Media and Communication

Study of the structure, function, and effects of mass communication in the U.S. culture.  Influence of economics and governmental regulations of media content.  Special attention to the rights and responsibilities of the media.  

Basic gathering and writing of news information in a fair and accurate manner suitable for presentation in various media formats. Editing of news writing for grammar, clarity, conciseness, accuracy, and style. 

Application of basic design and typographic principles to a variety of print publications such as advertisements, flyers, newspapers, and brochures, using the latest design software. 

Digital Storytelling introduces students to the practice of designing narrative media. Students will explore how various narrative ideas influence the design of stories in interactive forms of digital media. Course materials will draw on these media as students produce their own creative projects and stories that engage with the techniques and concepts discussed throughout the course. 

This sophomore-year course will provide basic instruction and support in preparing students for professional work. Specifically, the student will develop the tools and skills necessary for internships and practical experiences.

Current and historical relationship of women with media. Women as subject matter, audience, and participants in various media forms. 

Application of research and writing skills designed to enable science and communications students to consume sophisticated scientific literature and data and communicate effectively with general audiences about science topics. 

Sports Communications offers instruction, analysis, and training in the principles and practice of public relations in sports organizations. Instructional emphasis is on media relations and skills essential for sports communication professionals, including handling media interactions, problems, crises, and the integration of positive communications strategies with strategic goals of sports organizations. The course will apply the cultural, organizational, and critical theoretical approaches to various contexts of sport, including sports journalism, sports organizations, sports films, and other media, to explore contemporary issues of sport communication.

This course provides an overview of the field of health communication with attention to analysis and practice of health communication relationships and messages. Topics include patient‐provider communication, healthcare systems, health promotion and behavior change campaigns. With a focus on the intersection of health and culture. 

Introduction to film techniques and conventions; consideration of social, artistic, and historical contexts of films, how they shape and are shaped by their time; and systematic exploration of such influential film genres as silent film, documentary, film noir, New Cinema, and auteur analysis.

This course explores the concepts supporting the media studies discipline. This perspective explores the social, political, and cultural role of media: such the news, advertising, speeches, entertainment, social and experiential media. Students will explore media production, content and effects through the application of media studies concepts. In addition, students will examine how audience predispositions, such as ideological orientations, the characteristics of decision making, and emotion are tied to perceptions of media representations and affect decision making and behavior.

Intermediate work in information gathering and writing for media in various styles, including in-depth reporting, features, and opinion pieces. Intermediate-level story planning, editing, and packaging for presentation in various media formats.

Social Media Theory and Practice focuses on utilizing social media platforms to build a competitive marketing advantage. The course features an extensive study on the integration and application of social media technologies. This course aims to introduce the student to the practices used in implementing social media to assist in organizational growth. In doing so, the student will understand the objectives, strategies, platforms, and tactics used in social media.

Reading and writing longer forms of exposition, persuasion, narration, and analysis, with emphasis on clarity of style, argument, and advanced editing and research skills.

This junior-year course will provide intermediate instruction and support in preparing students for professional work. Specifically, this course will provide a place for students to directly reflect and synthesize their knowledge from other coursework and experiences on the topics of career and self development, communication, critical thinking, equity and inclusion, leadership, professionalism, teamwork, and information literacy

Application of media theories and management skills to campus media operation and production. Presentation of workshop proposal to a mass communications faculty member.

Introduction to persuasion theory, research, ethics, and methods with emphasis on analysis of and application to mass media messages. 

Application of advanced design and typographic principles to a variety of more complex print publications such as newsletters, magazines, books, and pamphlets, using the latest design software.

Videography allows students to develop professional video, film, and television pre-production, production, and post-production skills. The course will cover the fundamentals of video production, including the techniques and the aesthetics of shooting, lighting, and editing. The advanced curriculum emphasizes hands-on production experience using digital video. The course will introduce video camera operation, camera stabilization techniques, lighting, scripts and storyboarding, digital imaging, motion graphics software, animations, and sound effects. Students will develop an understanding of the wide range of business aspects within the industry.

Advanced work in gathering and organizing information for long-form writing, such as in-depth newspaper series, magazine articles, broadcast packages and online reports. Emphasis on locating sources, interviewing, following paper trails, and using databases.

Application of persuasion theory and multimedia skills to basic strategic communication formats used in a variety of organizations. Attention to economic, managerial, legal, and ethical considerations.

The course is an in-depth survey of the theoretical and structural models of marketing communication and aims to equip students with the tools necessary to create a coherent and fully integrated promotional campaign. Students will be actively involved in the design and implementation of various strategic communications approaches meant to target different publics.

This senior-year course will provide advanced instruction and support in preparing students for professional work. Specifically, students will develop the tools and skills necessary for jobs upon graduation as well as reflect on their college career-preparation journey with an emphasis on ethical practice.

Principles of communication law, including constitutional issues, libel, privacy, copyright, and broadcast regulation. Development of an ethical perspective for media issues. 

Advanced research on a topic related to mass communications, under the supervision of a faculty member.

Work experience related to the student's major, jointly supervised by the department and a professional in the field. Periodic meetings with instructor, critique of experience including skills assessment, journal, and summary paper. Although the usual internship will carry either three or six hours credit, a student may elect to arrange an internship carrying between two and six hours credit with the permission of the department. Each hour of credit will require forty hours at the internship site. Pass-Fail only. 

Work experience related to the student's major, jointly supervised by the department and a professional in the field. Periodic meetings with instructor, critique of experience including skills assessment, journal, and summary paper. Although the usual internship will carry either three or six hours credit, a student may elect to arrange an internship carrying between two and six hours credit with the permission of the department. Each hour of credit will require forty hours at the internship site. Pass-Fail Only.

Study of a communications question and completion of a project in consultation with a faculty member in the Mass Communications Department. Prospective candidates for the senior project should advise the department chair of their plans at the beginning of the junior year.

Independent research in a special topic for honors.

Independent research in a special topic for honors.