Mass Communication, Advertising, and Public Relations
Note: the courses on this page reflect Summer Term 2008 offerings.
Please check back on December 15 for a list of courses available during Summer Term 2009.
College of Communication
COM CM 301 Principles and Practices of Public Relations
Introduction to origins, scope, and principles of professional practice.
Covers the theories, strategies, and tactics used in public relations programs
for corporate, governmental, and nonprofit institutions. Focuses on ethical
decision making in researching problems, setting objectives, identifying audiences,
designing messages, choosing communication channels, and evaluating results.
Examines opportunities and requirements for work in the field. 4 cr.
Top
COM CM 311 Oral Presentation
Fundamental problems, concepts, and research findings regarding effects
of personal, interpersonal, and public utterance on human behavior. Practice
of common forms of public speaking, small-group interaction, and decision making.
Sections A1 and A2 meet with COM CM 714 A1 and A2. 4 cr.
Top
COM CM 317 Introduction to Advertising
History, nature, function, practice, and social and economic aspects
of advertising; ethical responsibilities, psychological appeals, marketing,
media, research, product analysis, creative strategies, and agency operation.
Students prepare a comprehensive advertising plan including a marketing strategy
and speculative advertising campaign. 4 cr.
Top
COM CM 321 Mass Communication Research
Introduction to the philosophy and process of social-scientific research
and the most common methods used to study mass communication. Includes a variety
of research methods, an examination of data-analysis procedures, and an analysis
of mass communication issues. 4 cr.
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COM CM 323 Design in Communication
Provides knowledge and practice for effective design of visual media.
After analyzing how audiences perceive and interpret images, students will create
visual messages for maximum communication effectiveness in advertising, public
relations, and corporate communication. This course stresses selective use of
visual elements and their coherent combination for print, video and interactive
computer graphics. 4 cr.
Top
COM CM 331 Writing for Mass Communication
Explores writing style and formats, including readability, clarity,
crispness, color, and flow, for news releases, editorials, speeches, features,
profiles, and scripts. Lead writing, editing, and interviewing also covered.
Weekly writing assignments and rewriting. Develops ability to write publishable
copy for varied audiences using basic formats. 4 cr.
Top
COM CM 380 Theory and Process of Communication
Focuses on the nature, processes, and functions of communication
in human life. Discussions include basic assumptions of theory-building as
applied
to study of communication, cognition and language, and the contexts of communication.
Models and theories are reviewed and evaluated. 4 cr.
Top
COM CM 417 Advertising Copy and Design
Prereq: COM CM 317 and CM 331 or consent of instructor. Writing advertising copy and designing
effective layouts. Elements of effective advertising: creating ads, motivating
the reader, building campaigns, writing and rewriting, and preparing roughs
and comps. Developing a portfolio. Emphasizes print advertising; includes radio
and television. Meets with COM CM 717. 4 cr.
Top
COM CM 423 Portfolio Development for Advertising
Prereq: COM CM 317 and CM 331 and CM 417. A course for students intending
to work in the creative area of the advertising industry. Students develop
a portfolio of advertising campaigns for presentation during their search for
employment at advertising agencies. Print and broadcast ads
are designed to provide solutions to the clients' marketing problems. 4 cr.
Top
COM CM 441 Media Relations
Prereq: COM CM 301 and CM 331. Students study a variety of publicity
tactics (news conferences, feature placements, special events, and media tours)
which they combine into publicity campaign plans. The class involves lectures,
in-class discussion, video cases, and individual take-home cases. Students are
encouraged to plan most campaigns in their area of interest (e.g., business,
arts, sports, and politics). Meets with COM CM 742. 4 cr.
Top
COM CM 510 Computers in Communication
Introduction to the personal computer as a tool for human communication.
Shows how computers are used to design, produce, and deliver communication in
publishing, advertising, entertainment, and education. Students learn to use
basic computer tools to build works of communication in a variety of media,
including text, images, numbers, sound, and video. 4 cr.
Top
COM CM 518 Creating Broadcast Advertising
Prereq: COM CM 317, CM 331, and CM 417 or CM 708 and CM 717 or consent
of instructor. Techniques for creating television advertising that attract
and hold viewer attention.
Students
create
advertising
concepts, write commercials,
prepare storyboards, and consider the problems of casting, directing, editing,
and testing. 4 cr.
Top
COM CM 519 Interactive Marketing Communications
Prereq: COM CM 301 and CM 317. An overview of the theories, practices
and techniques in the emerging field of interactive marketing communications
(IAMC). Students gain
an understanding
of the strategy and tactics of IAMC and its place in the more comprehensive
business of marketing communications. In addition, students review IAMC's relationship
to and its effect on society, culture, and the economic system. 4 cr.
Top
COM CM 561 Special Topics: New Media and Public
Relations
Explores the effects of new media on the fundamental
theories, models and practices of public relations. Studies how websites,
blogs, citizen journalism, social media, direct-to-consumer communication, podcasting,
viral marketing, and other technology-enabled changes are affecting interpersonal,
small group and mass media relationships. Also covers and uses the
interactive tools that are re-defining the practice of public relations. The
course combines lecture, discussion, guest speakers, case study and research
to help students uncover and appreciate the power and potential of interactive
media. 4 cr.
Top
COM CM 561 Special Topics: The Power of Communication
Management
Through a multi-disciplinary approach, informed generally by the social
sciences and specifically by the communication sciences, students will gain two
life-long skill sets: the ability to understand where interpersonal and mediated
power comes from, and the ability to control how power influences their personal
and workplace choices. “Power” permeates all relationships: interpersonal,
organizational and national—and this course teaches students how to
understand, control, and make use of it. The class deconstructs “power
in communication management” examining its foundations, mechanisms, management,
emotional fabric, and higher uses. It balances theoretical instruction with
applied workforce training. It examines communications’s power at the “macro-level,” informing
students of its influence on social, cultural, economic and political choices,
and at a “micro level,” informing students of its influence on interpersonal
and workplace decisions. 4 cr.
Top
COM CM 714 Oral Presentation
Study and application of the principles of oral presentation, persuasion,
and interviewing. Ingredients of effective preparation for and delivery of
informative
and persuasive presentations. Emphasis on self-criticism for self-improvement.
Meets with COM CM 311 A1 and A2. 4 cr.
Top
COM CM 717 Advertising Copy and Design
Examines the creative process
in advertising including concept development, copywriting, layout, and campaign
strategies. Emphasis is on print advertising, but radio and television commercials
are also included. Assignments include consumer and trade advertisements
for both new and mature products. Meets with COM CM 417. 4 cr.
Top
COM CM 742 Media Relations
Prereq: COM CM 701 and CM 707. Students learn publicity techniques
used in media of mass communication including daily and weekly newspapers, magazines,
radio, television, and film. Practitioners invited to class to present publicity
problems. Case study method and workshop sessions with informal discussion.
Meets with COM CM 441. 4 cr.
Top
Metropolitan College
MET CM 702 Advertising and Society
Analyzes the impact of advertising on individuals and society and evaluates
the ethical, moral, and legal questions relating to the advertising industry.
The history of advertising and the rise of consumerism are studied to create
a paradigm for understanding the social effects of advertising. Students
study
the issues of advertising in cyberspace and questions of privacy and protection
from intrusive communication messages. Permission required for non-MET
students. Contact 755 Commonwealth Avenue, Room 103 (617-353-3000) for more
information. 4 cr.
Top
MET CM 708 Principles and Practices of Advertising
Overview of the nature, function, practice, and social, economic,
and behavioral aspects of advertising. Student teams develop advertising plans,
create campaigns, and explore problems of account management, creativity, production,
and ethics. Permission required for non-MET students. Contact 755 Commonwealth
Avenue, Room 103 (617-353-3000) for more information. 4 cr.
Top
MET CM 716 Computers in Communication
Introduction to the personal computer as a tool for human communication.
Shows how computers are used to design, produce, and deliver communication in
publishing, advertising, entertainment, and education. Students learn to use
basic computer tools to build works of communication in a variety of media, including
text, images, numbers, sound, and video.
Permission required for non-MET students.
Contact 755 Commonwealth Avenue, Room 103 (617-353-3000) for more information.
4 cr.
Top
MET CM 810 Directed Study
Independent study in advertising under faculty guidance. Requires approval
of program director. Contact Professor Cakebread (ccakebre@bu.edu)
for more information. Variable cr.
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