Courses

• COM CM 525: Public Relations Ethics
  This course will acquaint students with ethical standards and expectations society has for public relations practitioners. Through the study of case studies and other readings it will prepare students so they can adequately wrestle with ethical complexities, dilemmas and ambiguities so as to form persona ethical underpinnings for their future careers.
• COM CM 527: Strategic Creative Development
  This course is designed to help you address specific creative challenges you will face in an agency, such as introductory, food, fashion, brand image and product life cycle problems. You?ll learn which creative approaches work best in certain business situations, and you will write and design your own print advertising suitable for your portfolio. 4 cr., either semester.
• COM CM 528: Organizational Communication
  Develops both theoretical understanding and practical knowledge of internal organizational communication. Topics include motivation, leadership, organizational climate, formal and informal channels, management, and relational communication in an organizational context. Organizational communication assessment and change is emphasized.
• COM CM 529: Design & New Media II
  Professional opportunities in the communication industry are constantly evolving and require graduates who are innovative, visually literate, and flexible with technology solutions. In this course, students develop advanced design and new media skills while participating in multi-media lectures, critiques, and hands-on software skill building. While implementing idividualized creative processes, students develop strategic projects from concept through to functional new media campaigns. The projects are continually updated to prepare students for emerging opportunities in the communications industry.
• COM CM 534: Communication Strategies in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
  Addresses both strategies and theories of negotiation and conflict resolution. Emphasis on communication skills necessary in everyday business situations, including labor management disputes, international disputes, confrontation between interest groups, and resolution of conflict between an organization and its stakeholders. In addition to readings, there is an emphasis on case analyses, role plays, and guest lectures.
• COM CM 535: Political Campaigning
  Critical evaluation of political campaign strategies and tactics within the sociopolitical environment. The roles of campaign managers, media consultants, pollsters, press secretaries, and field operatives are studied. Analysis of the impact of press coverage, political advertising, and candidate debates on the electorate.
• COM CM 536: Sports Communication
  Introduces students to the tactics and strategies used in implementing sports information or public relations campaigns in the specialized areas of professional and amateur athletics. Students should have strong writing ability.
• COM CM 538: Event Planning & Management
  Students learn many aspects of organizing and managing special events including venue selection; preparing and managing a budget; scheduling and staffing; managing the marketing; obtaining media coverage; coordinating food & beverage, decor and themes; working with professionals such as PR/advertising firms and creative directors. The course will cover event planning for trade shows, weddings, charities, anniversaries, wakes/funerals and memorials.
• COM CM 555: Writing for Multimedia
  In-depth focus on promotional, client-based writing. Course includes developing story ideas and angles; writing off and online feature stories and slide shows for trade, business, and special-interest market as well as researching and writing a treatment/script video package with accompanying brochure. Also includes numerous multimedia workshops. 4 cr, either sem.
• COM CM 557: Media Effects
  This course introduces the study of the effects of media on individuals and on society. This course will overview a broad range of media theories that have examined media as a social force, that have explored factors that affect individuals' selection of and perceptions of media messages, and that have studied how media affect viewers' attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. These theories will be used to examine a variety of different types of content, including media violence, portrayals of race and gender, politics, advertising, and entertainment, among others. 4 cr., 1st sem.
• COM CM 561: Special Topics in Mass Communication
  Intensive exploration of specialized applications of communication skills. 4 cr., either sem.
• COM CM 700: Fin & Strat Mng
  
• COM CM 701: Contemporary Public Relations
  Foundations of professional principles and practice in public relations for corporate, governmental, and nonprofit organizations. Includes history, organization, and scope of the field; its roots in social science; types of campaigns and programs; and professional ethics. Theories, strategies, and tactics in current practice emphasized. Explores opportunities and requirement for work in the field.
• COM 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 will be studied to create a paradigm for understanding the social effects of advertising. Students will study the issues of advertising in cyberspace and question of privacy and protection from intrusive communication messages.
• COM CM 704: Contemporary Mass Communication
  The history, practices, business models and technologies of contemporary mass media. Topics include mass media?s forms, content, audiences and social effects; the state and fate of the printed word; the ups and downs of the Internet; media consolidation and the growing movement toward synergy; the future of independent media; and ethical and moral issues created by new technologies and old economic pressures. 4 cr, 1st sem
• COM CM 705: Writing for International Students
  Introduction to basic formats, including news releases, editorials, features, profiles, articles, and other forms of writing. Emphasis on basic copy quality in American English. Students learn to analyze and rewrite their own copy.
• COM CM 707: Writing for Media Professionals
  Serves as introductory graduate level writing course. Exposure to a variety of off and online writing formats in communications including: news releases, e-pitches, blogs, features (off and online), microsites, websites, brochures, broadcast PSA?s, slide shows, videos, off and online writing (including social media) strategies, editing, and interview techniques. Extensive writing and rewriting. Develops comprehensive writing skills for pubic relations, mass communication and advertising majors. 4 cr, 1st sem
• COM 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.
• COM CM 709: Corporate Public Affairs
  Monitoring sociopolitical environment, managing corporate crises and confrontations, analyzing issues, formulating political strategies, developing programs of advocacy advertising, constituency communications, and public involvement. Case studies used.
• COM CM 710: Communication Theory
  Examines origins, nature, and consequences of human communication. Reviews nature of verbal, nonverbal, and other types of group communication issues. Traces the development of speech, writing, printing, broadcasting, and digital media. Reviews theories of the process and effects of mass communication and how these theories apply to the work of media professionals.

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