KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE COURSE PROPOSAL OR REVISION,
Cover Sheet (10/02/2002)
Course Number/Program Name COM 7200 COMMUNICATION THEORY
M.A. IN INTEGRATED GLOBAL COMMUNICATION
Department COMMUNICATION
Degree Title (if applicable)
Proposed Effective Date FALL 2010 (PROGRAM AND COURSE)
Check one or more of the following and complete the appropriate sections:
New Course Proposal
Course Title Change
Course Number Change
Course Credit Change
Course Prerequisite Change
Course Description Change
Sections to be Completed
II, III, IV, V, VII
I, II, III
I, II, III
I, II, III
I, II, III
I, II, III
Notes:
If proposed changes to an existing course are substantial (credit hours, title, and description), a new course with a
new number should be proposed.
A new Course Proposal (Sections II, III, IV, V, VII) is required for each new course proposed as part of a new
program. Current catalog information (Section I) is required for each existing course incorporated into the
program.
Minor changes to a course can use the simplified E-Z Course Change Form.
Submitted by:
Faculty Member
Approved
_____
Date
Not Approved
Department Curriculum Committee Date
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
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Department Chair
Date
College Curriculum Committee
Date
College Dean
Date
GPCC Chair
Date
Dean, Graduate College
Date
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Vice President for Academic Affairs Date
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President
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KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE COURSE/CONCENTRATION/PROGRAM CHANGE
II.
Proposed Information (Fill in for changes and new courses)
Course Prefix and Number COM 7200
Course Title Communication Theory
Credit Hours 3.0.3
Prerequisites None
Description (or Proposed Degree Requirements)
This course is a survey of theories of communication in different contexts and an
exploration in theory-building. Special attention is paid to theories developed within
the discipline of communication and focused on the following topics: persuasion,
organizational communication, intercultural communication, and public relations.
The focus is on contemporary theories of communication related to integrated
communication in a global context.
III.
Justification
A thorough knowledge of the various communication theories that guide
communication scholarship and communication practices is essential to
understanding how communication informs, entertains, persuades and shapes the
political, economic and social aspects of the communities in which we live and world
around us. This course will provide students in the MAIGC with a sound foundation
for pursuing a deeper knowledge of persuasion theories, organizational
communication theories, intercultural communication theories and other theories in
other MAIGC courses.
IV.
Additional Information (for New Courses only)
Instructor:
Text:
Hazleton, V., & Botan, C. H. (Eds.) (2006). Public relations theory II. New York: Lawrence
Erlbaum.
Schmidt, W. V., Conaway, R. N., Easton, S. S., & Wardrope, W. J. (2007). Communicating
Globally: Intercultural Communication and International Business. Beverly Hills, CA: SAGE.
Prerequisites: None
Objectives:
1. Students will become familiar with the major theoretical perspectives from
which current theories of communication have been developed.
2. Students will become familiar with major current and historical communication
theories.
3. Students will be able to analyze and critique current communication theories.
4. Students will demonstrate their abilities to apply communication theories to
integrated global communication contexts by analyzing a recent global communication
problem from the perspective of a particular communication theory.
Instructional Method
Traditional classroom setting that includes lectures, discussions, and student
research projects.
Method of Evaluation
Midterm Examination
30%
Final Examination
35%
Research/application paper 35%
A
90-100%
Work is exceptional: thorough, thoughtful, well
organized, well written, and free of mechanical errors and errors
in APA style.
B
80 – 89.99% Work is good or very good.
C
70 - 79.99% Assignment completed satisfactorily; work is average,
acceptable, OK.
D
60 - 69.99% Work is weak, below average, disappointing.
F
Below 60% Work does not meet minimum expectations.
0/100 ZERO%
Assignment not completed or received 2 or more calendar days
after due date.
V.
Resources and Funding Required (New Courses only)
Resource
Amount
Faculty
Other Personnel
Equipment
Supplies
Travel
New Books
New Journals
Other (Specify)
existing
0
existing classroom technologies
0
0
existing KSU Library holdings
existing KSU Library holdings
0
TOTAL
0
Funding Required Beyond
Normal Departmental Growth 0
VII Attach Syllabus
COM 7200 Communication Theory
Fall, 2010
Dr.
Office:
Office Phone:
Office Hours:
Required Textbooks:
Hazleton, V., & Botan, C. H. (Eds.) (2006). Public relations theory II. New York: Lawrence
Erlbaum.
Schmidt, W. V., Conaway, R. N., Easton, S. S., & Wardrope, W. J. (2007). Communicating
Globally: Intercultural Communication and International Business. Beverly Hills, CA:
SAGE.
Course Description:
This course is a survey of theories of communication in different contexts and an exploration in
theory-building. Special attention is paid to theories developed within the discipline of
communication and focused on the following topics: persuasion, organizational communication,
intercultural communication, and public relations. The focus is on contemporary theories of
communication related to integrated communication in a global context.
Course Prerequisites:
None
Course Objectives:
1. Students will become familiar with the major theoretical perspectives from which current
theories of communication have been developed.
2. Students will become familiar with major current and historical communication theories.
3. Students will be able to analyze and critique current communication theories.
4. Students will demonstrate their abilities to apply communication theories to integrated global
communication contexts by analyzing a recent global communication problem from the
perspective of a particular communication theory.
Requirements and Evaluation:
Two exams, each covering approximately one half of the course material, except that the final
exam will be comprehensive, covering the material of the entire course.
One major applied research project, analyzing a global communication problem through the lens of
a particular communication theory and recommending solutions based on the same theoretical
perspective. Students are encouraged, but not required, to submit individual sections of the paper
on dates indicated in the syllabus, prior to submitting the final paper at the end of the semester.
Because class discussion is an integral part of any graduate course, you MUST be present except in
case of illness or emergency. Plan ahead to complete the research project when it is due.
Read the books both for content and for evaluation. Our class discussion will not focus on details,
but on comparison, contrast, and evaluation of theories. (Ask yourself, "Which of the theories in
this chapter is the best? Why? What are their strengths and weaknesses?”)
Required Tools And Materials
1. Regularly available Internet access, preferably high-speed. (You may prefer a high-speed
connection for quizzes. You can use a high-speed internet connection in campus computer labs.)
2. Word processing equipment including appropriate software compatible with VISTA and
Turnitin.com and having a SpellCheck and GrammarCheck function.
3. Cost of photocopies for yourself and the class.
Communication:
 The fastest way to contact me outside of class is to use KSU email
 I will respond (but a bit more slowly) to the Mail tool in WebCT Vista.
 Please use your KSU email account to communicate with me via email; it is your official
point of contact with KSU. Information on activating a KSU student e-mail account is
available online at http://students.kennesaw.edu.
 Unless I am without Internet access, I check the course web site & my email quite often
(including weekends) and respond within 48 hours of my receipt of any messages.
Georgia View Vista Class Site:
 All course-related information is available to you anytime and from anywhere on Georgia
View Vista at http://vista.kennesaw.edu.
 Quizzes will be completed online and will “time out” after the deadline. Assignment
submissions to TURNITIN [www.turnitin.com] will also “time out” after the deadline.
Don’t wait until the last few minutes to take a quiz or submit an assignment!
Written Assignments:
 I will be glad to help with papers and with Turnitin issues before the assignment is due,
but I can’t read the instructions or manage your time for you. Neither I nor anyone else
can give you more than 24 hours in a day. It is your responsibility to attempt a
reasonable workload that will allow you to complete the course successfully.
 Students must complete ALL assignments worth 10% or more to receive a grade of D or
higher.
 All written assignments must be typed in black ink in 12 point, Times New Roman or
similar font, double-spaced, with 1” margins standard. Make sure you keep a backup
copy of all assignments in case you need to submit proof of work completed.
 Late papers will be penalized 20 points out of a possible 100 for every day late. No
assignments will be accepted more than 2 days late without advance permission and then
only in a documented emergency situation such as unforeseen hospitalization (your
own!).
Cell phones:
 Please turn off cell phones and iPods (or similar device) and remove the ear piece(s) from
your ear(s).
Course Exams:
Exams will cover assigned readings, class notes and exercises. The emphasis of the entire
course, as well as the exams, is on analysis and application in addition to recall of
information.
 All exams will begin at the starting time listed for the exam.
 No more exams will be distributed after the first person to finish the exam leaves the
room.
 Cell phones may not be used for any reason during the exam.
 Students who leave the room during the exam may not re-enter.
 I never give the same exam twice, so makeup exams are usually in essay format.
Academic Honesty:
Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of the Student Code of
Conduct, as published in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs. Kennesaw State
University’s Academic Honesty Policy is available at the following URL:
http://www.kennesaw.edu/scai/code_of_conduct.shtml
Anyone cheating on an assignment or quiz will fail that assignment and face departmental
and university action.
 Cheating includes:
Submitting another's work as your own (with or without that student's knowledge),
Submitting the same paper (or any major portions of one or more sentences from paper
written for another class, regardless of who wrote it) for more than one course,
Submitting papers bought from a research service or term paper mill (including webbased sources), and
Looking on another person’s test or otherwise conferring with another person or your
notes or the textbook during an exam.
 Plagiarism, one type of cheating, is the unacknowledged appropriation of another's work,
words, or ideas in any themes, outlines, papers, reports, or computer programs. You will
have a chance to submit papers to Turnitin before the grading deadline so that you can
check your own work for citation mistakes that might constitute unintentional plagiarism.
 Use of another’s research agenda, protocol, words OR IDEAS without adequate
citation also constitutes plagiarism.
 Unfortunately, many students plagiarize without intending to by quoting the text
almost word for word without proper attribution (i.e., using quotation marks and a
citation including page number).
 Examples of what to avoid include paraphrasing materials from a source without
appropriate documentation and copying materials from a documented source but leaving
out quotation marks. If in doubt, ask me!
Special Needs & Accommodations Statement:
Kennesaw State University provides program accessibility and reasonable
accommodations for persons defined as disabled under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Students with
disabilities who require accommodations (academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids or
services) for this course must contact the Office for Disabled Student Support Services
via Ms. Carol Pope, ADA Compliance Officer for Students, at 770-423-6443 (V) or 770423-6480 (TDD). Please do not request accommodations directly from the professor
without a letter of accommodation from the Office for Disabled Student Support
Services.
 Students who have been certified for academic accommodations should notify the
instructor of this fact before August 15, 2010.
Disruption of Campus Life Statement:
It is the purpose of the institution to provide a campus environment that encourages academic
accomplishment, personal growth, and a spirit of understanding and cooperation. An
important part of maintaining such an environment is the commitment to protect the health
and safety of every member of the campus community. Belligerent, abusive, profane,
threatening and/or inappropriate behavior on the part of students is a violation of the
Kennesaw State University Student Conduct Regulations. Students who are found guilty of
such misconduct may be subject to immediate dismissal from the institution. In addition,
these violations of state law may also be subject to criminal action beyond the University
disciplinary process.
Grading Policy:
 In order to receive a passing grade in the course, students must complete all assignments.
 No extra credit will be permitted.
 Course grades will be determined by performance on the assessment items described
above, according to the following weights:
Midterm Examination
Final Examination
Research/application paper
30%
35%
35%
Grades for assignments and final grades are based on the following criteria:
A 90-100%
Work is exceptional: thorough, thoughtful, well organized, well written,
and free of mechanical errors and errors in APA style.
B 80 – 89.99% Work is good or very good.
C 70 - 79.99% Assignment completed satisfactorily; work is average, acceptable,
OK.
D 60 - 69.99% Work is weak, below average, disappointing.
F Below 60% Work does not meet minimum expectations.
TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE
PR2 = Hazleton, V., & Botan, C. H. (Eds.) (2006). Public relations theory II. New York:
Lawrence Erlbaum.
L&F =Littlejohn, S. W., & Foss, K. A. (2005). Theories of human communication. 8th ed.
Belmont, CA: Cengage/Wadsworth.
Week 1
Topic: Perspectives on Theory
Assignment: Read L&F, Chapts. 1 &2; PR2, Preface.
Week 2 Topic: Systems Theory
Assignment: Read L&F Chapt. 3;
In PR2 read: D.F. Witmer, Overcoming System and Culture Boundaries: Public
Relations From a Structuration Perspective.
Week 3 Topic: Theories of Social Information Processing
Assignment: Read L&F Chapt. 12;
In PR2 read: D.F. Witmer, Overcoming System and Culture Boundaries: Public
Relations From a Structuration Perspective.
Week 4 Topic: Theories of Persuasion and Judgment
Assignment: Read L&F Chapt. 7;
In PR2 read: M. Pfau, H-H. Wan, Persuasion: An Intrinsic Function of Public
Relations.
Week 5 Topic: Theories of Organizational Communication and Networks
Assignment: Read L&F Chapt. 14;
In PR2 read: W.R. Kennan, V. Hazleton, Internal Public Relations, Social Capital, and
the Role of Effective Organizational Communication.
Week 6 Topic: Theories of Media
Assignment: Read L&F Chapt. 15;
In PR2 read: L.M. Zoch, J-C. Molleda, Building a Theoretical Model of Media
Relations Using Framing, Information Subsidies, and Agenda-Building.
Week 7 Topic: Foundations of Public Relations Theory
Assignment:
In PR2 read: C.H. Botan, V. Hazleton, Public Relations in a New Age.
J.E. Grunig, L.A. Grunig, D.M. Dozier, The Excellence Theory.
Week 8 Topic: Theories of Public Relations Practice
Assignment:
In PR2 read: D.M. Dozier, G.M. Broom, The Centrality of Practitioner Roles to Public
Relations Theory.
V. Hazleton, Toward a Theory of Public Relations Competence.
Week 9 Topic: Strategic Communication
Assignment:
In PR2 read: C.H. Botan, Grand Strategy, Strategy, and Tactics in Public Relations.
J.A. Ledingham, Relationship Management: A General Theory of Public Relations.
Week 10 Topic: Methods for Applying Strategic Theory
Assignment: Read L&F Chapt. 9;
In PR2 read: G. Walker, Sense-Making Methodology: A Theory of Method for Public
Relations.
Week 11 Topic: Theories of Global Communication
Assignment:
In PR2 read: M. Taylor, M.L. Kent, Public Relations Theory and Practice in Nation
Building.
Assigned Reading: Ting-Toomey, S., & Kurogi, A. (1998, May). Facework
competence in intercultural conflict: An updated face-negotiation theory
International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 22, 187-225.
Week 12 Topic: Specific Contexts of Integrated Communication: Public Affairs
Assignment:
In PR2 read: B. Signitzer, C. Wamser, Public Diplomacy: A Specific Governmental
Public Relations Function.
E.L. Toth, Building Public Affairs
Week 13 Topic: Specific Contexts of Integrated Communication: Issues Management
Assignment: Read L&F Chapt. 8;
In PR2 read: R.L. Heath, A Rhetorical Theory Approach to Issues Management.
Week 14 Topic: Specific Contexts of Integrated Communication: Crisis Management
Assignment:
In PR2 read: W.T. Coombs, Crisis Management: A Communicative Approach.
D. Gilpin, P. Murphy, Reframing Crisis Management Through Complexity.
Week 15 Topic: Ethical Issues in Global Communication
Assignment: Read L&F Chapt. 7;
In PR2 read: C.B. Pratt, Reformulating the Emerging Theory of Corporate Social
Responsibility as Good Governance.
D. Kazoleas, L.G. Teigen, The Technology-Image Expectancy Gap: A New Theory of
Public Relations.
D. Kruckeberg, K. Starck, M. Vujnovic, The Role and Ethics of Community-Building
for Consumer Products and Services: With Some Recommendations for NewMarketplace Economics in Emerging Democracies.