Courses in Communication and Theatre

COMM 001. Self-Expression  Group 6    0 credit
A. DePauw Theatre; B. Forensic Team; C. WGRE-FM; D. D3TV. The equivalent of one-fourth course toward the Group 6 self-expression requirement may be earned in any semester through non-credit participation in the above activities.
 
COMM 100. Foundations of Communication  Group 2    1 course
Designed to introduce students to the discipline, this course examines the interdiscplinary nature of communication studies. Emphasizing the department's commitment to an integrated program of study, this course provides students with the foundational concepts and skills required for successful completion of the major. Not open to students with credit in COMM 104.
 
COMM 111. Acting I  Group 6    1 course
Grounding in American acting technique, paying particular attention to objective, obstacle, playable action, character analysis, improvisation, and understanding and development of the vocal and physical instruments.
 
COMM 117. Theatre Production and Design I  Group 6    1 course
The theory and practice of technical production and design includion: scenery construction, lighting, properties, costume construction and make-up. Laboratory work on University productions.
 
COMM 123. Public Speaking  Group 6    1 course
This course examines the attitudes, methods, and techniques used in effective public speaking. Effective performance required in informative, persuasive, and deliberative speaking, as well as the use of multimedia. Not open to students with credit in COMM 101.
 
COMM 125. Interpersonal Communication  Group 2    1 course
An introduction to the theories and skills involved in two-person interactions. Attention will also be given to the development of competencies and skills relevant to various interpersonal contexts. Not open to students with credit in COMM 225.
 
COMM 197. First-Year Seminar      1 course
A seminar focused on a theme related to the study of communication. Open only to first-year students.
 
COMM 210. Performance Studies I  Group 6    1 course
Performance Studies seeks to broaden the definition of performance and the texts upon which they are based. This course investigates literature, discourse, image, gesture and the body through analytical and artistic applications. Not open to students with credit in COMM 201.
 
COMM 211. Voice and Movement  Group 6    1 course
The use and training of the human voice and body. Developing and deepening flexibility and responsiveness of vocal and physical instruments for performance and public presentation.
 
COMM 213. History of the Theatre I: PreHistory to Early 18th Century  Group 3, lit    1 course
Historiographic, cultural and theoretical investigations of theatre and drama from the earliest human records to the early eighteenth century.
 
COMM 214. History of the Theatre II: Early 18th Century to Present  Group 3, lit    1 course
Historiographic, cultural and theoretical investigations of theatre and drama from the early eighteenth century to the present.
 
COMM 223. Public Communication and Controversy  Group 6    1 course
An exploration of the nature and methods of persuasive communication, including motivational theories, attention, logical argument, audience analysis and the role of personality, integrated with practice in public speaking.
 
COMM 224. Small Group Communication  Group 2    1 course
The communication processes of small group participation and leadership with an emphasis on the dynamics of small group discussion and decision making. Not open to students with credit in COMM 124.
 
COMM 227. Intercultural Communication  Group 2    1 course
A consideration of the influence of such cultural variables as language values, institutions, traditions, customs and nonverbal behavior on the communication process. Special attention given to communication situations in education, business, international relations and other areas where communication is a dynamic component in cross cultural understanding.
 
COMM 233. Media, Culture, and Society  Group 2    1 course
A basic orientation to the history, theory and process of media. Particular emphasis is given to the relationships among the various media and their audiences,free speech and ethics, media law and other regulatory controls, news and information, media effects, emerging communication technologies and future trends.
 
COMM 235. Electronic Journalism      1 course
Critical analysis of the role of electronic news gathering and dissemination in modern society, including ethics and responsibilities. Study and practice in preparation, reporting and disseminating of news emphasizing documentary production, news analysis and public affairs reporting.
 
COMM 236. Television Production and Televisual Literacy  Group 3    1 course
An introduction to the basic concepts and processes of television production. Emphasis is placed on the creation and analysis of ideas communicated through the medium of television, including aesthetic, ethical and technical influences on message construction. Students learn studio and field production: basic scripting, lighting, audio, camera/picturization, editing, directing, etc. Televisual literacy is developed, and assignments apply the critical skills needed to interpret and analyze visual imagery and television programming.
 
COMM 237. Film and Culture  Group 3    1 course
This course is a critical examination of motion pictures as a medium of communication. In addition to looking at the films as texts to be "read," this course considers the institutional contexts in which films are produced, as well as the various reception contexts in which audiences see films. As a course in communication, we begin from the perspective that motion pictures are an important and meaningful part of the way we produce and re-produce our culture. Importantly, the course is not only concerned with how film texts communicate, but also how we communicate about films, as both fans and critics.
 
COMM 291. Inquiries into Communication      1 course
Designated topics in communication and theatre are explored. May be repeated with different topics.
 
COMM 299. Internship in Communication      1/2-1 course
A. Mass Communication; B. Rhetoric and Interpersonal Communication; C. Theatre. An experiential course for those students who will intern with an agency outside the University. This course does not satisfy departmental distribution requirements.
 
COMM 310. Performance Studies II  Group 6    1 course
Application of Performance Studies approach (see COMM 210) to a specific area of study or artistic expression. Prerequisite: COMM 210 or permission of instructor. Not open to students with credit in COMM 301.
 
COMM 311. Acting II  Group 6    1 course
Monologue, scene work and audition preparation concentrating on objective, obstacle, playable action, character analysis, improvisation and understanding and development of the vocal and physical instruments. Prerequisite: COMM 111 and 211 or permission of instructor. Not open to students with credit in COMM 312.
 
COMM 314. History of Theatrical Theory and Criticism  Group 4    1 course
The principles of dramatic criticism from Aristotle to the present, utilizing theories of dramaturgy and techniques for the production of historical plays. Prerequisite: COMM 213 or 214 or permission of instructor.
 
COMM 316. Stage Directing  Group 6    1 course
The theories of techniques and styles of acting and directing, including laboratory practice in selecting, casting, acting and directing. Prerequisite: COMM 111 or 211, COMM 117 and COMM 213 or permission of instructor.
 
COMM 317. Theatre Production and Design II  Group 6    1 course
More complex applications of theater technology and design in the areas of scenic, lighting, and costume design. Concentration on design process into production, including drafting and rendering. Prerequisite: COMM 117 or permission of instructor.
 
COMM 319. Writing for Stage, Screen and TV  Group 6    1 course
A workshop approach to creative story making in the three forms of media. Emphasis is on the relationship between form and content, dramatic structure and critical response. Students are expected to complete a full length stage play, screenplay or teleplay.
 
COMM 322. Rhetorical Theory and Criticism  Group 4    1 course
The development of rhetorical theory, with an introduction to speech criticism, based on readings from Aristotle, Cicero, Quintilian, Campbell, Blair, Whately and contemporary rhetorical theorists.
 
COMM 323. History of Public Discourse  Group 3    1 course
Analysis of selected speakers and their speeches, with reference to the social, political, and intellectual milieu within which they have appeared. Not open to students with credit in COMM 321.
 
COMM 326. Communication in Organizations  Group 2    1 course
An examination of the role of communication in coordinating, integrating and regulating human activity in organizations. Particular attention will be given to the ways in which information diffusion contributes to the development of organizational consensus, rules and norms.
 
COMM 327. Communication and Cultural Identity  Group 2    1 course
This course examines the ways in which communication shapes, and is shaped by culture, ethnicity, gender, class and/or race. Topics include how language empowers and oppresses, how social institutions and media influence issues of cultural identity and the ways various social identities are constructed through communication.
 
COMM 332. Electronic Media Management  Group 2    1 course
A critical analysis of management practices in broadcast, cable and satellite industries. Audience research, program strategy, federal regulation and advertising issues are addressed. Prerequisite: COMM 233 or permission of instructor.
 
COMM 334. Media Criticism  Group 3    1 course
Justification and application of various approaches to critiquing and analyzing media messages. Insight into the ethical burdens, social and moral, of the media and its institutions. Topics may vary. Prerequisite: COMM 233 or permission of instructor.
 
COMM 335. Media Law  Group 4    1 course
Inquiry into media law, including responsibility and free speech issues, libel, privacy, fair trial, copyright, obscenity, the FCC, shield laws, censorship, management and operating regulations, newsperson privileges, political communication and advertising regulation. An analysis of the political and economic forces affecting the development of media law. Prerequisite: COMM 233 or 237 or permission of instructor.
 
COMM 350. Communication Research Methods  Group 2    1 course
A course in methods of research (quantitative and qualitative). Covers problem statement construction, strategies of research design, literature review, methods of observation, questionnaires, content analysis and interpretation of data (statistical and humanistic). Not open for pass/fail credit.
 
COMM 400. Teaching of Communication      1/2 course
The special methods involved in speech education. May count toward a major in communication.
 
COMM 401. Special Topics in Communication      1/2-1 course
Recent topics have included Public Relations, International Media, Family Communication, Conflict Resolution, American Theatre and the Vietnam War, Human Communication Theory, American Film and Culture and Writing for Stage, Screen and TV. This course number may be repeated for credit with different topics.
 
COMM 402. Special Topics in Theatre      1/2-1 course
May be repeated for credit with different topics.
 
COMM 450. Senior Seminar      1 course
The integrated conclusion of the departmental curriculum with emphasis on research methodology and writing. Prerequisite: permission of the department. Not open for pass/fail credit.
 
COMM 491-492. Projects in Communication      1/2-1 course each semester
A. Interpretation; B. Theatre; C. Technical Theatre; D. Radio; E.Television; F. Speech Pathology and Audiology; G. Rhetoric and Public Address; H. Communication Theory; J. Speech Education. Prerequisite: permission of department. No more than two course credits may be taken as projects. Not open for Pass/Fail credit.