Introduction to Communication Theory

The purpose of this course is to create an appreciation of the structure, importance, and usefulness of communication theory as it relates to both social science research and everyday social interactions. Students will learn how different theories can help them understand and answer questions about communication.

This course addresses the structure, elements, and criteria for evaluating communication theories. It also examines specific theories from various communication contexts, including interpersonal, small group, organizational, intercultural, and electronically mediated communication. This course is designed to give you a foundation for understanding why theories are important in understanding communication, how those theories work, how they are structured, and why certain theories work better than others in specific contexts.