DePauw University Catalog
Section III: Majors, Minors, Courses of Instruction

Section I:
The University

Section II:
Graduation Requirements

Section III:
Majors, Minors, Courses

School of Music

College of Liberal Arts
  • Art
  • Asian Studies
  • Biochemistry
  • Biology
  • Black Studies
  • Chemistry
  • Classical Studies
  • Communication and Theatre
  • Computer Science
  • Conflict Studies
  • Economics
  • Education Studies
  • English
  • Geosciences
  • History
  • Honors Programs
  • Kinesiology
  • Latin American and Caribbean Studies
  • Mathematics
  • Modern Languages
  • Music (CLA)
  • Music, School of
  • Off Campus Study
  • Philosophy
  • Physics and Astronomy
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Religious Studies
  • Russian Studies
  • Sociology and Anthropology
  • University Studies
  • Women's Studies
  • Section IV:
    Academic Policies

    Section V:
    the DePauw Experience

    Section VI:
    Campus Living

    Section VII:
    Admission, Expenses, Aid

    Section VIII:
    University Personnel

    Communication and Theatre       (Program Homepage)

    Faculty: L. Abed, R. Ablenas, J. Adams, M. Anthony, D. Bohmer, R. Dye, G. Fenlon, M. Finney, A. Gaither-Hayes, C. Good, T. Good, G. Klinger, J. McCall, K. Menzel, J. Nichols-Pethick, S. Timm, S. Tremblay, S. Wilson, D. Worthington

    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 speech communication and 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 forensics and 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.

    Students preparing for secondary teaching: please review Section V, Teacher Education, and confer with the chair of the education department about requirements for admission and certification.

    Requirements for a major in Communication:
    Total courses required: Nine
    Core courses: COMM 100
    Other required courses:
  • Students majoring in communication must take coursework in the three areas of the department (rhetoric and interpersonal communication, mass communication and theatre).
  • To meet the theatre coursework requirement with only one course, students must take COMM 213, COMM 214 or COMM 314.
  • To meet the mass communication coursework requirement with only one course, students must take COMM 233.
  • To meet the rhetoric and interpersonal coursework requirement with only one course, students can take one of the following: COMM 125, COMM 223, COMM 224, COMM 227, COMM 322, COMM 323, COMM 326 or COMM 327.
  • # 300 and 400 level courses: Three
    Senior requirement: Majors must also successfully complete a senior requirement. 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.
    Additional information:

    Requirements for a major in Theatre:
    Total courses required: Nine
    Core courses:
  • COMM 100 (formerly COMM 104), COMM 111, COMM 117, COMM 314, COMM 001 (0 credit)
  • Other required courses:
  • One course in each of the other two areas (rhetoric/interpersonal and mass communication) of the department
  • One course in rhetoric interpersonal from the following: COMM 125, COMM 223, COMM 224, COMM 227, COMM 322, COMM 323, COMM 326 or COMM 327
  • One course in mass communication: either COMM 233 or COMM 237
  • One of the following two theatre courses: COMM 213 or COMM 214
  • One additional 300-level course from the following: COMM 310, COMM 311, COMM 312, COMM 316, COMM 317 or COMM 319 or a 300-level course in a related department with permission of the major advisor
  • # 300 and 400 level courses: Three
    Senior requirement: 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.
    Additional information:

    Requirements for a minor in Mass Communication:
    Total courses required: Five
    Core courses: COMM 233
    Other courses:
  • Three courses selected from COMM 235, COMM 236, COMM 332, COMM 334 or COMM 335
  • An elective from another area of the department.
  • # 300 and 400 level courses: One

    Requirements for a minor in Theatre:
    Total courses required: Four
    Core courses: COMM 117
    Other courses:
  • COMM 111, COMM 210, or COMM 211
  • One course selected from COMM 213, COMM 214 or COMM 314
  • One course selected from COMM 310, COMM 311, COMM 314, COMM 316, COMM 317 or COMM 319.
  • # 300 and 400 level courses: One

    Requirements for a minor in Rhetoric and Interpersonal Communication:
    Total courses required: Four
    Core courses: COMM 223, COMM 224, COMM 322, COMM 326
    Other courses:
    # 300 and 400 level courses: Two

    Courses in Communication and Theatre

    COMM 001. Self-Expression  Group 6    0 credit
    A. Little 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 or 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. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
     
    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.
     

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    email: sbates@depauw.edu

    Last Updated: 8/16/2005