The Communication Department seeks to provide students the opportunity:
- to understand and appreciate the power of language, image, and presentation in shaping private, public, and corporate opinion;
- to learn to apply language, image, and presentation in a broad range of critical and cultural areas; and
- to become ethical professionals in the broad areas of mass communication.
Majors: Students planning to major in the department must consult with the Chair by no later than their sophomore year. Transfer students with a background in communications must consult with the Chair and may present a portfolio of written and production-based work.
Requirements for a Major: 33 credits including 101, 110, and 201 to be completed by sophomore year and 409 to be completed during senior year. Upon completion of the three introductory courses, all Communication majors must select a concentration as their main area of study within the department and take five required courses in that area. In addition, they must take two elective courses from any area presuming the proper prerequisites. It is also expected that students will apply for an internship, which may serve as one of their electives.
The three areas of concentration are: broadcasting/telecommunication, journalism, and corporate communication (which includes advertising and public relations).
Broadcasting/telecommunications students must take 223, 308. 316, 350, and 419. Journalism students must take 209, 213, 306, 318, and 338. Corporate communication students must take 215, 305, 306, 414, and 420.
Additionally, Communication majors are required to minor or take a cluster in a relevant discipline. The rationale behind this requirement is that work in the information industries is not only about producing content for audiences, readers, and users, but that it is more importantly about the nature of that content and its purpose. Students must therefore seek to develop expertise in a specific content area.
Requirements for a Minor: A minor in Communication consists of 15 credits. Students must take 101, 110, and 201. Upon completion of these courses, all Communication minors may then take any two courses presuming the proper prerequisites. The minor contract should be signed before registration for the second semester of Junior year and must be approved by the Chair.
Grade Requirements: Majors and minors must attain a minimum grade of C in all Communication courses.
Communication Concentrations
Broadcast/Telecommunications
Required Courses
Intro to Broadcasting 223
Studio Television Production 308
Scriptwriting 316
Field and Post-production 350
Advanced Television Production 419
Recommended Electives
Television Production Company 100
Web Design 306
Audio Production 317
Electronic Journalism 335
Media Criticism 340
Corporate Video 360
Intercultural Communication 371
Internship 375
Political Communication 400
Mass Communication Law 406
Programming 423
Independent Study in Communication 461
Special Topics in Communication 470
Internship 475
Journalism
Required Courses
Introduction to Journalism 209
Reporting and Newswriting 213
Web Design 306
Advanced Reporting and Newswriting 318
Feature Writing 338
Recommended Electives
Magazine Writing 214
Corporate Communication Writing 305
Electronic Journalism 335
Sports Reporting and Writing 336
Media Criticism 340
Intercultural Communication 371
Internship 375
Political Communication 400
Mass Communication Law 406
Independent Study in Communication 461
Special Topics in Communication 470
Internship 475
Corporate Communication
Required Courses
Introduction to Advertising and Public Relations 215
Corporate Communication Writing 305
Web Design 306
Advanced Advertising Strategies 414
Advanced Public Relations 420
Recommended Electives
Forensics/Debate 120
Media Criticism 340
Corporate Video 360
Intercultural Communication 371
Internship 375
Political Communication 400
Mass Communication Law 406
Organizational Communication 422
Independent Study in Communication 461
Special Topics in Communication 470
Internship 475
Core Course Descriptions
For Freshmen, Sophomores, and Minors (these courses are prerequisites for all Communication courses, unless the Chair indicates otherwise) (9 Credits total)
101. Introduction to Mass Communication. A survey of the major fields of mass communication, their history and evolution, with emphasis on new media and on the way media function in modern society. (Cr. 3)
110. Public Speaking and Presentation. Basic principles of oral communication before audiences in a variety of settings, with emphasis on performing and persuading. Attention to research, rhetoric, logic, and the use of technology to enhance public presentation. (Cr. 3)
201. Ethics in Mass Communication. A survey and analysis of major ethical and legal issues in the mass communication industry, its business and production practices, and its content. Emphasis is on case studies from the industry. Prerequisite: COMM 101. (Cr. 3)
For Seniors
(3 Credits)
409. Senior Seminar. Students will select a topic in their area of concentration, culminating in a major paper involving original research and an oral presentation in front of the class illustrated by audio-visual accompaniment. Prerequisite: Senior Status. (Cr. 3)
Concentration Course Descriptions
100. Television Production Company. This one-credit course is open to non-majors, and is offered as a vehicle for students to produce a series of television programs during the semester for possible air on MCTV. The format and length of the programs may vary. This course does not carry credit toward the major. (Cr. 1)
102. Quadrangle 1. Basic elements of the news story, with emphasis on writing accurate, vivid campus news. Introduction to journalism ethics, news-gathering techniques, and copy-editing.. By permission of instructor. (Cr. 1)
103. Quadrangle 2. Survey of methods for writing features, investigative reports, editorials, and sports, with emphasis on documenting campus events and issues. By permission of instructor. Prerequisite: COMM 102. (Cr. 1)
104. Quadrangle 3. An internship with the campus newspaper, the Quadrangle, in which students work in editorial positions and with the paper’s advisor. Development of editing and newswriting skills. Required attendance at staff and editorial board meetings. Prerequisites: COMM 102 and 103. (Cr. 1)
120. Forensics/Debate. An introduction to strategies of argumentation and persuasion in oral presentation. Emphasis on competitive debating. Prerequisites: COMM 101 and 110, or permission of the Chair. (Cr. 3)
209. Introduction to Journalism. A study of the print journalism industry in the United States, including the history and purposes of journalistic practice, the present-day workings of the profession, and how the developments of electronic journalism and the Internet continue to impact and transform the role of journalism in political, civic, and social life. Prerequisites: COMM 101 and 110. (Cr. 3)
213. Reporting and News Writing. A study of basic procedures and techniques of reporting, writing, and editing the news with emphasis on developing clear, vigorous writing. Background readings in the media and American society. Writing is limited to relatively basic stories: accidents, conferences, interviews. Prerequisite: COMM 209. (Cr. 3)
214. Magazine Writing. Problems and methods in design, topography, and editing in magazine productions. Students learn how to research, write, and market-quality articles in magazine format. Prerequisite: COMM 213. (Cr. 3)
215. Introduction to Advertising and Public Relations. An introduction to the development of advertising and public relations as media practices and industries in the United States. Includes an analysis of the history and development of each, current practices and techniques from both a theoretical and a practical perspective, and the impact of and trends resulting from the introduction of new media. Prerequisites: COMM 101 and 110. (Cr. 3)
223. Introduction to Broadcasting. A study of broadcasting in the United States from its origins to the present. Radio and television history, development, and technology are emphasized as well as analysis of the broadcasting industry from both a practical and theoretical perspective. Prerequisites: COMM 101 and 110. (Cr. 3)
305. Corporate Communications Writing. Writing scripts for business environment on a variety of topics. Prerequisites: COMM 209 or COMM 215. (Cr. 3)
306. Web Design. This course will focus on the developmental process of the Internet and the World Wide Web. The history of the technology and the strategies behind it will be covered, as well as HTML, the language of the Internet. The class will gain a greater understanding of the growing possibilities and advantages of using and communicating through interactive multimedia in the place of traditional media. Prerequisite: COMM 209 or COMM 215. (Cr. 3)
308. Studio Television Production. The elements of television production techniques including camera, audio, lighting, staging, graphics, on-camera appearance, and directing. Prerequisite: COMM 223. (Cr. 3)
316. Scriptwriting. Planning and writing concepts for radio and television broadcasting in a variety of program areas. Prerequisite: COMM 223. (Cr. 3)
317. Audio Production. Techniques for audio engineering/processing and sound design for television production. Prerequisite: COMM 223. (Cr. 3)
318. Advanced Reporting and Newswriting. Students learn to handle complex, intellectually demanding material involving the real and pressing problems that exist in the world around them. Prerequisite: COMM 213. (Cr. 3)
335. Electronic Journalism. This course focuses on broadcast journalism and news writing for radio and television. Both hard and soft news writing and broadcast news editing are emphasized, as well as an overview of the role of the electronic news media in American society. Prerequisite: COMM 223. (Cr. 3)
336. Sports Reporting and Writing. This course is an introduction to sports journalism. A study of basic procedures and techniques of sports reporting, writing, and editing for both print and the electronic media will be emphasized. Prerequisite: COMM 213. (Cr. 3)
338. Feature Writing. Methods of researching and writing feature stories and commentary for the print media. Markets open to freelance writers, published articles, newspaper feature sections, and Sunday supplements. Prerequisite: COMM 213. (Cr. 3)
340. Media Criticism. A critical analysis of the mass media including major theories and research in the field. The course explores media institutions, content, and economic structure, and also offers an in-depth investigation into media effects and influence on individuals, society, and culture. Prerequisite: COMM 101 and 110. (Cr. 3)
350. Field and Post-production. An introduction to the equipment, techniques, and practices of electronic field production (EFP) and electronic news gathering (ENG), as well as to non-linear editing equipment and techniques used to produce packages using footage collected in the field. Prerequisite: COMM 308; broadcasting/telecommunications concentration students only. (Cr. 3)
360. Corporate Video. An introduction to the role and purpose of video production in corporate communication, including the types of productions carried out, their purpose, and how they are conceived and shaped based upon the intended audience. Basic productions will be carried out by the class. Prerequisite: COMM 215 or COMM 308. (Cr. 3)
371. Intercultural Communication. A study of the basic principles of intercultural communication and the impact of culture on one’s perceptions, beliefs, meanings, and communication. Prerequisites: COMM 101 and 110. (Cr. 3)
375. Internship for Juniors. Students participate in an off-campus training experience closely related to their area of concentration. Frequent meetings with the advisor plus a paper are required. Prerequisite: Junior status, 3.0 GPA, and permission of the student’s advisor or the Chair. (Cr. 3)
400. Political Communication. Examines from a theoretical and practical standpoint the planning, execution, and evaluation of communication strategies in modern political campaigns. Prerequisites: COMM 101 and 110. (Cr. 3)
406. Mass Communication Law. A course designed to cover the chief legal issues, especially in the regulated broadcast industries. Some legal problems to be considered: libel, national security, the meaning of the First Amendment, privacy, shield laws, the press and the courtroom, the Federal Communications Act, and the FTC versus the advertising industry. Prerequisites: COMM 101 and 110. (Cr. 3)
414. Advanced Advertising Strategies. This course will focus on advanced issues in advertising and build on those principles already treated: creating ads, media planning, campaigning, agency operation, and other topics. Prerequisite: COMM 215. (Cr. 3)
419. Advanced Television Production. Practical discussion of techniques in TV production. Practical experience is offered to improve lighting, proper use of special effects, and advanced graphics. Creativity is encouraged, utilizing the abilities acquired in television production. Prerequisites: COMM 350; broadcasting/telecommunications concentration students only. (Cr. 3)
420. Advanced Public Relations. The primary intent of this course is to examine public relations from a communicative perspective, integrating theory and practice. In doing so, students will participate in traditional class lectures and will be involved in all phases of the planning, implementation, writing for, and evaluation of a “real life” PR campaign and/or event, on the Manhattan campus and/or the surrounding areas. Prerequisite: COMM 215. (Cr. 3)
422. Organizational Communication. The organizational structure of a company will be explored with emphasis on practical experience in interviewing, resume writing, audio-visual usage, symposia, and sales presentations. Field visits are included in the course. Prerequisites: COMM 101 and 110. (Cr. 3)
423. Programming. An examination of philosophies and techniques used in programming television and radio stations and networks. The organizational set-up of programming departments, development of competitive strategies for radio and television schedules, and insights into audience behavior and measurement are emphasized. Prerequisite: COMM 223. (Cr. 3)
461. Independent Study in Communication. Independent study is designed for the student majoring in Communication with demonstrated proficiency to work independently on a project related to an area of communication and approved in advanced by the Chair and project advisor. Frequent meetings with the advisor are required. Independent study is not typically offered for production-based projects. Prerequisite: Junior status and a 3.0 GPA. (Cr. 3)
470. Special Topics in Communication. This course deals with a topic in communication to be announced. Each topic is selected by the department and is in a specialized area. The course is offered as demand warrants. See the Chair for topics, prerequisites, and other details. This course can be repeated under different topics. (Cr. 3)
475. Internship for Seniors. Students participate in an off-campus training experience closely related to their area of concentration. Frequent meetings with the advisor plus a paper are required. Prerequisites: Senior status, 3.0 GPA, and permission of the student’s advisor or the Chair. (Cr. 3)
