Communication (COMM)
Subject-area course lists indicate courses currently active for offering at the University of Louisville. Not all courses are scheduled in any given academic term. For class offerings in a specific semester, refer to the Schedule of Classes.
500-level courses generally are included in both the undergraduate- and graduate-level course listings; however, specific course/section offerings may vary between semesters. Students are responsible for ensuring that they enroll in courses that are applicable to their particular academic programs.
Course Fees
Some courses may carry fees beyond the standard tuition costs to cover additional support or materials. Program-, subject- and course-specific fee information can be found on the Office of the Bursar website.
COMM 505. Perspectives on Religion and Media - CUE, WR3 Units
Prerequisite(s): COMM 305 and 90 credit hours completed.
Description: Study of the history and meaning of mediated religious communication, focusing on journalism and strategic communication.
Note: Approval for the Arts & Sciences upper-level requirement in written communication (WR).
Course Attribute(s): CUE - This course fulfills the Culminating Undergraduate Experience (CUE) requirement for certain degree programs. CUE courses are advanced-level courses intended for majors with at least 90 earned credits/senior-level status.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 506. Ethical Problems in Communication - CUE, WR3 Units
Prerequisite(s): COMM 305 and 90 credit hours completed.
Description: Examines the moral and ethical problems posed by communication practices. Topics include case studies in interpersonal communication, journalism, public relations, and advertising.
Note: Approved for the Arts and Sciences upper-level requirement in written communication (WR).
Course Attribute(s): CUE - This course fulfills the Culminating Undergraduate Experience (CUE) requirement for certain degree programs. CUE courses are advanced-level courses intended for majors with at least 90 earned credits/senior-level status.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 510. Special Topics in Communication Studies3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Advanced study in specific areas of communication studies.
Note: May be repeated under different subtitles.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 520. Computer-Mediated Communication - WR3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Conceptual analysis and practical use of computer networks with an emphasis on the social and cultural dimensions of this type of human communication.
Note: Approved for the Arts and Sciences upper-level requirement in written communication (WR).
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 530. Science Communication3 Units
Description: The course examines the conceptual foundations and practices of science communication. It examines the institutional and intellectual contexts of science communication as well as the scientific constraints on science communication.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 532. Intercultural Communication3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Explores the influence of cultural identity on the communication practices of individuals, communities, and institutions.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 538. Intimate Communication - WR3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing.
Description: Explores communication issues in intimate personal relationships.
Note: Approved for the Arts and Sciences upper-level requirement in written communication (WR).
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 540. Public Communication Campaigns3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Drawing upon emerging new theories and empirical studies on influencing audiences, this course examines mediated public communication campaigns.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 555. Persuasive Movements3 Units
Description: Seminar focuses upon the role of persuasion and rhetoric in the formation and lifespan of social movements.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 565. Special Topics in Communication Service Learning - CUE3 Units
Prerequisite(s): Faculty consent.
Description: Study of communication concepts and theories that will be applied in service learning field work.
Note: May be repeated up to six hours under different subtitles.
Course Attribute(s): CUE - This course fulfills the Culminating Undergraduate Experience (CUE) requirement for certain degree programs. CUE courses are advanced-level courses intended for majors with at least 90 earned credits/senior-level status.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 580. Interpersonal Communication3 Units
Description: Study of communication in everyday life, including casual conversation and interaction among acquaintances.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 590. Health Communication3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Prerequisite(s): Faculty permission.
Description: Studies the nature, function, and importance of communication in the delivery of health care, and/or medical knowledge.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 600. Practicum3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Prerequisite(s): Instructor permission.
Description: Initiating and completing a practical communication project for an organization.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 601. Professional Seminar in Communication1 Unit
Grading Basis: Pass/Fail
Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing.
Description: Overview of the communication discipline and introduction to the academic study of communication.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 603. Communication Pedagogy3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: An introduction to teaching college-level in communication. Applies various theories of communication to interactions between students and teachers.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 605. Communication Theory & Practice3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Surveys a range of communication theories and traditions to equip students with tools for making sense of communication in context.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 610. Problems of Public Discourse3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Surveys the relevant theories and disputes concerning public discourse, public knowledge, and decision-making.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 615. Foundations of Communication Research Design3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: This course will familiarize students with the traditional (and some emerging) research methods used in communication research
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 616. Qualitative Communication Research3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Instruction in the practical issues and conceptual debates in qualitative research in the field of communication. Methods includes interviewing, participant observation, unobstructive observation, historical/archival methods, narrative and ethnography.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 617. Quantitative Methods in Communication3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Instruction in procedures used to systematically and statistically measure differences between groups and relationships pertaining to communication outcomes.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 620. Organizational Communication3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Theoretical and applied studies of communication within and between organizations and their publics.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 625. Personality and Communication3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Exploration of individual differences in communication processes, such as argumentativeness, shyness, and persuasiveness.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 640. Communication in Social Service3 Units
Description: Studies public communication campaigns, e.g., health information and policy campaigns.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 650. Corporate Communication3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Study of the nature, strengths, and weaknesses of empirical research in organizational communication and application of these findings to analysis, diagnosis, and remedy or communication problems in specific organizations. Focus is primarily on case studies and in-community "practicum" consulting project.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 651. Conflict Management3 Units
Description: Uses role playing and case studies in community organizations to assist students in developing the skills needed for managing conflict.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 652. Health Communication: Theory and Practice3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: This course uses health communication theories and methods to design and evaluate health communication materials that capitalize on opportunities afforded by the current context. Students will learn the concepts of effective public health communication across multiple media and levels of the social ecology, considering a variety of audiences, and achieving multiple purposes. Students will also learn to critically analyze examples of communication and develop culturally responsive communication material oriented towards public health interventions. The course will emphasize the development of delivering health information in a meaningful, actionable, and accessible manner.
Note: Cross-listed with PHPB 612.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 653. Integrated Marketing Communication Campaigns3 Units
Description: Study of integrated advertising, public relations, and sales promotions. Course culminates with students preparing integrated marketing plans for local clients.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 654. Strategic Communication and Crisis Management3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Examines problems of planning and implementing public relations strategies for crisis management. The organizations studied include corporations, agencies, educational and government institutions, and non-profits.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 660. Selected Topics in Mass Media3 Units
Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing.
Description: Examination of topics specific to the study of mass media not covered in other courses.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 670. Directed Readings in Communication3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Prerequisite(s): Faculty Permission.
Description: Faculty supervised readings on special topics in communication theory, research and practice.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 675. Risk Communication3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Examines the study of risk communication across various contexts (e.g., health, environmental). Focuses on the role of messages in shaping risk perception, evaluation, and behavior.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 690. Special Topics3 Units
Description: Examination of topics not covered in regularly-scheduled courses.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
COMM 698. Thesis3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Students complete an independent research project (a thesis) over two semesters for a total of six credit hours
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
