College of Communication & Information

Graduate Electives for Spring 2024

The College of Communication & Information is offering two 600-level electives for Spring 2024, open to all graduate students (with instructor permission): 

  • CCI 644 (CRN 30660) Quantitative Communication and Information Research Methods II – M/W 1:50-3:05
  • CCI 660 (CRN 27151) Special Topics – Instructional Communication – M 3:00-5:30

CCI 644 Quantitative Communication and Information Research Methods II (3 credit hours)

Advanced theory and application of quantitative research methods to communication and information. 

Registration Restriction: Minimum student level – graduate.

Registration Permission: Consent of instructor, Dr. Mike Kotowski mkotowsk@utk.edu.

Course Description

This course is designed to provide an in-depth examination of scientific research methods as applied to social phenomena. The course will begin with a brief overview on the nature of science and scientific inquiry and move quickly into issues concerning the conduct of scientific research. Class sessions will be devoted to examination of issues in assumptions, reasoning, design, measurement, and statistical analysis as applied to communication research. Major topics include philosophy of science, research design, measurement, and statistical inference. Throughout the course, emphasis will be placed on measurement construction and validation. 

Course Objectives 

  • Develop the methodological background necessary to conduct social scientific research. 
  • Understanding of major historical and philosophical underpinnings of social scientific research. 
  • Comprehension and appreciation of the interdependent roles of theory, design, statistics, and measurement in (a) testing issues of substantive/theoretical import, and (b) distinguishing between rival explanations of communication phenomena. 
  • Increased understanding of how to conduct, report, and evaluate empirical research.

CCI 660 Special Topics – Instructional Communication (3 credit hours)

Research, theory, practice, and philosophy of instructional communication.

Registration Restriction: Minimum student level – graduate.

Registration Permission: Consent of instructor, Dr. Jon Hess, Director of the School of Communication Studies jonhess@utk.edu.

Dr. Hess is a nationally recognized expert on this topic. This course introduces research, theory, practice, and philosophy of instructional communication. It is a content-area class that gives participants a substantive introduction to the scholarship in this field. It will be taught with practical applications in mind, to help participants understand how to communicate with students in ways that maximize their educational outcomes. The class will examine research and theory of instructional communication, philosophical perspectives on teaching, and current issues in higher education, as well as how these factors impact the way instructors work with students to maximize learning outcomes.