Courses Taught

COURSES TAUGHT

My primary teaching interests are (a) Health Communication, (b) Language and Social Interaction, (c) Interpersonal Communication, and (d) Cross-Cultural Communication.

University of Oklahoma 2004-present	Comm 5810: Seminar: Communicating Identities in Health and Illness This seminar examines diverse theoretical and methodological approaches to understanding the interrelationships among communication, identity/self, and health/illness. Although there is an emphasis on the social processes of enacting identity in face-to-face interactions, we also sample theories with a more social cognitive emphasis and issues related to mass media communication. The class is designed to assist students in comparing and contrasting different conceptualizations, theories, and methods by examining a wide variety of issues so that the students can make informed choices about theory and method in their own research.
	Comm 5313: Qualitative Research Methods This course concerns the range of qualitative empirical methods employed in the social sciences, especially communication. Sample methods covered in this class include ethnography of communication, participant observation, various types of interviews, grounded theory, and ethical issues.
	Comm 5263: Health Communication This seminar examines diverse theoretical and methodological approaches to health communication. More specifically, we examine how the three major subfields in health communication (i.e., interpersonal communication, organizational communication, and campaign research) contribute to the development of health communication as a field of research. We also explore how other disciplines (e.g., sociology, anthropology, and public health) complement communication research in both its theoretical development and practical implications. The class is designed to assist students in comparing and contrasting different conceptualizations, theories, and methods by examining a wide variety of issues so that the students in various subfields of communication can develop their health-related research program. [scheduled Spring, 2010]
	Comm 5252: Cross-Cultural Communication: Theory and Research This course examines communication variables as they function in varied cultures and subcultures. Three general objectives govern this course: (a) to increase awareness of one's strengths and weakness when functioning in a cross-cultural setting, (b) to study the reciprocal relationship of communication and culture, and (c) to examine the problems of communication research in a cross cultural context and to develop guidelines to help overcome these obstacles. The specific communicative contexts and settings that are covered in this class include: conflicts, business, health and illness, identity management, interpersonal communication, language perspectives, and nonverbal communication..
	Comm 5242: Language Perspectives of Communication This course examines a number of perspectives that see language (a) as connected to culture and communication and (b) as a resource for and a product of the construction of the communicative contexts. Sample theories covered in this class include: language and identity, rhetorical and cultural perspectives of language and social interaction, speech act theory, implicatures, cross-cultural speech acts, conversation analysis, language and social reality, pragmatic and performative use of language, language ideologies, and methodological problems in language studies.
	Comm 5212: Interpersonal Communication This course takes a detailed look at specific theories within the sphere of interpersonal and relational communication. This course explores various theoretical approaches including a range of socio-emotional, nonverbal, socio-linguistic theories in understanding human interaction in close interpersonal relationships and examine interpersonal communication in various contexts (e.g., family relationships, romantic relationships, and other applied settings). This course examines the history and rich findings of interpersonal-related issues as well as critical reflections about the current status and future directions of interpersonal communication.
	Comm 4413: Issues in Health Communication This is a thematic course, which focuses on in-depth, context-specific, health-related research and theories. Introduces various themes that are important in health communication, with particular focuses on interpersonal (e.g., social support, uncertainty management, provider-patient communication), cross-cultural (e.g., cross-cultural health care and illness ideology), and organizational (e.g., HMOs and risk communication) contexts.
	Comm 4153: Nonverbal Communication This course provides an overview of nonverbal communication theories and incorporates application and skill development into its curriculum. Sample topics covered in the class include the theoretical development and findings and in various nonverbal codes (e.g., proxemics, kinesics, facial/eye behaviors, etc.), male-female differences, impression management, cross-cultural communication, deception, and communication competence.
	Comm 3810: Intercultural Communication in Health Contexts This course examines the basic theories and principles of communication in intercultural and health care contexts. This course views health care settings as a rich environment that allows the students to conceptualize the different perspectives and systems of culture. This course provides an overview of health communication theories and incorporates practical applications (e.g., skill development) into its curriculum. Sample topics covered in the class include: health literacy, health disparity, patient advocacy, provider-patient communication, health campaigns, minorities in health care settings, HMOs and health care policies.
	Comm 3313: Communication and Public Health This course is designed to introduce students to concepts fundamental to the understanding of human health behavior and health promotion. Describes prevalent health behavior, psychosocial, and psychological theories of behavior change used by health educators and researchers in a variety of contexts. It includes an examination of several individual-based, social-based, organization-based, and eco-social theories, including the Health Belief Model, the Theory of Planned Behavior, the Transtheoretical Model, Decision-Making, Social Support, Social Learning Theory, and Diffusion of Innovations. Knowledge of these theories should help inform the design of research and program interventions based on psycho-biological, social, cultural and organizational frameworks. In addition, students work in groups to collaborate with local communities in designing and executing a theory-driven health campaign that meets the needs of the local communities.
	Comm 2213: Interpersonal Communication This course provides an overview of interpersonal communication theories and incorporates application and skill development into its curriculum. Sample concepts covered in the class include nonverbal communication, identity, politeness theory, social support, self-disclosure, and conflict management.
	Comm 1113: Principles of Communication This course provides an overview of interpersonal interactions in everyday life and focuses on developing knowledge and skills to examine everyday interactions critically and reflectively. Sample concepts covered in the class include cross-cultural interactions, speech act theory, power and social systems, identity management, front/back regions, and uncertainty management.
University of Illinois 1999-2004	SpCom 230: Interpersonal Communication This course provides an overview of interpersonal communication theories and incorporates application and skill development into its curriculum. Sample concepts covered in the class include nonverbal communication, identity, politeness theory, social support, self-disclosure, and conflict management.
University of Illinois 1999-2004	SpCom 101: Principles of Effective Speaking This course is designed to develop oral presentation skills, including thought organization and structure, argument development, and delivery techniques.