Course Descriptions and Prerequisites
JOUR 100 – Introduction to Journalism and Media Studies
Required pre-major course introduces prospective majors to the pragmatic, performative and presentational aspects of journalism and media studies. Credits 3
Lab/Lecture/Studio Hours Students meet twice each week, once for a mass lecture and once in a break-out recitation section.
JOUR 101 – Critical Analysis of the Mass Media
Analysis of the development of newspapers, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and telecommunications. Overview of institutional structures and theoretical perspectives. Credits 3
JOUR 102 – News Reporting and Writing
Provides fundamental instruction and pre-professional practice in writing as a basis for upper-division courses in journalism and media studies. Analysis of news content and how news is obtained and written. Credits 3 Corequisites JOUR 102D.
Lab/Lecture/Studio Hours Discussions and laboratory.
JOUR 102D – News Reporting and Writing Discussion
Discussion section linked to JOUR 102. Students must take both the lecture and one discussion section for credit. Credits 0
Corequisites JOUR 102.
JOUR 202 – Electronic Media Production I
Lecture and lab for the study of and training in studio and field video production, basic post-production, and resource utilization across electronic platforms. Credits 3
JOUR 220 – Fundamentals of Applied Media Aesthetics
Survey of the various fields that use visual imagery for communicative purposes. Graphic design, film, and televisual imagery covered. Emphasis on television and film aesthetics and picture composition. Credits 3
JOUR 223 – Contemporary Audio
Examination of the structure, programming, regulation, and problems of radio in today’s world and the role the medium plays in informing and entertaining modern listeners. Credits 3
JOUR 247 – Introduction to Social Networks and Media
Designed to provide a broad humanistic overview of virtual communities, blogs, Facebook and other emerging social media, the course offers an introduction to both academic and practical knowledge, as well as limited hands-on experience. Credits 3
JOUR 250 – Teaching Journalism
An on-line condensed course for high school and journalism teachers covering theory, history, ethics and writing style. Credits 3
JOUR 261 – Introduction to Integrated Marketing Communications
Examination of the function of advertising and public relations in the media and society. Emphasis on the application of theory and its relationship to the IMC elements: public relations, advertising, promotion, direct marketing, interactive, and their ability to reach customers/publics. Credits 3
Prerequisites JOUR 100, JOUR 101, JOUR 102, admitted to the major.
JOUR 276 – Design Principles for Advertising/Publications
Introduction to the visual aspects and basic types of print communication including advertising, periodicals, collateral material, direct mail, point of purchase, promotion, and merchandising. Credits 3 Prerequisites JOUR 100, JOUR 101, JOUR 102, admission to the major. Notes Same as ART 256.
JOUR 305 – Media Ethics
Case study-based examination of ethical theory in communication. Credits 3
Prerequisites Junior or senior standing.
JOUR 310 – Advanced Reporting
Advanced training and practice in gathering and writing news; also exercises in feature writing. Credits 3 Prerequisites Admitted to the major, junior or senior standing.
JOUR 313 – Photo Journalism
Designed for students interested in learning the techniques of the photojournalist. Emphasis on the operation of the camera, associated camera techniques, and procedures for covering a news or feature photo assignment. Credits 3
Prerequisites JOUR 220.
JOUR 325 – Electronic Media Production II
Covers advanced electronic production for video and internet delivery platforms, utilizing professional-grade resources to create cross-platform journalistic narratives. Credits 3
Prerequisites Admitted to the major, JOUR 202.
JOUR 332 – Media Planning and Buying
Study and implement print, broadcast, online and outdoor media planning and buying methodologies. Investigate the relationship between the business and its advertising needs. Learn and apply value-added techniques to increase effectiveness of the media plan and the buy plan. Credits 3
Prerequisites JOUR 261, admitted to the major, junior or senior standing.
JOUR 333 – Introduction to Interactive Media Design
Background, analysis, design, and production techniques relevant to interactive media, primarily focusing on the web but appropriate for other emerging media. Credits 3
Prerequisites Admitted to the major, junior or senior standing.
JOUR 362 – Writing for Public Relations
Introduction to various publicity-creating techniques, including practical experience in writing and producing publicity releases for the mass media. Credits 3
Prerequisites JOUR 261, admitted to the major, junior or senior standing.
JOUR 374 – Advertising Copywriting
Covers visual and conceptual aspects of advertising copywriting for both print and electronic media. Provides background and foundation blocks in the area of copywriting. Credits 3
Prerequisites JOUR 261, admitted to the major, junior or senior standing,
JOUR 380 – Women and Media
(Same as WMST 380.) Exploration of the role of women within the media and the treatment of women by the media. Credits 3
Prerequisites Admitted to the major, junior or senior standing.
JOUR 401 – The First Amendment and Society
Examination of the evolution and contemporary impact of laws relating to communication. Credits 3 Prerequisites Junior or senior standing.
JOUR 408 – Media Criticism
Critical study of the rhetorical dimensions of newspapers, magazines, books, television, and motion pictures. Credits 3
Prerequisites Admitted to the major, junior or senior standing.
JOUR 411 – News Editing
Study and practice of news editing. Credits 3
Prerequisites Admitted to the major, junior or senior standing.
Lab/Lecture/Studio Hours Discussions and laboratory.
JOUR 413 – History of Journalism
History of American mass media from antecedents in medieval Europe to the present. Credits 3 Prerequisites Junior or senior standing.
JOUR 420 – Visual Literacy
Analysis of graphics, film, television, and computer images. Theoretical, critical, and practical application. Hands-on experience emphasized with a lot of pictorial examples viewed and discussed in class. Credits 3
Prerequisites Junior or senior standing.
JOUR 424 – Electronic News Practicum
Production of a student-run, five days per week, newscast for dissemination on both cable television and World Wide Web platforms. Offers extended credits and is the capstone course in this area of the major. Credits 5
Prerequisites JOUR 202, JOUR 325, junior or senior standing.
May be repeated to a maximum of ten credits.
JOUR 433 – IMC Competition
Join advertising, public relations and marketing students to prepare an integrated marketing communication plan for a national or international client. Compete with other top schools in the American Advertising Federation’s National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC). Credits 3
May be repeated to a maximum of nine credits.
JOUR 435 – Mass Communication Research Methods
Survey of empirical research methods in communication including laboratory, field, and survey methods and their applications. Credits 3
Prerequisites Admitted to the major, junior or senior standing.
JOUR 439 – Broadcast Practicum
Focus on practical experiences in broadcast or production organizations, with emphasis on both in-studio and portable applications. Credits 3
Prerequisites JOUR 202, JOUR 325, admitted to the major, junior or senior standing and consent of instructor. May be repeated to a maximum of six credits.
JOUR 444 – Advanced Interactive Media Design
Hands-on advanced experience in interactive media design, primarily focusing on collaborative production of web resources, evaluation techniques, multimedia content, and maintenance of best practices awareness. Credits 3
Prerequisites JOUR 333, admitted to the major, junior or senior standing.
JOUR 445 – Forms of Journalistic Writing
Semester-long concentration on one of the various specialized forms of journalistic inquiry and subsequent writing and reporting. Topics and specializations will change from semester to semester, Credits 3
Prerequisites Junior or senior standing. May be repeated to a maximum of six credits.
JOUR 447 – Online Games, Virtual Worlds, and Social Networks
Utilizing the environment of Second Life, students gain an understanding of virtual environments. Business, journalism, culture, interpersonal relationships, religion, and various other aspects of virtual culture are examined. Meets in-class for the first part of the semester then on-line the rest of the time. Credits 3
JOUR 450 – Media Technologies and Society
Examination of the evolution of mass communication technologies from the early days of radio to the satellite systems of the present. Impact of computer technology and prospects for the future of mass communication technology also covered. Credits 3
Prerequisites Admitted to the major, junior or senior standing.
JOUR 461 – Issues in Advertising
Examination of current issues that affect the advertising industry and society which may include the study of agencies and clients, public relations, direct marketing, promotions, interactive media, the creative process, ethics and emerging trends. Credits 3
Prerequisites JOUR 100, JOUR 101, JOUR 102, JOUR 261, and one of JOUR 276, JOUR 332, JOUR 362, JOUR 374 or MKT 301.
JOUR 463 – IMC Strategic Planning: Case Studies in Public Relations and Advertising
Application of theory and principles to organization problems and opportunities. Examine strategic planning for IMC; advertising, public relations, promotion, direct marketing, and interactive, through the study of case histories. Emphasis on preparation and presentation of basic plan elements for a selected client. Credits 3
Prerequisites JOUR 100, JOUR 101, JOUR 102, JOUR 261, admission to the major and one of JOUR 332, JOUR 362, or JOUR 374.
JOUR 470 – Integrated Marketing Communication Campaigns
Develop campaign utilizing all components of the IMC model; advertising, public relations promotion, direct marketing, and interactive. Students prepare a written proposal and presentation for a selected client, focusing on strategy and tactics. Credits 3
Prerequisites JOUR 100, JOUR 101, JOUR 102, admission to the major, JOUR 261, JOUR 463 and one of JOUR 332, JOUR 362, or JOUR 374.
JOUR 475 – Global Media
Analysis of media globalization, including economic, media conglomerate, and technological factors. Case studies of selected countries including cultural, political, regulatory, financial, media structure, media content, news, imports and export, and audiences factors. Credits 3
Prerequisites Junior or senior standing.
JOUR 484 – Mass Media and Political Communication
Analysis of historical and contemporary political discourse. Addresses such topics as presidential rhetoric, electoral campaigns, ethics in political culture, institutional leadership, publics and public opinion, mediated political speech, legislative debates, political socialization. Credits 3
Prerequisites Junior or senior standing.
JOUR 485 – Mass Media and Society
In-depth look at the functions of the press in gathering and disseminating knowledge, news and entertainment; specific attention paid to the role of the press in shaping public opinion and influencing public action. Credits 3
Prerequisites Junior or senior standing.
JOUR 486 – Interviewing
Principles and techniques of various forms of interviewing, featuring in-class laboratory activities. Emphasis on the informational interview. Credits 3
Prerequisites Admitted to the major, junior or senior standing.
JOUR 490 – Selected Topics
Study of a specific topic related to mass communication. Credits 3
Prerequisites Admitted to the major, junior or senior standing. May be repeated to a maximum of six credits.
JOUR 493 – Independent Studies
Supervised study and practical experience in subjects and projects to be determined in consultation with a Journalism and Media Studies faculty member. Students wishing to register for this course must consult with the faculty member prior to registration. Credits (1-3)
Prerequisites Admitted to the major, junior or senior standing. May be repeated to a maximum of six credits.
JOUR 499 – Professional Internship
