Catalog 2014-2015

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Communication Major

The communication major educates students to become critical thinkers and humane communicators capable of using traditional and emerging technologies effectively. Students select at least one of four possible concentrations to complete the degree: communication studies, media studies, writing for media and communication, and/or critical media practice.

The communication studies concentration focuses on communication practices and theory. Students learn to understand the social and cultural factors that shape communication and learn to apply diverse theories and problem-solving skills. The concentration is for students who plan careers in professions and industries that use or leverage communication to reach various and/or specific audiences. In addition to for-profit and nonprofit organizations, professions include media industries, government, law, business, health and international relations. The major and concentration also prepares students for a variety of post-graduate degrees.

The media studies concentration focuses on the study of media practices, and their role, history and power in society. Students learn to understand the social, cultural and historical forces that shape media and, in turn, how media shapes society. Students will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The concentration is for students who plan careers in professions and industries that require a wide range of understanding of media and communication. In addition to media industries, such professions include government, law, business, health and international relations. The concentration also prepares students for a range of post-graduate degrees.

The writing for media and communication concentration focuses on applied traditions and forms of media writing in such fields as news, advertising, public relations, screenwriting and interactive media. Students learn advanced theories and techniques. The concentration is for students who plan careers in professions and industries that require expertise in  media writing and communication.

The critical media practice concentration focuses on the forms, crafts, content and technologies of media in order to critically engage social issues and problems. Students learn to develop analytical, problem-solving and communication skills as they utilize media for specific goals. The concentration is for students who wish to practice critical and strongly rhetorical communication through new and traditional media for civic engagement, advocacy, activism and public address.


Communication majors must complete a minimum of 57 credit hours, including:

Core Requirements (12 credit hours)

Core Electives in the following areas (20 credit hours):

  • Media, Culture and Society (8 credit hours)
  • Writing (8 credit hours)
  • Production  (4 credit hours)

Concentration Courses in one of the following areas (16 credit hours):

  • Communication Studies
  • Media Studies
  • Writing for Media and Communication
  • Critical Media Practice

Additional Electives (8 credit hours)

Portfolio Review (1 credit hour)


Students must declare at least one of the following concentrations: communication studies, media studies, writing for media and communication, and/or critical media practice. Within the required 16 concentration credit hours, a minimum of 12 credit hours must be at the 300 level or above. At least one of those courses must be at the 400 level.

Among the “Additional Electives,” one course must be at the 300 level or above.

Students may take a maximum of 8 credit hours of independent study to fulfill the requirements of the major.

A student who wishes to enroll in COM 499 Senior Project should secure a faculty sponsor the semester preceding the semester in which she or he plans to enroll.

The program provides individual access to production equipment in courses involving production. Students will be required to sign financial responsibility statements to gain access to the equipment.

During their senior year, students must complete a 1-credit pass/fail Portfolio Review before graduation.

Degree Requirements

Core Requirements (12 Credit Hours)

Communication majors must take the following courses:
COM 224Mass Media and Society

4
COM 232Visual Literacy

4
COM 242Digital Citizenship

4
Total Credit Hours:12

Core Electives (20 Credit Hours)

Note: Some courses listed require prerequisites that are outside of the list, but students can take those prerequisites as part of their “Additional Electives” and/or concentration courses if they choose to, so that no additional credits are required for the major.

Media, Culture, and Society Core Electives (8 Credit Hours)

Communication majors must select at least two courses from the following list:


ART 211Art and Technology

4
ART 277Modern Art

4
COM 222Media Aesthetics and Creativity

4
COM 260American Cinema

4
COM 261World Cinema

4
COM 283Principles of Advertising

4
COM 284Principles of Public Relations

4
COM 300The Documentary Tradition

4
COM 301Introduction to Organizational Communication

4
COM 323Frontiers of Communication

4
COM 327Communication and Law

4
COM 332Television Criticism

4
COM 334Information and the New World Order

4
COM 335Survey of Independent Video and Film

4
COM 360Film Directors

4
COM 361Film Genres

4
COM 365Critical Analysis of Media Events

4
COM 370Women, Film and Popular Culture

4
COM 380Culture, Society and Computing Technology

4
COM 401Intercultural Communication

4
COM 425Information Technology and Human Values

4
COM 426Public Opinion, the Media and Power

4
COM 431Traditions of Digital Media

4
COM 435Women Directors: Theory and Criticism

4
COM 436Critical Studies in Public Communication

4
COM 443Communication and Cultural Studies

4
COM 445The Image and the Reality

4
COM 450Experimental Cinema: History and Theory

4
COM 455Film Theory and Criticism

4
COM 465Senior Seminar in Cinema Studies

4
COM 466International Advertising

4
COM 470Communication Research Methods

4
COMH 220Revolutions in and on TV (Honors)

4
COMH 390Ethnicity in Film and Literature (Honors)

4
LIT 249Transformation: Fiction to Screen

4
LIT 444Wordimagebookscreen

4
GWA 326Political Campaigns and Electoral Politics

4
JOU 101Introduction to Journalism

4
Total Credit Hours:8

 

Writing Core Electives (8 Credit Hours)

Communication majors must select at least two courses from the following list:

COM 225Media Writing

4
COM 226Introduction to Scriptwriting for Motion Pictures and Television

4
COM 325Writing for Broadcast News

4
COM 337Corporate Uses of Media

4
COM 340Screenwriting I

4
COM 346Writing for Interactive Media

4
COM 348Writing the Situation Comedy

4
COM 383Writing for Advertising

4
COM 384Writing for Public Relations

4
COM 440Screenwriting II

4
JOU 271News Reporting and Writing

4
JOU 371Feature Writing

4
WRI 240Writing Drama

4
WRI 247Dramatic Writing for Radio and Alternative Performance

4
WRI 260Fiction Writing I

4
WRI 274Creative Nonfiction

4
WRI 285Information Design

4
Total Credit Hours:8

 

Production Core Electives (4 Credit Hours)

Communication majors must select at least one course from the following list:

 

ART 204Beginning Design

4
ART 208Beginning Photography

4
ART 210Beginning Digital Arts

4
ART 217Beginning 3-D Animation

4
ART 238Animation I

4
ART 305Introduction to Graphic Design

4
ART 306Graphic Design II

4
ART 308Advanced Photography

4
ART 310Advanced Digital Arts

4
ART 311Online Production

4
ART 317Advanced 3-D Animation

4
ART 338Animation II

4
ART 430Physical Computing

4
COM 241Introduction to Sound, Image and Motion

4
COM 302Digital Arts for Professional Communication

4
COM 303Studio Television I

4
COM 312Narrative Production

4
COM 313Documentary Production

4
COM 314Experimental Filmmaking

4
COM 315Web Design

4
COM 331The Creative Triangle

4
COM 333Studio Television II

4
COM 339Mobile Application Design

4
COM 342Producing for Motion Picture and Digital Media

4
COM 343Advanced Post-Production Techniques

4
COM 363DVD Design and Production

4
COM 373Interactive Journalism Production

4
COM 381Digital Imaging

4
JOU 221Multimedia Journalism I: The Digital Tool Kit

4
JOU 304Multimedia Journalism II: The Converged Newsroom

4
Total Credit Hours:4

 

Concentration Courses (16 Credit Hours)

Students must declare at least one Concentration from the following areas: Communication Studies, Media Studies, Writing for Media and Communication, or Critical Media Practice. A minimum of 16 credit hours must be completed in a concentration. Within these 16 credits, a minimum of 12 credits must be at the 300-level or above. At least one of those courses must be at the 400-level.

 

Note: Some courses under each list require prerequisites that are outside of the list, but students can take those prerequisites as part of their “Core Electives” and/or “Additional Electives” if they choose to, so that no additional credits are required for the major.

Communication Studies Concentration (16 Credit Hours)

Communication majors declaring a concentration in Communication Studies must take at least 16 credit hours from the following list.  Within these 16 credits, a minimum of 12 credits must be at the 300 level or above. At least one of those courses must be at the 400 level.

COM 283Principles of Advertising

4
COM 284Principles of Public Relations

4
COM 301Introduction to Organizational Communication

4
COM 323Frontiers of Communication

4
COM 327Communication and Law

4
COM 334Information and the New World Order

4
COM 380Culture, Society and Computing Technology

4
COM 401Intercultural Communication

4
COM 425Information Technology and Human Values

4
COM 426Public Opinion, the Media and Power

4
COM 436Critical Studies in Public Communication

4
COM 466International Advertising

4
COM 470Communication Research Methods

4
COM 499Senior Project

4
GWA 326Political Campaigns and Electoral Politics

4
JOU 101Introduction to Journalism

4
Total Credit Hours:16

 

Media Studies Concentration (16 Credit Hours)

Communication majors declaring a concentration in Media Studies must take at least 16 credit hours from the following list.  Within these 16 credits, a minimum of 12 credits must be at the 300 level or above. At least one of those courses must be at the 400 level.

ART 211Art and Technology

4
COM 260American Cinema

4
COM 261World Cinema

4
COM 300The Documentary Tradition

4
COM 332Television Criticism

4
COM 335Survey of Independent Video and Film

4
COM 360Film Directors

4
COM 361Film Genres

4
COM 365Critical Analysis of Media Events

4
COM 370Women, Film and Popular Culture

4
COM 431Traditions of Digital Media

4
COM 435Women Directors: Theory and Criticism

4
COM 443Communication and Cultural Studies

4
COM 445The Image and the Reality

4
COM 450Experimental Cinema: History and Theory

4
COM 455Film Theory and Criticism

4
COM 465Senior Seminar in Cinema Studies

4
COM 499Senior Project

4
COMH 220Revolutions in and on TV (Honors)

4
COMH 390Ethnicity in Film and Literature (Honors)

4
LIT 249Transformation: Fiction to Screen

4
Total Credit Hours:16

 

Writing for Media and Communication Concentration (16 Credit Hours)

Communication majors declaring a concentration in Writing for Media and Communication must take at least 16 credit hours from the following list.  Within these 16 credits, a minimum of 12 credits must be at the 300 level or above. At least one of those courses must be at the 400 level.

COM 225Media Writing

4
COM 226Introduction to Scriptwriting for Motion Pictures and Television

4
COM 250Practicum in Broadcast Management

1-4
COM 325Writing for Broadcast News

4
COM 337Corporate Uses of Media

4
COM 340Screenwriting I

4
COM 346Writing for Interactive Media

4
COM 348Writing the Situation Comedy

4
COM 383Writing for Advertising

4
COM 384Writing for Public Relations

4
COM 440Screenwriting II

4
COM 499Senior Project

4
JOU 271News Reporting and Writing

4
JOU 273Practicum in Student Publications

1-4
JOU 371Feature Writing

4
WRI 220Writing on and for the Web

4
WRI 240Writing Drama

4
WRI 247Dramatic Writing for Radio and Alternative Performance

4
WRI 260Fiction Writing I

4
WRI 274Creative Nonfiction

4
WRI 285Information Design

4
Total Credit Hours:16

Critical Media Practice Concentration (8 Credit Hours)

Communication majors declaring a concentration in Critical Media Practice must complete the two required courses and the requirements in “Theory” and “Form” below.

  

The following courses are required for the Concentration in Critical Media Practice:

COM 375Critical Media Practice

4
COM 475Seminar in Critical Media Practice

4
Total Credit Hours:8

Critical Media Practice Concentration: Theory Electives (4 Credit Hours)

Students claiming a concentration in Critical Media Practice must choose at least one course from the list below:

COM 300The Documentary Tradition

4
COM 323Frontiers of Communication

4
COM 332Television Criticism

4
COM 334Information and the New World Order

4
COM 365Critical Analysis of Media Events

4
COM 380Culture, Society and Computing Technology

4
COM 425Information Technology and Human Values

4
COM 426Public Opinion, the Media and Power

4
COM 431Traditions of Digital Media

4
Total Credit Hours:4

Critical Media Practice Concentration: Form Electives (4 Credit Hours)

Communication majors claiming a concentration in Critical Media Practice must choose at least one course from the list below:
ART 210Beginning Digital Arts

4
ART 311Online Production

4
COM 222Media Aesthetics and Creativity

4
COM 241Introduction to Sound, Image and Motion

4
COM 303Studio Television I

4
COM 313Documentary Production

4
COM 314Experimental Filmmaking

4
COM 315Web Design

4
COM 333Studio Television II

4
COM 339Mobile Application Design

4
COM 373Interactive Journalism Production

4
COM 463Multimedia and Installation Art

4
JOU 221Multimedia Journalism I: The Digital Tool Kit

4
JOU 304Multimedia Journalism II: The Converged Newsroom

4
Total Credit Hours:4

Additional Electives (8 Credit Hours)

Communication majors are required to take 8 credit hours of electives from any list of Communication course offerings, including the courses in categories above and those listed below. One course must be at 300 or 400 level.
COM 250Practicum in Broadcast Management

1-4
COM 354Internship in Communication

1-4
COM 392-399Independent Study in Communication

1-4
COM 446Advanced Topics in Communication

4
COM 452Advanced Producing and the International Film Market

4
COM 460Senior Seminar in Film and Digital Production

4
COM 466International Advertising

4
COM 499Senior Project

4
COM 583Advertising Campaigns

4
COM 584Public Relations Campaigns

4
Total Credit Hours:8

Communication Major: Portfolio Review (1 Credit Hour)

During their senior year, Communication Majors must complete a 1-credit pass/fail Portfolio Review before graduation. Students are eligible to submit their portfolio in their senior year.

COM 490Portfolio Reivew

1
Total Credit Hours:1

All portfolios must include:

  1. A three- to five-page essay that describes, contextualizes, and connects the works submitted in the Portfolio. The essay should (a) explain why the student has chosen the selected works and make a case for their significance; and (b) explain how they fit or represent the student’s overall goals.
  2. A writing sample relevant to the Communication field that demonstrates advanced research and analytical skills.
  3. A work of “media” (e.g., web page, film/video, publication) that demonstrates technical proficiency, mastery of aesthetic principles and creativity.
  4. A paper or project that demonstrates highly developed knowledge and skills related to the student’s Concentration. 

Students who choose more than one Concentration must submit work for each Concentration.

Total Credit Hours: 57