Communications (COMM)

100 Survey of Mass Media (3 - Fall & Spring) A survey of the various fields of mass communications with emphasis on their structure, function, responsibilities, development, and impact on society.

200 News Writing (3 - Fall & Spring) The evaluation of news, news gathering methods, discussions and exercises in writing leads, organizing stories, overcoming grammatical and spelling deficiencies, avoiding libel, and writing a variety of news stories. Also includes an overview of writing for public relations and broadcast. Structured primarily for communications majors and minors. This course is a prerequisite to all other journalism courses. Prereq: Minimum grade of C in ENGL 111 and ability to type.

210 Introduction to Journalism (3 - Fall & Spring) An examination of the nature of news, criteria for determining news, newsroom organization, interviewing, and copy preparation. Instruction and practice in writing news stories, primarily in newspaper style. For non-communications majors only. Prereq: Minimum grade of C in ENGL 111 and ability to type.

220 Voice and Diction (3 - Fall & Spring) Study of the production of vocal tone and the articulation of vowels, consonants, and diphthongs, with individual attention to developing an awareness and control of one's own voice and language habits.

230 Public Speaking (3 - Fall & Spring) Study and application of basic communication theory in the preparation and delivery of extemporaneous informative and persuasive speeches and in critical listening. Prereq: Minimum grade of C in ENGL 111.

231 Interpersonal Communication (3 - Fall & Spring) Study and practical application of principles of communication in face-to-face human interactions. General communication, self-awareness, perception, conflict, listening and interviewing.

250 Introduction to Broadcasting (3 - Fall & Spring) Introduction to radio and television fundamentals with laboratory experience in writing, performance and production for broadcast media. Lecture and lab.

300 News Gathering (3 - Spring) Practicing lessons learned in COMM 200 News Writing, producing investigative stories, solving problems in ethics and methods of news coverage, covering meetings of various levels of campus and community government, and discussing/covering issues and events. Prereq: COMM 200.

305 Copy Editing, Computerized Design and Layout (3 - Spring) Instruction and practice in editing copy for the media, including content and style, headline writing, picture editing, and basic principles of layout. Prereq: COMM 200.

310 History of Mass Media (3 - Every 2 Years) Introduction to the history and development of media from the earliest records of information distribution to the technological opportunities of the 21st century.

315 Writing for Broadcast Media (3 - Fall & Spring) Theory and techniques of writing for radio and TV. Emphasis on news, special events, commercials, and promotional material. Prereq: COMM 200 and COMM 250.

320 Writing Features and Editorials (3 - Spring) Techniques for writing feature articles for newspapers and magazines. Study of freelance markets and submission of students' articles for publication. Practice in writing editorials and analysis of editorials and editorial pages. Prereq: COMM 200.

322 Desktop Publishing/Presentation Graphics (3 - Fall & Spring) Basic pre-professional, hands-on experience in desktop publishing and computer-generated presentations. Major emphasis is on desktop publishing, including producing fliers, brochures, newsletters and other publications used by public relations practitioners and persons involved in newspaper and magazine production. Graphics, design and layout considerations are stressed. Prereq: Communications majors/minors or permission of instructor.

323 Communications and the World Wide Web (3 - Spring) Study and application of mass communication and media-related topics as related to the World Wide Web and the Internet. Emphasis on web site design and authoring as mass communication and the use of the Internet by broadcasters, journalists, and public relations and marketing communication practitioners.

324 Introduction to Interactive Multimedia (3 - Every 2 Years) A merger of personal computer and audio-video production techniques to create interactive multimedia products. Use of computer authoring applications and other resources to create interactive multimedia products for education, entertainment, corporate communications, Internet commerce and other forms of marketing communication.

325 Principles of Advertising (3 - Fall) Examination of advertising principles as they apply to print and broadcast media.

326 Principles of Public Relations (3 - Fall) Basic theories and practice in public relations as a communications tool of business, government and non-profit corporations.

327 Public Relations Techniques (3 - Fall & Spring) Examination of skills and techniques used in the practice of public relations, with particular attention given to writing for public relations, copy dissemination, media use and media network design. Techniques range across internal and external media, print, electronic and audiovisual media. Prereq: COMM 326.

328 Public Relations Research (3 - Fall) Study of the process of public relations research for planning and evaluating programs of action, including programs of communication. Included: the role of evaluative research methodologies in public relations management. Prereq: COMM 326.

329 Public Relations Strategy and Implementation (3 - Spring) Examination of strategic planning and implementation in public relations administration, with case studies utilized in an effort to place the student in a managerial, decisionmaking role. Prereq: COMM 326 and 328.

332 Small Group Communication (3 - Every 2 Years) Study of systematic group communication with practical application through group participation. Communication theory and its application to small groups, small group theory, special discussion techniques and methods, group problem solving and decision making, and parliamentary procedure.

340 Film Appreciation (3 - Fall) A study of the development of the motion picture as a business and an art form from its earliest stages to the present. Particular emphasis on the technical, social, and economic factors which have influenced motion picture development. Lecture and lab.

341 Photojournalism (3 - Fall) Introductory and intermediate instruction in black and white photographic techniques, developing, printing, and caption-writing. Also includes an overview of digital/computer techniques. Photographic assignments will give students experience in reporting with a still camera. Lecture and lab.

350 Radio Production (3 - Fall) Designed to provide advanced study in radio production. Emphasis on production of various types of radio programming, study of radio formats, and advanced production techniques. Lecture and lab. Prereq: COMM 250 and 315.

360 Television Production (3 - Spring) An experience-oriented course based on the accepted theory and technique of television production. Emphasis on camera operation, audio, videotape, lighting, artistic design, and special effects. Practical experience in entertainment, public affairs, and sports programming. Lecture and lab. Prereq: COMM 250 and 315.

365 EFP/ENG (3 - Every 2 Years) A study of and practical experience in the various aspects of small-format videotape recording and editing procedures. Additionally, a survey of the application of video production in Electronic News Gathering (ENG) and Electronic Field Production (EFP) for commercial and noncommercial television production industries. Prereq: COMM 360.

370 Television News (3 - Fall) Writing and producing TV news stories and newscasts. Intensive field and lab work with electronic news gathering (ENG) cameras and editing equipment. Lecture and lab. Prereq: COMM 315 and COMM 360.

381 Practicum in Broadcasting (1 - Fall & Spring) A lecture/ lab providing supervised experience in radio and/or television. Pass/Fail. May be repeated for a maximum of 3 hours credit. Prereq: COMM 350 or COMM 360.

383 Practicum in Journalism (1 - Fall & Spring) A lecture/lab providing practical, supervised experience in editing, editorial writing, feature writing, newswriting, photojournalism, reporting and sports writing. Pass/Fail. May be repeated for a maximum of 3 hours credit. Prereq: COMM 200.

390 Newspaper Organization and Management (3 - Every 2 Years) Study of newspaper advertising obligations, budgets, circulation, cost-cutting, equipment, financial and legal questions, production, promotion, public/internal relations, purchasing, and other aspects of newspaper ownership and management. Prereq: Junior standing or instructor's approval.

399 Special Topics in Communications (3 - Fall) Intensive treatment of selected topics not found in the regular Communications curriculum. Course content varies from semester to semester. Course may be repeated for credit in different topics. Prereq: Completion of all Communications Department lower division requirements or consent of instructor.

400 Computer Assisted Reporting (3 - Spring) In-depth reporting assignments, research and team reporting when appropriate based upon information generated from computer searches using the Internet, Nexus and other search tools. Prereq: COMM 300 or instructor's permission.

419 Broadcast Programming and Audience Measurement (3 - Every 2 Years) Interpreting quantitative audience research such as Neilsen and Arbitron ratings, syndicated program/analyses and SRDS tables. Students utilize this data to successfully program a fictional broadcast station. Station and Network program strategies, tactics, and program development are discussed. Prereq: COMM 250.

420 Broadcast Management and Sales (3 - Spring) A study of the operation and management of radio and television stations and analysis of station management techniques, departmental organization, and personnel practices. An examination of the sales process, the development of presentations, and the role played by sales in broadcast stations. Prereq: Junior standing.

430 Business and Professional Speech (3 - Every 2 Years) Study and practical application of theories of general communication, interpersonal communication, and public communication in business and professional settings, with emphasis on presentational speaking. Prereq: COMM 230.

460 Television Producing and Directing (3 - Every 2 Years) Theory and practice related to producing and directing television programming. Emphasis on accepted TV directing methodology and the producer's role in developing television programming. Program development from initial concept through the completed program. Lecture and lab. Prereq: COMM 360.

471, 472 Independent Study (3, 3 - Fall, Spring) In-depth study of advanced communication principles or applied theory chosen by the student and approved by the instructor. Prereq: Senior standing.

475 Internship in Communications (3 - Fall & Spring) Application of broadcasting and/or journalism skills in a supervised assignment with a broadcast, print, public relations, or corporate communications organization. Student may or may not be paid. Prereq: Senior standing and a B average in communications.

491 (691) Communication Law and Ethics (3 - Fall & Spring) Examination of the constitutional underpinnings of freedom of expression and the limitations on such freedoms as enunciated by the U.S. Supreme Court. Students will focus particularly on libel, privacy, intellectual property, source protection, information gathering, obscenity, government regulation and the conflict between a free press and a fair trial. Students will also analyze and apply the ethical standards necessary for media integrity and credibility.

492 Senior Seminar in Communication Theory (3 - Fall & Spring) Examination of communication issues, theories, models, and world communications systems through research, discussion, writing, and speaking. Each student will prepare a senior portfolio. Prereq: Senior standing.

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