COML Information Packet 3_5_15

TOC Table of Contents

1 Program Overview
3 Criteria for Admission
3 Tuition Discounts/Reductions
4 Application Checklist
6 Curriculum & Core Course Descriptions
7 Elective Course Descriptions
11 Curriculum Concentrations
13 Frequently Asked Questions
15 Contact Information

M.A. Communication &
Leadership Studies (COML)
Program Overview

Program Overview

Gonzaga University’s online and on-campus M.A. in Communication and Leadership Studies
(COML) program provides the opportunity to expand your expertise as a professional and achieve
positions of leadership within your organization and field. Our graduates excel, and it doesn’t take
long for employers to see the value of their degree.

Through an approach that blends communication research and relevant theory with current
technology and best practice, COML offers graduate-level expertise for solving complex
communication problems in modern organizations. You will graduate feeling empowered to make
immediate positive change in your community and personal life as all course material is designed
to give you applicable skills. This degree goes beyond communication basics; it fine tunes
communication practices so you can be highly effective within your organization.

Because we believe the best learning is experiential and occurs in the context of community, we
require one, three-day, on-campus immersion, but encourage you to take advantage of one of
the study abroad or domestic immersion opportunities as well. The on-campus immersion course
is designed to be taken early on in the program so students can come to campus, meet fellow
classmates, get to know faculty, and get a sense of what it means to be a Zag.

Program Details

• 30 credits (36 credits for students who entered prior to Fall 2015)
• Spring, fall, and summer sessions
• Small class sizes result in personal attention and collaboration – only 15-20 students per

class
• Online only, campus, or hybrid options available
• Online 8-week courses or campus-based 16-week courses
• Average 2 year completion time
• One required three-day immersion in Spokane, WA
• Named “Most Innovative Program” by the National Communication Association
• “Top 3 Regional University in the West” by U.S. News & World Report

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COML Unique Features

Unique Features

• Optional study abroad and domestic immersions (three-day to two-week in length
options) foster intercultural competence and expertise through experiential learning in
places like Florence and Cagli, Italy, and Derry, Ireland.

• Take classes both online and on-campus.
• Visiting Scholars and professionals offer seminars online and on-campus for credit and

discuss emerging trends in the field.
• Internship and service-learning opportunities.
• Intensives develop practical communication skills in speaking, writing, and multimedia.
• Partnership with the Northwest Alliance for Responsible Media, an organization

dedicated to promoting media literacy.

Student Testimonials

“It’s all real-time learning-to be able to do projects and assigments that were related to my job
was tremendous.”
Sean Greenwood
Public Relations Director at Ben & Jerry’s

“The program inspired me to be my authentic self, taking my passions and turning them into
action for the betterment of my community and the world. #compassionintoaction”
Libby Laveson
Communications Manager at Twitter

“I wanted an intense, yet “functional” degree and that is exactly what I received. The
Communication and Leadership Studies degree and Gonzaga are a true blessing. I knew it was a
blessing then, but now I am seeing the truly lasting impact.
Heather Gray
Co-Owner, Massage Envy Spa

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Criteria for Admission and
Tuition Discounts & Reductions

Criteria for Admission

Gonzaga University’s M.A. in Communication and Leadership Studies (COML) program provides
the opportunity to expand your expertise as a professional and achieve positions of leadership
within your organization and field. Students enter the program with a desire to be better, be
more, and do more.
The COML program is designed for all levels of experience such as managers, directors,
specialists, program managers, account managers, owners, associates and even recent B.A.
graduates. Students must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution to be
eligible for this program.

Tuition Discounts/Reductions

As a demonstration of our appreciation and respect for your service, all active service members
and their spouses, as well as veterans are eligible to receive a 10 percent tuition discount
to pursue your flexible, portable master’s degree. Meet with our military specialist to create a
financial plan that works for you.
Boeing employees and Federal employees receive a 10 percent tuition discount.
Gonzaga University provides a 50 percent tuition reduction to qualified full-time teachers,
principals and Pastoral/Diocesan Ministers working in schools or parishes under the auspices of
the Diocese of Spokane.

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Your Application
Checklist

M.A. Communication & Leadership Studies

Complete the online application and pay the $50 application fee (pay at the end of the
online application). See the COML “Apply Now” button at online.gonzaga.edu and follow the
instructions given.

One official transcript from each college or university attended.

• If GPA falls below 3.0 please include an explanation of GPA statement.

• If you previously attended Gonzaga or are a current student, please note that GU
transcripts are ordered by the Graduate Admissions Office on your behalf.

• Mail official transcripts to: Gonzaga University

Virtual Campus Admissions

502 E. Boone Avenue

Spokane, WA 99258-0068

Resume of professional experience.
The Official Score from the MAT or the GRE, which must be less than five years old unless
you have completed a Master’s degree.

• Prepare to take the MAT (Miller Analogies Test) if you have not taken a graduate entrance
exam in the last 5 years or completed a master’s degree. Go to www.milleranalogies.
com or call 1-800-622-3231.

• http://www.ets.org/gre

Provide a minimum of two recommenders Request letters of recommendation through the
online application. Your references will be contacted directly by us via email with directions for
submitting their letters of recommendation and evaluation checklist on your behalf. Provide a
minimum of two recommenders who can evaluate your leadership, interpersonal skills, critical
thinking, judgment, professional practice, and your ability and capacity to complete a graduate
degree. Please note: recommendations from family members are not accepted.

Statement of Purpose
This essay must be well written, organized, and no longer than 1,000 words. It must also include
the following:

• describe the applicant’s interest in the Communication and Leadership Studies degree
• assess the applicant’s strengths, and
• describes what the applicant hopes to gain from this graduate degree

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Your Application
Checklist continued

International students must submit the above documentation and the following items:
• Submission of foreign transcripts in the original language and a certified English copy.
• An official TOEFL score of 88 ibt, 580 (written) OR an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher OR
successful completion of Gonzaga University’s ESL program.
• A Financial Declaration Form and supporting bank statement.
• Note: International students cannot receive an I-20 from enrolling in the online program;
they must take courses at the Spokane campus.

For more information on the International Student Program please call 509-313-6563.

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COML Curriculum &
Course Descriptions

Curriculum

30 semester credits are required to complete M.A. in Communication and Leadership Studies
(36 credits for students who entered prior to Fall 2015):

• 12 credits in Theory & Practice Core Courses
• 12 credits in Communication Electives
• 6 credits in Capstone Requirements

Core Course Descriptions

COML 595: Theorizing Communication (3 credits)

As an introduction to the field of communication, this course investigates major theories of
communication, emphasizing theorizing as a process of constructing visions of reality. Critical
analysis of the underlying assumptions of theoretical models of communication will help to frame
your understanding of communication into a philosophical and ethical statement.

COML 596: Masters Level Writing (no credit)

Co-requisite with COML 595, fee-based lab
This course is designed to introduce students to the genre of academic writing in the discipline
of communication. It is designed to both assess and improve a student’s writing skills while serv-
ing as a resource for graduate students who are apprehensive about their writing skills or who
need to brush up on writing competencies.

Students who score 4.5 or above in the Analytical Writing category of the GRE are exempt from taking the
Writing Workshop COML 596.

COML 597: Communication & Leadership Ethics (3 credits)

Inquiry into the personal, organizational, and social values present in ethical dilemmas. Students
will develop skills in ethical communication and decision-making, and recognize how to act for
the common good as leaders who can acknowledge and consider multiple ethical perspectives.

COML 598: International and Intercultural Communication (3 credits)

Who we are – whether we are comfortable with this idea or not – is shaped in part by the social
roles we occupy and how society sees us in those roles. As we will see from the very beginning
of this class, our social roles, the class we are born into, and our gender all have implications
for our lives. We will explore intercultural communication as a tool for bridging differences and
learning about identities, practices, and cultures.

COML 599: Communication Practicum: 3-day on-campus residency, Spokane, WA (3 credits)

This course is grounded in the principle that the best learning is experiential, and occurs in the
context of a community. This practicum is designed to merge theory and praxis, providing practi-
cal application of communication knowledge and action with a focus on public speaking, group
processes writing, and multi-media products. Students will work to create a website/blog of a
community profile that includes speaking, writing, and multi-media components.

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Course Descriptions continued

Elective Course Descriptions

COML 504: Organizational Communication and Leadership (3 credits)

All organizations — from Microsoft, to churches, to social clubs, and universities — rely on com-
munication. Being able to communicate strategically is crucial to meaningful participation. This
course will explore contemporary concepts about the meanings and functions of communication
in organizations. Organizational communication encompasses not only communication within
businesses, but also within large private or nonprofit associations, larger community groups, and
governments both large and small. We will cover selected topics in organizational communica-
tion research such as culture, socialization, systems theory, communication and technology, and
globalization.

COML 505: Digital Storytelling (3 credits)

The digital age has changed the way we tell stories. Web 2.0 technologies allow users access
to a range of digital technologies to not only create their own stories, but share them widely
through social media. But how do stories make an impact on audiences, given that there is so
much more information available? This course teaches students different forms of storytelling
using digital media tools including Audacity, GIMP, imovie, and Windows MovieMaker. Readings
help students better understand different narrative and persuasive styles of storytelling as well
as understand the major theoretical and policy-related issues. Through hands-on assignments,
students will acquire technical skills that will help them become more effective communicators in
the digital age.

COML 509: Social Dynamics of Communication and Technology (3 credits)

This course will explore, examine, and analyze the ways in which communication technology in-
fluences our shared fundamental assumptions about the nature of communication, and the man-
ner in which we interact with one another on a daily basis, as well as our socially shared values,
beliefs, and attitudes.

COML 510: Communication Teaching and Pedagogy (3 credits)

This course is designed for people considering a career as a communication educator at the
college level. The goals for this class have three interrelated dimensions; (a) cognitive learning,
(b) affective orientation; and (c) behavioral development. Students will develop curriculum, learn
teaching strategies, develop goals and assessment, observe college classroom environments,
and build a teaching portfolio.

COML 511: Communication Consulting and Training (3 credits)

In a global economy, it is increasingly important to have the training and consulting skills that
will allow you to interact effectively with many different cultures. Understanding and creating
new media programs is vital to you and your organization’s success. This course will explore the
unique application of communication skills and models for training and consulting. There will
be practice in consulting in a variety of settings, developing resources, marketing, workshop
development, training, skill building, and evaluation.

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Course Descriptions continued

COML 512: Strategic and Corporate Communication (3 credits)

Gone are the days when organizations can afford to just wait it out while their competition moves
ahead. Whether a student leads or works for an organization, or is in charge of strategic planning or
communication, it is critical to understand how to develop, implement and evaluate effective integrated
communication plans. New ideas, trends, issues, projects, and services in our workplaces are all
opportunities to plan, strategize and communicate with the many stakeholders. Students learn from real-
life examples as well as their colleagues to fully understand and implement campaigns, media relations
strategies, and social media tactics.

COML 513: Advanced Topics (3 credits)

COML 513 can be taken twice for elective credit

This seminar explores cutting-edge technologies, theory, and issues. The specific theme of this course
varies each time it is offered because communication is constantly evolving.

COML 514: Advanced Criticism (3 credits)

The study of criticism begins with the understanding that as human beings we use language and other
symbols to shape the world in which we live. Rhetorical theory allows us to begin to understand how
symbols function. Rhetorical criticism is one of the processes through which we assess specific symbolic
acts. Students will explore and apply several different methods including how to describe primary
rhetorical acts or texts (including speeches, films, news coverage, television programs, songs, and
advertisements, among others) in rich, relevant detail, how to situate or make sense of rhetorical acts or
texts within their historical, cultural moments; and how to use theory to develop a rhetorical perspective
that will help render a judgment about a text or act.

COML 515: Interpersonal and Small Group Communication (3 credits)

This course will enhance your ability to assess an interpersonal or small-group communication event and
its context (a “context” can be familial, business, church, school-related, and so on). Students will learn
to choose among relevant theoretical perspectives in order to understand and improve interpersonal and
small-group communication within specific social contexts. The course is designed to encourage students
to explore the communication dynamics that create group situations (and the ethical dimensions of these
situations), and to explore specific communication actions that can lead to positive social change.

COML 516: Media Literacy (3 credits)

Despite our awareness that we live in an age of communication, we are often unaware of how we
contribute, define, make, use and are used by various forms of communication media. Communication
in our society takes place in many forms, including mass electronic media, telecommunications,
transportation, publishing and even our educational system. This course examines the implications of
several forms of communication for how we live and what we believe, including the impact of mass
media on modern societies, conflicting social interests and the needs of different groups in society, the
formation of public opinion, and the diffusion of innovations. Attention will be directed throughout the
course to the processes of developing action plans for communication that incorporates principles of
media literacy.

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Course Descriptions continued

COML 520: Internship (3 credits)

Students will complete an approximately 240-hour internship under the supervision of a
communication professor at a local college or university for one semester or quarter. The
internship includes the development of a portfolio and evaluations from internship supervisors.
Students are responsible for arranging the internship.

COML 521: Travel Writing (3 credits)

This course is designed to improve your ability to write a narrative from stories about travel.
The genre ranges from the documentary to the evocative, from literary to journalistic, and from
humorous to serious. This course will show you how to put your camera aside (temporarily) and
engage your experiences more deeply in both strange and familiar places close to home. Text
exercises will help you develop the basic storytelling and descriptive skills this genre requires.
Selected current readings will serve as examples of good writing.

COML 522: Renaissance Rhetoric and Contemporary Leadership (3 credits)

14-day residency in Florence, Italy

Communication and leadership are closely intertwined, whether in our current period of post-
modernity or during the European Renaissance. Fifteenth century Italy and Florence in particular,
saw a flowering of the arts and scholarship unmatched in history. This can be seen in the rhetoric
of art and architecture, religious preaching, political writing and oratory, and in the humanistic
philosophy that emerges from it. Whether the fiery oratory of the Dominican Friar Savonarola
trying to reform the republic of Florence, the famous letters of St. Catherine of Siena trying to
persuade the Pope to repair a schism in the Church, Nicola Machiavelli’s The Prince as a primer
on leadership, or Dante’s Inferno which looks at where bad people and bad behavior will lead
— all provide an amazing repository of examples of the birth of humanism and its influence on
persuasive discourse to lead social progress. This course examines this period through readings,
discussions, and on-site visits to historical settings in Florence and Siena in order to formulate
the critical questions necessary to bring these ideas to our contemporary world. Using the Italian
Renaissance as the canvas we will study multiple examples of rhetoric, both written and visual.

COML 523: Peacebuilding through Dialogue (3 credits)

11-day residency in Derry, Northern Ireland

The aim of this course is to introduce concepts from the field of communication that enable an
understanding of how local peacebuilding can build bridges across conflicting groups in deeply
divided societies. Communication and dialogue are closely intertwined and together act at
the heart of establishing shared space and creating a common future. This course will reflect
on the causes and history of The Troubles (1969-1998) as well as the tortuous peace process
following the Belfast Agreement in 1998. Based on that agreement, Northern Ireland’s devolved
government finally became a reality in 2008. Local peacebuilding through dialogue is central to
understanding how peace has been maintained.

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COML Curriculum &
Course Descriptions continued

Capstone Course Descriptions
COML 601: Applied Communication Research (3 credits)

This course is designed to prepare you for the capstone course. Students will learn and develop
competencies in the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and/or engage in primary
research in order to frame an applied communication project or truncated thesis proposal.

COML 602: Communication & Leadersip Capstone Seminar (3 credits)

Prerequisite: COML 601
For students choosing a concentration, the capstone course requires a topic choice relevant to that
concentration.
In this integrative capstone course students will complete a thesis or project on a communica-
tion topic. Under the guidance of a professor and a mentor, the student will complete an original
research study or applied project to be presented in a public forum.

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COML Curriculum
Concentrations

As of fall 2015, COML will offer three new concentrations in Strategic and Organizational
Communication, College Teaching of Communication and Global/Intercultural and International
Communication (pending final approval by the NWCCU).

College Teaching of Communication

COML Required Concentration Elective Courses (6 credits):
COML 510: Communication Teaching & Pedagogy
COML 520: Internship (3 credits)

COML Concentration Electives Courses Choose ONE of the following
(3 credits required):
COML 509: Social Dynamics of Communication & Technology
COML 514: Advanced Criticism
COML 515: Interpersonal & Small Group Communication
COML 516: Media Literacy
COML 513: Advanced Topics
Note: COML 513 can be taken twice for elective credit.)
COML 522: Renaissance Rhetoric and Contemporary Leadership (Florence, Italy)
COML 523: Peacebuilding Through Dialogue in Northern Ireland (Derry, Ireland

*To complete the 30-credit COML degree, the required core courses, one additional elective,
and the two captsone course are needed in addition to the above concentration courses. The
capstone course requires a topic choice relevant to college teaching of communication.

Strategic and Organizational Communication

COML Required Concentration Elective Course (3 credits):
COML 504: Organizational Communication

COML Concentration Electives Courses Choose TWO of the following
(6 credits required):
COML 509: Social Dynamics of Communication & Technology
COML 511: Communication Consulting & Training
COML 512: Strategic & Corporate Communication
COML 515: Interpersonal & Small Group Communication

*To complete the 30-credit COML degree, the required core courses, one additional elective,
and the two captsone course are needed in addition to the above concentration courses. The
capstone course requires a topic choice relevant to strategic/organizational communication.

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COML Curriculum
Concentrations continued

Global/Intercultural & International Communication

COML Required Concentration Elective Course: (3 credits - one of the two
following courses):
COML 509: Travel Writing (3 credits)
COML 515: Interpersonal and Small Group Communication (3 credits)
Cultural Immersion classes in Cagli, Italy: (6 credits – two of the three following
courses):
COML 600: Multi-Media Practicum (3 credits)
COML 524: Communication & Culture (3 credits)
COML 513: Advanced Topics in Communication: International Media and Culture (3 credits)
*To complete the 30-credit COML degree, the required core courses, one additional
elective, and the two captsone course are needed in addition to the above concentration
courses. The capstone course requires a topic choice relevant to college teaching of
communication.

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Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQ’s)

1. Is this degree completed entirely online or on campus?

We offer classes online, on campus, or a combination of both. There are also opportunities to
study abroad and participate in domestic immersions to complete your degree in a way that
fits your lifestyle. There are several options for completing your degree.

• All online 8-week courses with one required 3-day residency on campus.

• On-campus 16-week courses in Spokane with one required 3-day residency on campus.
On campus courses are offered on nights and weekends to accommodate working
professionals.

• Hybrid of both online and campus-based courses with one required 3-day residency on
campus.

There is only one required 3-day on-campus immersion, although we hope you’ll visit us
more often. We can’t wait for you to see the power of face-to-face interactions and enjoy this
beautiful campus!

2. Is Gonzaga’s COML program accredited?

Yes, Gonzaga is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Schools
(NWCCS). Gonzaga is also a member of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.

3. How many students are typically in an online course?

Typically 15-20 students are in a course, which is often split into smaller discussion groups.
Class sizes are kept small to allow professors more one-on-one time with individual students.

4. Who will be teaching my classes?

Every class is designed by our Gonzaga faculty. Most classes are taught by faculty who have
a PhD in the field of Communication & Leadership or have an M.A. degree and have achieved
eminence as a practitioner of communication.

5. What type of support services will I receive?

Online and on-campus students have access to all of Gonzaga’s resources including Foley
Library, IT Help Desk, the Career Center, Grad Student Association, and University Ministry.
We are all here to help you succeed.

The Student Services team is available 7 days a week to answer your questions and to
connect you to the resources you need. They can be reached at 1.866.380.5323 or online.
gonzaga.edu/student-resource-center. You will also be assigned a faculty advisor to help
guide you with your academic goals.

6. How long does it take to complete the program?

A graduate student taking six credits per semester (one course per eight-week session each
semester) can complete the program in 2 years. If you are able to add additional credits in
any given period, you can accelerate your graduation.

If you have taken graduate level courses previously, but have not yet completed a graduate

13 degree, you may be able to transfer those credits into the program.

Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQ’s) continued

7. Can I transfer credits into the program?

Graduate students may transfer credits into their program with the approval of their Program
Chair, the Dean of the student’s program, and the Registrar’s Office. A maximum of 1/5 of
program credits (usually 6 semester credits for graduates) may be transferred.

Coursework must be distinctively graduate level by the transfer institution and must have
been taken within the last five years. A minimum grade of a B (P grades must be defined
as B or better) must be earned. Courses previously applied to a completed degree are not
transferable to the student’s current program. It is important to note that all credits are
converted to semester credits and are awarded after signatures have been obtained.

8. Do online and on-campus courses have the same content?

Students who complete the work for an 8-week course in the online environment are
required to accomplish the same type and amount of work that they would have been
required to complete for a traditional 16-week course. Both the 8-week and 16-week courses
are three graduate semester credits.

9. Do online students have to travel to campus?

Yes, all students are required to take COML 517 on campus at Gonzaga University. The
COML program is founded on the the principle that the best learning is experiential and
occurs in the context of community. Students tell us this time spent on campus among
fellow students is the one of the highlights of their graduate experience.

10. How much time is required per week to be successful in the COML
program?

This will vary depending on the courses you are taking, your learning style, and your course
load. However, most students dedicate approximately 10-15 hours per week towards
coursework. This may fluctuate up or down. During a week with a major paper or project due,
students may spend more time on coursework than other weeks.

11. How do I purchase my textbooks and other course materials?

There are two options for you to purchase course materials.

Zagshop at www.zag.bkstr.com

• Please note: videos are not available through the Zagshop. Any video course
requirements will need to be purchased through Amazon, Netflix or the like).

Online Retailers

• These include Amazon, textbook.com, and half.com.

12. Is an online degree from Gonzaga the same as a campus degree?

Whether you pursue your degree as a campus-based student or as an online student, your
final degree will be from Gonzaga University. It will read “Master of Arts in Communication
and Leadership Studies” from Gonzaga University.

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Contact & Information
Resources

COMMUNICATION & LEADERSHIP STUDIES
ADMISSIONS

Please Contact:
Phone: 866-380-5323
Email: [email protected]
Virtual Campus Admissions
502 E. Boone Ave.
Spokane, WA 99258-0068
online.gonzaga.edu

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