School of Media & Communication
Ron DeMarse, Director
Email: Ron.DeMarse@wku.edu
Angela M. Jerome, Assistant Director
Email: Angela.Jerome@wku.edu
Jody Richards Hall, Office 216
Phone: (270) 745-4144
Website: http://www.wku.edu/smc
The School of Media & Communication houses a master’s degree in Organizational Communication and graduate certificates in Communicating in Organizations and Communicating in Healthcare (see Graduate Studies’ Catalog for details on the School’s graduate programs).
The School also offers undergraduate majors in Advertising, Broadcasting, Communication, Film, Journalism, Public Relations, and Visual Journalism & Photography, as well as two minors (Broadcasting and Journalism Writing) and five undergraduate certificates (Digital Advertising, Personal Branding, Sport Media & Communication, Strategic Communications, and Workplace Communication).
The School fervently believes that a broad-based liberal arts and science curriculum is essential for a well-rounded understanding of society and that students and faculty should embrace a spirit of social awareness and service to diverse communities. As such, the School’s faculty encourage students to think critically, act ethically, and cultivate the ability to adapt intellectually and creatively to the opportunities and challenges of an increasingly complex information society.
The School also participates in regional and national competitions as well as hosts field trips, guest lectures, professional workshops, and other events to provide fellowship for students with common interests and to enhance student learning and post-graduation success.
Faculty
Professor
Kumi Ishii PhD (Communication Studies), Kent State University Kent Campus, 2004
Angela M. Jerome PhD (Communication Studies), University of Kansas Main Campus, 2002
Jennifer Mize Smith PhD (Communication), Purdue University Main Campus, 2006
Holly J. Payne PhD (Communication), University of Kentucky, 2003
Associate Professor
Jie-Young Kong PhD (Communication), Arizona State University-ALL, 2012
Kenneth D. Payne MA (Journalism), Marshall University, 1992
Assistant Professor
Crystal D. Daugherty PhD (Communication), University of Memphis, 2019
Senior Instructor
Gary K. Hughes PhD (Communication), University of Kentucky, 2014
Advertising Courses
AD 536 Sport Branding: A New Game 3 Hours
Focused on developing and delivering a meaningful brand message to increase sport fan loyalty and engagement. Topics include team-branding, athletes as brands, globalization, and digital technologies.
Prerequisite(s): RSA 521 (may be taken concurrently)
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022
AD 537 Sport Sponsorships: New Revenue Strategies 3 Hours
Provides a strategic framework for understanding sport information management and preparation by focusing on the relationship among sport organizations, spokespeople, and media.
Prerequisite(s): RSA 521 (may be taken concurrently)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023
Communication Courses
COMM 461G Organizational Communication 3 Hours
Theoretical examination of rhetorical principles operant in modern organizational communication systems.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
COMM 501 Qualitative Methods in Communication Research 3 Hours
Study of qualitative research designs and the procedures typically used in communication research. Includes general overview of interviewing and other qualitative research methodologies.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Organizational Communication (0012)
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; spring 2024; fall 2024
COMM 502 Quantitative Methods in Communication Research 3 Hours
Study of quantitative research designs and the procedures typically used in communication research. Includes general overview of survey, and other quantitative research methodologies along with statistical analysis using computer software.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Organizational Communication (0012)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022
COMM 510 Strategies for Teaching Communication 0 Hours
Designed to improve the teaching performance of COMM graduate assistants in teaching the basic public speaking courses.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
COMM 523 Health Communication 3 Hours
An examination of the role communication plays in the delivery of health care. Focus is on provider-patient relationships, other providers of care, health communication campaigns, health behavior change, and within health care contexts.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024
COMM 526 Family Communication 3 Hours
Survey of research and theory in family communication.
Equivalent(s): COMM 578
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
COMM 528 Communication in the Nonprofit Sector 3 Hours
Survey of organizational communication issues and the ways in which they are uniquely situated in and applied to nonprofit organizations and philanthropy.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2023
COMM 531 Global Leadership Communication 3 Hours
This seminar focuses on the impact of national or ethnic culture on leadership communication behaviors when leading in multi-national and/or multi-ethnic organizations.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
COMM 547 Organizational Communication Theory 3 Hours
A survey of organizational communication theories, perspectives, methods, and current issues.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Organizational Communication (0012)
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024
COMM 552 Democracy, Power, & Voice in Organizations 3 Hours
An in-depth look at the theoretical underpinnings and communication research related to participation, democracy, voice, and power in for-profit, non-profit, volunteer, and community organizations.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
COMM 553 Health Communication Campaigns 3 Hours
Examines and analyzes the critical role communication plays in planning, implementation, and evaluation of health communication campaign.
Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024
COMM 560 Seminar in Organizational Communication 3 Hours (repeatable max of 9 hrs)
Topical studies within the field of organizational communication. Topics include employee communication and conflict management, among others.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
COMM 561 Multinational Organizational Communication 3 Hours
This course provides an in-depth study of internal and external communication behaviors in business organizations operating in multinational environments.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2023; fall 2024
COMM 562 Special Topics in Intercultural Communication 3 Hours
Provides graduate students an opportunity for an in-depth study of special topics in intercultural communication. One or two topics will be chosen for study during the course. These topics will be selected by the instructor based on special availability of resources, appropriateness for current intercultural conditions, and interest of students.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
COMM 564 Crisis Communication 3 Hours
Role of communication in crisis prevention, crisis readiness and crisis resolution.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022
COMM 566 Corporate & Organizational Advocacy 3 Hours
Historical overview of corporate and organizational advocacy in the 20th century focusing on the communication process used in corporate advocacy.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
COMM 568 Communication and Organizational Identification 3 Hours
Survey of the phenomena of identification in organizations and how identification is constructed through communication.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2024
COMM 570 Seminar in Human Communication 3 Hours (repeatable max of 9 hrs)
Selected topics in communication theory: small group communication, language behavior, etc.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
COMM 571 Organizational Communication in the Digital Age 3 Hours
This course considers effective communication with technologies in organizational contexts based on foundational theories and contemporary research. It also covers the social and communicative impact of technologies on organizations and organizational members.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2024
COMM 578 Seminar in Interpersonal Communication 3 Hours
Examination of professional literature and basic research in interpersonal communication.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022
COMM 581 Applied Organizational Communication 3 Hours
Provides opportunities for students to apply theoretical concepts to various functions of organizational communication in industry and corporate contexts.
Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2022; summer 2023; summer 2024
COMM 586 Process of Group Communication 3 Hours
Practice in the group communication processes that lead toward successful team work in organizational contexts.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
COMM 590 Intercultural Communication 3 Hours
A survey of intercultural communication theories, approaches, methods, and current issues.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2023; summer 2024
COMM 595 Independent Study in Communication 3 Hours
Permits students to conduct individualized communication research in an area of their interest.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; fall 2023; summer 2024
COMM 596 Graduate Internship in Communication 3 Hours
This course offers students a project-based work experience in an organization under faculty direction.
Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2023
COMM 599 Thesis Research/Writing 1-6 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
Thesis research and writing directed by faculty committee.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023; spring 2024; fall 2024
COMM 600 Maintaining Matriculation 1-6 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
Continued enrollment for thesis completion.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
COMM 721 Organizational Communication for Leaders 3 Hours
Examines the communication perspectives, theories, and principles necessary to lead organizations. Considers ways to assess and improve communication processes in various organizational situations.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Educational Leadership (0010)
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
COMM 731 Global Communication for Leaders 3 Hours
This seminar focuses on the impact of national or ethnic culture on leadership communication behaviors when leading in multi-national and/or multi-ethnic organizations.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Educational Leadership (0010)
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
COMM 741 Leadership and Social Trends 3 Hours
Examines literature on current economic, political, technological, and/or social trends as they relate to leadership.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Educational Leadership (0010)
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
COMM 751 Strategic Communication 3 Hours
Considers the way organizational leaders use communication to influence opinions and behavior of various constituencies.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Educational Leadership (0010)
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
Journalism Courses
JOUR 427G School Journalism 3 Hours
A course designed to meet the state requirements for secondary certification in journalism. Explores resources available to journalism teachers and the responsibility of publication advisors.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
JOUR 481G Problems in Mass Communication 3 Hours
Study of contrived and real problems involving research, planning and implementation.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
Public Relations Courses
PR 521 Public Relations in Recreation and Sport 3 Hours
Specialized application of effective communication techniques for building relationships with internal and external constituencies that support marketing from the general practice of public relations.
Equivalent(s): RSA 521
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PR 543 Strategic Public Relations Writing for Sport 3 Hours
Addresses public relations writing and multimedia distribution requirements for reaching a variety of sport audiences in today's digital age.
Prerequisite(s): RSA 521
Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2022; summer 2023
PR 547 Issues in Sport Media Relations 3 Hours
Provides a strategic framework for understanding sport information management and preparation by focusing on the relationship among sport organizations, spokespeople and media.
Prerequisite(s): RSA 521
Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2022