Course Catalog

Communication and Theatre

Students in Communication and Theatre study the process by which messages are devised and disseminated. Attention is given to the various roles and stages in the communication process. The contexts of communication, including rhetoric, interpersonal communication, media, and theatre, are analyzed and distinguished. As a crossroads discipline, communication is studied from the humanities, artistic, and social science perspectives. The study of communication is built around a framework that allows for an understanding of theory, opportunity for criticism of messages and practice and research in the discipline. Students study a wide range of communication areas, including rhetoric, interpersonal communication, media and theatre. Communication students can apply their understanding of this vital process in a variety of fields, such as corporate communication, public relations, personnel, advertising, marketing, law, mass media, sales, public service and the performing arts. Most communication students participate in co-curricular activities, such as debate, theatre (DePauw Theatre) and student mass media (WGRE-FM radio and D3TV cable access television). Two majors and three minors are offered in Communication and Theatre.

Requirements for a major

Communication

Total courses required	Nine
Core courses	COMM 200
Other required courses	Students majoring in communication must take coursework in the three areas of the department (rhetoric and interpersonal communication, media studies and theatre). To meet the theatre coursework requirement students must take one of the following: COMM 111, COMM 117, COMM 210, COMM 211, COMM 213, COMM 214, COMM 311, COMM 314, or COMM 315. To meet the media studies coursework requirement students must take one of the following: COMM 233, COMM 235, COMM 237, or COMM 334.. To meet the rhetoric and interpersonal coursework requirement students must take one of the following: COMM 223, COMM 225, COMM 227, COMM 322, COMM 323, COMM 325, COMM 326, COMM 327 or COMM 328. Substitution of a departmental topics course for one of these other required courses may be approved by the department chair.
Number 300 and 400 level courses	Four
Senior requirement and capstone experience	As the capstone experience to the specific study of Communication and Theatre within the liberal arts, the senior seminar or project will entail original research or a creative project. Seminar topics are broadly defined so that students with specific interests within the major (media studies, interpersonal communication and rhetoric, and theatre) may integrate those interests successfully in the completion of an original research or creative project. Seminars are writing and speaking intensive. Recent topics include Gender, Social Movements, Critical Theory and Performance, Utopias, Representations of America, Social Construction and Identity, The Rhetoric of Inquiry, Communication Ethics, Violence: Language and Media, and Communication and Public Memory. In preparation for these options, all students are encouraged to take one of the following 300 level courses prior to enrolling in senior seminar: COMM 314 Theatrical Theory and Criticism, COMM 322 Rhetorical Theory and Criticism, COMM 334 Media Criticism or COMM 350 Research Methods. Priority for placement in a fall seminar is determined in three ways: 1. Completion of all other required courses in the major; 2. Completion of at least two of the required 300 level courses with priority given to those students who've completed one of the recommended seminar preparation courses within the major; 3. The existing university registration sequence. The senior requirement can be met by successful completion of COMM 450 (Senior Seminar) or by taking COMM 350 (Communication Research Methods) followed by a senior project in COMM 491 (1/2 course credit). Coursework completed in meeting the senior requirement can be applied toward meeting the 300-400 level course requirement.
Recent changes in major	Effective for Fall 2011, COMM 100, Foundations of Communication, was renumbered COMM 200. COMM 125, Interpersonal Communication, was renumbered COMM 225. COMM 100 and COMM 291, Communication Theory, will satisfy the core requirement for COMM 200. Many courses were added to those that satisfy the area requirements in the Communication major.The number of 300-400 level courses required was increased from 3 to 4.

Theatre

Total courses required	Nine
Core courses	COMM 200, COMM 111 or 211, COMM 117, COMM 314, COMM 001 (0 credit)
Other required courses	One course in the rhetoric/interpersonal area from the following: COMM 223, COMM 225, COMM 227, COMM 322, COMM 323, COMM 325, COMM 326, COMM 327 or COMM 328. One course in the media studies area: either COMM 233, COMM 235, COMM 237 or COMM 334. One of the following two theatre history courses: COMM 213 or COMM 214 Two additional 300-level courses from the following: COMM 310, COMM 311, COMM 315, COMM 316, COMM 317, COMM 319 or a 300-level communication course or a 300-level course in a related department with permission of the department chair.
Number 300 and 400 level courses	Four
Senior requirement and capstone experience	As the capstone experience to the specific study of Communication and Theatre within the liberal arts, the senior seminar or project will entail original research or a creative project. Seminar topics are broadly defined so that students with specific interests within the major (media studies, interpersonal communication and rhetoric, and theatre) may integrate those interests successfully in the completion of an original research or creative project. Seminars are writing and speaking intensive. Recent topics include Gender, Social Movements, Critical Theory and Performance, Utopias, Representations of America, Social Construction and Identity, The Rhetoric of Inquiry, Communication Ethics, Violence: Language and Media, and Communication and Public Memory. In preparation for these options, all students are encouraged to take one of the following 300 level courses prior to enrolling in senior seminar: COMM 314 Theatrical Theory and Criticism, COMM 322 Rhetorical Theory and Criticism, COMM 334 Media Criticism or COMM 350 Research Methods. Priority for placement in a fall seminar is determined in three ways: 1. Completion of all other required courses in the major; 2. Completion of at least two of the required 300 level courses with priority given to those students who've completed one of the recommended seminar preparation courses within the major; 3. The existing university registration sequence. Majors in Theatre must complete the senior seminar requirement by taking COMM 450 (Senior Seminar). Seniors majoring in theatre will be required to complete a theatre related project as part of their senior seminar. With the approval of the seminar instructor, this requirement can be fulfilled in any senior seminar in the department. Course work completed in meeting the senior requirement can be applied toward meeting the 300-400 level course requirement.
Recent changes in major	Effective Fall 2011, COMM 100, Foundations of Communication, has been renumbered to COMM 200. COMM 100 and COMM 291, Communication Theory, will continue to apply to the core courses. The lists of course that can count toward various areas has been expanded. There is a new description of the senior capstone. The number of 300-400 level courses has been increased from 3 to 4.

Requirements for a minor

Media Studies

Total courses required	Four
Core courses	COMM 233
Other required courses	Three courses selected from COMM 235, COMM 236, COMM 237, COMM 332, COMM 334, COMM 335, COMM 337.
Number 300 and 400 level courses	One

Rhetoric and Interpersonal Communication

Total courses required	Four
Core courses
Other required courses	Four courses selected from COMM 123, COMM 223, COMM225 (formerly COMM 125), COMM 227, COMM 322, COMM 325, COMM 326, COMM 327, COMM 328.
Number 300 and 400 level courses	One

Theatre

Total courses required	Four
Core courses	COMM 117
Other required courses	COMM 111, COMM 210, or COMM 211 One course selected from COMM 213, COMM 214 , COMM 314, COMM 315 One course selected from COMM 310, COMM 311, COMM 314, COMM 316, COMM 317, COMM 319.
Number 300 and 400 level courses	One