Graduate students work closely with faculty advisors and fellow student scholars to develop their research and teaching skills in a collaborative environment. Interpersonal Communication involves the study of both the processes and effects of social interaction, usually in face-to-face situations. Both verbal and nonverbal behaviors are studied in laboratory and naturalistic contexts. Cognitions, emotions, and discourse patterns occurring during conflict, lying, and persuasion are some of the factors commonly studied. Communication in health-related contexts as well as personal and family relationships are two important contexts in which theories are applied. The graduate internship required by the Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public Relations is meant to enhance the classroom education with practical, applied experience in the real world. This course is only available to graduate level students who have met the prerequisites (consult with your academic advisor).<br>The Rhetoric, Language and Political Communication (RLP) area focuses on how human symbols affect social and political change. Although rhetoric has been a popular area of study since antiquity, the Department focuses on such contemporary matters as political campaigning, culture and communication, social movement rhetoric, ethics and persuasion, the nature of public argument, discourse and knowledge, the formation of language communities, cognitive linguistics, etc. These matters are treated in three distinct sub-areas: (1) Rhetorical Theory and Criticism, focusing on how public discourse is conceived and executed, with special attention to the analysis of persuasive and cultural texts, (2) Political Communication, examination of how political leaders and the mass media change public opinion and fashion legislative policy, and (3) Semiotic Studies offers training in the naturalistic study of human symbol systems and consideration of how linguistic and gestural behaviors affect everyday social interaction.