Catalog 2024-2025

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Communication and Media Studies

As a Communication and Media Studies major, you will learn how to be a critical thinker, engaged citizen, and ethical professional. You will study and write about the social, cultural, and historical forces that shape communication policies and practices while getting hands-on training in media production using both traditional and emerging technologies.

Our faculty will deepen your understanding of the First Amendment, research methods, data analytics, media institutions, and the importance of diversity and inclusion in a multicultural world. Graduates of our program enjoy successful careers in a wide range of sectors including public advocacy, entertainment, higher education, government, business, and law.

Communication and Media Studies Majors must complete a minimum of 12 courses made up of the six required Core courses, two Media Production courses, two Media Studies courses, and two Elective courses. One Media Production course and one Media Studies course must be at the 300 level or above. COM 354 Internship in Communication and COM 392 - COM 399 Independent Study in Communication can only count for four credit hours toward Electives. Students taking COM 499 Senior Project need to secure a faculty sponsor the semester before they plan to enroll. Students may be required to sign financial responsibility statements in order to check out production equipment.

Degree Requirements

Core Requirements

Communication and Media Studies majors must take the following courses:

COM 224Media and Society

4
COM 232Visual Literacy

4
COM 242Digital Citizenship

4
COM 323Digital Communication and Society

4
COM 327Communication and Law

4
COM 475Communication and Media Studies Capstone

4
Total Credit Hours:24

Media Production

Min. two courses; 8 credit hours; at least one course at the 300 level or above.

COM 212Co-Creative Documentary Abroad

4
COM 225Media Writing

4
COM 226Introduction to Scriptwriting for Motion Pictures and Television

4
COM 236UTTV Student Television

4
COM 250WUTT Student Radio

2 or 4
COM 203Studio TV 1

4
COM 315Web Design

4
COM 325Writing for Broadcast News

4
COM 333Studio TV II

4
COM 346Writing for Interactive Media

4
COM 348Writing the Situation Comedy

4
COM 349Game Writing

4
COM 375Critical Media Practice

4
COM 499Senior Project

4
MAPC 611Emerging Technologies

4
SEM 601Digital Storytelling

4
SEM 602Visual Design for Emerging Media

4
SEM 603Audio and Video Production for Emerging Media

4
SEM 611Media Creation and Project Management

4
SEM 613Advanced Production in Emerging Media

4
Total Credit Hours:8

NOTE: Only undergraduate students enrolled in the MASEM Accelerated Program may take a graduate course offered by the MASEM program (any course with a SEM prefix or MAPC 611).

Media Studies

Two courses; 8 credit hours: At least one at the 300 level or above.

COM 227Media in the Americas

4
COM 230Games and Culture

4
COM 255Fandom Studies/Critical Fan Studies

4
COM 260American Cinema

4
COM 261World Cinema

4
COM 300The Documentary Tradition

4
COM 301Introduction to Organizational Communication

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 390Ethnicity in Film and Literature

4
COM 401Intercultural Communication

4
COM 425Information Technology and Human Values

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
SEM 604Social and Emerging Media Strategy and Analytics

4
SEM 610User Experience and Audience Research

4
SEM 612Emerging Media: Industry, Policy, and Law

4
Total Credit Hours:8

NOTE: Only undergraduate students enrolled in the MASEM Accelerated Program may take a graduate course offered by the MASEM program (any course with a SEM prefix or MAPC 611).

Electives

Min. two Courses: 8 credit hours. Note: COM 354 Internship in Communication and COM 392 Independent Study in Communication can only count for four credit hours toward Electives. 

COM 222Media Aesthetics and Creativity

4
COM 225Media Writing

4
COM 226Introduction to Scriptwriting for Motion Pictures and Television

4
COM 227Media in the Americas

4
COM 230Games and Culture

4
COM 234Topics in Communication

1-4
COM 236UTTV Student Television

4
COM 250WUTT Student Radio

2 or 4
COM 255Fandom Studies/Critical Fan Studies

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 302Digital Media and Design for Communication

4
COM 203Studio TV 1

4
COM 315Web Design

4
COM 325Writing for Broadcast News

4
COM 332Television Criticism

4
COM 333Studio TV II

4
COM 335Survey of Independent Video and Film

4
COM 344Special Topics

1-4
COM 346Writing for Interactive Media

4
COM 348Writing the Situation Comedy

4
COM 349Game Writing

4
COM 350Strategic Social Media

4
COM 354Internship in Communication

1-4
COM 360Film Directors

4
COM 361Film Genres

4
COM 365Critical Analysis of Media Events

4
COM 370Women, Film and Popular Culture

4
COM 374Communication Research Methods

4
COM 375Critical Media Practice

4
COM 383Advertising Creative Direction

4
COM 384Writing for Public Relations

4
COM 388Multicultural and Prosocial Strategic Communication

4
COM 390Ethnicity in Film and Literature

4
COM 392Independent Study in Communication

1-4
COM 401Intercultural Communication

4
COM 425Information Technology and Human Values

4
COM 426Public Opinion, the Media and Power

4
COM 435Women Directors: Theory and Criticism

4
COM 436Communication and Media Ethics

4
COM 443Communication and Cultural Studies

4
COM 445The Image and the Reality

4
COM 446Advanced Topics in Communication

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 467Advanced Film Analysis

4
COM 483Advertising Campaigns

4
COM 484Public Relations Campaigns

4
COM 499Senior Project

4
EME 601Introduction to Instructional Design

4
EME 605Introduction to Distance Learning

4
EME 610Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology

4
EME 612Media for Instruction

4
EME 613Open Learning Environments in the 21st Century

4
EME 630Development of Multimedia Instruction

4
EME 660Seminar in Instructional Design

2
FMX 340Screenwriting Development

4
FMX 440Screenwriting Features

4
JOU 101Introduction to Journalism

4
JOU 213Travel Writing

4
JOU 221Multimedia Storytelling

4
JOU 271News Reporting and Writing

4
JOU 273The Minaret Student Newspaper

1-2
JOU 290Special Topics in Journalism

4
JOU 304Social Solutions Reporting

4
JOU 371Feature Writing

4
JOU 390Advanced Special Topics in Journalism

4
JOU 485Directed Writing in Journalism

1-4
JOU 490Journalism Studies: Career Internship for Journalism Majors

1-8
JOU 499Journalism Colloquium/Portfolio

2
MAPC 611Emerging Technologies

4
SEM 601Digital Storytelling

4
SEM 602Visual Design for Emerging Media

4
SEM 603Audio and Video Production for Emerging Media

4
SEM 604Social and Emerging Media Strategy and Analytics

4
SEM 610User Experience and Audience Research

4
SEM 611Media Creation and Project Management

4
SEM 612Emerging Media: Industry, Policy, and Law

4
SEM 613Advanced Production in Emerging Media

4
SPE 200Oral Communication

4
SPE 208Speech for Business and the Professions

4
SPE 212Global Speech, Human Rights and Social Justice

4
SPE 300Storytelling: Voice, Script and Movement

4
SPE 308Group Communication

4
SPE 310Interpersonal Communication

4
SPE 315Freedom of Speech and First Amendment Studies

4
SPE 330Special Topics in Speech

2-4
SPE 400Public Messages and Technology

4
SPE 425Persuasion, Argumentation, and Conflict Resolution

4
Total Credit Hours:8
 

Total Credit Hours: 48