Media and Communication

Professors

Mark Finney

Brent Treash

Degrees and Certificates

Courses

MCOM 101: Mass Media and Society

Semester Hours 3.0

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.  

MCOM 202: Writing, Reporting & Editing I

Semester Hours 4.0

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. 

Prerequisites

ENGL 101

MCOM 210: Digital Storytelling

Semester Hours 4.0

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. 

 

MCOM 240: Career Readiness I

Semester Hours 0.5

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.

MCOM 262: Science Communication

Semester Hours 3.0

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. 

Prerequisites

ENGL 101

MCOM 263: Sports Communication

Semester Hours 3.0

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.

 

MCOM 264: Health Communications

Semester Hours 3.0

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 patientā€provider communication, healthcare systems, health promotion and behavior change campaigns. With a focus on the intersection of health and culture. 

MCOM 271X: Introduction to Film

Semester Hours 3.0

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.

Prerequisites

ENGL 101.

MCOM 301: Advanced Media Studies

Semester Hours 3.0

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.

MCOM 302: Writing, Report & Editing II

Semester Hours 3.0

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.

Prerequisites

Grade of 'C' or better in MCOM 202.

MCOM 320: Social Media Theory and Practice

Semester Hours 3.0

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.

Prerequisites

MCOM 101 or sophomore status.

MCOM 340: Career Readiness II

Semester Hours 0.5

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

MCOM 368: Campus Media Workshop

Semester Hours 0.5

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

Prerequisites

Sophomore status and MCOM major.

MCOM 404: Advanced Publication Design

Semester Hours 3.0

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.

Prerequisites

Grade of 'C' or better in MCOM 204.

MCOM 410: Videography

Semester Hours 3.0

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.

 

Prerequisites

Grade of 'C' or better in MCOM 210.

MCOM 420: Advanced Reporting

Semester Hours 3.0

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.

Prerequisites

MCOM 202, 302, and junior status.

MCOM 430: Public Relations

Semester Hours 3.0

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.

Prerequisites

MCOM 202, 204, 390, and junior status.

MCOM 432: Marketing Communications

Semester Hours 3.0

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.

Prerequisites

MCOM 390

MCOM 440: Career Readiness III

Semester Hours 0.5

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.

MCOM 451: Media Law & Ethics

Semester Hours 3.0

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

Prerequisites

Senior status.

MCOM 470: Internship I

Semester Hours 3.0 6

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. 

Prerequisites

Junior or senior status, departmental permission.

MCOM 471: Internship II

Semester Hours 3.0 6

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.

Prerequisites

Junior or senior status, departmental permission.

MCOM 480: Senior Project

Semester Hours 3.0

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.

Prerequisites

Senior status and departmental permission.

MCOM 490: Honors Thesis I

Semester Hours 1.0 3

Independent research in a special topic for honors.

Prerequisites

Senior status, GPA of 3.5 in the major and 3.3 overall, or higher, and permission of all members of the department. 

MCOM 491: Honors Thesis II

Semester Hours 1.0 3

Independent research in a special topic for honors.

Prerequisites

Senior status, GPA of 3.5 in the major and 3.3 overall or higher, and permission of all members of the department.