Courses
The listing of a course description here does not guarantee a course’s being offered in a particular semester. Please refer to the published schedule of classes on the Student Link for confirmation a class is actually being taught and for specific course meeting dates and times.
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COM CM 441: Media Strategies and Management
Students study a variety of publicity tactics (news conferences, feature placements, special events, and media tours), which they combine into publicity campaign plans. Involves lectures, in-class discussions, video cases, and individual take-home cases. Students are encouraged to plan campaigns in their area of interest (e.g., business, arts, sports, and politics). -
COM CM 443: New Media and PR
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. -
COM CM 457: Seminar in Global Promotional Strategies
This course develops both conceptual knowledge and practical skills to identify the most appropriate and cost-effective global promotional strategies and develop and implement successfully such a strategy in an increasingly competitive and volatile global environment. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry II, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Critical Thinking. -
COM CM 471: Communication Internship
Students are placed in advertising and public relations agencies, communication departments of firms, sales departments of firms, sales departments of media, and sales promotion agencies. Minimum of 15 hours per week during school semesters, or full time during the summer. Instructor and sponsor oversee student work. A comprehensive final report completes coursework. 2 or 4 cr. -
COM CM 473: PRLab
PRLab at Boston University is the nation's oldest student run public relations agency. PRLab allows students to gain valuable industry experience in an agency style setting, working in the corporate, nonprofit and government sectors. Students engage in media relations, event planning, branding, copy editing, content creation and social media management. Over the course of the semester, students create professional portfolios. 2 or 4 cr. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Teamwork/Collaboration. -
COM CM 474: Directed Study
Individual or group project on specific problems in communication. 2 or 4 cr. -
COM CM 475: PRLab E-Board
This course represents the management function of the student run PRLab. The PRLab Executive Board consists of a President, Vice President and several Account Supervisors, who work together to facilitate the overall success of the student- client interactions and PRLab as a whole. The E-Board is also responsible for PRLab's branding and new business acquisition. 2 or 4 cr. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Teamwork/Collaboration. -
COM CM 481: Media Law and Policy
Study of the laws that apply to communication practitioners. Topics covered include the First Amendment, defamation, invasion of privacy, copyright, regulation of advertising, obscenity, and indecency, and the emerging field of cyberspace law. 2nd sem -
COM CM 501: Design Strategy & Software
Provides knowledge and practice for effective graphic design for all media. Develops a foundation in design principles and creative software skills including Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. Students create projects demonstrating how design strategies are used to engage audiences, and enhance comprehension of all forms of mass communication from traditional print to digital media. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Digital/Multimedia Expression, Aesthetic Exploration, Creativity/Innovation. (This course was formerly CM323; if you have taken CM323, you cannot take CM501 for credit.) -
COM CM 506: Governmental Public Affairs
This course focuses on specialized promotional activities of major and minor political campaigns, and the public relations activities of various government bodies at the national, state, and local levels. Some of the questions addressed by the course are: What are public relations roles in the intensity of the political campaign? How are statements prepared for public officials? How does one interpret policy? How does one handle political media relations? How to handle the inevitable crises that occur in politics and government? (This course was formerly CM444; if you have taken CM444, you cannot take CM506) (Undergrad prereq: CM215.) -
COM CM 510: Media Expression and Communication
This course introduces students to using new media tools as a source and vehicle for creating expression and media communication. Students will acquire building blocks for design thinking and hands-on skills to successfully communicate ideas using media technology. Students will experience the design process: ideation to execution. Topics on media technology, interface design, information architecture, and interaction design will be covered. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Digital/Multimedia Expression. -
COM CM 513: Investor Relations
Students examine the challenges of marketing a company to the financial community. The course is broken down into three areas: the development of IR as a profession; the tools of the trade, such as bonds and stocks; and the field's communication techniques. Students prepare case analyses as a way of understanding various SEC disclosure requirements, communication with analysts and the media, and financial marketing techniques. -
COM CM 518: Creative Video Development
Students develop concepts, create scripts and storyboards, and study execution-based challenges of video production. Students will create extendable advertising concepts for video, designed to succeed in a changing media landscape on multiple platforms.4 cr. Either sem. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Digital/Multimedia Expression, Creativity/Innovation, Teamwork/Collaboration. -
COM CM 519: Interactive Marketing Strategy
Students study how interactive marketing strategy integrates communication objectives with consumer insight and digital execution. How social, digital and experiential media are used to achieve branding, engagement and behavioral goals for organizations in a wide range of business categories. The impact of interactive marketing strategy on the advertising and public relations sectors.4 credits. -
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 521: International Marketing Communications and Public Relations
Introduction to the strategic marketing concepts, tools and frameworks that underlie consumer marketing strategies and impact on their everyday selections. Analysis and assessment of companies operating in British and European markets that face increased global competition, demanding consumers and fast-evolving technologies. Examples used during the course are continually updated to reflect current events. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, Oral and/or Signed Communication. -
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 and building an interactive project (website/app). Students will learn to apply design thinking for interactivity while building a device-agnostic package using modern web technologies: HTML, CSS, JavaScript and related libraries, plug-ins, frameworks and tools as necessary. Students will experience the full design and development process (concept ideation, prototyping, user testing and iteration) in building a functional project. Topics on media technology, animation, accessibility, interface design, information architecture, interaction design, networking, performance, prototyping, responsive design and usability will be covered. -
COM CM 524: Public Relations Career Development
This unique course provides students with a practical and theoretical overview of various principles of public relations career management. This class explores opportunities and requirements for work in the public relations industry. Through visits by leading industry professionals, readings and case studies, students who are about to set out on their PR careers (or reenter them) will receive a comprehensive view of the many paths open to them. Whether it is on a corporate communications staff, the agency track, in social/digital/analytics, taking an entrepreneurial direction, in content development, sports and entertainment or change communication, students will learn about the competencies required in each, begin to formulate their career objectives and build plans for getting there. More broadly, through in-class lectures and discussions, students also will explore the skills sets and characteristics necessary for success in the rapidly changing world of contemporary PR, as well as the differing work environments and cultures that are out there so that they can begin to assess the ones that might be a fit for them. 4 cr. 1st sem. -
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. 4 credits. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Ethical Reasoning.
