Courses

COMM-100 Grammar for Communicators

A review of American English grammar and punctuation, with emphasis on parts of speech, sentence structure, agreement, case, and commas.

COMM-101 Essentials of Digital Media

This course includes basic operating concepts of computers and a hands-on introduction to word processing, email, spreadsheets, presentations, search, website creation, and other uses. Students will be introduced to the design and production requirements for documents and content for web distribution (Photoshop and Adobe Acrobat specifically). Media convergence, as well as issues of audience consideration and usage, will also be addressed.

COMM-131 Introduction to Journalism

An introduction to journalism, with emphasis on news and feature writing and copy editing. Topics include American newspaper history, elements of libel, copyediting symbols, Associated Press style, news leads, inverted pyramid format, interviewing, attributing quotations, writing speech and meeting stories, and reading a daily newspaper critically.

COMM-171 Introduction to Media

Survey of broadcasting: history, evaluation, organization and function. Includes economic and cultural influences on society and legal, educational and artistic aspects.

COMM-182 Writing for New Media

This course introduces students to basic media writing skills for broadcast and the web. Students will engage in the production of web writing and design, with an emphasis on interactive writing in script form, flowcharts, and digital media environments.

COMM-190 Communication/Media Theory

An introductory exploration of the underlying theories that allow us to understand both person-to-person communication and communication media events and processes. Systems, sign theory, cognitive and behavioral, cultural and social, and critical perspectives are examined as they apply to interpersonal, group, organizational and media contexts.

COMM-191 Interpersonal Communication

A lecture-discussion laboratory approach to communication theory. Includes the scope and purpose of communication, the process, and the role it plays in verbal and nonverbal, face-to-face interactions.

COMM-192 Public Speaking

Basic principles of effective extemporaneous speaking to inform and motivate an audience. Emphasizes selection, organization, idea development and audience analysis. Students deliver, listen to, and criticize expository and persuasive speeches.

COMM-194 Intercultural Communication

An introduction to contemporary and foundational concepts, practices, and processes of intercultural communication. Topics include the complex nature of social and cultural identities; privilege, power and oppression in historical and contemporary society; representations of cultures and identities in popular media; nonverbal codes and cultural space; the relationship between language and culture. Special emphasis will be on ethical and mindful intercultural communication and social justice.

COMM-201 Ethics and Leadership

Uses case studies to examine the types of ethical challenges that face professional communicators across a variety of contexts, while requiring students to analyze those situations critically. The role of leadership in navigating ethical dilemmas is highlighted, as are several case studies where ethical questions intersect with diversity-related issues.

COMM-211 Public Relations

Survey of the history, development, principles and practices of public relations. Investigates public relations ethics, relationships, and roles of mass media and society. Includes case studies in public relations practices.

COMM-217 Principles of Advertising

Students evaluate how advertisers select the appropriate media to reach their targeted audiences. They will be able to compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of various advertising options.

COMM-221 Corporate Communications

Overview of the development, principles, and practices of corporate communication and principles of message design. Includes case studies and corporate simulations.

COMM-223 Corporate Communications Writing

Introduction to message content and style for corporate writing. Emphasizes memos, letters, advertisements and brochures.

COMM-231 Newswriting and Reporting

A survey of the elements of news and newswriting. Topics include the lead, style, news sources, news selection, covering beats, and writing obituaries.

COMM-270 New Media

This course introduces students to the history, elements, and concepts that make up convergent and digital media technologies. Surveys of specific new converging communication technologies, as well as their use and impacts on traditional forms of mass communications will be addressed. The student will gain a deeper understanding of the movement and interconnectedness that exists between new media technologies and their social, economic, cultural, and political impacts and effects.

COMM-271 Broadcast Announcing

A study of basic broadcast announcing techniques including voice and diction, pronunciation and oral interpretation of American speech.

COMM-272 Audio Production

The theory and practice of audio recording, production, and broadcast operations including sound and broadcast wave theory, console operation, microphone techniques, commercial production, and broadcast procedures.

COMM-275 Media Analysis

Introduces the student to the art and practice of contemporary media criticism and to several key theoretical and critical approaches that guide the practice. Through the process of actively critiquing and analyzing media texts from a variety of theoretical perspectives, the student will gain familiarity with the approaches of contemporary criticism. The student will learn how to apply these approaches in the study, exploration and analysis of today?s convergent media.

COMM-277 Audio Production & Media Performance

Examines the theory and practice of audio production and broadcast operations, including sound and broadcast wave theory, console operation, microphone techniques, commerical production, digital editing, and on-air procedures. Students will produce broadcast-quality audio projects in addition to developing a working knowledge and appreciation for high-quality sound and video production. Includes an examination and study of basic announcing techniques for audio and video, such as voice and diction, pronunciation, and oral interpretation of American speech for broadcast and online distribution.

COMM-281 Mass Media and Society

Survey of national mass media. Emphasizes historical development, structure, organization, function, and effects of the media on society today.

COMM-282 Fundamentals of Digital Video Production

An introduction to small-format video production. Covers basic equipment, terminology, personnel, and video production techniques. Includes writing, producing and editing of assigned short projects such as commercials or brief interview segments.

COMM-293 Parliamentary Procedure

Principles and rules of parliamentary procedure based upon Robert's Rules of Order. Emphasizes practical experience and the importance of a well-run meeting as an integral component of effective communication. Includes outside meeting evaluations.

COMM-295 Effective Listening

Guided group and individual programs to develop abilities of concentration, comprehension, interpretation and recall.

COMM-296 Dynamic Presentational Speaking

Development of advanced skill in the construction and delivery of various types of presentations, including informative, persuasive, impromptu, briefings/reports, team, and special occasions. Special emphasis on the solid use of PowerPoint visuals.

COMM-314 Public Relations Writing and Campaigns

Emphasized writing styles and techniques for brochures, publicity, news releases, fact sheets, backgrounders, and biographies. Discussion of convergent media. Students produce creative work on actual public relations problems, as well as an overall plan to handle a simulated problem.

COMM-317 Print and Web Advertising

Students will apply the principles and techniques of advertisements found in various print media. They will use hands-on skills to design and create camera-ready ads in such media for products, services and nonprofit organizations.

COMM-318 Integrated Marketing Communications

Reflects the growing practice of effectively combining an organization's communication tools in a united effort for goal accomplishment. Topics include advertising, public relations, sales promotions, marketing, social media, e-commerce, and sponsorships. Legal and ethical considerations are also discussed.

COMM-321 Crisis Management

In today's world crises are inevitable. Crisis management recognizes and deals with systems and system failures. This course introduces the students to a management approach for working with crises before, during, and after they occur. Communications-related elements and challenges are especially emphasized.

COMM-323 Computer Design Skills

A study of design principles and computer software for the publication of newsletters, brochures and advertisements. Topics include fonts and typography, proportion, graphics, photographs, contrast and color.

COMM-325 Information Industries

An examination of our social, political and economic environments as shaped by the driving forces of the converging information industries. Telecommunications, broadcasting, computing, content providers, their interactions and integration are considered. Students follow various industry leaders, predict their actions, and access potential implications for their own professional lives.

COMM-327 Computer Applications in Corporate Com

A study of computer applications as they are used in corporate communications. Topics, which will change to keep pace with technology, may include presentation software, Internet applications, interactive scripting, file sharing and simple local area networking, and dynamic documents.

COMM-329 Communications Research

Evaluates research findings to determine their value for communication professionals. Provides an overview of the major quantitative and qualitative methods and tests used in communication research. Emphasizes random samples, surveys, focus groups, content analyses, experimental settings, and basic statistics.

COMM-331 Editing

The process of editing a newspaper. Includes developing assignments, editorial judgment, copy editing, type styles and sizes, headline writing, graphic and photo design, and page layout.

COMM-371 Broadcast Advertising

Theory and technique of writing commercial scripts for radio and television. Covers broadcast ratings analysis and interpretation, time sales, personnel and client relationships.

COMM-381 Video Editing

A study of advanced video editing techniques and special effects utilizing computerized A/B Roll edit systems and computer graphics. Students will produce complete programs and projects from field-recorded video, as well as studio-recorded productions. The emphasis will be on both the technical operation of sophisticated editing systems and the aesthetics of program editing.

COMM-382 Intermediate Digital Multimedia Product

An emphasis on advanced video editing techniques and special effects utilizing Final Cut editing software. Students edit and produce complete programs and projects from field-recorded video and student-recorded productions. Emphasis will be on both the technical operation of sophisticated editing systems and the aesthetics of program editing. Students will be required to engage the web as a system for distribution of content and will be expected to produce and create their own personal web pages and portfolio blogs.

COMM-393 Leaders of Tomorrow

Examines leadership theory and styles and the need for strong values and ethics within leadership. Explores how the need for visionary leadership and setting goals expands beyond immediate gains or losses. Investigates how these skills create a more productive and responsible environment especially within a rapidly changing world.

COMM-394 Organizational Communication

Theory and principles of effective communication in the organizational setting. Emphasizes theories of organizational communication, communication structure, technology, diversity and cultural change, power, conflict, leadership, and strategic communication. Includes case studies and oral presentation.

COMM-411 Public Relations Management

Modules include management, strategy, government affairs and corporate advertising. Self-managed teams simulate agency communications consulting.

COMM-435 Feature Writing

The process of determining a medium's audience, developing story ideas, writing query letters, and researching and writing feature articles. News and travel features and profiles are among the assignments.

COMM-471 Critical Analysis of Emerging Media

Introduces students to the art and practice of contemporary media criticism and key theoretical and critical approaches that guide the practice. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the movement and interconnectedness that exists between new media technologies and their social, economic, cultural, and political impacts and effects. The historical development, structure, function, and effects of convergent and emergent media will be incorporated into the analysis.

COMM-472 Broadcast News

Theory and technique of writing news and features for broadcast media. Includes editing and rewriting Associated Press dispatches, gathering local news, recording interviews and preparing newscasts and feature programs.

COMM-481 Media Law

Examines legal and ethical aspects of print and electronic communications. Emphasizes First Amendment, freedom of the press, the right to know, copyright, libel, and privacy.

COMM-482 Prof Digital Multimedia Production

Engages students in the advanced methods of digital multimedia production. Students will produce a variety of projects that demonstrate their understanding of production skills, including audio and video production for broadcast and the web. Students will be required to maintain personal portfoloio blogs that showcase content produced in this course and others. Students will gain an understanding of the ethical and theoretical frameworks of video broadcasting.

COMM-491 Team Communication

Theory and principles of effective team membership and leadership in the small group setting. Focuses on functional roles, verbal and nonverbal behaviors, decision-making, problem solving, conflict resolution, ethics and diversity, and group dynamics through the observations of teams.

COMM-500 Topics in Communications

Examines selected topics in communications, depending on instructor and student interest. Course may be repeated for credit if topic is different. 2 - 4 SH.

COMM-501 Practicum

Applied projects in broadcasting, print journalism and public relations. All department majors successfully complete the required number of semester hours required in the student's emphasis, but no more than six semester hours of practicum work. All projects require department approval, are graded, must be completed and include a minimum of five hours of project work per week. Students may complete only one project per semester and may not use practicum projects to simultaneously fulfill requirements of other courses.

COMM-502 Individual Investigation

In-depth exploration of selected topics in broadcasting, film, public relations, print journalism, speech communication, mass communications or corporate communications with faculty guidance allows students to focus on topics outside normal sequence of course offerings. May be repeated but not for departmental major credit.

COMM-503 Honors Study

Independent study for candidates accepted into the departmental Honors program. Candidates work under faculty direction, develop and submit a written or production thesis, and defend their theses orally.

COMM-504 Internship

On-the-job, supervised experience at a corporation, governmental agency, or not-for-profit organization.