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 MyBU Student Portal for confirmation a class is actually being taught and for specific course meeting dates and times.

  • COM CM 714: Professional Presentations
    This course covers the essentials of effective presentation, from preparation (audience analysis, content development) to critical thinking when presenting. It is designed to place students in business and social settings that require a mastery of presentation skills in order to be successful. A combination of lecture, discussion, and hands-on practice and simulation, this course helps students exercise leadership through oral communication.
  • COM CM 716: New & Traditional Media Strategies
    Graduate Prerequisites: COM CM 708.
    Examines media planning, buying and sales as performed by advertising agencies, clients and the media. Research sources providing data on media audiences and product usage are evaluated. Examines contemporary trends in communication media and their effects on advertisers.
  • COM CM 717: Fundamentals of Creative Development
    Focus is on the strategic creative process in advertising including concept development, copywriting, visualization, and design. Assignments require conceiving solutions to client marketing challenges across a range of media. Teaches foundations for development of effective advertising: problem definition, strategic development, and conceptual idea generation through tangible executions. 1st sem.
  • COM CM 718: Advertising Strategy & Consumer Insights II
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: COM CM712
    Graduate Prerequisites: COM CM712
    This course offers advanced exploration in the art and science of advertising strategy highlighting the talent and knowledge required for success in this rapidly changing segment of the industry. We will extend the material learned in CM 712 through a deep dive into best practices and evolving techniques used by top advertising agencies, consultancies and the big three platforms, Alphabet, Amazon and Apple to gather and apply information about consumers and brands for use by creative teams and a variety of departments in the advertising and marketing industry.
  • COM CM 721: Advertising Management
    Graduate Prerequisites: COM CM 708.
    Administration of complete advertising program. Case study method used to explore the marketing mix, budgeting, media strategy, planning, coordinating advertising with promotion, working with client or agency, and the social responsibility of advertisers.
  • COM CM 722: Communication Research
    CM722 Communication Research Methods is an introduction to the social scientific method of inquiry and the fundamental concepts and processes of social scientific methods that are used in media science, advertising, and public relations. Assorted research methods are covered, including both quantitative and qualitative. Also included are literature review, research design, research execution, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, and reporting of findings.
  • COM CM 723: Advanced Communication Research
    Graduate Prerequisites: COM CM 722.
    Provides skill training for data analysis with SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences). Students will obtain hands-on experience by carrying out actual analyses using real data acquired via different research methods. Techniques covered include correlation, regression, t-test, ANOVA, and factor analysis. Students also learn how to translate the results of their analyses into data-driven narratives that provide actionable solutions to problem cases.
  • COM CM 724: Sampling Design and Measurement Techniques
    Graduate Prerequisites: Consent of Instructor
    Discusses various issues related to sampling, such as design, sample size, methods of selection, sampling error, and sampling sources for applied research projects. Also teaches about the various types of questionnaires and measurement procedures commonly used in communication research, including those used for assessing such factors as attitudes, beliefs, media use, and consumer behavior. 2nd sem.
  • COM CM 726: Strategic Brand Solutions
    Graduate Prerequisites: COM CM 708.
    Explores the impact of current advertising/marketing issues through the lens of strategic branding and brand building best practices from business, economic, political, social, legal, and ethical perspectives. Modified case method looking at real world solutions, with lectures from experts on selected issues.
  • COM CM 730: Marketing Communication
    Addresses basic marketing and promotion principles used to increase awareness of and change in attitudes and buyer behavior about products, services, and organizations. Students learn to evaluate appropriate promotional mixes, examine the role of communication, and develop marketing communication strategies through the use of case studies and classroom discussion. 1st sem.
  • COM CM 739: Social Media Strategy
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: COM CM 722.
    Graduate Prerequisites: CM722
    Students will utilize social media analytics software as the basis for assessing and developing strategies to elevate the social media presence of brands, products, organizations, and campaigns. Students will learn how to collect social media data, convert data for analysis, and apply cutting edge AI tools such as topic analysis and sentiment analysis across an array of platforms. This class prepares students to navigate the contemporary social media landscape.
  • COM CM 742: Strategic Media Relations and Management
    Graduate Prerequisites: CM701 AND CM707 OR CM703
    This advanced course explores the role and practice of media relations in an integrated media landscape (PESO) to create an authentic and unified organizational narrative. Students learn the strategic and proactive approach to gaining third-party credibility among journalists, influencers, targeted audiences, and stakeholders. Topics include research & media planning/evaluation, relationship building, content development & engagement, spokesperson role & training, proactive and reactive media counseling, and leveraging innovative media strategies. This course involves lectures, reading assignments, writing projects, case studies, and real-world simulations to create an interactive and engaging learning environment.
  • COM CM 743: New Media & Public Relations
    Graduate Prerequisites: COM CM 701.
    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 750: Advanced Writing for Media Professionals
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CM703 or CM707
    Building on writing skills and formats presented in CM703 or CM707, students work individually and in-depth on challenging writing assignments: essay analyses/critiques (drawn from The Best American Essays series); a Q & A interview; and a website, which includes a wide variety of writing formats and critical thinking --this major individual project provides students with a substantial portfolio showcase. Several collaborative workshops complete the course requirements.
  • COM CM 753: Portfolio Development I
    Graduate Prerequisites: COM CM 708 and COM CM 717.
    Course is for graduate students who intend to work in the creative area of the advertising industry. Focus is on the principles needed to understand, conceptualize, and create an entry-level portfolio of work (print, video, digital, mobile, experiential). A workshop-like environment, mirroring an advertising agency, is augmented with lectures and case studies.
  • COM CM 754: Portfolio Development II
    Graduate Prerequisites: COM CM 708 ; COM CM 717 ; COM CM 753.
    A continuation of Portfolio Development I, this course continues the iterative process required to construct a competitive advertising portfolio. Students work to refine concepts, revise and strengthen the impact of the art direction and copywriting, and determine how the work should ultimately be displayed.
  • COM CM 809: Graduate Internship
    Graduate Prerequisites: one semesters of graduate study.
    Students are placed in public relations, advertising, or communication departments of business, educational, philanthropic, or governmental institutions. Fifteen hours per week of supervised work. Students with a comprehensive report evaluating internship experience at end of semester. 2 or 4 cr.
  • COM CM 824: Technical Writing for Communication Research
    Graduate Prerequisites: COM CM 722 ; COM CM 723 ; COM CM 724.
    Teaches students to develop clear and concise research proposals and write detailed research reports incorporating appropriate methodological sequences, techniques, and strategies. Teaches students to interpret the results of quantitative analyses in a layperson's terms and relate their implications to a client, as well as to analyze the standards and pricing structure of competing agencies and available subcontractors in a given market. 1st sem.
  • COM CM 831: International Communication
    Factors of international communication; cultural, economic, political, and social influences. Role of communication media in effecting social change in a wide variety of countries. 1st sem.
  • COM CM 901: Directed Studies
    Graduate Prerequisites: Consent of advisor and instructor. Supervised reading, fieldwork, or research for student's specific needs.
    Supervised reading, fieldwork, or research for student's specific needs. 2 or 4 cr.