Course Descriptions

Required Courses

480.600 – Research and Writing Methods
Sophisticated communication professionals need to understand how to create and evaluate knowledge. This course is designed to improve critical thinking skills. It exposes students to the logic and conduct of research aimed at producing generalizable knowledge about human communication so that students can find, read, understand, and use communication research in their daily work. Toward that end, the course introduces students to systematic investigation and to research methods common to the field of communication. Students also learn how to read and understand statistics. Topics include how to use library resources to inform communication practice, how to conduct focus groups, interviews, surveys, and experiments. Many classes focus on how we know what we know and what methods are best used to answer different kinds of communication questions.

480.800 – Thesis
This course is designed to guide students though the thesis process. It is the last course students take in finishing their masters' degrees. Students select a topic for original research and conduct and write up their research in the course of the class. Students are encouraged to select a topic that will be useful in the workplace and that can be part of their professional portfolio. Graduation is subject to approval of the thesis by the thesis committee and completion of a successful defense. Students are encouraged to enter the class with a clear idea of what they would like to research.

480.888 – Thesis Continuation
Students not finishing the thesis during the term in which they enroll in the Thesis course must enroll in Thesis Continuation in every ensuing semester (including summer) until they complete their degrees. It is not possible to take a semester off or a leave of absence while working on the thesis.

Core Courses

480.601 – Introduction to the Digital Age
The digital age is changing how communication professionals communicate with publics and how people access, understand, and process information. As a result, digital tools are an increasingly important part of the modern communicator’s tool kit. This course examines empirical research that will help communication professionals in the digital age. Topics include creating usable and credible websites and effective internet advertising. The course also examines blogs, social networking, and digital journalism. The digital age is explored through primary research across a range of subjects including public relations, political communication, and health communication. Note: This is a new course and description as of fall 2009. Students who took 480.601 Introduction to the Digital Age prior to fall 2009 may take it again with the new content. Prerequisite: Research and Writing Methods.

480.602 – Changing Behavior through Communication
The goal of many communication initiatives is to encourage some type of behavior change. Communication professionals who understand how people change their behavior can create more successful campaigns. This course surveys major theories used to predict when and under what circumstances individuals are most likely to change their behavior. Behavior change includes a variety of actions, such as voting for a candidate, purchasing a product, joining a social networking group, or adopting a new health habit. Individual-level, interpersonal-level, and community-level models of change are covered. By becoming familiar with specific theories and the empirical support for those theories, students learn how to use social-science based models to guide their communication strategies effectively. Prerequisite: Research and Writing Methods.

480.604 – Media Effects
This course surveys major theories about mass media, focusing on those theories that have empirical support. The course covers readings on how media affect what people think about, how people underestimate the effect of media on themselves, and how media affect what people see as the causes and solutions to social problems. The course also explores violence on television, the media's role in dividing and uniting society, and the influence of commercialization on news production. Other topics include diffusion of innovations, cultivation theory, and the hostile media effect. Prerequisite: Research and Writing Methods.

480.606 – Persuasion
Underlying virtually all communication is the idea of persuasion. This course tackles how to create a persuasive message, whether it is a press release, speech, advertisement, or letter. The primary goal of this course is to examine major theoretical perspectives and empirical evidence about what makes messages persuasive. Topics covered include source characteristics such as expertise, trustworthiness, and likeability; the use of emotions such as fear and humor; and the sequencing of messages for maximum impact. The course explores how psychological theories about consistency, conformity, and reciprocity help one understand what is persuasive and why. Prerequisite: Research and Writing Methods.

480.608 – Applied Quantitative Research
This hands-on course guides students through the various types of quantitative research they may need to perform on the job, such as, analyzing an audience, testing a message, doing a media audit, or demonstrating the effectiveness of a department. Students learn how to develop and design good survey questions, experiments, and content analyses, and how to run basic statistics on their data including the following: chi-square, t-test, ANOVA, and correlation. Students also learn how to write up and present the results of their research. Students should take this course prior to the semester in which they begin their theses. Prerequisite: Research and Writing Methods.

480.609 – Applied Qualitative Research
Communication professionals use qualitative methods to craft messages that resonate with audiences. This hands-on class exposes students to qualitative research methods that can be used on the job to guide communication efforts more strategically. Students learn how to design and conduct studies to gain insight into audience perceptions on a variety of issues. Specific techniques covered include in-depth interviews, focus groups, and rhetorical analysis. Through applied activities, students learn how to collect, analyze, and present qualitative research data. Students should take this course prior to the semester in which they begin their theses. Prerequisite: Research and Writing Methods.

Elective Courses

480.605 – Organizational Communication
This course explores the complexities and strategies of internal and external communication in public, private, and non-profit organizations. As a leadership tool, communication serves a political, informational, symbolic, and influential function. Organizational theory and research are core components of this course. Specifically, this course equips students to critique and develop the fundamentals of: vision and mission statements, strategic plans, white papers, annual reports, crisis communication, and marketing and promotional communication.

480.623 – Political Communication Campaigns
This course exposes students to practical applications of modern political communication. Through discussion and example, students gain working knowledge of recent and current campaign communication operations and their effectiveness, as well as an understanding of where the modern political communication operation and political media are heading in the 21st century. Students learn about the latest technological advancements and their role in the modern political campaign while gaining practical knowledge of a political press office or a political campaign press office. The course also examines the duties of a political press secretary, media advisor, or communication director, and the media professionals who cover them.

480.624 – Press Secretary: Theory and Practice
This class focuses on the skills required to be a press secretary and communication advisor working both inside and outside of government. It examines the roles, duties and responsibilities of press secretaries in a variety of settings: working for members of Congress, federal agencies, the White House, industry associations, non-profits, advocacy organizations, and political campaigns. It provides insight from journalists — the immediate audience for much of a press secretary’s efforts — about effective techniques. Students create a variety of materials and deal with typical situations that a press secretary faces in the course of a day. By the end of the course, students will be able to draft and distribute materials such as press releases, op-ed pieces, “talking points,” press strategy memos, and to plan a press conference.

480.625 – History of Communication Technology
The field of communication is increasingly defined by the technologies that make communications possible. Yet technology is "path dependent"; today's devices and systems have certain characteristics because the technologies they evolved from had similar characteristics, and tomorrow's devices will evolve from today's technologies. Thus, if we want to know where technology is headed, we need to understand where it's been. Through lectures, readings, and discussions, the course examines the evolution of several communications technologies. Governments have habitually served as the Influencers-in-chief of communications technologies, and the course will pay particular attention to the role of government (as funder of R&D, as first buyer of new technologies, through enabling legislation, and through regulation and oversight), as well as the role of politics, in shaping technologies such as broadcasting, satellite, wireless, and the internet. Individual research projects will enable each student to explore a topic of particular interest.

480.629 – Public Relations in the Age of Digital Influence
Marketing and communication are changing. The levers that we have pulled for years to sell products and services, change behaviors, and advocate for causes no longer work the way they did. As trust in media and marketing plummets, trust in our peers, friends, family, and colleagues rises. Today we recognize new influencers in the people sitting next to us. Now, creating a conversation is just as important as driving media, forming partnerships and crafting messages. Call it influencer marketing. Call it brand stewardship in the network age. It's all public relations. This class covers how to create comprehensive digital-influence strategies and ultimately how to be an effective public relations professional in this new digital age.

480.630 – Essential Skills in Digital Media Literacy
This course teaches students how to become effective at creating, accessing, analyzing, and evaluating various digital media through instruction in media production skills and by applying the latest innovations in media literacy theory. The course focuses on the essential skills communication professionals need to create digital content (including digital slide presentation, photo manipulation, video/audio production, website, blog, and podcast publishing). At the same time, students will learn how to analyze media content and explore how media shape politics, culture, and society.

480.631 – Effective Web Design and Strategy
Today, a U.S. online audience of nearly 200 million spends hours a day consuming media and communications on a collection of digital platforms that include the fixed web and, increasingly, the mobile web. Placing an impression in front of media-saturated users is easier than ever; getting them to pay attention has never been harder. The ability to effectively sequence and leverage digital channels and messages, and succeed at engaging, informing, acquiring, converting, and activating users (audiences) depends on the ability to define and design an effective web-based communications platform. This class prepares students to analyze the critical communications considerations that drive the strategy of successful websites, and provides them with the knowledge and vocabulary to structure, define, and lead the development of sophisticated, effective web-based communications platforms. From baselining and audience definition, through usability testing, information architecture, taxonomy, technologies, and design, students will learn how to define, design, and deploy smart sites that succeed—communicate—across divergent audiences, brands, businesses, and distribution platforms.

480.632 – Digital Political Strategy
No president will ever be elected again without an internet strategy. Mobile phones and Facebook are being used to organize mass protests. Thanks to YouTube, two Senators lost elections. Bloggers took down former CBS anchor Dan Rather and former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott. Clearly, the world of political and issue campaigns has changed in the digital age. In this course students explore new strategies possible in a networked world and learn what it takes to be a digital political strategist.

480.634 – Journalism in the Digital Age
This course explores the impact of citizen journalism, social networking sites, online video, mobile technology, and other aspects of new media on the media industry and the practice of traditional and online journalism. The course also examines issues relating to the "digital journalist as entrepreneur" in the rapidly evolving media marketplace, and the implications of changes in journalism for public affairs professionals.

480.635 – Communication.org: Not-for-profits in the Digital Age
Since 2005, a majority of every major demographic group in the U.S. has been online. For non-profit communication professionals, knowing how to reach people online has grown ever more important. Students learn the basics of online communication, including best practices for the many online communication channels and how to integrate online and offline efforts. Students develop plans, budgets, and metrics for evaluating online communication programs, as well as examine what the future holds for non-profit communicators.

480.637 – Using Social and Digital Media
In this class students learn about 12 useful social media tools, including blogging, Twitter, social networking, podcasting, online video, and Digg. More importantly, students apply what they learn by developing a social media plan for a company or organization that they choose. They will be the student's "Client." Each week, students learn how to use a different social media tool to engage in conversations that help to tell their client's story. Students also learn the theories behind why social and digital media is fundamentally changing the way that customers, advocates, and engaged consumers are interacting with brands. By the end of semester, students will be able to not just answer, but inspire, the inevitable questions being raised in every organization today: Why should we care about social media? How is it changing the way individuals and organizations communicate? Where should we begin? Note: Prior to fall 2009 this course was taught under the title Introduction to the Digital Age. Students who took that course may not register for this class as the content is the same.

480.638 – Internet Strategies: Commerce, Communities, Government
This innovative and challenging course explores, and requires students to analyze, the dramatic impact the internet has on our society. Geared toward communication professionals and others looking to stay on top of internet trends and strategies, the course requires students to design a comprehensive internet campaign for their final project. Topics covered in the course include internet marketing plans and net ratings research; and web innovations in politics and elections, nonprofits, community, e-commerce, search, VoIP and video, news and blogs, and local government. Students learn from lectures, guest speakers, and required and recommended course readings.

480.639 – Publishing: Print to Digital
Publishing is a cornerstone of communication; this course examines its pivotal role. Whether in print or online, most of what we read and much of what we view comes to us through the work of publishers. In response to the information revolution, publishing organizations are reinventing themselves as information and content providers. Mergers and new technologies confront publishing with new economics, new marketing strategies, and new vehicles for preserving material and making it available. Is traditional publishing dead? The course explores recent and expected changes in the publishing industry and how those changes will affect us.

480.642 – Corporate Social Responsibility Campaigns
The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) movement is a world-wide phenomenon, and corporations, trade associations and nonprofits are being asked to step up and be accountable. Public relations and communication professionals need to develop the skills to prepare strategic communication plans that reflect their organization's commitment to CSR in order to protect and enhance their employer's reputation in the marketplace. This course examines the global CSR movement, explores the communication challenges it presents and offers practical suggestions and tactics to respond to this trend. The class features in-class activities, outside research and guest speakers from NGOs, communication firms, and major corporations with practical advice on meeting this challenge in the global marketplace.

480.643 – Branding and Advertising
Branding and advertising are major components of any business or non-profit organization. Showcasing products and services in creative ways increases visibility and improves sales. This course teaches students how to develop brands, create concepts, and develop advertising campaigns. Students also learn practical tips including how to organize a creative department, how to write a creative brief, how to create budgets and time-lines, how to research and purchase visual imagery, and how to determine appropriate media for particular branding and advertising campaigns. Knowledge of a design program and PowerPoint is important, as presentations are made with PPT.

480.646 – Managerial Communication
Writer and historian James Humes said, "The art of communication is the language of leadership." It is that simple comment that forms the foundation of this course. Here students explore the role of communication with stakeholders including subordinates, superiors, internal and external customers, suppliers, and the community. Students examine effective communication in hiring and promoting, in conflict, in community interaction and in the internal communication of an organization. The class is built around three precepts or questions: With whom does one communicate, what does one communicate and how does one communicate effectively? Students conduct an assessment from the perspective of senior leadership in an organization, so it involves the design and successful implementation of vision, mission, and strategic plans.

480.653 – Communicating for Social Change
This course surveys the latest techniques used by non-profit and for-profit sectors to promote social causes. As the boundaries blur between the social and corporate sectors, each sector relies increasingly on the other to realize its goals. Although the primary focus of the course is application of social marketing techniques, such topics as cause-related marketing, strategic philanthropy, community engagement, and corporate social responsibility are also examined. As part of the course, students explore principles and practices of social change initiatives, apply consumer research techniques to develop a social-change communication strategy, become familiar with case studies, and analyze social-change campaigns.

480.654 – Strategic Communication Program Management
This course covers strategic leadership and communication program development, management, and evaluation. It emphasizes basic communication research, strategic communication objectives and message design, selection of media, development of materials, management of teams, and impact evaluation. Crisis and issues management as well as the use of new communication technologies are also covered. The course focuses on a step-by-step design of a communication program using the highly acclaimed SCOPE Web (Strategic Communication Planning and Evaluation) learning and planning software. Students develop two strategic communication programs, one as individual work and another as part of a team. Lectures and discussions utilize case studies to illustrate key points and desired learning. This course combines reality-based and conceptual approaches to provide students with the intellectual tools needed to assume senior management or outside counsel roles in developing and implementing fully integrated communication programs.

480.655 – Public Affairs
This course examines the interplay between public opinion and public policy. It focuses on the influence exerted on public policy by entities outside government and government's influence on public opinion. Through lectures, readings, discussions and exercises -- on theories and principles as well as actual events -- the course provides insights and practical knowledge on the development and conduct of public affairs campaigns to drive public opinion and affect public policy. At the end of the course, students should be able to design and analyze public affairs campaigns to influence public policy.

480.656 – Pitches, Press Releases, and Messages
This course helps communication professionals to better understand and execute three particular public relations skills and how they work together. It's critical to know how to best pitch and present “news” to prospective media outlets. Pitching a story needs to move reporters to cover an issue or organization instead of competitors. Creating a media-rich press release is the emerging expectation. Students learn how and why it is best to incorporate multimedia, digital files, photos, video, and web links into press offerings and news releases. Developing a memorable message that connects and moves people to action is a critical challenge. Students learn various methods of creating messages such as “message mapping” technique, adding emotional elements, using frames and SWOT.

480.657 – Introduction to Public Relations
The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists public relations as one of the fastest growing professions in the United States. This introductory course, designed for career changers and those new to public relations, details the ideas, skills, and principles that underlie the public relations craft. Students in this class study the role and contributions of public relations practitioners in contemporary society, learn about potential legal and ethical aspects of the practice of public relations, study the communication process and how persuasion is used with various audiences, and learn how to develop a strategic communication plan to achieve specific goals and objectives. The class will also introduce students to specialized practice areas within the public relations field such as business and industry, government, nonprofit and associations, and health care.

480.658 – Public Relations Writing
The primary goal of this course is for students to develop the professional-level persuasive writing skills expected of the best PR practitioners. Students are given weekly writing assignments outside of class and write on deadline during class time. The course covers various forms of public relations writing including press releases, backgrounders, public service announcements, newsletter articles and op-ed essays. Written work is judged using 10 tenets of good writing: organization, persuasion, clarity, focus, flow, tone, proper usage, timeliness, accuracy, and relevance.

480.659 – Crisis Communication
This course provides students with a fundamental understanding of crisis management, risk communication, media relations, and public-opinion research techniques in multiple contexts. It introduces students to crisis management principles, strategies, tactics, and communication methods. Course participants work as a team to develop a crisis management plan for analysis and discussion. Successful students are able transfer to the workplace the knowledge and skills developed in this course. Students learn to predict, manage, and control real-world controversies that they may confront as they pursue their careers. Moreover, students are able to manage effectively, participate in, and control volatile situations involving the news media.

480.660 – Media Relations
Media outreach is a critical piece of any strategic communication effort. This course prepares students to build, implement, and measure earned media programs that achieve policy, business, and philanthropic objectives. Class lectures, guest speakers, readings, and assignments give students an understanding of the priorities and expectations of various types of contemporary media, and how to successfully engage them through research-based strategies and tactics designed to reach key audiences.

480.661 – International Public Relations and Public Diplomacy
In today’s global world, reaching international audiences is a key function of U.S. government-funded public diplomacy programs, corporate public relations, and non-governmental organizations involved in relief and development. Through readings, lectures, discussions, and exercises, this course examines the differences between domestic and international media environments. Students develop communication skills needed to deliver messages and craft outreach strategies and programs for non-American audiences. Special attention is paid to communicating with audiences in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. Topics include a historical overview of international public relations and public diplomacy, opportunities and challenges for today's public diplomacy practitioner, using research to understand international audiences, writing effectively for international audiences, health and development communication, and communication in international conflict resolution. Students emerge with skills to work overseas in the fast-growing areas of public diplomacy and international public relations.

480.662 – Opinion Writing
The world of Washington revolves around opinion, and access to the nation's editorial and op-ed pages is key to making sure your opinions (or those of your employer) are successfully shared with the policy makers and opinion leaders who shape public policy. Opinion pieces carry far more impact than news; consequently, the editorial and op-ed pages are much more difficult markets to crack than the news pages. The editorial and op-ed pages have their own writing style and standards of news judgment; once a writer knows them, though, opinion writing is some of the most rewarding journalism, personally and professionally. Students in this class learn to understand the anatomy of good editorial writing; how to write for opinion sections of newspapers, magazines, and other news outlets; how to pitch op-ed and opinion pieces; and how to sell ideas to editorial boards.

480.663 – Integrated Marketing Communication
Integrated marketing communication breaks down the traditional advertising, public relations, and marketing silos by challenging practitioners to apply the optimum mix of media and message to motivate the target audience to act. The rise of the internet and now Web 2.0 support the need to embrace integrated marketing communication as a comprehensive approach to reach target audiences. In this course students learn to evaluate audience demographics and apply the appropriate communication channels and messages based upon the audiences' needs and the business realities of marketing campaigns. During the semester, students develop a tool kit of steps to follow to attain marketing success. Through simulation exercises, case study analysis, and self-directed reading, students develop a results-oriented and measurable marketing campaign proposal.

480.665 – Speech Writing
Speechwriting is one of the most important but least instructed skills for Washington professionals. Through hands-on practice, students learn to write speeches for diverse clients, occasions and contexts -- including corporate and political speeches, keynote addresses, Congressional testimony, as well as informal remarks such as eulogies and toasts -- and to coach speakers for more effective delivery. The course integrates speechwriting with public relations skills in areas such as campaign messaging, investor relations, and crisis management.

480.668 – Understanding Markets and Audiences
The best communication decisions are based on evidence. This course introduces students to the secondary and syndicated information resources used by market researchers to develop and guide communication strategies. It is taught in the computer laboratory to allow for the collaborative study and use of specific information resources including government databases, business directories, Simmons Consumer Choices, Roper polling data, and other sources of consumer and market data. Students create media audits, competitive analyses, audience profiles, and other information products to provide the foundation to create, enhance, and evaluate their communication programs.

480.669 – Emergency and Risk Communication
Emergency and risk communication are an emerging set of practices that convey credible, accurate, and real-time information about adverse events and the degree of risk they pose. In a post-Katrina, post-9/11 environment, communication professionals must be familiar with best practices in emergency and risk communication to effectively work with government, industry, the media, and the general public during crises and longer-term threats involving health, safety, security, and the environment. In this course, students become familiar with the core principles of emergency and risk communications and risk perception and have an opportunity to apply strategic communication approaches to real-world risk scenarios. Students learn to apply strategic communication approaches used in emergency preparedness, environmental health, food security, national security, and financial security.

480.670 – Communications Law and Policymaking
This course begins with an introduction to the essential judicial precedents, statutes, and procedures governing communications and copyright laws, with an emphasis on mass media, new technologies, and the internet. Students will examine how the First Amendment and communications laws influence political and advocacy campaigns.

480.671 – Government Relations and Lobbying
This course introduces students to the practical applications of federal lobbying and governmental relations. Through discussion, reading, guest lectures, and actual site visits, students gain valuable applied knowledge in the communication tactics of this influential business. The course is designed to teach the students in a “how to” approach, with specific focus on successfully communicating with governmental officials, designing lobbying campaigns and reviewing the foundations of governmental representation. This class conducts a detailed study of the structure of our government, ethical standards, influence methods, cultural appreciation, and the specific communication skills necessary of all advocacy professionals. The class explores various political and applied principals that are needed in practicing governmental representation. The course also gives students a practical understanding and unusual knowledge of the art of lobbying.

480.672 – Polling for Strategic Communication
Polling is more than a snapshot of who is winning and who is losing. Effective analysis is important for any campaign -- whether one’s object is to elect a candidate for office, position a company or product, or advance an issue. This class concentrates on teaching students the best practices for designing, writing, and conducting polling, and how to use the results to formulate a successful communication strategy. Students critique existing opinion surveys and learn how to read and interpret polls, including those used in political and health campaigns and by corporations and other issue organizations.

480.674 – History of American Political Communication
From the high-minded political theory of the Federalist Papers and the scurrilous pamphleteering of the first presidential campaigns to today's 30-second attack ads and online issue briefings, communication through the media has shaped both the style and substance of American politics. This course explores the history of American political communication from the colonial period through the present day, with an emphasis on helping students understand contemporary issues in historical context, assessing the effectiveness of both historical and contemporary political communication techniques, and evaluating the ethics of political communication.

480.677 – Grassroots Political Campaigns
Grassroots communication is critical for candidates and for causes. This course explores how grassroots political communication differs from other types of communication, when and where it's effective, and how to build an effective strategy and plan. Students discuss how grassroots communication links to the rest of the communication plan, which messages are best suited to it, and how it can be leveraged to benefit other activities. The data are rich, the anecdotes are informative, and the potential of grassroots political organizing is immense.

480.678 – Spokesperson Development and Training
This course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform effectively as spokespersons in news media interviews and other high-stakes situations requiring public testimony. Students learn what motivates news media and how journalists cover stories. They learn to recognize the numerous interview techniques used by reporters, and the major differences between broadcast and print interviews. Course participants also learn successful spokesperson strategies, tactics, and techniques designed to enhance their performance and reduce the risks inherent in today's volatile media environment. Students develop effective messages and the other tools needed to prepare for interviews and public testimony. Students use on-camera training throughout the course to sharpen interview skills and to critique student performance. Successful students are able to transfer the knowledge and skills acquired in this course to the workplace. They are prepared to serve as spokespersons in a wide array of situations ranging from routine news interviews to potentially volatile confrontations.

480.681 – Developing and Evaluating Health Communication Campaigns
This course prepares health communication professionals to lead the planning, implementation, and refinement of communication campaigns that affect individual-level behavior change and thus address public health problems. Throughout the semester, students practice the various stages of a health communication campaign based on real world conditions. They draw from health behavior theory; formative (including pretesting), process, impact, and outcome research; and expert opinion.

480.682 – Health Psychology and Behavior Change
This course provides an overview of health psychology: the scientific study of behaviors and cognitive processes related to health states. It addresses the mind/body connection, the influence of social and physical environments on our health, cognitive processing of health information, health belief models, and the link between personality traits and health. Understanding the interactions between these biological, psychological, and social influences on individuals' health states is a key element in developing effective health communication and intervention programs. Students approach all course topics from both theory-driven and applied perspectives.

480.686 – Behavior Change and Education through Entertainment
This course explores ways communication professionals can use entertainment to educate people and encourage them to adopt and enjoy improved life styles. Throughout history, stories, drama, poetry, music, dance, and other entertainment formats have been used to enlighten and educate both adults and children. In today's society, the channels of communication are ever increasing. This course investigates ways in which education can be subtly but effectively worked into both new and time-honored genres of entertainment to foster positive behavior change.

480.687 – Intercultural Communication
This course examines the meaning and importance of intercultural communication as it applies to individuals, groups, organizations, and nations. Students examine the meaning of “culture” and how “culture” can affect personal, national, and international understanding and communication, beliefs, and behaviors. The course examines the difficulties and dangers that can result from cultural misunderstanding. In a modern world with diverse communication methods, there is an ever-increasing need for intercultural understanding and communication. The course investigates the various ways in which cultures differ and the necessity of understanding and respecting other cultures. The course assists communication professionals to be more effective with external communication campaigns in other countries and internal communication within a diverse workplace. The course emphasizes clear and logical spoken and written expression to enhance individual ability to interact effectively with people of different cultures.

480.690 – Communication in China
This two-week study abroad course offers students an invaluable opportunity to examine first-hand the evolution, characteristics, and political implications of China’s new communication reality. The course focuses on three major areas: China’s new media order (including online media), China’s public relations practices (including for example, Olympics PR, earthquake crisis management, etc.), and China’s political communication. In addition to a brief but comprehensive overview of China’s multifaceted transitions in mass media and communication during the past two decades, students broaden and deepen their understanding of the related issues through on-site visits to China’s leading newspapers, PR agencies, and government sectors.

480.692 – Public Relations and Public Affairs from a European Perspective
The United States may be the birthplace of the public relations and public affairs industries, but they are on the rise across Europe. This two-week study abroad course looks at the different ways in which PR and lobbying are developing in contemporary Europe: from the UK, home of the world's largest PR industry outside the US, to the other western European democracies where PR is relatively undeveloped and sometimes seen as an unwelcome Anglo-Saxon import; and beyond that to the former Communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe where a surge in PR activity is closely associated with the move toward free markets and democracy. Students discuss the growing role of the European Union, the world's largest marketplace, and examine all the factors -- historical, political, cultural, and economic -- that make PR and lobbying distinctive in different parts of Europe, including the interaction with very different media systems.

Non-Graduate Courses

480.302 – Introduction to Graduate Work in Communication
This is an intensive course designed to help students maximize their performance and excel in the program. Each student's syllabus serves individual needs and interests. Topics typically include research, writing, citation, argument, using evidence, and a general introduction to graduate-level scholarship. The centerpiece of the course is that students meet not only in class sessions but also in bi-weekly, one-on-one mentoring and tutorial sessions with the instructor. We believe the course, which does not count toward the degree, is especially advantageous for students returning to school after an absence, for provisional students, and for those who want thorough preparation to achieve excellence in their graduate work at Johns Hopkins.