Mass Communications (COMM) Graduate Course Descriptions
COMM 502. Theory and Principles of Mass Media Advertising.
Mass media advertising strategy, strategic research, marketing strategy, and creative strategy. Theoretical understanding and extensive practical application. Lab. Prereq.: 352 or permission from instructor. 4 credits F, S.
COMM 503. Advertising Creatives.
Creative elements of advertising copywriting, advertising research, advertising layout, and design, and the development of creative advertising messages. Graduate students do an additional paper or project. Lab. Prereq.: 220 or permission from instructor. 4 credits F, S.
COMM 504. Multi-Media Convergence and Web Design.
Theory and practices of media convergence and multi-media production. Concepts, principles, standards, and fundamentals of multi-platform production and Web design. Prereq.: 239, 352. 3 credits F.
COMM 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 from instructor. 3 credits F.
COMM 520. Mass Media and Society.
Functions and impacts of mass media on contemporary society. Media content and performance. Media studies and mass communications theories. 3 credits F, S.
COMM 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 from instructor. 3 credits DEMAND.
COMM 529. International Advertising and Public Relations.
Transnational and multicultural advertising/public relations. Development of international advertising/public relations campaigns. Graduate students do an additional paper or project. 3 credits DEMAND.
COMM 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 from instructor. 3 credits S.
COMM 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 from instructor. 3 credits DEMAND.
COMM 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 from instructor. 3 credits F.
COMM 534. Theory 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. Additional special research project. Graduate students do an additional paper or project. Lab. Prereq.: 220 or permission from instructor. 4 credits F, S.
COMM 536. Public Relations Writing.
Development of professional-level writing skills for beginning public relations practitioners. Approaches for particular audiences and media. Prereq.: 434/534. 4 credits F, S, SUM.
COMM 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 credits F, S.
COMM 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. Prereq.: 220 or permission of instructor. 3 credits ARR.
COMM 545. Advanced Photojournalism.
Digital production for newspapers, magazines, company publications, and the Web. Composition, theory, ethics, and trends. Prereq.: 346. 4 credits S, ALT.
COMM 550. Advanced Editing and Makeup.
Format, makeup and typography of print publications with emphasis on traditional quality and current trends. Computer design. 3 credits DEMAND.
COMM 551. Audio Production.
Production of educational and commercial radio programs. Broadcast theory. Multi-channel applications. Lab. Prereq.: 270 or permission of instructor. 4 credits S.
COMM 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 credits F, ALT.
COMM 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.: 241 or permission of instructor. 3 credits F, ALT.
COMM 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 credits S, SUM, ALT.
COMM 558. Advertising in Society.
Role of advertising in media industry. Economic, social and cultural effects of advertising on society. Impact of advertising on media content and performance. 3 credits DEMAND.
COMM 560. Media Law and Ethics for Journalism.
First Amendment foundation and broadcast regulation. Media ethics and diversity in historical, theoretical and practical contexts. Prereq.: 220 or permission of instructor. 3 credits F, S.
COMM 561. Media Law and Ethics for Strategic Communications.
Commercial speech, state and federal advertising regulation, copyright, media ethics and diversity in various contexts. Prereq.: 220, admitted COMM major/minor (advertising or public relations) or permission of instructor. 3 credits F, S.
COMM 564. Broadcast Management and Policy.
Advanced study of the organization, operation, policy, pricing and marketing of broadcast stations. Management decision making as it affects personnel, budget, program selection and scheduling and ratings. Government regulatory framework. 3 credits F.
COMM 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. Prereq.: 220, 402 or permission of instructor. 3 credits DEMAND.
COMM 571. Advertising/Public Relations Research and Media Analysis.
Advertising and public relations research methods. Quantitative and qualitative research methods. The use of the computer in data analysis. Graduate students do an additional paper or project. Lab. Prereq.: 220 or permission of instructor. 3 credits F, S.
COMM 573. Documentary Production.
Analysis, research and topic selection. Organization, scripting, and pre-production, and final production. Prereq.: 373 or permission of instructor. 3 credits S.
COMM 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 credits F.
COMM 577. Advanced Television Production.
Producing and directing television programs and multi-camera studio productions, aesthetic principles, strategies and processes of TV production in the studio and remote locations. Prereq.: 476. 4 credits S.
COMM 579. Public Affairs Reporting in the Digital Age.
Reporting for broadcasting and webcasting. Specialty reporting and journalism ethics. Prereq.: 230 and 378. 4 credits S.
COMM 580. Multi-Media Professional Applications.
Multi-media theory, standards, and practices in all forms of mass media with a special focus on advertising and public relations. Prereq.: 352, 402, 404, or 434. 3 credits S.
COMM 585. Cases in Advertising/Communications Management.
Communications decision making, planning, and implementing. Evaluating strategies and tactics. 3 credits DEMAND.
COMM 586. Advertising Campaigns.
Developing advertising strategies. Present, write and defend complex strategic decisions. Lab. Prereq.: 471 or permission of instructor. 3 credits S.
COMM 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 credits DEMAND.
COMM 596. Mass Communication Theories.
Theoretical framework for analyzing functions and impacts of mass media. Critical theory approaches to mass media analysis. Major theories and issues in mass communication. 3 credits S.
Mass Communications (COMM) Courses for Graduate Students Only
COMM 601. Communication Theory.
Theories and research approaches in the study of mass media messages and their impact on audiences. 3 credits F.
COMM 603. Seminar in Mass Communications (Topical).
Seminar presentations on topics in mass communications (example: new technology or regulation). May be repeated with a different topic to a maximum of six credits. Prereq.: consent of instructor. 1-3 credits DEMAND.
COMM 604. Readings in Mass Communications.
A topic in mass communications. Oral and written reporting of readings. May be repeated with a different topic to a maximum of six credits. 1-3 credits DEMAND.
COMM 605. Ethics and Critical Analysis of Mass Media.
Advanced analysis of the values, principles, processes and critical paradigms commonly used for ethical decision making. Critiquing mass mediated culture. 3 credits S.
COMM 610. Media Economics and Management.
Economic and management practices and policies of corporate mass media organizations. Focus will be on the impact contemporary practices have on media industries, the marketplace and the public. 3 credits DEMAND.
COMM 621. Advanced Advertising Theories and Practices.
Major theories and methods of advertising. 3 credits S.
COMM 625. Seminar: Public Opinion and Communication.
Theories in communication, public opinion and attitudinal changes; research findings on communication, opinion and persuasion; methods and methodological problems and application of research methods. Prereq.: 601. 3 credits DEMAND.
COMM 630. Seminar in International Mass Communications.
Problems and issues involved in global communication. Media freedom. International broadcasting politics of free flow of information. Transnational advertising. 3 credits S.
COMM 632. Advanced Research Methods in Mass Communications.
Methodologies of mass communication research, both quantitative and qualitative. Basic prior knowledge of research methods is required. 3 credits S.
COMM 633. Qualitative and Critical Research Methods.
Advanced critical and qualitative research methodologies. 3 credits F.
COMM 634. Advanced Public Relations Theories and Practices.
Public relations theories campaign design, ethical considerations and campaign evaluation. 3 credits S.
COMM 635. Mass Communication Seminar in Media Convergence.
Theoretical and professional issues of media convergence and their impacts on journalistic undertakings, media industries and society. 3 credits F.
COMM 646. Diversity Issues in Mass Media.
Diversity issues in the mass media. Institutional issues, such as a major media and hiring practices, and content issues, such as stereotyping and communications studies issues. 3 credits DEMAND.
COMM 652. Strategic Communications Design.
Principles and applications of graphic design for television, advertising, PR, and related areas of mass communications using digital imaging and design software. 3 credits F.
COMM 670. Public Health Communication.
Public Health communication issues, theories, and research. 3 credits S.
COMM 686. Integrated Strategic Communications.
Capstone. Internal and external integration of advertising and public relations with brand building. Real world clients. Prereq.: 621, 634, 652. 3 credits S.
COMM 699. Thesis.
1-6 credits DEMAND.
