Administered by Department of Mass Communications
Effective Fall, 2003
Note: Prerequisites may be waived by an instructor subject to the concurrence of the departmental chairperson.
27.110 Mass Communications and the Popular Arts (3) - A comprehensive overview of mass communications and their relative impacts on society and culture. Covers magazines, newspapers, motion pictures, radio, television, public relations, advertising, ethical codes and media regulations.
27.190 History of Film (Spring) (3) - An overview of the history and growth of the motion picture. Studies film genres, historical figures, technicians and performers. Students must view approximately 15 films during the course in laboratory showings.
27.230 Newswriting (3) - Outlines the "theory" and techniques of news reporting; the historical development of reporting, its practices and principles and the organizational patterns of news stories and gathering of news. An elementary outline of defamation and libel is included. Student should be able to type 30 to 40 words per minute before enrolling in this course.
27.241 Mediagraphics (3) - Computer-generated design and layout problems and applications for printed and visual material including newspaper and magazine pages as well as advertising layouts and visual presentations for video and television material.
27.251 PR: Theory and Practice (3) - An introduction to the development, principles, theories and practice of public relations as a social and organizational implement. Looks briefly at the communication process, publicity, community relations and public affairs practice.
27.261 Principles of Advertising (3) - Introduces students to the basic objectives and procedures of advertising in a modern economy. Examines the variety of components and methods used to achieve specific objectives in advertising campaigns and the type of instruments used for advertising.
27.271 Media Operations (3) - Concentrates on the knowledge and physical use of technical requirements that operate the growing range of equipment needed to produce contemporary radio, television and video programs.
27.275 Cinema Appreciation (Fall) (3) - Examines film form, theory and criticism to bring about a better understanding and greater appreciation of the motion picture. Enhances the visual appreciation required in modern media. Approximately 15 films viewed.
27.297 Mass Communications Practicum (3) - Requires participation in film, television, radio or print productions in any of the sequences offered in the department or other departments on campus having similar needs relevant to mass communications.
27.310 Media Law (3) - Surveys legal restraints that influence the nature and content of mass media messages and business practices. Covers historical developments, criminal libel, sedition, defamation, privacy, copyright, obscenity, shield law, freedom of information, free press-free trial, unique broadcast policies, advertising and antitrust problems.
27.315 Social Foundations of Mass Communications (3) - An interdisciplinary study of the historical, philosophical, social, economic and legal foundations of American mass media as a base for study of contemporary mass media. Examines media from the perspective of journalists, owners, audience and government.
27.334 Editing (3) - Designed to improve writing for newspapers, magazines and brochures. Indicates particular types of styles most used; emphasizes good, tight copy in news stories; offers practice in headline writing and some elementary layout and design including photo editing. Suggests some defenses to possible defamation and libel problems for copy editors. Prerequisite: 27.230.
27.336 Video Editing (3) - Provides instruction in practices, theory and technology of video and audio editing. Includes both linear and non-linear editing techniques. Prerequisite: 27.271.
27.340 Feature Writing (3) - Outlines basic requirements for feature-type articles for newspapers and magazines. Studies various techniques used to gather information and to develop a range of feature articles. Includes practical work as well as the study and discussion of published articles and marketing strategies. Prerequisite: 27.230.
27.352 Publicity and Public Relations (3) - Comprehensive study of various publicity techniques used in public relations efforts of business, government and nonprofit organizations. Students prepare press releases, public service announcements, speeches, slide programs or other appropriate communication vehicles. Prerequisite: 27.251.
27.360 Mass Media Processes and Effects (3) Locates specific issues in mass media exposure, identifying various ways in which individuals and the whole body of society depend on information provided by the mass media. Prerequisite: junior standing.
27.366 Design in Advertising (3) - Principles of advertising layout and design in print and broadcasting. Includes hands-on experience in layout, typography and paste-up in addition to theory. Prerequisite: 27.261.
27.367 Television Acting and Directing (3) - Provides instruction in acting and directing for television. Includes laboratory hours. Prerequisite: 27.271.
27.371 Broadcast Journalism (3) - Studies technical elements of broadcast writing, script formats and nondramatic material; provides opportunities to study, write and announce news, commercials and other broadcast material. Prerequisite: 27.271 and 27.230.
27.375 Broadcast Programming and Management (3) - Studies television and radio management and programming; examines each medium as a business and the elements of success or failure. Studies some basic economics of media and methods of handling this material as well as codes, laws and community interests. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
27.390 Film and Video Production (3) - Reviews the basic processes of filmmaking in an introductory but comprehensive manner. Concentrates on making short silent films and requires laboratory hours and field work by arrangement. Students provide their own film stock for shooting and pay film processing costs. Prerequisite: 27.271.
27.420 Audience Analysis (3) - Explores the theoretical distinction between the social world of actual audiences and the discursive constructs of mass media audiences. Charts the development of an ethnographic understanding of mass media audiences that focuses on the diverse, the particular and unpredictable in everyday life. Stresses design and construction of various research methods on mass media audiences. Prerequisites: junior standing.
27.435 Journalism Seminar: Special Topics (3) - Studies a variety of ethical and practical problems in journalism. Topics may vary each semester. May be repeated with different topics to a maximum of three seminars with approvals of adviser and chairperson. Prerequisite: 27.230.
27.440 Public Affairs Reporting (4) - An advanced reporting course on the role of public affairs in news reporting in mass media. Concentrates on a number of governmental "beats" most susceptible to news generation. Students learn basic abilities consistent with entry-level professional reporting requirements in public affairs coverage, including courts, police and government. Prerequisite: 27.340.
27.446 Magazine Editing and Production (4) - Acquaints students with principles and techniques of magazine production including manuscript selection and editing, advertising, design, production, circulation, promotion and various business operations. Study of the nature of magazines as part of a mass communications system. Each semester students produce a community/regional consumer magazine. Prerequisites: 27.334, 27.340 or consent of the instructor.
27.455 Public Relations Cases and Problems (3) - A study of the use of publicity as a particular element of public relations. Examines specific publicity cases and requires practical hands-on production of written material. Prerequisite: 27.352.
27.466 Advertising Media and Campaigns (3) - Study of the use of advertising media, methods of selection and the skills and background required for media buying and traffic planning. Basic principles and applications of advertising research and campaign planning, preparation and presentation are taught in a problem-solving format. Prerequisite: 27.366.
27.478 Independent Study (1-3) - Provides for individual work and study in an area of mass communications concentration. Students find a faculty sponsor/adviser and prepare a written proposal, which must have departmental approval and approval of the dean, College of Arts and Sciences.
27.480 Telecommunications Production Workshop: Special Topics (3) - A practical workshop program in which telecommunications majors undertake specific instruction on the technical aspects of their major. Topics may change from semester to semester and students may be required to work on specific projects, such as telethons or television news, as part of their workshop programs. Workshops may be repeated provided topics change. Instructor's and department chairperson's approvals required.
27.482 Mass Communications Seminar (3) - A seminar program that studies ethical and social problems resulting from the pervasiveness of new technologies. Topics may change from semester to semester. Students may repeat seminars, subject to a change in topic and with the approvals of the instructor and department chairperson.
27.485 RTF Authorship Theory and Practice (3) - A study of the construction of documentary and dramatic material in terms of telecommunications/film semiotics with an overall survey of production and business problems. A project course designed primarily for film, television and radio majors moving into mass communications production seminars. Prerequisite: 27.271.
27.497 Mass Communications Internship (3-9) - Open to junior and senior majors with a GPA of 2.75 in the major, although consideration will be given for other practical experience students may have. May include on-campus or off-campus study of a particular project arranged by the student, adviser and department chairperson. Interns are expected to have completed several of their basic specialist courses prior to applying for internships. Projects must be submitted in writing at least a month before the project is expected to begin and must be approved by the student's adviser and department chairperson. Course may be repeated within catalog regulations. Internships will become a compulsory part of the mass communications program. Credit is based on 3 semester hours for each 10 hours of work undertaken per week per semester. Limit is 9 total semester hours for internships. Special arrangements must be made for summer internships.