair: Terry M. Thibodeaux
Richard S. Bello, Ph.D., Professor of Communication Studies, Department of Communication Studies, Ph.D., Louisiana State University and AM College; M.A., Louisiana State University and AM College; B.A., Louisiana State University and AM College
Frances E. Brandau-Brown, Ph.D., Professor of Communication Studies, Department of Communication Studies, Ph.D., Louisiana State University AM College; M.A., The University of Southern Mississippi; B.S., The University of Southern Mississippi
Yixin Chen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, Department of Communication Studies, Ph.D., University at Buffalo, The State University of New York; M.A., The University of Texas at El Paso; M.E., Huaqiao University (Quanzhou, China); B.E., Huaqiao University (Quanzhou, China)
Terry M. Thibodeaux, Ph.D., Professor of Communication Studies and Chair, Department of Communication Studies, Ph.D., University of Southern Mississippi; M.Ed., McNeese State University; B.A., McNeese State University
Shuangyue Zhang, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Communication Studies, Department of Communication Studies, Ph.D., The Ohio State University; M.A., Kent State University; M.A., Shandong University (Jinan, China); B.A., Shandong Normal University (Jinan, China)
