Communication Track

From film production to public relations to journalism, there’s no disputing that Boston boasts a thriving communication industry. Boston is home to a vibrant creative economy that features some of the best minds in newspaper reporting, broadcasting, advertising, and filmmaking.

Exploring topics ranging from PR, advertising, and mass communication to new media, film genres, and journalism, students put their knowledge to practice in internships at film and television production companies, radio stations, news services, marketing and ad agencies, and others.

Perspectives from an Intern
"Really great courses and professors. Superb internship placement."

Bryan Blatt, Syracuse University
Intern, Powderhouse Productions

Summer 1: The Academic Phase
(May 19 – June 26, 2009)

The dates for the 2010 program have not been announced yet. Please check back on December 15 for next summer's information.

You’ll spend your first six weeks of the Summer Study Internship Program taking two 4-credit courses chosen from the following offerings in communication. The course section has course descriptions and schedules.

Select Two:

  • CAS WS 346 Women and Film

    • Study of primarily American films, exploring how the medium has shaped and been shaped by cultural perceptions of women. Readings provide background for interpretation of films ranging from screwball comedy to film noir, "women's films," and films by women directors   [ 4 cr.]

    Offered: Summer 1 2009

    Section Type Instructor Location Days Times
    SA1 IND Gottfried SHA 210 T, R 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM
  • 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.]

    Offered: Summer 1 2009

    Section Type Instructor Location Days Times
    SA1 IND Downes COM 210 M, W 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
  • 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.]

    Offered: Summer 1 2009

    Section Type Instructor Location Days Times
    SA1 IND Cakebread COM 213 M, W 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM
  • 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.]

    Offered: Summer 1 2009

    Section Type Instructor Location Days Times
    SA1 IND Wu COM 109 T, R 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
  • COM CM 323 Design in Communication

    • Provides knowledge and practice for effective graphic design for all media. Develops a foundation in design principles and software skills including Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. Students create projects demonstrating how graphic design is used to engage an audience and enhance comprehension of all forms of mass communication from traditional print to new media.   [ 4 cr.]

    Offered: Summer 1 2009

    Section Type Instructor Location Days Times
    SA1 IND Macario COM 206 T, R 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM
  • 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.]

    Offered: Summer 1 2009

    Section Type Instructor Location Days Times
    SA1 IND Clark COM 106 T, R 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM
    SA2 IND Clark COM 109 T, R 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM
  • COM CM 345 Public Relations in Nonprofit Settings

    • Students examine the role of managed communication and marketing in public relations problems unique to health, education, and human and public service organizations. Analysis of organizational structure, publics, public relations and communication programs, and fund-raising practices of these agencies.   [ 4 cr.]

    Prereq: COM CM 301; or consent of instructor.

    Offered: Summer 1 2009

    Section Type Instructor Location Days Times
    SA1 IND Downes COM 111 T, R 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
  • COM CM 409 Persuasion and Public Opinion

    • The theories, strategy, and techniques of persuasion as a means of shaping public opinion and attitudes. How individuals, business, government, and institutions craft messages and communicate through the press, entertainment media, advertising, and public relations. Ascertaining and understanding the beliefs, attitudes, and values of groups and society.   [ 4 cr.]

    Offered: Summer 1 2009

    Section Type Instructor Location Days Times
    SA1 IND Wu COM 109 M, W 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
  • COM CM 441 Media Relations

    • 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.]

    Prereq: COM CM 301 and COM CM 331.

    Offered: Summer 1 2009

    Section Type Instructor Location Days Times
    SA1 IND Lambert SCI 113 T, R 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
  • COM CM 443 New Media and Public Relations

    • Prereq: COM CM 301. 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.]

    Offered: Summer 1 2009

    Section Type Instructor Location Days Times
    SA1 IND Quigley COM 106 M, W 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
  • 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.]

    Offered: Summer 1 2009

    Section Type Instructor Location Days Times
    SA1 IND Lee COM 206 M, W 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
  • COM CM 561 New Media and Public Relations

    • Summer 1 2009 Topics: A1 Digital Marketing: Creating Brand Dialog, A2 Event Planning and Management.   [ 4 cr.]

    Prereq: consent of instructor.

    Offered: Summer 1 2009

    Section Type Instructor Location Days Times
    SA2 IND O'connor COM 317 T, R 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
  • COM FT 310 Screenwriting I

    • Required of all students in the Film Program. An introduction to the principles of screenwriting; proper use of film form; creation of characters and narrative in writing the short film.   [ 4 cr.]

    Prereq: COM CO 201.

    Offered: Summer 1 2009

    Section Type Instructor Location Days Times
    SA1 IND Bernstein COM 323 M, W 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM
  • COM FT 553 Special Topics

    • Topics for Summer 2009: Summer 1: A1 The Blockbuster; A2 Hollywood Genre. Summer 2: B1 The Contemporary Western; B2 The Film of Joel and Ethan Coen; B3 Advanced Screenwriting.   [ 4 cr.]

    Prereq: only when specified.

    Offered: Summer 1 2009

    Section Type Instructor Location Days Times
    SA1 IND Bernstein COM B05 T, R 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM
    SA2 IND Root COM B05 T, R 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM
  • COM JO 305 Basic Photography

    • Covers camera operation and inkjet printing. There are 19 assignments due throughout the course that help the new photo student to learn about qualities of light, how to freeze action, use depth of field, use a hot-shoe flash in different situations, to shoot at night, to use filters, to photograph a famous person and a self portrait. In the final assignment, students will shoot a photo essay. Covers the basics of Adobe Photoshop; digital hygiene, how to create a filing system, how to color correct and convert images to black and white, non-destructive editing, sharpening, color correction and resolution. Students must provide a digital SLR camera that exposes and focuses manually. They must also provide a hot-shoe flash and inkjet photo quality printing paper.   [ 4 cr.]

    Prereq: consent of instructor for non-COM students

    Offered: Summer 1 2009

    Section Type Instructor Location Days Times
    SA1 IND Smith COM ARR T, W, R 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
  • COM JO 307 Newswriting and Reporting I

    • Fundamentals of news gathering, newswriting and editing, and the evaluation of news stories. Daily writing practice under deadline conditions. Students must meet COM typing requirement.   [ 4 cr.]

    Prereq: COM CO 201 and CAS WR 150.

    Offered: Summer 1 2009

    Section Type Instructor Location Days Times
    SA1 IND Gavin COM 214 M, T, W 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
  • COM JO 502 Journalism Special Topics

    • Topics for Summer 2009: A1 Culinary Journalism, B1 Travel Writing: The Journalism of People and Place, B2 The Journalism of Place: Writing and Drawing.   [ 4 cr.]

    Prereq: COM JO 308.

    Offered: Summer 1 2009

    Section Type Instructor Location Days Times
    SA1 IND Klarfeld COM 209 T, W, R 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
  • SMG MK 486 E-Commerce Marketing

    • This course is an in-depth look at e-commerce from a marketing perspective. Topics include an investigation of current e-business models, website analysis, customer acquisition and retention strategies, and consumer behavior on the Internet. Students explore e-commerce marketing through lectures, class discussion, guest speakers, text readings, cases, and interactive exercises.   [ 4 cr.]

    Prereq: SMG MK 323.

    Offered: Summer 1 2009

    Section Type Instructor Location Days Times
    SA1 IND Utter SMG 224 T, R 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Summer 2: The Internship Phase (July 6 – August 14, 2009)

The dates for the 2010 program have not been announced yet. Please check back on December 15 for next summer's information.

For the second six weeks of the program, you’ll be placed as an intern in a Boston-area organization or business that matches your interests and experience. You should expect to work five days a week for a minimum of 35 hours.

Communication Internship Opportunities

Internship placement opportunities are available at film and television companies; radio stations; independent production companies; news services; advertising, marketing, and public relations agencies; newspapers; and magazines.

Internship Placement

  • Guaranteed internship placement for 35 hours a week
  • Internship matches are based on your interests, abilities, and experience
  • All internship sites are accessible by public transportation
  • Visit our Placement Process page for additional information

Summer Study Internship Course (May 22 – August 11, 2009)

The dates for the 2010 program have not been announced yet. Please check back on December 15 for next summer's information.

Throughout the 12 weeks of the Summer Study Internship Program, you will participate in a required 2-credit Summer Study Internship Course. This course serves as a means of preparing you for the internship and provides support as you adjust to a new workplace. It will also provide you with an opportunity to explore links between your academic coursework and your work experience.

You’ll have a faculty advisor and a shared forum with other interns to address your expectations, goals, and challenges as an intern. In the Internship Course, you will continue to develop as a professional by addressing topics such as workplace culture, networking skills, and self-assessment.