The five COM tracks within the IRIC program are detailed below. Many COM classes have a prerequisite, typically the required class of the track. Prerequisites are noted in parentheses after course titles.
Several classes available as track options require COM CM 707, Writing for Media Professionals, as a prerequisite. CM 707 counts as a COM elective, not a track course. It is taught only in the Fall term, so students should plan accordingly. For international students who are not native English speakers, CM 705, Writing for International Students, is accepted in lieu of CM 707.
Some courses (noted in parentheses) are taught only as part of the Mass Communication London program or the Journalism programs in London and Washington, DC.
Actual year to year course offerings vary depending on faculty availability. Most classes are taught once per year, but some may be taught less frequently.
International Journalism
Required Track Courses
- COM JO 721 Journalism Principles & Techniques
- COM JO 722 Advanced Journalism Seminar
The requirement of JO 721 and/or JO 722 may be waived for students with substantive prior journalism experience. Students wishing to waive this requirement should talk with the COM coordinator.
Optional Track Courses
- COM CM 556 Strategies for Issue Development & Policy Change (DC Only)
- COM CM 831 International Communication
- COM JO 502 Journalism Special Topics
- COM JO 503 Journalism Research
- COM JO 510 Government & the Press (DC Only)
- COM JO 516 Foreign Reporting
- COM JO 519 Narrative Radio
- COM JO 523 The Presidency and the Media
- COM JO 525 Media Law & Ethics
- COM JO 534 Broadcast News for Non-Majors
- COM JO 535 Investigative and Project Reporting (JO 721, Spring Semester Only)
- COM JO 538 Feature Writing (JO 721)
- COM JO 540 Online Journalism
- COM JO 550 Advanced Online Journalism (JO 540)
- COM JO 703 Magazine Writing
- COM JO 707 TV/Internet Reporting
- COM JO 807 Advanced Journalism Research (CM 503)
- COM JO 954 (8 credits) Print Directed Study Newsroom (DC Only)
The 8 credit Statehouse Program (JO 546) may be taken as credit toward COM electives, but may not be used toward COM track coursework. Interested students will need to obtain permission from the instructor of JO 546 prior to registering for it. Because the class is essentially a monitored internship, no further internship credits can be taken by students who take JO 546.
International Marketing
Required Track Course
- COM CM 708 Principles & Practices of Advertising (Fall Semester Only)
Optional Track Courses
- COM CM 518 Creating Video Campaigns (CM 708 and CM 717)
- COM CM 519 Interactive Marketing (CM 708)
- COM CM 555 Writing for Multimedia (CM 707)
- COM CM 702 Advertising & Society
- COM CM 712 Consumer Insight & Account Planning (CM 708) (Fall Semester Only)
- COM CM 716 New & Traditional Media Strategies (CM 708)
- COM CM 717 Fundamentals of Creative Development (Fall Semester Only)
- COM CM 721 Advertising Management (CM 708)
- COM CM 722 Communication Research
- COM CM 730 Marketing Communication
- COM CM 738ELP Global Marketing Communication (London Only)
- COM CM 744ELP International Political & Media Systems (London Only)
- COM CM 809EB1 London Internship (London Only)
- COM CM 909EB1 Project Research (London Only)
- COM JO 804 International Business & Economics Reporting
Public Relations
Required Track Course
- COM CM 701 Contemporary Public Relations (Fall Semester Only)
Optional Track Courses
- COM CM 510 Computers in Communication
- COM CM 513 Investor Relations (Fall Semester Only)
- COM CM 515 Community Relations (CM 701) (Offered Irregularly)
- COM CM 522 Managing Corporate Crises & Issues (CM 701)
- COM CM 525 Public Relations Ethics (CM 701)
- COM CM 534 Communication Strategies in Negotiation & Conflict Resolution (Offered Irregularly)
- COM CM 535 Political Campaigning (Offered Irregularly)
- COM CM 709 Corporate Public Affairs (CM 701; Spring Semester Only)
- COM CM 715 Public Relations in Nonprofit Settings (CM 701; Spring Semester Only)
- COM CM 738ELP Global Marketing Communication (London Only)
- COM CM 742 Media Relations (CM 701 & CM 707; Spring Semester Only)
- COM CM 743 New Media and Public Relations (CM 701)
- COM CM 744ELP International Political & Media Systems (London Only)
- COM CM 809EB1 London Internship (London Only)
- COM CM 831 International Communication
- COM CM 909EB1 Project Research (London Only)
Public Relations students are strongly encouraged to take one (or more) of the following: CM 709 or CM 715. These classes provide grounding in the primary branches of the PR field
Global Communications Technology Policy
Required Track Course
- COM CM 514 New Communication Technologies (Fall Semester Only)
Optional Track Courses
- COM CM 510 Computers in Communication
- COM CM 519 Interactive Marketing (CM 708)
- COM CM 523 Design & Interactive Experience (CM 510)
- COM CM 529 Design & New Media II (Instructor Consent)
- COM CM 555 Writing for Multimedia (CM 707)
- COM CM 704 Contemporary Mass Media (Fall Semester Only)
- COM CM 743 New Media & Public Relations (CM 701)
- COM JO 540 Multimedia Publishing
Communication Research
Required Track Course
- CM 722 Communication Research
Optional Track Courses
- CM 723 Advanced Communication Research (CM 722; Spring Semester Only)
- CM 724 Sampling Design & Measurement Techniques (Consent of Instructor; Spring Semester Only)
- CM 824 Technical Writing for Communication Research (CM 722, CM 723, CM 724; Fall Semester Only)