ARGD500: Graduate Graphic Design I

Techniques and principles of design of printed matter and displays, elements of layout, illustration, typography, printing process, and preparation of copy for the printer. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: Departmental approval.

ARGD510: Graduate Graphic Design II

Continuation of ARGD 500. Taken serially. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: ARGD 500 or instructor's permission.

COUN559: Dynamics of Group Process

A laboratory-based course for the development of group skills and understandings. Focus is on experimental learning and personal growth. Readings in human interaction theory will be related to actual group participation. 1 - 3 sh.

Prerequisites: Graduate students with majors in the CNEL department only or undeclared graduate students.

ELAD510: Effective Leadership in a Diverse Society: From Theory to Practice

This course will focus on concepts and techniques of leadership for learning and organizational theory, the changing roles of a leader in a diverse society, and the use of strategic planning and data analysis in the implementation of a vision for school and student success. Leadership style and its interconnectedness to the power and authority of leaders will guide student work throughout the course in developing the skills, knowledge and dispositions to lead effectively. 3 sh.

PSYC566: Interventions for Effective Organizations

Interventions based on psychological principles that are used to enhance individual and organizational effectiveness will be examined. Common interventions that are covered in the course include: training and development programs, executive coaching, leader and leadership development, talent management, organizational design, and innovation processes among others. Knowledge and skills important to developing these interventions, as well as skills to be able to facilitate these in applied settings, will be developed. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: PSYC 571 and PSYC 559; or permission of the instructor.

PSYC571: Organizational Psychology

This course examines the psychological aspects of organizational behavior. Emphasis on the organization effected by individual psychological processes and behavior. Areas covered include social norms, group and team processes, leadership and power, motivation, job attitudes and satisfaction, and organizational change. 3 sh.

SPCM502: Researching Public and Organizational Relations

This course introduces students to standard empirical techniques of communication inquiry. These quantitative and qualitative methods pertain to both social scientific inquiry and professional applications. Particular attention is devoted to approaches for investigating problems and phenomena that are typical of contemporaray organizations' internal and external communication processes. 3 sh.

SPCM505: Issues of Public and Organizational Relations

This course orients students within the academic discipline and professional field of public and organizational relations. Students learn about the history of communciation scholarship, academic and professional membership associations, literature and other resources and communication-related career paths. As well, the course surveys social scientific and humanisitic theories pertaining to key issues of organizations' internal and external communication, providing a foundation for subsequent coursework in the Public and Organizational Relations program of study. 3 sh.

SPCM509: Problems in Communication

Individual problems in communication. Reports, papers, panel discussion and experimentation. May be repeated twice for a total of 9 semester hours. 3 sh.

SPCM510: Special Topics In Communication

Special Topics in Communication is intended as a multipurpose course that can be used both to teach rotating special topics courses and to pilot test new courses. Special Topics in Communication is intended to be repeatable and to be used by both the public relations and the organizational communications tracks to offer advanced and special topic courses. The course may be repeated an unlimited number of times provided the topic of the course has changed. 3 sh.

SPCM520: Public Relations Writing and Media Relations

Students practice public relations skills, including press release writing; press kit development and distribution; analyses of publics; and media relations. Special attention is devoted to the potentials of traditional and new media for enabling creative and effective public relations. 3 sh.

SPCM530: New Media Applications

This course explores the roles and potentials of various traditional and emergent technologies/media in organizations' internal and external communication processes. Considering issues inherent to contexts, messages, and audiences, students gain insights about choosing and applying media in particular situations, and recognizing how such choices affect meaning-making. Special attention is devoted to the ways in which new technologies/media are transforming organizations' day-to-day functioning, identities, and public relationships. 3 sh.

SPCM536: Persuation and Media

This course explores psychological, relational, and rhetorical theories of persuasion and provides students with practical strategies. Considering the functions of persuasion in organizational and public contexts, emphasis is placed on the roles of technology and media in facilitating creative and effective messages and campaigns. 3 sh.

SPCM545: Issue Management

Issue Management deals with issues such as problem solving, crisis communication and the process of shaping public opinion. Areas such as lobbying, political public relations, persuasion, dialogue, apologia, and rhetorical approaches to public influence are dealt with as means of managing organization-public relationships. 3 sh.

SPCM547: Seminar in Organizational Communication

This course focuses on special topics in organizational communication relating to leadership strategies and tools for assessment of organizational culture. Leadership is viewed in behavioral and interactionist terms rather than as a position within an organizational hierarchy. Systems of organizational culture are viewed as patterned behaviors with consequences for organizational effectiveness. Tools are offered for observation and intervention in organizational development efforts focused on team building and leadership. 3 sh.

SPCM555: Survey of Public and Organizational Relations

This course overviews the related disciplines of organizational communication and public relations, with an integrative approach to understanding organizations' internal and external communication processes. Topics include: comparative structural conceptions of organizations; key organizational processes (e.g., leadership, change management, technology/media use, cultural diversity, and assimilation); organizational identity; informative and persuasive public campaigns; dialogic public partnerships; and issue/crisis management. 3 sh.

SPCM556: Leadership and Collaborative Innovation

Students explore communication dynamics of teams and small groups with emphasis on leadership and innovation. Recognizing that contemporary organizations often value teamwork (rather than top-down delegation) as means for creative problem solving, this course examines theories and practices pertaining to: leadership; membership; interpersonal and inter-group conflict management; cultural heterogeneity; problem solving and decision making; meeting facilitation; and cooperative execution of complex projects. Course content is conducted through and experiential group practicum. 3 sh.

SPCM560: Internship: Communication

Off-campus practicum assignments that range from serving on a political campaign staff to coaching students and/or conducting forensic tournaments or assisting on a Public Relations staff. Broad, balanced and locally supervised experience by arrangements.) 3 - 6 sh.

Prerequisites: Communication Studies majors only; departmental approval.

SPCM580: Globalization and Contemporary Communicaiton

This capstone course in the Public and Organizational Relations curriculum integrates programmatic topics within discussions of globalization's processes and consequences. Considering themes pertaining to new technologies/media, inter- and mulit-culturalism, organizational identity, and organizational culture, the course examines theoretical, ethical, and practical dimensions of contemporary cases. Guest lecturers from various academic and professional backgrounds provide opportunities for students to interact with experienced practitioners and to explore pertinent communication problems of globalization. 3 sh.

SPCM581: Media and Mass Culture

Influences and effects of the media on society; policy decisions and the influence of the broadcast media as conveyors of information and stimulus for change. Open to all graduate students. 3 sh.

SPCM582: Techniques of Communication

Techniques and ethics in the production of informative and persuasive messages for public consumption. Open to all graduate students. Course may be repeated once for a total of 6 semester hours. 3 sh.

SPCM599: Independent Study

Individual projects in communication that result in significant research or creative projects. Student and instructor agree upon an area of study, readings are assigned, research is done and student submits final findings in form of a paper or a series of annoted bibliographies or position papers. The nature of the course permits advanced graduate students to pursue areas of speech not covered by present offerings. Course may be repeated once for a maximum of 6.0 credits. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: Communication Studies majors only; departmental approval.

SPCM698: Master's Thesis

Independent research project done under faculty advisement. Students must follow the MSU Thesis Guidelines, which may be obtained from the Graduate School. Students should take SPCM 699 if they don't complete SPCM 698 within the semester. 6 sh.

Prerequisites: Departmental approval.