Pennsylvania State University 3 credits CAS
This course introduces graduate students to the philosophical underpinnings of communication research and develops skills in theory construction. CAS 560CAS 560 Communication Theory (3) The first Department of Communication was established in the 1950s, and most departments of communication are less than 30 years old. This course is intended for graduate students who want an in-depth understanding of the philosophical issues underlying research and theory in human communication. It is a graduate-level course that emphasizes theory development in the area of human communication behavior. The readings covered are extensive, contributing to an expectation for abstract and integrative thought and discussion. Students should have a serious interest in studying theory construction and related philosophical underpinnings. Structurally, the course begins with a review of definitional issues underlying research and theory in human communication, moves to a focused discussion of various epistemological and ontological positions in the social sciences and humanities, then shifts to issues of theory construction and development. In addition, some of the primary issues debated in the related literatures will be discussed. Evaluation methods will include presentations and paper(s), but may also include exams and participation. As a result, students will examine where knowledge about communication comes from while defining social science, metatheory, theory, and levels of theorizing; acquire familiarity with the breadth, scope, and range of communication theory as a domain of study; comprehend major issues confronting researchers and theoreticians in communication; and acquire a vocabulary suitable for understanding the discussion that takes place in the field's journals and at communication conferences. The course is planned as a foundational course for all graduate students entering the graduate program with interests in non-rhetorical methods of inquiry, and it is strongly recommended for all students entering the graduate program with interests in non-rhetorical methods of inquiry. This course will be offered once a year with 15 seats per offering.
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