Mass Communications (COMM) Undergraduate Course Descriptions
+COMM 146. American Television and Cultural Diversity (Diversity/MGM)
The relationship between TV and society focusing on how American TV treats society's various cultures. 3 Cr. F, S.
+COMM 220. Introduction to Mass Communication
History, nature, functions and criticisms of mass media and their role in society. 3 Cr. F, S, SUM.
COMM 221. Writing in Mass Communications
Composition relating to skills in the formats, styles and practices of writing for the mass media. Prereq.: 220; department typing certificate. 3 Cr. DEMAND.
COMM 222. Grammar for Media Writers
Basic writing skills required of professional communicators and an introduction to the fields within mass communications. 1 Cr. F, S.
COMM 230. Video Editing
Introductory video photography. Linear and non-linear editing techniques. 1 Cr. F, S, SUM.
COMM 241. Modern Journalism: Cardinal Principles and New Media Writing
Explores traditional and contemporary convergence, working journalistic principles and philosophies. Journalism tools of writing text, using audio and visual methods. Prereq.: 230, IM 260. 4 Cr. F, S.
COMM 270. Introduction to Radio
Design and production of audio materials for broadcast and non-broadcast applications. History of radio and program types. Theory and practices in production techniques. Lab. Prereq.: 220. 4 Cr. F.
COMM 272. Broadcast News Writing
Basic news gathering, writing, interviewing and editing techniques for radio and TV news. Legal and ethical considerations. Prereq.: 220. 4 Cr. F, S.
+COMM 274. Documentary Study: Issues
Study and criticism of documentary movements and issues including ethical issues. Evaluating a series of documentaries on one subject or time period. May be repeated with different topics. 3 Cr. DEMAND.
+COMM 275. Documentaries of the Holocaust (Diversity/MGM)
Study, criticism and analysis of the Holocaust documentary from a historical and analytical basis. 3 Cr. F, S.
COMM 277. Visual Grammer: Writing for Video Production
Visual grammar and literacy. Theoretical and applied foundation of visual writing. Analysis of image and work structural relationships. Applied video projects. Lab. Prereq.: 220. 4 Cr. F, S.
COMM 278. TV Production for Advertising/Public Relations
Use of basic television facilities and techniques for advertising and public relations. Introduction to television theory and practice. Lab. Prereq.: 220. 3 Cr. SUM.
COMM 333. Broadcast Announcing
Voice techniques involved in radio and television verbal delivery. Prereq.: 220. 3 Cr. F, S.
COMM 336. Studio Photography
Large format project work in photographic studio. Advertising, illustration and fashion photography. Design and lighting. Lab. Prereq.: 230. 4 Cr. S, ALT.
COMM 340. Public Affairs Reporting
Government and business reporting, investigative techniques and research. Advanced problem solving in news and feature writing. Computer-assisted reporting. Prereq.: 240. 4 Cr. S.
COMM 346. Photojournalism
Planning and taking photographs for the mass media. Basic types of equipment. Developing, printmaking and other darkroom processes. Digital scanning. Prereq.: 236. 4 Cr. F, ALT.
COMM 350. Editing and Makeup
News selection, copyediting, headline writing, illustrations, makeup and design for print media. Lab. Prereq.: 241, IM 260. 4 Cr. S.
COMM 352. Advertising/PR Layout, Design and Editing
Public relations layout, design, typography and editing. Technical skills for layout assignments and projects. Lab. Prereq.: 220, IM 260. 4 Cr. F, S.
COMM 373. Broadcast Documentaries Theory and Criticism
Theory, ethics techniques and influences of the radio, television and film documentary. Prereq.: 277. 3 Cr. F, S.
COMM 374. Lighting for TV/Film
Study of television and film lighting used in the studio and on location. Emphasis upon the practical application of lighting theory. Prereq.: 277. 3 Cr. DEMAND.
COMM 375. Commercial Writing for Radio and Television
Writing commercials for radio and TV. Scripting techniques for the broadcast commercial. Prereq.: 277 or 278. 3 Cr. DEMAND.
COMM 376. Workshop: Television Editing and Production
Studio and location production. Editing of news and public affairs programming. Lab. Prereq.: 241. 3 Cr. SUM.
COMM 377. Introduction to Video Production
Theoretical and applied foundation of video production from commercial and non-commercial perspectives. Complete process of proposal, treatment, script writing, and final video production. Lab. Prereq.: 220, 277. 4 Cr. F, S.
COMM 378. Television Reporting and Editing
Writing, reporting and editing television news reports. Ethics in broadcast journalism. Lab. Prereq.: 230, 241. 4 Cr. F.
COMM 379. TV News Production
Professional experience in all aspects of TV newscast production. Assignment editing, producing, news directing, satellite coordinating, tape editing, and news writing. Lab. Prereq.: 241. 4 Cr. F, S.
COMM 412. Mass Media Ethics
Classical philosophical approaches to ethics. Basic principles of ethics and their application. Cases in journalism, advertising and public relations. Current ethical issues in American and international media. Prereq.: 220. 3 Cr. S.
COMM 414. Seminar (Topical)
Lecture, readings, research and discussions on selected topics. Majors/minors only. Junior/senior standing. May be repeated with different topics. Maximum 6 Cr. 1-3 Cr. DEMAND.
COMM 418. History of the Mass Media
Historical development of the mass media. Overview of periods influencing the structures and functions of contemporary mass media systems. Prereq.: 220. 3 Cr. F.
COMM 444. Internship in Mass Communications
Department approved and directed field experience with approved mass media agency. Learning contract required. Prereq.: 220. 1-3 Cr. DEMAND.
COMM 478. Workshop: Television Journalism and Production
Producing news programs. Ethical issues in news. Public service announcement production. Prereq.: 277 or 378. 3 Cr. SUM.
Mass Communications (COMM) Courses for Advanced Undergraduate and Graduate Students
COMM 402/502. Theory and Principles of Mass Media Advertising
Strategic research, marketing strategy, media strategy and creative strategy. Theoretical understanding and practical application. Graduate students do an additional paper or project. Lab. Prereq.: 352 or permission of instructor. 4 Cr. F, S.
COMM 403/503. Advertising Creatives
Creative elements of advertising copywriting, advertising research, advertising layout and design, and development of creative advertising messages. Graduate students do an additional paper or project. Lab. Prereq.: 220 or permission of instructor. 4 Cr. F, S.
COMM 416/516. Critical Analysis of Media
Commercial mass media and alternative press in a global context; the ways media reinforce or challenge dominant or non-dominant paradigms. Class, gender, race, disability. Media investigation skills basic to democracy. Graduate students do an additional paper or project. Prereq.: 220 or permission of instructor. 3 Cr. F.
COMM 420/520. Mass Media and Society
Functions and impacts of mass media on contemporary society. Media content and performance. Media studies and mass communications theories. Prereq.: 15 Cr. in major courses. 3 Cr. F, S.
COMM 424/524. Seminar in Public Opinion and Communication Research
Role of public opinion as a feedback mechanism for assessing the issues and concerns facing citizens in a democracy and firms relying upon commercial speech. 3 Cr. DEMAND.
COMM 425/525. The Press and Government
Examination of the interaction between the news media and the government, with particular emphasis on the press playing a watchdog function and adversary to government. Graduate students do an additional paper or project. Prereq.: 220 or permission of instructor. 3 Cr. DEMAND.
COMM 430/530. International Mass Communication
The free flow of information, media freedom and national development. Role of international organizations in shaping global journalism. Graduate students do an additional paper or project. Prereq.: 220 or permission of instructor. 3 Cr. S.
COMM 431/531. World Media Systems
Structures, processes, functions of media systems around the world. Local socio-political environments as determinants of media systems. Graduate students do an additional paper or project. Prereq.: 220 or permission of instructor. 3 Cr. DEMAND.
COMM 432/532. Communication Research
Strategies, methods and resources used in mass media research. Special emphasis on research as a tool in advertising, broadcasting, news editorial and public relations. Graduate students do an additional paper or project. Prereq.: 220 or permission of instructor. 3 Cr. F.
COMM 434/534. Theories and Principles of Public Relations
Basic technique of public relations, research, planning, communication and evaluation. Theories underlying public relations. Current trends and issues in PR. Graduate students do an additional paper or project. Lab. Prereq.: 220 or permission of instructor. 4 Cr. F, S.
COMM 436/536. Public Relations Writing
Development of professional-level writing skills for beginning public relations practitioners. Approaches for particular audiences and media. Prereq.: 434 or 534. 4 Cr. F, S, SUM.
COMM 438/538. Public Relations Cases and Campaigns
Public relations campaigns, with special attention to case studies dealing with various public relations issues and problems. Lab. Prereq.: 436 or permission of instructor. 4 Cr. F, S.
COMM 443/543. Teaching Mass Communications and Advising School Publications
Theories, methods, materials and curriculum development for teaching mass communications. Literature review. Role of faculty adviser; trends and problems. Graduate students do an additional paper or project. Arranged. Prereq.: 220 or permission of instructor. 3 Cr.
COMM 445/545. Advanced Photojournalism
Photojournalistic production for newspapers, magazines, company publications and TV history, theory, trends, ethics, composition, digital processing. Prereq.: 346 or consent of instructor. 4 Cr. S, ALT.
COMM 450/550. Advanced Editing and Makeup
Format, makeup and typography of print publications with emphasis on traditional quality and current trends. Computer design. Prereq.: 350. 3 Cr. DEMAND.
COMM 451/551. Audio Production
Production of educational and commercial radio programs. Broadcast theory. Multi-channel applications. Lab. Prereq.: 270 or permission of instructor. 4 Cr. S.
COMM 454/554. Specialty Reporting and Feature Writing
Techniques of specialty reporting. Students choose semester-long beats. Project development and implementation plus lead writing, process-centered story ideas, interviewing and research. Prereq.: 241 or permission of instructor. 3 Cr. F, ALT.
COMM 455/555. Editorial Writing
Principles of persuasion and rhetoric. Personal columns, critical reviews, letters to the editor, design and other materials of the editorial page. Prereq.: 240 or permission of instructor. 3 Cr. F, ALT.
COMM 456/556. Sportswriting and Broadcasting
Reporting, writing, editing and broadcasting news of sports and recreation. News feature reporting and coverage of issues from prep to pro. Prereq.: 241 or 277 or permission of instructor. 4 Cr. S, SUM, ALT.
COMM 460/560. Media Law and Ethics for Journalism
First Amendment foundation, broadcast regulation, media ethics and diversity in historical, theoretical and practical contexts. Prereq.: 220 or permission of instructor. 3 Cr. F, S.
COMM 461/561. Media Law and Ethics for Promotional Communicators
First Amendment foundation, broadcast regulation with an emphasis on state and federal advertising regulation, copyright, media ethics and diversity in historical, theoretical and practical contexts. Prereq.: 220 or permission of instructor. 3 Cr. F, S.
COMM 468/568. Psychology of Advertising
Concepts and theories from behavioral sciences. Their use for developing advertising campaigns and programs. Interpersonal and mass communication influences on consumer behavior. Graduate students do an additional paper or project. Graduate students do an additional paper or project. Prereq.: 220, 402 or permission of instructor. 3 Cr. ALT.
COMM 470/570. Modern Communication Technology
Uses and Influences. Examination of the communications industry and its constituents in the light of recent developments in telecommunications technology. 3 Cr. DEMAND.
COMM 471/571. Advertising/Public Relations Research
Advertising and public relations research methods. Quantitative and qualitative research methods. Use of the computer in data analysis. Graduate students do an additional paper or project. Prereq.: 220 or permission of instructor. 3 Cr. F, S.
COMM 473/573. Documentary Production
Analysis, research and topic selection. Organization, scripting and pre-production and final production. Prereq.: 373 or permission of instructor. 3 Cr. S.
COMM 476/576. Television Production
Studio and field television production, planning, producing and editing. Creative, technical, aesthetic principles, strategies and processes. Lab. Prereq.: 377 or permission of instructor. 4 Cr. F.
COMM 477/577. Advanced Television Production
Producing and directing television programs and multicamera studio productions, aesthetic principles, strategies and processes of TV production in the studio and remote locations. Prereq.: 476. 4 Cr. S.
COMM 479/579. Public Affairs Reporting
Public affairs, reporting, camera and editing. In-depth and specialization. News ethics in broadcast journalism. Lab. Prereq.: 378 or permission of instructor. 4 Cr. S.
COMM 485/585. Cases in Advertising/Communications Management
Communications decision making, planning, and implementing. Evaluating strategies and tactics. Prereq.: 402. 3 Cr. DEMAND.
COMM 486/586. Advertising Campaigns
Developing advertising strategies. Present, write and defend complex strategic decisions. Lab. Prereq.: 471 or permission of instructor. 4 Cr. S.
COMM 489/589. Mass Media Advertising Production
Planning, design, executions and placement of new media advertising. New Media theory, research, strategies, and tactics. Prereq.: 403 or permission of instructor. 3 Cr. F, S.
COMM 490/590. Television Advertising Production
Studio and location production of various types of TV advertising. Methods of TV advertising. Prereq.: 402, 277 or 278 or permission of instructor. 3 Cr. DEMAND.
