Program requirements related to each concentration

Advertising/PR
Journalism
Radio-Television

1301. Introduction to Mass Communication (3 hours) Scope, process, theories, problems, criticisms, history, organization, and operation of the media.
1303. Writing for Mass Media (3 hours) Fundamentals of structuring and presenting information in written form for the mass media. Emphasis on language usage.
1306. Introduction to Broadcasting (3 hours) Survey of the history, regulation, and practice of radio and television broadcasting and study of associated technologies of telecommunications.
1309. Film Aesthetics (FAR 1309) (3 hours) An analysis of the communicative features of major films produced in the United States. A variety of genre, time periods, and styles are presented to examine film organization, structure, and content in relation to effective communication.
2200. Practicum (2 hours) Supervised, applied experience. Various topics. May be repeated for credit.
2308. Popular Culture in the Mass Media (3 hours) The content, effects, and relationships of mass media, mass culture, and mass society. Special emphasis on popular culture of youth as reflected through mass media.
2314. Introduction to Photography (ART 2314) (3 hours) Prerequisite: Student needs to have 35mm camera Introduction to still photography techniques and darkroom practices. Emphasis is placed on artistic and journalistic uses of the camera. Includes a 2-hour laboratory per week. This course does not fulfill the general education fine arts requirement.
2315. Mass Media in the Vietnam War (3 hours) Historical images and accounts of the Vietnam conflict as reflected in mass media in the United States. Particular emphasis on news reporting of Vietnam policies of the United States government, domestic civil dissent, and military action in Vietnam (1964-1973). Additional study of later perspectives and interpretations, especially in books, film, and television.
2316. News Reporting (3 hours) Prerequisite: MCO 1303 Fundamentals of news reporting for all media, including laboratory practice.
2321. Opinion Writing (3 hours) Prerequisite: MCO 1303 A detailed look at how to write opinions in acceptable journalistic style for the print media. Subject areas include letters to the editor, editorials, columns, and critical reviews. The course will cover how to select pertinent topics for editorials and critical reviews, how to obtain a background in the subject under consideration, and how to conduct research on the chosen topic.
2401. Audio Production (4 hours) Course focuses on the utilization of sound as a medium; the development of information and entertainment programs for radio; and audio techniques for radio, recordings, film, and television.
2406. Beginning Television Production (4 hours) Introduction to operation and use of television production equipment, including fundamentals of television production and direction.
3301. Radio-Television Writing (3 hours) Course covers all forms of writing for the broadcast media and film, including scripts, commercials, and advertising copy.
3306. Broadcast Journalism (3 hours) Theoretical and practical approach to gathering, assembling, and presenting the news for radio and television.
3316. Feature Writing (3 hours) Methods of gathering material, recognizing ideas, and writing feature and background material for newspapers and magazines.
3317. Advanced Photography (ART 3317) (3 hours) Prerequisite: MCO 2314 Employ advanced still photography and darkroom techniques. Emphasis is placed on artistic and journalistic uses of the camera. Includes a 2-hour laboratory each week. This course does not fulfill the general education fine arts requirement.
3321. News Editing (3 hours) Copy reading, rewrites, headlines, cutlines, layouts, and proofreading for the print media.
3334. Internet Services (4333) (MIS 3334) (3 hours) Prerequisite: MIS 2303 Provides an overview and understanding of the conceptual background needed to become Internet literate. Examines a broad range of topics regarding the Internet: origins, email, discussion groups, search engines, and using the World Wide Web. Course content includes the design and implementation of personal web pages and the use of Internet resources for online research.
3336. Advanced Television Production (3 hours) Prerequisite: MCO 2406 Study and practice of production skills and strategies in both studio production and independent or non-studio production for television.
3341. Principles of Advertising (MKT 3341) (3 hours) Prerequisite: MKT 3321 or consent of instructor Survey of the role of advertising in society. Basic concepts include marketing message creation, budget determination, agency-client relationships, media, and social responsibility of advertisers.
3346. Advertising Copywriting (3 hours) Techniques of writing, visualization, and production of print and electronic media advertisements.
3351. Survey of Public Relations (3 hours) Techniques and practices of public relations in industry, commerce, government, and non-profit fields.
4300. Internship (3 hours) Prerequisite: Permission of department chair Supervised employment and field study in newspaper or broadcast news, advertising, public relations, or broadcast production. May be repeated once for credit. Grade of “P” or “F” only.
4301. Communication Laws and Ethics (3 hours) Survey of the standards and responsibilities of public communication in the mass media. Study of laws relating to the print media and government regulation of broadcasting.
4306. Audience Analysis (3 hours) Prerequisite: 12 hours in mass communication The practice and process of determining audience size and composition through the interpretation of television and radio ratings and print media audits.
4310. Internet Advertising (MIS 4310) (3 hours) An examination of the techniques, visualization, and production of advertising for the Internet.
4311. Broadcast Advertising (3 hours) Principles, techniques, and practices of advertising as applied to the broadcast media.
4318. International and Intercultural Communication (3 hours) Study of the concepts, theories, and processes of mass media and mass communication in the world, with particular emphasis on governmentmedia relationships.
4326. Investigative Reporting (3 hours) Prerequisites: MCO 2316 and 3316 Advanced methods of obtaining information, developing sources, probing, and writing through investigative techniques.
4334. Advertising Campaigns (MKT 4334) (3 hours) Prerequisite: MCO 3341 Advanced study of advertising, marketing, and communication theories. Course includes development of advertising plans for specific situations.
4346. Public Relations Campaigns and Programs (3 hours) Prerequisite: MCO 3351 Case studies in advanced public relations, with emphasis on problem prevention and correction, crisis management, and long-range planning.
4369. Advertising Design (ART 4369) (3 hours) Basic layout, concept, and art production, including portfolios and the structure of advertising agencies and design studios.
4370. Advanced Advertising Design (ART 4370) (3 hours) Different kinds of layouts from rough to super comprehensive. Specific layout and rendering techniques using pastel and markers. Fundamentals of typography design with the application of corporate identity programs.
4371. Advertising Design Using Computers (ART 4371) (3 hours) An introduction to the basic uses of computers in advertising design and the development of an understanding of how different software, including word processing, illustration, and page layout programs work together to complete projects. The different ways of setting typography and general typographic rules will be explored.
4372. Advanced Advertising Design Using Computers (3 hours) (ART 4372) A study of techniques of how to optimize the use of page layout programs to complete various projects ranging from advertisement layouts and multifold brochures to billboard and signage design. Students will also learn how service bureaus and vendors help get designs out of the computer and into finished form for reproduction.