Courses in the College of Communications

Courses that do not count toward the major

Comm 101 Introduction to the Media (3hrs)

This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for a Advanced Composition course.

This course provides a general introduction to the field of mass communications. It is intended for potential majors and will introduce students to the study of human communication as a social practice, beginning with the individual and emphasizing mass communication technologies. Students will examine some basic problems and questions in the study of communication; cover some terms and concepts used in media analysis; explore the role of mass communications media and media policies in modern life; and consider why we study the mass media.

Students will be asked to work closely with the Writer's Workshop consultants and to submit multiple drafts of written


COMM 166: Media Literacy (3hrs)

Develops students' ability and skills to analyze, assess, and critically evaluate media images, words, sounds, and presentations that comprise mass culture, and to understand the media's roles in the contemporary world.

Courses which count toward the major

Core Media Studies Courses

COMM 264: Media, Money, and Power (4hrs)

This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for a History & Philosophy Perspective course.

"Media, Money, and Power" is an introduction to the political economy of the media in the U.S. The purpose of the class is to acquaint students with a core understanding of how the media system operates, and with what effects, in a capitalist society. The course examines the role of advertising, public relations, corporate concentration, and government regulation upon journalism, entertainment, culture, and participatory democracy. The class also examines issues such as the Internet, globalization, and public broadcasting. Approved for both letter and S/U grading.

COMM 317: History of Communications (3hrs)

Explores nature and development of communication systems; mass media history; history of journalism, advertising, and broadcasting; and communications in the modern world.

COMM 320: Communications and Popular Culture (3hrs)

Examines the critical literature on mass media entertainment; reviews significant contemporary issues and develops perspectives for understanding popular culture. This course examines theories of popular culture, which includes the mass media but extends far beyond them, dating back to the mid nineteenth century, and applies those theories to the analysis of contemporary issues of popular culture such asidentity, representation, the body, place and space, culture of consumption, new technologies, and history. The course is both sensitive to issues of difference such as gender, race and ethnicity, class, and sexuality as well as attuned to the global circulation of popular culture. Whenever possible we will make connections with our/your own history and experience articulated through popular culture forms as well as to our/your everyday life.

COMM 321: Film Culture: Interpretation and Theories (3 hrs)

This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for a Western Comparative Cultures course.

Comm 321 introduces students to key issues of, major theoretical approaches to, and current debates about the cultural function of films. Course addresses theories of spectatorship, the politics of pleasure, the culture of entertainment, and the cinematic construction of race, class, and gender.

COMM 331: Mass Communications in a Democratic Society (3hrs)

Mass Communications in Democratic Society examines the history of ideas behind media institutions in democracies. The course introduces students to key works in the western tradition of thinking about public communication, including canonical texts like John Milton's Areopagitica, John Stuart Mill's On Liberty, and representative work from Thomas Jefferson, Karl Marx, Alexis de Tocqueville, Walter Lippmann, and C. Wright Mills. Themes from these texts are then brought to bear on contemporary issues like media ownership, the public journalism movement, and pornography. The course is taught as a discussion seminar.

COMM 351: Social Aspects of Mass Communications (3hrs)

This course examines the way in which the modern mass media has altered the dynamics of public discourse and democratic politics in the United States. More generally, we shall be concerned with the ways the mass media influences how we think about and act in the social and political world. Specific topics include the impact of both traditional mass media and new media on public discourse; the structure and ownership of the mass media; how the news is made and how it influences our political attitudes and behaviors; the role of the media in campaigns and elections; how the media covers racial issues and how this coverage influences racial attitudes; the importance of popular culture and new media (i.e., cyberspace, satellite broadcasting, etc.).

COMM 410: Media Ethics (3hrs)

The three historic mass media functions – news, persuasion (advertising and public relations), and entertainment – provide the course's framework. Students are introduced to the major ethical theories, and through case studies, learn to reach justified ethical conclusions. The primary issues are considered, such as privacy, social justice, confidentiality deception, violence, cultural diversity, and conflict of interest. Institutional questions are emphasized throughout.

Electives in the Media Studies Major

A total of at least 15 hours and no more than 29 hours of COMM, ADV or JOUR are needed to complete the subfield major. Total required and elective hours in Communications: 30-44. As with other degrees in the College, the Media Studies program strictly adheres to the minimum (30) and maximum (44) number of hours in the College. These are some possibilities:


COMM 302: Social Aspects of Information Systems (3hrs)

Explores the way in which information technologies have and are transforming society and how these affect a range of social, political and economic issues from the individual to societal levels.

COMM 318: Communications and Public Opinion (3hrs)

Studies theory of public opinion and of Communications; relation of Communication systems to public opinion, social systems, and the political order.

COMM 341: Law and Communications (3hrs)

Examines historical background of the nature and meaning of the law as it relates to journalism and contemporary problems of freedom of expression.

COMM 356: Women in Popular Film and Television (3hrs)

Explores the notion that the mass media might influence our development as gendered individuals. Examines representations of women in film and television, and how these function for different segments of the audience; the appeal of specifically "female" genres such as melodramas and soap operas; attempts to create alternatives to mainstream images in various media; the representation of women of color in the dominant media.

COMM 375: History and Development of Latina/o Media (3hrs)

Examines the portrayal and participation of Latinas and Latinos in the U.S. media using a variety of interdisciplinary approaches. Addresses historical and political movements that have been critical to Latina/o print, broadcast, and electronic Communication within the broader context of cultural diversity.

COMM 377: Global Communications (3hrs)

Introduces students to the multiple dimensions of cross-national and comparative Communications. Specific topics will vary according to instructor's focus, but may include human dimensions of global Communication, intercultural Communication, media impact, structure and process of institutional Communication (e.g., propaganda, diplomacy).

COMM 391: Special Problems (3 hrs)
Special projects, research, and independent reading in Communications for students capable of individual work under the guidance of a faculty advisor.

COMM 395: Honors Research Seminar in Media Studies (3 hrs)

An honors research seminar open to Media Studies' majors, and to other advanced students in the College of Communications. The seminar has two primary goals: (a) to introduce students to alternative research approaches used in the scholarly study of mass Communication; and (b) to enable students to employ one or more of these methodological approaches in producing an independent research project on a topic of their won choosing. The seminar meets as a group only for the first several weeks of the semester, to discuss different research methodologies used in mass Communication research and to present topics to the class; and for the last two weeks of the term, to present completed projects to the larger group. Otherwise students meet regularly with instructor (and any other advisers they may have chosen from among the media studies faculty) to discuss and provide evidence of progress of their independent research papers.

COMM 419: Studies in Russian and East European Cinema (3hrs)

Study and analysis of a few major film-makers and/or genres, trends, theories, illustrated by reading assignments and weekly viewings on video format. The course consists of two or three segments or topics, each of which will be examined in some depth during five to seven weeks. Specific topics will be selected in accord with the academic needs and interests of the students in the class; Central European cinemas (Poland, Hungary, former Yugoslavia, etc.) are included, along with Russia and the former USSR. No knowledge of Russian or other foreign languages required. Two one-hour exams and one term paper; no final exam.

COMM 422: Politics and the Media (3hrs)

This course examines the process of mass-mediated political communication in democratic societies. Although these processes can be studied in a variety of contexts, this course will focus primarily on the interaction between news media, audiences, and political elites in the United States. Special emphasis will be given to the role of news media in democratic theory, the politics of media control, media coverage of elections and policy making, the impact of new mass Communication technologies, the effects of media messages on audiences and elites, and factors shaping the construction of news such as journalistic routines, media economics, and the strategic management of news by political elites.

COMM 452: Attitude Theory and Change (3hrs)

Comprehensive analysis of theories of attitude acquisition, organization, and change; emphasis on attitude change through Communication and effects of persuasive Communication on public opinion.

COMM 462: Telecommunications Management (3hrs)
Examines problems and issues in telecommunications management; the role of management in operation of broadcasting, cable, and telecommunications industries; forces shaping products and services in commercial and non-profit media (i.e., technology, markets, revenues, programming, and regulation); planning, accountability, and social responsibility.

COMM 470: Mind, Culture, and Society (3hrs)

An examination of the cognitive foundations of social and cultural systems. This course explores the interface of culture and mind by analyzing the relations between public events and private intentions/interpretations. We will investigate the application of ideas in cultural practices and performances. The reciprocal construction of knowledge from experience is also examined. The interaction between tradition and innovation is a primary theme throughout the semester. Investigating the strategic use of language, material culture and space lies at the core of the class. We will develop the application of linguistic and ethnographic methods to selected problems in this research arena. We will also examine the complementarity of linguistic and non-linguistic, primarily visual, reasoning in cultural practice. General issues such as the nature of meaning and the universality/relativity debate in Anthropology will be addressed as we go along.

COMM 477: International Communications (3hrs)

Pursues an interdisciplinary approach to international Communications; its structure and content; the role of international Communications in conflict and conflict resolution; the semantics of international Communication; its technical and economic aspects; and government/industry relations in Communications.

COMM 491: Literacy in the Information Age (3hrs)

This is the capstone course for the Information Studies minor. The seminar explores what it means to be information literate in today's world. Students will examine a number of information literacies, from print to multimedia, from stand-alone to networked, and discuss a variety of themes that have been affected by new Communication and information technologies, such as community, the political sphere, and education.

In the course students will--
1. Learn from readings and discussions about literacy in the information age, including rationales, approaches, implementations, challenges, and dilemmas. We will discuss articles drawn from a diverse collection of readings.
2. Reflect upon historical processes, philosophical issues, and technical changes through small group discussions during class.
3. Study new literacy practices through an individual or small group research project. Part of the class time will be devoted to sharing what we're learning through the research projects.
4. Learn from each other as we engage in discussions about current events and our own experiences with new information and Communication technologies.
5. Learn different perspectives from special topic presentations by class members.

COMM 495: Internship Seminar (1 hr)

Seminar based on internship experience. Offered for College of Communications students who complete an approved internship. 0 to 1 undergraduate hours. 0 graduate hours. Approved for S/U grading only. May be repeated in the same term to a maximum of 2 undergraduate hours or 0 graduate hours. May be repeated in separate terms to a maximum of 3 undergraduate hours or 0 graduate hours. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor (the instructor for the course is the current director of the Media Studies program).

ADV 300: Introduction to Advertising (3hrs)

Surveys the economics, psychology, and philosophy of advertising; preparation of advertisements; selection of media; and organizational structure.

ADV 410: Consumer Communications and the Public (3 hrs)

Addresses the interface between marketing activity and various public institutions and actions: government agencies, consumer groups, boycotts, litigation.

ADV 411: Classic Campaigns (3hrs)

Examines the advertising campaigns that have been seen as the best examples of this genre during the past century. Includes the writings of famous advertising authors on the rhetorical principles of advertising.

ADV 412: Advertising History (3hrs)

Teaches the important events, forces, people, and technologies that helped advertising to become an important institution in America.

ADV 450: Advertising Creative Strategy and Tactics (3hrs)

Theory and practice of advertising message planning and creation for print and broadcast media; development of creative platforms and competitive benefit strategies.

ADV 493: Social and Cultural Context of Advertising (3hrs)

Studies advertising as a cultural force and social institution. Examines its role in Communications, society, and economics.

ADV 494: Persuasion and Consumer Response (3hrs)
Addresses what makes a mass-mediated message persuasive by reviewing theories of persuasion, and the roles of consumers. Examines persuasive tactics in selected advertising in relation to the construction of consumer identity.

JOURN 323: Photojournalism (3hrs)

Presents a basic exploration of photography to give students a proficiency in picture taking and processing and to acquaint them with picture editing and other illustrative problems. Instruction will include techniques to produce photographs; the conception and planning of pictures; the pictorial coverage of news events and human-interest situations; the ethical and social aspects of photojournalism; the planning and execution of photo layouts; and using computers to prepare
photographs for reproduction.

JOURN 422: The Press and the Presidency in the Modern Era (3hrs)

What were the effects of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Fireside Chats? What was the impact of television upon presidential elections in the 1950s? Why was John F. Kennedy such a media favorite? Was Ronald Reagan more image than reality? How did media react to the 1996 election campaign? How have press relations evolved in the White House since 1929? What was the role of the press in the 1996 election? This course explores these questions and more.

JOURN 450: Reporting I (4hrs)

Explores fundamentals of journalistic writing; teaches public affairs news reporting. The first in a sequence of professional courses. Non-majors may find it an interesting and useful glimpse into the techniques of gathering, organizing and reporting news, and an opportunity to improve their writing. Emphasis is on interviewing methods, writing in clear and concise language, and understanding what a journalist needs to know about government and public affairs.