Mass Communication (MC)
607. Mass Communication Theory. 3 hrs. Examination of diverse
theoretical approaches to the study of mass communication; theory building
in mass communication.
608. Critical & Cultural Theory of Mass Communication. 3
hrs. Introduction to critical and cultural perspectives in media studies,
including semiotics, structuralism, psychoanalysis, postmodernism, narrative
and ideological analysis.
609. Communication Seminar. 3 hrs. A rotating seminar that
addresses topics in the areas of radio-TV-film and journalism.
620. Public Relations Theory. 3 hrs. Prerequisite: Undergraduate
study of public relations or communication, or permission of instructor.
Explores theories of excellent communication and public relations management
appropriate for grounding the work with internal and external publics
of an organization.
621. Public Relations Campaigns. 3 hrs. Prerequisite:
MC 620 or permission of instructor. Examines issues affecting design
and implementation of persuasive public communication campaigns for business
organizations, nonprofit organizations, political or issue campaigns.
622. International Public Relations. 3 hrs. Prerequisite:
MC 620 or permission of instructor. Explores theories of communication
and culture in international business environments with the purpose of
developing public relations theory and practice.
623. Seminar in Public Relations. 3 hrs. Prerequisite:
MC 620 or permission of instructor. Analysis of problems and processes
of public relations with special emphasis upon theories, principles,
and research.
624. Public Relations Crisis Management. 3 hrs. Exploration
of theoretical foundations and practices of crisis and risk communication,
issue and conflict management in corporate, governmental and nonprofit
settings.
625. Process and Effects of Mass Communication. 3 hrs.
A study of the major areas of mass communication research literature,
emphasizing mass communication effects research.
626. Public Relations Strategies and Tactics. 3 hrs.
Study of theoretical foundations and practices of public relations strategies
and tactics relating to communication management in corporate, political,
and nonprofit settings.
629. Communication Internship. 3 hrs. Students will
serve an internship during one semester with a professional media or
public relations agency.
691. Research in Communication. 1-9 hrs. For independent
reading projects of broad general nature. Normally limited to topics
not covered in regular courses.
692. Special Problems. 3 hrs. For independent research
projects designed to answer specific questions in applied or theoretical
communication.
697. Independent Study and Research. Hours arranged.
Not to be counted as credit toward a degree. Students actively working
on a thesis, consulting with the major professor, or using other resources
of the university may enroll in this course. Students who are not in
residence and are not enrolled in at least 3 hours of thesis but who
are actively working on a thesis, consulting with the major professor,
or using other resources of the university must enroll in this course
for at least 3 hours each semester.
698. Thesis. 3-6 hrs. for a total of 6 hrs.
699. British Studies: Comparative National Media Systems. 3-6
hrs. To instruct students through lectures, research, and field trips
about the similarities and differences between the American and British
media systems.
720. Introduction to Graduate Research in Communication. 3
hrs. Analysis of types of problems, concepts, variables, definitions,
designs measurement techniques, and interpretation of data prevalent
in communication research. Involves elementary statistics and development
of research proposals and designs. May also be taken as SCM 720.
721. Content Analysis of Communication. 3 hrs. Study
of theory and methods of defining, categorizing, coding, and interpreting
verbal and nonverbal elements of the communication process. Emphasizes
source and message elements. Elementary statistical analysis, research
report, and design of studies. May also be taken as SCM 721.
722. Communication Research Methods. 3 hrs. A study
of the techniques and strategies used in conducting empirical studies
of communication. Topics will include measurement, sampling, and content
analysis. May also be taken as SCM 722.
740. Telecommunication Policy and Regulation. 3 hrs.
A study of United States telecommunication policy and regulation as shaped
by technology, industry, politics, government, and the public. Social
and political implications of policy are evaluated.
745. Mass Communication Law. 3 hrs. Cases and issues
in mass communication law and regulation, including libel, privacy, corporate
and commercial speech, obscenity, access, and reporter-source relations.
747. International Communication Systems. 3 hrs. An
overview of international communications: comparative broadcasting systems,
international broadcasting, world press.
750. Readings in Mass Communication History. 3
hrs. Readings in a variety of genres, periods, themes and topics in the
literature of journalism and mass communication history.
755. Media Ethics. 3 hrs. Examination of major moral
dilemmas, issues and practices of mass media through lectures and case
studies, with emphasis on moral reasoning and decision-making.
760. Seminar in Mass Communication History. 3 hrs. Exploration
of cultural, economic, intellectual, social and political trends in mass
communication history, 1450 to present.
765. Mass Communication Historical Research and Writing. 3
hrs. Major issues in mass communication historiography, research methods,
bibliographic techniques, data collection, analysis, interpretation,
and historical writing.
770. Seminar in Advertising Theory. 3 hrs. Introduction
to advertising theory, principles, practices, and law. Advertising’s
role in American business and society will be explored.
771. Advertising and the Consumer. 3 hrs. Examination
of major behavioral science contributions to the understanding of buyer
behavior, with emphasis on advertising and marketing applications of
these contributions.
772. Advertising Research. 3 hrs. Planning and conducting
accurate, effective advertising research programs, including preparation
of questionnaires, reports, and strategies. While focus is on quantitative
research methodology, qualitative research is also explored.
773. Seminar in Advertising. 3-6 hrs. Analysis of problems
and processes of advertising, exploring various current topics in the
field. May be repeated for total of 6 hours credit.
774. International Advertising. 3 hrs. International
dimensions of advertising communications; analysis of theoretical, economic,
cultural, ethical/legal and media conditions affecting global advertising.
775. Psychology of Advertising. 3 hrs. introduction
to theories and research concerniong the psychology of advertising: attitude,
decision-making, involvement, learning, motivation, memory and brand
personality.
780. Media, Culture and Society. 3 hrs. Critical analysis
of cultural, economic, political, social and technological dimensions
of contemporary mass media performance.
782. Minorities, Women and Media. 3 hrs. Analysis and
evaluation of relationships and representations of race and gender in
mass media and their cultural and social implications.
785. Literary Journalism. 3 hrs. Study of major writers
and texts of literary journalism, with emphasis on the post-World War
II era of nonfiction writing by American journalists.
791. Research in Communication. 1-9 hrs. For independent
reading projects of a broad general nature. Normally limited to topics
not covered in regular courses.
792. Special Problems. 3 hrs. For independent research
projects designed to answer specific questions in applied or theoretical
communication.
797. Independent Study and Research. Hours arranged.
Not to be counted as credit toward a degree. Students actively working
on a dissertation, consulting with the major professor, or using other
resources of the university may enroll in this course. Students who are
not in residence and are not enrolled in at least 3 hours of dissertation
but who are actively working on a dissertation, consulting with the major
professor, or using other resources of the university must enroll in
this course for at least 3 hours each semester.
809. Communication Seminar. 3 hrs. A rotating seminar
that addresses topics in the areas of radio-TV-film and journalism.
898. Dissertation. 3-12 hrs for a total of 12 hours.
Mass Communication and Journalism (MCJ)
505. Problems in Newspaper Production. 3 hrs. Practical
training in the production of student newspapers and advising of staffs.
507. Theories of Mass Communication. 3 hrs. An analysis
of processes and effects of mass communication.
516. Telecommunication Media Management. 3 hrs. Examination
of management responsibilities in broadcast radio and TV, cable TV, and
other electronic media and media delivery systems.
521. Public Relations. 3 hrs. Introduction to the professional
practice of public relations, emphasizing its function and process, publics,
tools and media of communications, and professional ethics.
522. Public Relations Writing and Publication Design. 3
hrs. Prerequisites: 202, 312, 421/521. Concentrates on designing total
public relations packages for public, business, and nonprofit organizations.
Requires production of a publicity campaign.
524. Public Opinion, Mass Communication, and Society. 3
hrs. Explores the impact of mass communication and public relations on
public opinion and examines the role of public opinion in the forming
of policy and resolution of social issues.
525. Telecommunication Media Research. 3 hrs. Prepares
students to utilize and evaluate professional telecommunication research
services and to conduct elementary studies of media audiences.
526. Public Relations Research. 3 hrs. Prerequisite:
MCJ 421/521. Introduction to quantitative and qualitative methods of
applied, basic, and evaluative research used in developing and managing
public relations programs.
528. Public and Press Relations Management. 3 hrs. Emphasizes
systematic analysis of clients and publics, formulation of goals and
strategies, and multimedia communications. Evaluation of effectiveness
and budget preparation included. Case studies and field project.
529. Internship in Public Relations. 3 hrs.
532. Advertising Management and Sales. 3 hrs. Prerequisite:
MCJ 330. A continuation of MCJ 330, with emphasis upon case studies in
advertising management and sales.
540. Advanced Television Production. 3 hrs. Prerequisite:
MCJ 340 or permission of instructor. Advanced topics in video post-production
theory and practice.
547. Television Production Workshop. 2 hrs. Prerequisites:
MCJ 340 and 440 or permission of instructor. A flexible format course
designed to serve the career objectives and needs of advanced students.
The workshop may involve large or small group productions, individual
projects, or some combinations.
548. Seminar in Radio-TV. 3 hrs. Prerequisite: Permission
of instructor. Examination of a telecommunication topic. May be repeated
with a different topic.
549. Television Criticism. 3 hrs. Examines major genres
and historical trends in television programming with emphasis on television
criticism. Selected examples of programs will serve as models for practical
television criticism.
550. History of Journalism. 3 hrs. Major events, issues,
and personalities of American mass media examined within interdisciplinary
framework. Historical relations of print media and public institutions
emphasized.
551. The Internet: The Online Electronic Medium. 3 hrs.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
552. Press and Society. 3 hrs. Study of the relationship
between the press and the culture and institutions of society.
555. Media Ethics. 3 hrs. Examination of major moral
dilemmas, issues, and practices of mass media through lectures and case
studies, with emphasis on moral decision making.
560. Press Law and Ethics. 3 hrs. Rights and constraints
of the press, including libel, privacy, copyright, monopoly, contempt,
regulation, and other aspects of mass media law.
570. Newspaper Organization and Management. 3 hrs. Study
of the interrelationships of the various departments in newspaper organizations
of varying circulation sizes and management techniques used to direct
their activities.
580. Seminar in Journalism. 3 hrs. Examination of theoretical
concepts in journalism and the setting for their application.
581. International Broadcasting. 3 hrs. Prerequisite:
Permission of instructor. An examination of the development, structure,
functions, programming, and audiences of international broadcasting services.
589. Caribbean Mass Media Systems. 3
hrs. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Lecture and research on the
media systems of the Caribbean Basin, with special attention given to
coverage of Third World news.
598. British Studies in Photography. 3-6 hrs. Lecture
and research in British photography offered abroad under the auspices
of the Center for International and Continuing Education.
599. British Studies in Journalism. 3-6 hrs. Lecture
and research in British journalism offered abroad under the auspices
of the Center for International and Continuing Education.