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College of Media, Communication and Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Doctoral: Deadlines for Doctoral Degree Candidates, Graduation Checklist
Master's: Requirements and Deadlines, Graduation Checklist
To graduate, all students must apply online in MyCUInfo at the beginning of the semester in which they plan to graduate. Master’s students must also submit a Candidacy Application for an Advanced Degree at this time. Students should also contact Matt Laszewski to go over the requirements.
PhD students who have their research or creative work accepted for presentation at a conference or comparable venue may request up to $500 ($1,000 for international travel) in CMCI travel funds during an academic year. Students should submit their travel requests to their department’s Director of Graduate Studies. Once the DGS approves the request, Matt Laszewski will initiate the scholarship award process. If the student has an outstanding student account balance, any awards will first go towards paying that balance. The remainder will be disbursed as a direct deposit into the account set up for assistantship pay.
Additional travel funding is available through the graduate school and UGGS.
Comprehensive exam procedures vary by department. Students should work with their advisor and Director of Graduate Studies in preparing for the exam. Students should also contact Matt Laszewski to go over the requirements.
Students must submit an Exam Report to the department at least three weeks before the comprehensive exams. View doctoral and master’s exam reports »
The form should include the names and departments of your committee members and should be approved by your Director of Graduate Studies and submitted to Matt Laszewski for graduate school approval. Digital copies are preferred. The approved form will be signed by your committee members at the defense. Doctoral students must also submit a Candidacy Application for an Advanced Degree at this time.
Please contact Matt Laszewski to get signed up for controlled enrollment courses. Some departments require additional paperwork, so check with your advisor/instructor to see if anything else is needed. For independent studies, the student and the instructor need to agree in advance on the expectations and method(s) of evaluation for the semester’s work.
Fall 2020 Grad Classes
Research Design (APRD/JRNL 7002)
- Time: Thursdays, 3:30 to 6 p.m.
- Instructor: Harsha Gangadharbatia
This course adopts a holistic and creative approach to bridging theory with method for the purpose of research design. Students learn how to bridge theory and method, exploring research designs that address research questions and hypotheses through elaboration of theoretical and operational linkages.
Media Sociology (APRD/JRNL 7030)
- Time: Tuesdays, 3:30 to 6 p.m.
- Instructor: Pat Ferrucci
Examines a range of theories for how media messages and media institutions turn out the way they do. 'Media sociology' refers to theorizing about the media as the 'dependent variable', even though many of the 'independent variables' explored are not narrowly sociological. It connects media actors, organizations and institutions to sociological concepts such as socialization, interaction, roles and structures.
Special Topics: Moral Psychology and Media Ethics (APRD/JRNL 7871)
- Time: Wednesdays, 3:30 to 6 p.m.
- Instructor: Erin Schauster
Explores the psycological structures and processes that come into play as individuals interpret moral problems, and formulate, select and execute a moral action in response. The seminar will explore the work of Jean Piaget, Lawrence Kohlberg and James Rest among others, and apply moral psychology theories and mixed methods to contemporary issues and cases in mediated communication practices.
Quantitative Methods (APRD/JRNL 7061)
- Time: Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Instructor: Harsha Gangadharbatia
Examines various methods of quantitative data gathering methods and analysis in the mass media context.
Communication Research and Theory (COMM 6010)
- Time: Mondays, 3:30 to 6 p.m.
- Instructor: David Boromisza-Habashi
Provides an introduction to graduate study of communication, offering an overview of the discipline and its scholarship.
CRT Practicum (1CH) (COMM 6910) [Concurrent with COMM 6010]
- Time: Mondays, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
- Instructor: David Boromisza-Habashi
Focuses primarily on the professionalization of graduate students new to CU's Department of Communication. Introduces them to the department, university and discipline, develops practical skills related to professionalization (e.g., submitting to conferences, publishing research and mentoring students) and considers the politics of professionalization.
Special Topics: Alternative Organizing (COMM 6200)
- Time: Mondays and Wednesdays, 2 to 3:15 p.m.
- Instructor: Joelle Cruz
Special Topics: Cultural Studies (COMM 6200)
- Time: Tuesdays, 3:30 to 6 p.m.
- Instructor: Ted Striphas
Special Topics: Indigenous Rhetoric (COMM 6200)
- Time: Thursdays, 3:30 to 6 p.m.
- Instructor: Tiara Na'puti
Discourse Analysis (COMM 6410)
- Time: Mondays, 6:15 to 8:45 p.m.
- Instructor: Natasha Shrikant
Acquaints students with the main types of discourse analysis: conversation analysis, critical discourse analysis and rhetorically informed discourse approaches. Teaches how to conduct discourse analysis, including transcribing, selecting excerpts, documenting inferences and linking findings to scholarly controversies.
Advanced Qualitative Research (COMM 6420)
- Time: Wednesdays, 3:30 to 6 p.m.
- Instructor: Bryan Taylor
Educates students in one of a selected set of methodological specializations used in the study of human interaction.
Intro. to Practice-Based Research (IAWP 6000)
- Time: Mondays, 3:30 to 6 p.m.
- Instructor: Mark Amerika
This course introduces students to practice-based research methods in intermedia art, writing and performance.
IAWP Seminar: Media Archaelogy Reconfigured (IAWP 6800)
- Time: Wednesdays, 12:30 to 3 p.m.
- Instructor: Lori Emerson
This course attempts to undertake a deep, chronological history of the 'field' itself, delving into distant ancestors, both real and potential, and more well-known roots. With this deep history in place, we then move on to what have become the commonly accepted, canonical works of media archaeology to see if we might actually unseat their canonical status by the works that came before, and perhaps even open up the possibility for later additions to the field of media archaeology.
Interdisciplinary Ways of Knowing (6210)
- Time: Wednesdays, 5 to 7:30 p.m.
- Instructor: Leysia Palen
Introduces principles of research design and surveys the breadth of research methods appropriated by the field of information science. Students will explore the diversity of epistemological orientations that make up the field, that influence the types of often mixed research methods applied and that shape the kinds of questions that are and are not explored.
Intro. to Doctoral Studies in Information Science (INFO 7000)
- Time: Fridays, 1:30 to 4 p.m.
- Instructor: Amy Voida
Introduces students to practices associated with successful advancement in a doctoral program, rigorous scholarship in information science and more expert and early participation in their scholarly community of practice.
Personal Health Informatics (INFO 5871)
- Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30 to 1:45 p.m.
- Instructor: Steve Voida
Examines the diversity of roles that computation can play in information science research, ranging from an overview of some data-driven practices to prototyping and infrastructure development to computation-as-research-support. Provides students with a level of computational literacy to engage with the multiplicity of roles that computation serves in the different kinds of research work that is happening all across INFO, including exemplars of different kinds of technical contributions and approaches.
Ethical and Policy Dimensions of Information and Technoloy (INFO 5601)
- Time: Mondays, 4 to 6:30 p.m.
- Instructor: Casey Fiesler
Explores ethical and legal complexities of information and communication technology. By combining real-world inquiry with creative speculation, students will probe everyday ethical dilemmas they face as digital consumers, creators and coders as well as relevant policy. Explores themes such as privacy, intellectual property, social justice, free speech, artificial intelligence, social media and ethical lessons from science fiction.
Network Science (INFO 5613)
- Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.
- Instructor: Brian Keegan
User-Centered Design (INFO 5609)
- Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2 to 3:15 p.m.
- Instructor: Jason Zietz
Surveys the theoretical and practical foundations of human-computer interaction and user-centered design. Students learn theories of interaction (including cognitive, organizational, collaborative and task-based approaches), user interface design techniques, design guidelines and usability testing in the context of developing technology. Course content is explored through a variety of interfaces (desktop, mobile, touch, vision, audio, etc.) and contexts (personal, organizational, cross-cultural, etc.).
Newsgathering and Multimedia Storytelling (JRNL 5011)
- Time: Mondays and Wednesdays, 4 to 4:15 p.m.
- Instructor: Hillary Rosner
Develops skills in research and reporting on public issues and news events, and in the construction of narrative in the journalistic and documentary traditions, using a variety of media platforms.
Journalism and Social Identity (JRNL 5402)
- Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
- Instructor: Angie Chuang
Provides a discussion-based inquiry into the role of journalism and journalists in the representation of intersectional identities, focusing on race, gender, sexual expression and socioeconomic class in the United States. The study and practice of journalism in this course will address issues of trust, power, privilege and ethics inherent in reporting across difference.
Data Journalism (JRNL 5521)
- Time: Mondays, 5:30 to 8 p.m.
- Instructor: Sandra Fish
Instructs students in data-driven investigative reporting. Includes hands-on, in-depth instruction in gathering data from census reports, commercial databases, information networks and other sources, and utilizing statistical analysis software and spreadsheets to analyze the information in ways that can help deepen and strengthen journalistic stories on a wide variety of subjects.
Digital Journalism (JRNL 5562)
- Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
- Instructor: TBA
Builds upon digital production skills through the creation of multimedia project. Applies media theory to evaluate digital media content and explore how digital forms influence the news industry, politics, culture and society.
CU NewsCorps (JRNL 5572)
- Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2 to 3:15 p.m.
- Instructor: Chuck Plunkett
Provides students the opportunity to immerse themselves in an explanatory/investigative news project that gives students a chance to use in-depth research to produce content for Colorado news outlets and practice the skills they've learned in previous reporting classes. Students spend several weeks studying the subject in question before reporting and producing their stories.
Opinion Writing (JRNL 5602)
- Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
- Instructor: TBA
Concentrates on several of the subjective areas of journalism. Emphasizes editorial and column writing, editorial pages and blogging.
NewsTeam (JRNL 5624)
- Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 to 11 a.m.
- Instructor: Paul Daugherty
Students participate in NewsTeam Boulder, a program broadcast live over the Boulder cable television system.
The Art of Visual Storytelling (JRNL 5584)
-
Time: Fridays, 9 to 11:30 a.m.
- Instructor: Paul Daugherty
Teaches students how to raise the production value of their work based on standards used by professionals. Students learn how lenses, lights and contrast can affect an image, how to assemble their shots with pacing and rhythm, how to apply color grading techniques to give video a cinematic look and how to create motion graphics for titles and lower thirds.
Feature Writing (JRNL 5802)
- Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:30 to 4:45 p.m.
- Instructor: Hillary Rosner
Provides practice in writing freelance articles. Considers types, sources, methods, titles, illustrations and freelance markets. Students submit work for publication.
Science Writing (JRNL 5812)
- Time: Mondays, 12 to 3:30 p.m.
- Instructor: Hillary Rosner
Helps students acquire the basic skills and knowledge required of science journalists. Also examines issues of scientific importance such as climate change, the nature of scientific knowledge and how science is covered in various media.
Research Design (APRD/JRNL 7002)
- Time: Thursdays, 3:30 to 6 p.m.
- Instructor: Harsha Gangadharbatia
This course adopts a holistic and creative approach to bridging theory with method for the purpose of research design. Students learn how to bridge theory and method, exploring research designs that address research questions and hypotheses through elaboration of theoretical and operational linkages.
Media Sociology (APRD/JRNL 7030)
- Time: Tuesdays, 3:30 to 6 p.m.
- Instructor: Pat Ferrucci
Examines a range of theories for how media messages and media institutions turn out the way they do. 'Media sociology' refers to theorizing about the media as the 'dependent variable', even though many of the 'independent variables' explored are not narrowly sociological. It connects media actors, organizations and institutions to sociological concepts such as socialization, interaction, roles and structures.
Special Topics: Moral Psychology and Media Ethics (APRD/JRNL 7871)
- Time: Wednesdays, 3:30 to 6 p.m.
- Instructor: Erin Schauster
Explores the psycological structures and processes that come into play as individuals interpret moral problems, and formulate, select and execute a moral action in response. The seminar will explore the work of Jean Piaget, Lawrence Kohlberg and James Rest among others, and apply moral psychology theories and mixed methods to contemporary issues and cases in mediated communication practices.
Quantitative Methods (APRD/JRNL 7061)
- Time: Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Instructor: Harsha Gangadharbatia
Examines various methods of quantitative data gathering methods and analysis in the mass media context.
Proseminar in Media Communication Theory (MDST 7011)
- Time: Tuesdays, 3:30 to 6 p.m.
- Instructor: Andrew Calabrese, Hunter Vaughan
Introduces the principal concepts, literature and theoretical and paradigmatic perspectives of media studies and mass communication and their ties and contributions to parallel domains in the social sciences and humanities.
Quantitative Research Methods (MDST 7061)
- Time: Thursdays, 3:30 to 6 p.m.
- Instructor: TBA
Examines various methods of quantitative data gathering methods and analysis in the mass media context.
Global Media and Culture (MDST 6201)
- Time: Mondays, 1 to 3:30 p.m.
- Instructor: Shu-Ling Berggreen
Explores the historical, cultural, social, political and economic dimensions of media systems in various parts of the world and their relationship with technological and cultural processes. Aims to provide a critical overview of the profound changes in media and culture in today's digitally connected/disconnected world.
Documentary and Social Change (MDST 6871)
- Time: Wednesdays, 9 to 11:30 a.m.
- Instructor: Michela Ardizzoni
Research and Creative Work
The College of Media, Communication and Information is home to several internationally recognized centers of academic excellence that provide valuable new research and insight on contemporary issues:
- Center for Communication and Democratic Engagement
- Center for Documentary and Ethnographic Media
- Center for Environmental Journalism
- Center for Media, Religion and Culture
- Media Archaeology Lab
- Media Enterprise Group (MediaEG)
- NEST Studio for the Arts
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
In CMCI, graduate students and graduate studies are critical to who we are and what we do. Each of the various graduate programs across the college work constantly to bring diverse voices, perspectives and populations together, aiming always for an intellectual community that is as responsive to a politics of justice as it to a disciplinary curriculum.
Opportunities in CMCI
Equipment / Labs
CMCI’s equipment checkout will be available this semester and labs will be open, although processes for use will look different. Students will use a new online system to reserve equipment and specific days of the week have been established for equipment checkout and return. See the equipment website for details »
Campus research and lab resources and information is available on the Research and Innovation Office COVID-19 Resources page »
If you have concerns about accessing internet or computer resources for learning, review Technology and Financial Support for Students »