Courses
The listing of a course description here does not guarantee a course’s being offered in a particular term. Please refer to the published schedule of classes on the MyBU Student Portal for confirmation a class is actually being taught and for specific course meeting dates and times.
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COM CM 443: Digital Media and PR
Undergraduate Prerequisites: COM CM215 - 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 461: Advertising Special Topics
Advertising Special Topics will have at least a prerequisite of COMCM 180. -
COM CM 462: Media Science Special Topics
Media Science Special Topics will have a prerequisite of at least COMCM 180. -
COM CM 463: Public Relations Special Topics
Public Relations Special Topics will have a prerequisite of at least COMCM 180. -
COM CM 464: Communication Cross-Dept. Special Topics
CM Cross-Dept. Special Topics will have a prerequisite of at least COMCM 180. -
COM CM 471: Communication Internship
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (COMCM331) AND for Advertising: COMCM217; Public Relations: COMCM215; Media Science: one COMCM280, COMCM434, COMCM481, COMCM535, or COMCM539Students enrolled in CM 471 can earn credits for completing internships they secure at advertising, public relations and integrated marketing communication agencies; communication or public affairs departments of companies, nonprofit organizations, and government entities; corporate sales or nonprofit fundraising departments; and communication-related functions at media companies. Two-credit students must work a minimum of 100 hours during the semester in which they are enrolled in CM 471. Four-credit students must work a minimum of 200 hours during the semester in which they are enrolled in CM 471 and their internship role must be with a non-Boston University entity. Virtual or hybrid internships may qualify for academic credit. It is allowable to receive academic credit and be paid for your internship. Undergraduate students are limited to four total CM 471 credits via the departmental internship coordinator, and an additional four credits through a Boston University Study Abroad Program. The assigned supervisor at the internship oversees student work. Students complete a detailed end-of-semester internship report, and the internship supervisor provides a thorough evaluation. Register for 2 or 4 units. -
COM CM 474: Directed Study
Undergraduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor and advisor. - Individual or group project on specific problems in communication. 2 or 4 cr. -
COM CM 481: Media Law and Policy
Undergraduate Prerequisites: Sophomore standing. - 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. Sophomore standing. -
COM CM 500: Data Visualization
As data becomes widely available and visual content increasingly pervasive, the ability to analyze, interpret, and communicate data visually is a vital skill for communication scholars and practitioners. Data visualization lies at the intersection of data analysis and visual storytelling, supporting both the exploration of patterns within datasets and presentation of analytical results in clear, engaging forms. This course introduces core concepts and principles in data visualization, data formats and structures, and strategies for selecting appropriate visualization approaches based on specific goals. It also provides skills for different applications in the communication field, such as presenting findings effectively in academic research, facilitating data storytelling with visualization, and conveying analytical insights to diverse audiences and stakeholders. -
COM CM 501: Design Strategy & Software
Undergraduate Prerequisites: Sophomore standing. - 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. -
COM CM 502: Promoting Your Content Online
The course teaches students how to market their creative works online. Students will learn to identify targeted marketing and distribution platforms for new websites, video channels, series, and blogs, etc., and how to use social media to find an audience, generate buzz and identify potential funding sources. Students will also learn practical entrepreneurial tools needed to organize their creative work as a business venture. -
COM CM 504: Data Visualization
As data becomes widely available and visual content increasingly pervasive, the ability to analyze, interpret, and communicate data visually is a vital skill for communication scholars and practitioners. Data visualization lies at the intersection of data analysis and visual storytelling, supporting both the exploration of patterns within datasets and presentation of analytical results in clear, engaging forms. This course introduces core concepts and principles in data visualization, data formats and structures, and strategies for selecting appropriate visualization approaches based on specific goals. It also provides skills for different applications in the communication field, such as presenting findings effectively in academic research, facilitating data storytelling with visualization, and conveying analytical insights to diverse audiences and stakeholders. -
COM CM 506: Governmental Public Affairs
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (COMCM 215) - Graduate Prerequisites: (COMCM 701) - 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 507: Media and Well-Being
This course aims to introduce the topics regarding the relationship between media use and personal well-being. Students will learn about the media's fundamental modus operandi, ecosystem and discovered influences on people from the existing multidisciplinary literature. Individuals' well-being – particularly in terms of life satisfaction, psychological states, and health in relation to media affordances and uses – will be reviewed with relevant readings and class-yielded data. The knowledge gained and exercises within the class will be conducive for self-reflection and class discourse and to ponder on possible remedies. Students will also delve into a chosen specific topic in the interplay of media use and well-being to produce either a case-study essay or a research paper that showcases their informed insight and sheds new light on their concerned subject. Effective Fall 2026, this course fulfills a single requirement in the following BU HUB area: Research and Information Literacy. -
COM CM 509: Digital Deception: AI, Deepfakes and Deceiving by Design
From AI-generated influencers to synthetic news anchors, we are entering an era where seeing is no longer believing. Deceiving by Design explores how emerging technologies— particularly artificial intelligence and deepfakes—are reshaping the media landscape and challenging our ability to distinguish fact from fiction. This course investigates the intentional design of digital deception, examining how misinformation is engineered, amplified, and weaponized across platforms. Students will explore the historical roots of media manipulation, the psychological and social drivers of susceptibility, and the ethical dilemmas facing professionals in media, marketing, and communication. Through a blend of theory, research, and hands-on practice, students will learn to critically evaluate digital content, understand the mechanics of AI-generated media, and develop strategies to counteract deception in professional contexts. Effective Fall 2026, this course fulfills a single requirement in each of the following BU Hub areas: Ethical Reasoning, Digital/Multimedia Expression, Social Inquiry 1. -
COM CM 510: Media Expression and Communication
Undergraduate Prerequisites: Sophomore standing. - 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 511: Design & Art Direction
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (COMCM217, CM417, CM501) - Graduate Prerequisites: (COMCM501, CM717, CM708) - The assignments you'll work on in Art Direction this semester are structured to provide you with the firsthand experience of managing and developing brands for a range of clients. You'll assume responsibility for the strategic insight and discovery necessary to shape the brand's image development and then go on to determine and implement the advertising's consistent, overall design aesthetic. Successful work from these assignments, showcased in your portfolio, will demonstrate your ability to manage the brand development process for 21st century clients. -
COM CM 512: Design and Art Direction 2
Prerequisite: COMCM511. - There is an increasing internal demand for courses in visual and creative disciplines. However, the number of offerings within COM remains limited—currently only one semester of Design & Art Direction (CM511) and Portfolio courses. Except for students pursuing a double major or minor in CFA, opportunities for advanced design education are minimal. 2. Industry production trends show a rapid rise in real-time prototyping tools and AI-assisted production. As a result, creative professionals in the advertising industry are expected to possess a higher level of technical proficiency and deeper understanding of relevant design tools and methods. It is becoming increasingly difficult to lead or contribute meaningfully to advertising production without a professional skill set and clear creative point of view. 3. The rise of user-generated content on social media has significantly raised the baseline for production quality, due to the widespread accessibility of both software/hardware and shared online knowledge. This shift demands that enterprise-level Designers and Art Directors possess more distinctive, specialized skill sets to stand apart from general public capabilities. This Advanced Design/Art Direction course is designed for capable, committed Advertising majors seeking an additional semester to deepen their creative practice in visual communication. The course offers an intensive exploration of advanced design and art direction methodologies that align with current industry expectations. Students will engage in a full-spectrum process—from revisiting and refining core design principles such as typography, grid systems, image-making, iconography, and colors to producing contextual mockups and high-fidelity storyboards for time-based media. Projects will span print and digital formats, allowing students to design, prototype, and iterate ideas across multiple platforms. The course places strong emphasis on sharpening visual language throughout the creative process, ultimately supporting the development of an industry-ready portfolio tailored for advertising. -
COM CM 513: Investor Relations
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (COMCM215) - Graduate Prerequisites: (COMCM701) - 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 516: Advertising Strategy 3 Portfolio
Prerequisites: COMCM414 or 718 - Strategy 3 is for students who intend to work in the strategy area of the advertising or branding industry. The course will build on the knowledge and skills that students gained from taking the required prerequisites to this course – Strategy 1 & Strategy 2 - to prepare them to compete for strategy jobs. As entry level strategy jobs are harder to come by than many other jobs in the industry, a strong portfolio is essential. The objective of this course is not to start from scratch – but to help students to further develop and demonstrate their skills – resulting in 3 strong case studies that will upgrade the quality of their portfolios. The course will also provide students with new knowledge and skills to enhance the quality of their portfolios and strengthen their strategy toolkit such as how to write powerful case studies and strategic presentations; how to develop inspiring creative briefings to convey strategy work to creative partners; how to collaborate with creative teams to provide inspiration and strategic guidance throughout the creative development process; and how to create strategic justification for strong campaigns to help sell them to clients.
