Courses

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  • COM FT 849: Film Production I
    A practical, hands-on introduction to film production techniques. Lectures and demonstrations cover such topics as cinematography, studio and location lighting, sound recording, transferring, bench and flatbed editing, and sound mixing. Workshops and assignments coincide with lectures to give students practical experience and extensive hands-on training. Each student produces a short 16 mm film, which must be brought to the interlock stage (edited picture and separate mixed magnetic sound track) by the end of the semester.
  • COM FT 850: Film Production II
    Students master the equipment and techniques of synchronous sound filming. Using a range of professional sync cameras and Nagra tape recorders, students complete several shooting and editing assignments and, working in groups of three, write and produce a short dramatic film. Emphasis is placed on shooting coverage of scenes to allow for dramatic editing possibilities.
  • COM FT 851: Thesis Preparation
    This course, required of second semester film production graduate students, explores the aesthetic and technical parameters of the short film format with the goal of celebrating the short form as a genre unto itself. Students also develop and write their thesis scripts in preparation for thesis production the following year.
  • COM FT 852: Thesis Project
    Devoted to completion of thesis projects in film production and film studies.
  • COM FT 855: Telecommunication Seminars
    Seminars by individual faculty members on topics of their choice, normally ones in which they are engaged in research or special study. Not more than two such seminars are offered in any one semester. Subjects and instructors announced before registration.
  • COM FT 856: Telecommunication Seminars
    Seminars by individual faculty members on topics of their choice, normally ones in which they are engaged in research or special study. Not more than two such seminars are offered in any one semester. Subjects and instructors announced before registration.
  • COM FT 951: Directed Studies
    Individual projects: opportunity for advanced graduate students who have completed a major portion of their degree requirements to engage in in-depth tutorial study with specific faculty in an area not normally covered by regular curriculum offerings.
  • COM FT 952: Directed Studies
    Individual projects: opportunity for advanced graduate students who have completed a major portion of their degree requirements to engage in in-depth tutorial study with specific faculty in an area not normally covered by regular curriculum offerings.
  • COM FT 953: Internship
    On-the-job experience at television stations, film and video production studios, networks, cable television operations, advertising agencies, radio stations, and corporations. Can be taken in the Boston area after the first semester of matriculation and anywhere in the country during the summer.
  • COM JO 100: Introduction to Journalism
    This course is a basic introduction to the field of journalism. It will acquaint students from COM and across the university to the journalism profession from a practitioner's perspective. 2 cr, either sem.
  • COM JO 250: Fundamentals of Journalism
    Required of journalism majors. The goal is for students to acquire fundamental newsgathering and writing skills needed to thrive as a journalist working in any medium. The course is based in the classroom, but students are expected to learn and adhere to professional newsroom standards. The course focuses on essential practices and principles that apply to reporters, photographers, bloggers, producers and editors at newspapers, magazines, radio, television and online media. The class emphasizes news judgment, storytelling and reporting skills as well as writing clearly and quickly. 4 cr, either sem.
  • COM JO 301: Editorial Design
    This is a studio course where students learn to design for print. Students will design a newsletter and sample pages for a magazine on topics of their own choosing. Students will learn and design with QuarkXPress, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator. This course covers the principles of typography, composition, and visual language and encourages creative/innovative ideas. All projects will be portfolio pieces. 4 cr, either sem.
  • COM JO 303: Visual Journalism
    Required of journalism majors. This course familiarizes all journalism majors with the fundamentals of digital photography and videography, and to teach the skills necessary for the uses of both media in journalism. Students will learn the basics of how to produce online media reports. 4 cr, either sem.
  • COM JO 304: Online Journalism
    Required of journalism majors. This course introduces students to reporting, writing and creating multimedia journalism for the web. Students will view and critique news web site and learn how to create stories using a variety mediums. They will learn which elements -- text, stills, audio, video, and interactive graphics -- are best for delivering a story and engaging an online news audience. Students will learn the basics of the tools needed to create multimedia journalism packages and practice using them to report news online. 4 cr, either sem.
  • COM JO 305: Basic Photography for non majors
    Students learn the fundamentals of 35mm digital photography from the basics of image capture to processing and printing finished photographs, and an introduction to the use of photos in digital media. No previous experience in photography is required. 4 cr., either sem.
  • COM JO 309: Feature Writing
    Writing feature articles for newspapers. Covers markets open to free-lance writers, published articles, newspaper feature sections, and Sunday supplements.
  • COM JO 310: Beat Reporting
    Students learn to cover a city neighborhood or a nearby community bear. Students will branch out across the city and suburbs to cover courts, crime, education, local and state politics, and other essentials of community reporting. Students will be encouraged to develop their own sources and story ideas with the goal of professional publication in the Boston University News Service. Students produce stories, photos, audio and video for the Web. 4 cr, either sem.
  • COM JO 312: Photojournalism I
    An introductory course for students interested in pursuing a career in photojournalism and visual reporting. Students photograph assignments to the standards of professional news outlets and advance their skills in digital photography for use on websites and in publications. 4 cr., either sem.
  • COM JO 351: Reporting with Audio and Video
    Introductory writing and reporting for television, the Internet and radio using digital video cameras, audio recorders, editing suites as well as the computer editing and the news writing software used in professional television and radio newsrooms. 4 cr, either sem.
  • COM JO 357: History and Principles of Journalism
    This course surveys the evolution of the American news media, beginning with newspapers in 1704 and continuing through the coming of the Internet and the Digital Revolution now sweeping through journalism. Students examine press freedom, censorship, changing definitions of news, and changes in the business model underlying journalism. Based on that history, we also examine the enduring values and principles of journalism in the U.S. and consider emerging business models. 4 cr, either sem.

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