Autumn 2009 Grad Electives

Winter 2010 Grad Electives

Spring 2010 Grad Electives

Autumn 2009 Grad Electives

COMM 801:ADVANCED RESEARCH METHODS IN COMM (Hayes)
STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING

This graduate course overviews the application of structural equation modeling to various analysis problems confronted throughout the social, behavioral, and health sciences.  Topics will include confirmatory factor analysis, measurement and structural models, path analysis, multiple group models, latent growth modeling, mediation, assessing model fit, and implementation of such methods in statistical software such as SPSS, Mplus, and AMOS.  Solid performance in a course in multiple regression is a prerequisite (such as COMM 790, PSYCH 828, SOCIO 649, or equivalent).  Enrollment is limited to 32 students.  Priority will be given to students who enroll for credit.


COMM 940: SEMINAR IN MASS COMMUNICATION (McDonald)
MASS COMMUNICATION AND ENTERTAINMENT

This course provides an overview of entertainment aspects of media.  We will begin with some historical explanations of entertainment, and move quickly to present-day theory and research.  The theme of the class will be on developing the idea of entertainment as a concept that fits across media and situations.  To this end, we will explore theory and research from a variety of contexts (e.g. TV, motion pictures, novels, and games, perspectives (e.g., narratives, character identification, gratifications), and theories (e.g., play theory, social identification, mood management and affect regulation).  Students will be evaluated based on a combination of individual and group work.  Course requirements:  each student will produce two summary/ critiques of research, and one conceptualization piece designed to integrate previous knowledge and research, as well as develop a research paper that may be an individual or group paper (depending on class size).

 Course offered M,W 3:30-5:18, Bolz Hall 0311

Winter 2010 Grad Electives

813: Communication and Public Opinion (Kosicki)

840: Mass Communication and the Individual (Pingree)

This course provides an overview of perspectives on individual psychological processes involved in media effects.  The first part of the course introduces a range of broadly useful theoretical tools and perspectives from cognitive psychology, social psychology, political science, and communication.  Tools covered may include theories of memory activation, associative network models of memory, attitude theories, models of cognitive processing with an emphasis on dual-process models, theories of reasoning and choice from various fields, and broader theories and perspectives on media effects processes.  A midterm exam at the end of the first part of the course will test comprehension of these tools.  The remainder of the course applies these tools to important research questions about media effects on individual audience members, including applications to politics, health, economics, entertainment, and strategic communication.  Students will either write three 6-page research proposal papers or a single 6-page proposal paper that is later developed into a complete empirical research paper.  Students will also be evaluated on discussion leadership for days of their choice and peer evaluation of their initial research proposal papers.  There will be no final exam.

940: Special Topic in Mass Communication: Comparative Political and Mass Communication (Nisbet)

Tu-Th 5:30PM - 7:18PM; Derby Hall 3116



This graduate seminar will provide an introduction to political and mass communication across political, regional, and

international contexts.  The seminar will take an interdisciplinary approach by drawing upon scholarship in political and mass

communication, comparative politics, and international relations.  The class is designed to provide a broad introduction to theoretical and

methodological tools for understanding political/mass communication processes and effects in non-U.S. political and cultural contexts.  In

addition, through comparative examination we will deepen our understanding of political and mass communication processes and

effects within the United States.



Specific course topics include but are not limited to:  a) a focus on the structures and processes of political and mass communication in

Western Europe, Middle East, and Africa, b) the roles of media, political behavior, and public opinion in developing democracies and

(neo)authoritarian regimes, c) relationships between press freedom, democracy, and economic development, and d) the growth of

transnational / international media flows and implications for international relations and foreign policy.



For more information about this course, contact Dr. Erik Nisbet at nisbet.5@osu.edu.

Spring 2010 Grad Electives

801: Special Topic in Methods/Statistics: Social Network Analysis (Sohn)

850: Special Topic in Communication Technology: Communication Technology and Society (Westerwick)

940: Special Topic in Mass Communication: Media Psychology (Ewoldsen)