Thesis track students complete 24 credits of course work (usually eight courses) and write a master鈥檚 thesis worth 6 credits which demonstrates their ability to do original scholarly work and carry out in-depth research on a topic of interest to them.

Recent Professional Projects

2020

Barelli, Ryan 鈥淪trange Witness: Again & Again.鈥

Becerra, Sebastian 鈥淓viction and Housing Lessons Learned- Milwaukee, WI.鈥

Byrne, Jennifer 鈥淣ear West Side Partners 2020 Housing Strategy.鈥

Calvert, Kathryn 鈥淔inancial Literacy: a Lack of Education and an Opportunity for Growth.鈥

Duck, Cassandra 鈥滶lKay Interior Systems: Customer Service/Internship Program Initiative.鈥

Hendricks, Michael 鈥淚nterrogation of Conceptions of Reality and Self Conducted through Symbolic Interaction Within an Original Fiction Novel.鈥

Henry, Douglas 鈥淎 multimedia project consisting of three podcasts and a website detailing the varying expressions of immigrants to the United States.鈥

Jaeger, Brianna 鈥溝蛉湛悠礖onors Program: Social Media Plan.鈥

Kowalik, Eric :Measuring Readers Flow State with a High Medium Interactivity Outline News Story.鈥

Liu, Xiao 鈥淗elping develop a healthy rental environment in the Lindsay Heights neighborhood of Milwaukee.鈥

Mcfaul, Jordan 鈥淟iving with Invisible Disability: Interability Communication and the Powers of Awareness.鈥

McLaren, Elizabeth 鈥淐omprehensive context marketing strategy and plan for Bridge the City.鈥

McNett, Erin 鈥淐reating a website for a nonprofit organization that focuses on film and video education in Milwaukee.鈥

Navone, Jaqueline 鈥淩efined E-Commerce Website.鈥

Rosenwald, Faith 鈥淪trategic Communication Is Essential to Business Functions.鈥

Stevens, Benjamin 鈥淚nternal Audit of Safe & Sound Inc鈥檚 training practices for new employees.鈥

Van Groll, Madeline 鈥淯sing a donor loyalty program to increase retention rate of annual doors.鈥

Vineburg, Isaac 鈥漅ailroads and the Holocaust: Communication in Museum Settings.鈥

Vonderhaar, Elizabeth 鈥淢ulti-media journalism piece about the narratives surrounding mothers as perpetrators and what it says about Feminism.鈥

Winkler, Mallory 鈥淭he Art of Exploring.鈥

2019

Clancy, Victoria 鈥 Hope Center Fundraising Gala.鈥

Di Giacinto, Robyn 鈥淐ura Personalis: A Prom Story.鈥

Edgin, Kayley 鈥淐ontent Market Strategy Prepared for Wisconsin 4 Troops.鈥

Lisowski, Mark 鈥淏oom or Bust: What lies ahead for Milwaukee Freshwater Management.鈥

Noonan, Clifford 鈥淩idgewater and Protection Motivation Theory.鈥

Olson, Laura 鈥淎n External Communication Audit of Shorewood Public Library.鈥

Riddle, Malik  鈥淕rey Sheep.鈥

Saunders, Lucy 鈥淒igital Communications of Green Infrastructure in Outdoor Dining Design.鈥

Schram, Robert 鈥淯sing Comedy to Promote Milwaukee as (a) Tourist Destination.鈥

Yanke, Colleen 鈥淩eading, Writing and Censorship: A Podcast Exploring the Debate on House Bill 989.鈥

2018

Anjeh, Victoria  鈥淧OV of POC: Analyzing Inclusion and Diversity Efforts from the Point of View of People of Color.鈥

Atsalis, Alexandra 鈥淭he Power of One: An Advertising Campaign Aimed at Encouraging Gen Z to Vote.鈥

Blashe, Sean 鈥淪triving for Stability: How States Report Student Mobility and Its Effects on Learning Environments.鈥

Dombrowski, Diana 鈥淩ace in Milwaukee.鈥

Fischer, Benjamin 鈥溝蛉湛悠礐entral Communication Audit.鈥

Healy, Patricia (Patsy) 鈥溝蛉湛悠礐ore Curriculum Mockup Webpage.鈥

Johnson, Paul  鈥淢t. Bohemia Advertising Campaign.鈥

Klapps, Alisha 鈥淪trategic Communications for Dominican Center.鈥

Lee, Brynn 鈥淢arketing Campaign for Xercor Insurance Services.鈥

Robinson, Curtesia 鈥淎nalytics Guidebook: Using Analytics to Communicate Data.鈥

Schram, Laura 鈥淩ecruiting the 向日葵视频 Transfer Student Through the Art of Digital Storytelling.鈥

Theim, Shannon 鈥淎nnual Event Series Plan to Bolster and Support Strategic Communication.鈥

2017

Butler, Margaret (Maggie) 鈥淩edesign of Marketing and Communication Pages on Children's Connect Intranet.鈥

Claussen, Allison 鈥淕reen Marketing and Stakeholder Perception.鈥

Gorchynsky, Christiana 鈥淎 Content Marketing Strategy for the O'Brien Fellowship in Public Service Journalism.鈥

Habisohn, Angela 鈥淔rom the Newsroom to the Academy: A Guide to Life as an O'Brien Fellow.鈥

Knoepfle, Tracey 鈥淗elp the Students by Helping Us: 向日葵视频Career Center  Faculty Engagement Event.鈥

Melendrez, Stephanie 鈥淔ulfilling Jesuit Values Through an HSI Initiative.鈥

Michaelsen, Alyssa 鈥淒ivided Divisions: The Implementation of Company Intranet to Unify Kohler Company.鈥

Rosean, Anne 鈥淐reating an eBook for Entry-Level Marketing & Communication Associates.鈥

Torruco, Enrique 鈥溝蛉湛悠's Hispanic Initiative.鈥

Ward, Kevin 鈥淧utting the Traveler on the Map: Evaluating Consumer and Industry Trends of the Travel & Tourism Industry.鈥

Waxman, Naomi 鈥淐ompassionate Coverage: Reporting on Barriers in Reproductive Health Care for Women of Color.鈥

Yang, Yiren 鈥 Caring for Older People.鈥

2016

Baker, Elizabeth 鈥淲omen of Color and Low Income in Milwaukee Say 鈥Me Too鈥: A Series of Journalistic Feature Articles 向日葵视频 the #MeToo Movement Published by the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.鈥

Bevenue, Marlita 鈥Marlita Media Services, Inc. Content Marketing Plan and Business Model.鈥

Recent Master's Theses

2020

Devereux, Sarah 鈥淣ot a stranger or friend: the third type of self-disclosure.鈥

Yang, Yin 鈥淓xtending the Theory of Planned Behavior with Ego-Network Social Capital to Examine Chinese Women鈥檚 Tampon Use Intentions.鈥

2019

Bouzek, Dalton 鈥淓ffects of News Consumption on Political Partisanship Identity and Issue Stances.鈥

Harty, Reece 鈥淔aculty & Staff perceptions of inclusive policies around transgender identities (bathrooms, healthcare, etc.) at higher educational institutions.鈥

Kaupe, Meaghan 鈥淧ulling off the mask of loneliness: Examining caregivers experiences with loneliness and communication in computer-mediated forums.鈥

MacSwain, Chandler  鈥淪IDE Effects of Self-Disclosure Discussions: The Impact and Interaction of Deductive and Inductive Routes to Identity.鈥

Mazzeo, Christina 鈥淣eutral Reportage Privileges: The Libel Defense Needed in a Struggling Democracy.鈥

Peppers, Michael 鈥淔air or Foul in the Baseball Hall of Fame: Analyzing rhetoric of sportswriters.鈥

Reese, Caroline 鈥淪ensemaking and identity in complementary alternative medicine: Communication study on Reiki,鈥

2018

Cigelske, Tim 鈥淭he Highest Form of Like: Snapchat, College Students and Hyperpersonal Communication.鈥

Grace, Julie 鈥  Examining the Political Motivations of Christian Women During the 2016 Presidential Election.鈥

Italiano, Rachel 鈥淭he Effects of Spiral of Silence Theory on Perceptions of Police Use of Force.鈥

Kroll, Carly 鈥 Communicating Augmented Reality Devices Training Electric Utility Field Workers.鈥

Krysik, Ashley 鈥淐rowdfunding and Non-Profit Charities: Crafting legitimate Profiles.鈥

Kutka, Amy 鈥 An Analysis of the Association Between Dialogue, Rhetoric and Engagement in President Trump鈥檚 First 100 Days on Twitter.鈥

Schneider, Erika 鈥淗ow and Where to Respond? Testing the Effective Use of the Base Crisis Response in the Different Media Contexts.鈥

Wacker, Mary 鈥淭he Other Half: Women's Voices in New Journalism: an analysis of three writers Broadening the Focus and the New Journalism.鈥

Yan, Yumin 鈥淔acebook and WeChat: Chinese International student鈥檚 social media usage and how it influences their intercultural adaptation.鈥

2017

Ding, Jieyu (Jade) 鈥淪ex Acculturation and Risk Perception.鈥

Erickson, Daniel 鈥淐orporate Social responsibility in Sports: Efforts and Communication.鈥

Hansen, Matthew 鈥淐ultivating Change: A Study Involving the Relationship Between Organizational Culture, Leadership Style and Communication Style with Organizational Change.鈥

Hutchins, Darvelle 鈥淟et My People In: A Comparative Study of Diversity Rhetoric to Reality in Institutions of Higher Education.鈥

Powers, Courtney 鈥淭he Impact of Cybervetting on Job Seekers Social Media Use and Identity Creation.鈥

Reit, Rachel 鈥 The Influence of the Military's Masculine Culture on Service Members' Help Searching Behaviors.鈥

Sloan, Katie 鈥淪ophisticated Approach to Complex Analysis Applied Theory of Planned behavior to New Context.鈥

Soley, Theresa   鈥淐an Big Whales Inspire Big Behaviors? A study of environmental communication and nature immersion.鈥

Wisla, Matthew 鈥淎n Investigation into the Teaching of International Public Relations to Undergraduates.鈥

Yang, Shiyu 鈥淟inking Heuristic Systematic Processing in Adoption of Behavior.鈥

2016

De Rose, Danielle  "Baby Dust to All!!!" Identity Construction in the Two-Week Wait Online Discussion Forums.鈥

Miller, Katharine  鈥淚nside the Halls and Walls: Exploring CSR from the Employees Perspective.鈥

Trisler, Bree 鈥淢aking an Audience: An Analysis of Making a Murderer.鈥

2015

Brown, Enrique (Rick): 鈥淪lipping into darkness : an ideological critique of racial inequality coverage in Milwaukee newspapers, 2010-2014.鈥

Li, (Ms) Shiyao: 鈥淩isk Information and Processing 向日葵视频 HPV Among Chinese Female Students in the United States.鈥

Michel, Angela (Angie) R.:鈥 Slim truth: a textual and autoethnographic analysis of celebrity eating disorder coverage in People magazine."

Parker, Kayla M.: 鈥淔ree to inform: a study of influences on newswork at a National Public Radio station.鈥

Taylor, Andrew G.: 鈥淐onnecting the dots: issues of organizational identity among training and development professionals.鈥

Voboril, Alyssa J.: 鈥Motivation MealPrep, Inc. 鈥 a start up company to combat the Wisconsin obesity epidemic. A business model, content marketing strategy and meal prep delivery plan.鈥

2014

Deng, (Mr) Tao (Tony): 鈥淪elling "Kawaii" in Advertising: Testing Cross-Cultural Perceptions of Kawaii Appeals.鈥

Kirton, (Ms) Nkenge: 鈥淚mproving the Effectiveness of Print Advertising Copy Using the Theory of Planned Behavior as a Guide.鈥

Torres, David H.: 鈥淚dentification and identity building in/by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).鈥

2013

Garbutt, Cassidy F.: 鈥淪kinny Secrets: Promoting the "Less Is More" Ideology in Women's Diet Books.鈥

Henrichs, Barry: 鈥淧sychological Safety as a Mediator of Relational Coordination in Interdisciplinary Hospital Care Units.鈥

Hill, Kyle C.: 鈥淯sing a Modified Heuristic-Systematic Model to Characterize Information Seeking on the Internet.鈥

Lu, (Mr) Hang: 鈥淏urgers or Tofu? Eating Between Two Worlds: Risk Information Seeking and Processing During Dietary Acculturation.鈥

Johnson, Patrick R.: 鈥淭he Impurity Truth: How Popular Media Taught Millennial Males To Get Laid And "Do It" As Early As Possible.鈥

Swenson, Angela E.: 鈥淔ollow me: a network analysis of 向日葵视频's Twitter network."

2012

Berg, Allison C. 鈥淗ow I Was Saved: Christian Conversion Narratives in Contemporary Society.鈥

Brinker, David L. 鈥淚nvestigating Predictors of Preferences for Deliberative Qualities in Political Conversation.鈥

Calhoun, Gregory J. 鈥淪eeking Safety? Applying the Risk Information Seeking and Processing Model to the Risk of Sexual Aggression on a College Campus.鈥

Collette, Ashley K. 鈥淩eclaiming 鈥榁ictim鈥 Through Untold Stories: An Analysis of the Personal Stories of Women Who Survived Violence.鈥

Kempka, Daria L. 鈥淰isual Resistance: How do Creative Activists use Visual Rhetoric to Challenge Brand Messages?鈥

Lavin, Katherine M. 鈥淢othering Wars? Unpacking a Contested Term.鈥

Moore, Colleen C. 鈥淓xploring the Social Entrepreneur鈥檚 Impact on Constructing Organizational Identity.鈥

Moyer, Caitlin M. 鈥淩elationship of Facebook Usage to Team Identifications.鈥

Pilak, Nora B. 鈥淐ultivating & Retaining Volunteers: An Analysis of Volunteer Identification in Nonprofit Organizations.鈥

Reeves, Kira-Lynn 鈥淢anna from the Glossy Pulpit: Food Advertising and Editorial Advice in Women鈥檚 Magazines.鈥

2011

Knoespel, Rachel. 鈥淗ow Did Toyota Stay on Top? Revisiting Crisis Communication Discourse.鈥

Kretz, Valerie. "Perceived Reality of Magazine Images of Women: A New Scale."

Stageman, Amanda. "Consulting Social Media in the College Decision-Making Process: Experiential Accounts of the Class of 2014."

Bao, Jingyu. "Assessing the Potential Effectiveness of Environmental Advertising: the Influence of Ecological Concern and Ad Type on Systematic Information Gathering."

2010

Hansch, Julia A. 鈥淓ffects of Parental Divorce on Uncertainty Following Initial Communication with a Romantic Partner.鈥

Valentine, Valerie. 鈥淎 Narrative Analysis of Climate Change Coverage in the New York Times, 1988-2008: Social Responsibility and Weight of Evidence Reporting.鈥

Atkinson, Kari R. 鈥淐onstantly Connected: A Case Study on the Impact of BlackBerry Phones on Corporate Communication.鈥

Greenwood, Molly. 鈥淎 Different Kind of Inter-Media Agenda Setting: How Campaign Ads Influenced the Blogosphere in the 鈥08 Election.鈥

Thomas, Ruby M. 鈥淢agazines and the Internet: Translating Cover Stories from Print to Web.鈥

2008 

Buckley, Tyler J. 鈥淐ommunication That Is Truly Deep:A Rhetorical Discussion of Sailor Jerry鈥檚 Tattoo Flash Designs.鈥

Joseph Antony, Pradeep T. 鈥淵ouTube Ads: An Issue Ownership Study of the 2008 Presidential Primary Campaign.鈥

Shebesta, Kristin A. "The Influence of Family Communication on Students鈥 Communication Apprehension in the Academic Advising Relationship."

Venger, Olesya V. "Advergaming for Social ad Political Causes: Activating the Public Through Online Videogames."

2007

Kennedy, Elizabeth A. "Understanding Media Frames: A Frame Analysis of Rape Coverage in Major Metropolitan Daily Newspapers."

McMillen, Jeanine T. "What Do you Want to Be When You Grow Up? A Discursive Analysis of Career Socialization and Decision Making."

2006

Boerner, Franziska U. "International Students' Risk Perception, Seeking and Processing of Avian Flu Related Information."

Christopher, Stephanie A. "The Impact of Medical Providers' Religiosity on their Willingness to Relinquish Relational Control in Conversations with Patients about End-of-Life Care."

Darrah, Teresa L. "A Secondary Analysis of Renewable Energy Data Using Information and Processing Model and the Knowledge Gap Model."

Ortiz, Sherry L. "Risk Perceptions of Dental Radiation and What Prompts People to Ask 向日葵视频 Risks."

2005

Inman, Kenneth (Alex). "The Effect of the Information Sufficiency Gap on Cognitive Work in a Web-Based, Process-Oriented Learning Environment."

Kirk, Andrew J. "An Examination of Message Variation in Cigarette Advertisements Aimed at Caucasian and African-American Women."

Lewander, Nancy K. "A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Intranet Use in a Multinational Organization."

Li, (Ms) Dan. "Why Do You Blog: A Uses-and-Gratification Inquiry into Blogger's Motivations."

Salucka, Jeremy S. "Dancing with Dissonance: Organizational Communication at a Women's Substance-Abuse Treatment Agency."

Sargent, N. Hale. "Asylum and Sexual Orientation: Experiences and Beliefs."

Yang, (Ms) Zheng (Janet). "Effects of Ethnic Communication on Chinese Student's Acculturation Process."

Ye, (Ms) Jianjie (Sarah). "Attitude Accessibility: Moderating Country-of-Origin Effects."

2004

Leick, Jaime. "Where's the Story? An Analysis of Human Service Experience with the Media Towards an Understanding of Social Issue News."

Lor, Mary L. "Hmong Communication Values Scale: Development, Reliability and Validity."

Park, Jin Seong. "Framing Analysis of Pfizer's Strategies to Manage Public Affairs Policy Issues Regarding Direct-to-Consumer Advertising."

Trumble, Amy. "Quality of Newspaper Coverage: A Qualitative Case Study of Competitive vs. Non-competitive Newspaper Coverage."

2003

Groshek, C. Jacob. "Analyzing Media Coverage of the Case for War with Iraq: A Study of News Frames and Indexing from September 27 to October 25, 2002."

McAvoy, Heather. "Empty Words or Inspiring Prose: Exploring Organizational Mission Statements and Organizational Identification."

Okonji, Anthony Obiero. "The Role of Satellite Radio in Bridging the Digital Divide: A Case Study of Worldspace Foundation Projects in Africa."

2002

Ambikar, Rucha. "Negotiating Identity: Exploring Communication and Cultural Values in Mississippi Masala."

Crisp, Elizabeth A. "A Comparative Study of Mother-Daughter Communication in Two Asian Cultures: A Daughter's Perspective."

Seelman, Pamela. "Keeping the Gate: An Evaluation of Agent's Use of Cooperative Extension Press Releases."

2001

Alessi, Simona. "The Treatment by Corriere Della Sera of JFK: An Analysis of an Italian News Media Perspective on the Kennedy Presidency."

Mueller, Tom. "Using the Elaboration Likelihood Model to Assess Retirement Financial Preparation: Public Relations Implications."

Nichols, Mark A. "The Effects of Televised Professional Wrestling on Children's Levels of Aggression."

Penington, Barbara A. "The Mother-Adolescent Daughter Relationship: Experience, Communication, and Ethnicity."

Stockwell, Tracy A. "Decentering Whiteness Within Public Discourse: A Critical Framework."