Courses

• COM CM 514: New Communication Technologies
  Course prepares students for careers in an environment of constant technological development and institutional change. Provides an overview of current and near-future developments in telecommunications; a theoretical base and exercise in systems analysis for assessing the potential uses and importance of these technologies in media-related institutions; and consideration of legal, regulatory, and social issues which these technologies and their uses may raise for telecommunications and media industries and society in general.
• COM CM 515: Community Relations
  A complete examination of the evolution of community relations, the theory behind it, and the techniques employed by its professionals. Using a case-study approach, students learn how to select a site for expansion; conduct a community relations audit; work with state, local, and federal governments; and develop sound relationships with the media and with advocacy groups in the corporate and nonprofit arenas.
• COM CM 518: Creating Video Campaigns
  Techniques for creating television advertising that attracts and holds viewer attention. Students create advertising concepts, write commercials, prepare storyboards, and consider the problems of casting, directing, editing, and testing.
• COM CM 519: Interactive Marketing Communication
  An overview of the theories, practices and techniques in the field of interactive marketing communication (IAMC). Students gain an understanding of the strategy and tactics of IAMC and its place in the more comprehensive business of marketing communication. in addition students review IAMC's relationship to and its effect on society, culture and the economic system.
• COM CM 520: the COMmunicator
  Students write, edit, develop multimedia and social media, as well as work as photographers and graphic designers for the COMmunicator, a website for the Mass Communication, Public Relations and Advertising department. Students also create marketing communication plans for the site. As an online publication, The COMmunicator is updated/ refreshed on an on-going basis, giving students numerous opportunities throughout a semester to submit their work for publication. Editors review and critique all COMmunicator items; students develop/polish their skills as they build portfolios across a multitude of communication writing formats. This course is open only to students in the Mass Communication, Public Relations and Advertising Department. 2 cr.
• COM CM 522: Managing Corporate Crises and Issues
  Review and diagnosis of major crises and issues affecting corporations. Case discussions of seven types of crises: technological, confrontational, malevolence, management failure, and management control. Examines appropriate management actions and communications before, during, and after a crisis. Reviews issues management: monitoring, analysis, strategy determination, and implementation.
• COM CM 523: Design and Interactive Experiences
  This course introduces students to principles of interactivity through a hands-on experience designing interactive work. Students will learn to apply design thinking for interactivity, re-framing information spaces in context of time-based access, and to develop an interactive package for the Net. Students will experience the design and development process: concept ideation to execution of a technologically functional presentation. Topics on media technology, animation, interface design, information architecture, interaction design, and general flash-based application opportunities will be covered.
• 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 personal ethical underpinnings for their future careers.
• COM CM 527: Strategic Creative Development
  Today's rapidly changing digital and media landscape calls for strategic and creative solutions that take into consideration emerging consumer behaviors and the new technologies that enable them. In this course, students create content and campaigns that consider the many different ways in which brands engage with their communities - paid and earned media, mobile apps, and branded utility.
• 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
  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 individualized 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 communication industry.
• COM CM 531: Media Disruption
  This course examines the transformation of legacy business models across the media industry. Combining case study methodology and academic theory, the course offers unique insight into the forces of creative destruction, and how leadership must adapt to survive.
• 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 on-line 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.
• 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
  Topics change each semester. For Fall 2017: A1 Public Relations Management: Through visits by leading industry professionals, readings and case studies, students who are about to set out on their PR careers receive a comprehensive view of the many paths open to them (corporate comm staff, agency track, social/digital/analytics, entrepreneurial directions, sports/entertainment, not-for-profit) students learn about the competencies required in each, begin to formulate their career objectives and build plans for getting there; B1 Health Campaigns: Involves the principles and practices of designing media campaigns to promote health behavior change, whether related to smoking/alcohol consumption, physical activity/diet, condom use, public safety, and environmental issues. Uses theory and persuasive elements as a basis for designing and implementing health media campaigns via traditional, new, and social media. Students are tasked to evaluate extant health campaign messages and design their own health campaign messages; C1 Branding, Communications, and Reputation: The class will focus on tangible and intangible elements of branding, communications and reputation and will meet once each week, every Monday from 2:30 until 5:15 p.m. Among topics and organizations to be discussed are the Olympics, monarchies, heritage brands, The Nobel Prize, and women's professional sports. Active student participation is expected.
• COM CM 700: Financial & Strategic Management for Communication Professionals
  The focus of the course is on two critical domains of modern business: financial and strategic management. Through lectures, readings, case studies, and team projects, the course will introduce students to the complexities and challenges facing today's communications industry manager along with practical understanding of how businesses operate and even succeed despite the obstacles. The goal of the course is to help students understand the fundamentals of business enterprise with an emphasis on how these apply to the media industries. The course covers the fundamentals of a business plan, including revenue models, marketing, venture capital, finance, and accounting in the context of the media landscape. 1st sem.

Back to full list of College of Communication