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°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ Home > Catalog > 2024 - 2025 > Programs

Communication and Media

Chairperson: Dr. Peter F. Jorgensen
Office: Memorial Hall 302
Telephone: (309) 298-1507
E-mail: PF-Jorgensen@wiu.edu
Website: wiu.edu/comm

Program Offerings and Locations:

• Bachelor of Arts in Broadcasting and Journalism: Macomb
• Bachelor of Arts in Communication: Macomb, Quad Cities, Online
• Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations: Macomb
• Minor in Advertising and Public Relations: Macomb
• Minor in Broadcasting and Journalism: Macomb
• Minor in Communication: Macomb, Quad Cities, Online
• Minor in Health Communication: Macomb, Quad Cities
• Minor in Social Media: Macomb, Quad Cities, Online
• Minor in Sports Broadcasting: Macomb

Learning Outcomes

For student learning outcomes, please see wiu.edu/provost/learningoutcomes.

Faculty

Averbeck, Avtgis, Carpenter, Egan, Gloviczki, Go, Jorgensen, Lauer, Miczo, Miller, Parker, Peters, Tang, Zhao.

Academic Advisor

Grimm.

GradTrac

GradTrac is available to Communication majors. See more information about GradTrac.

Honors Curriculum

Academically qualified students in this School are encouraged to complete an honors curriculum in University Honors, Honors in the Major, or General Honors. All Honors students must complete the one-hour honors colloquium (G H 299). General Honors includes General Honors coursework. Honors in the Major includes honors work in the major. University Honors combines Honors in the Major and General Honors. View more information about honors curricula or visit the Centennial Honors College website at wiu.edu/honors.

Integrated Baccalaureate and Master’s Degree Program

An integrated baccalaureate and master’s degree program is available for the Bachelor of Arts in Broadcasting and Journalism (Sports Broadcasting option): Master of Science in Sport Management. An integrated baccalaureate and master’s degree program is available for the Bachelor of Arts in Communication: Master of Arts in Communication. An integrated degree program provides the opportunity for outstanding undergraduates to earn both degrees in five years. Please refer to the Graduate Studies catalog for details about the integrated program.

School Information

The School of Communication and Media at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ promotes the power of effective communication in the professional and personal lives of our graduates. Our coursework and extracurricular activities are designed to help students become skilled and knowledgeable communicators, proactive leaders, critical consumers and producers of media, and experienced practitioners who create, design, deliver, and interpret the meaning of messages in a variety of personal and professional contexts. With a range of programs that combine theory and applied experiences, our graduates will be prepared to engage in and contribute to continuously evolving local and global communities.

The School Communication and Media provides students with engaging learning experiences both inside and outside the classroom with degree program offerings in Broadcasting and Journalism, Communication, and Public Relations. The School also offers minors in Advertising and Public Relations, Broadcasting and Journalism, Communication, Health Communication, Social Media, and Sports Broadcasting.

Broadcasting and Journalism – Sports Broadcasting students will gain skills and knowledge from unique on-air and behind-the-scenes opportunities. Our program utilizes a live sports truck to air multi-camera and single-camera live sports broadcasts on ESPN3. Our students announce, direct, and produce live events under the guidance of a faculty advisor, giving them valuable experience in front of and behind the camera as well as in the production truck. Audio broadcasts of home games are also carried live on °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼S-FM, and students break down the action even further on our sports variety show, Leatherneck Insider. Majors prepare to become well-rounded multimedia sports broadcasters, with experience in front of the camera; behind the microphone; in the production truck, radio station and TV studio; and from their laptops, editing, blogging and posting their work. Our graduates secure fulfilling careers both on-camera and behind the camera.

Our Broadcasting and Journalism – Broadcast Production program is designed for students interested with working in video, audio and/or film production and post-production in an interactive, hands-on learning environment. The students work with faculty and peers to learn production and editing techniques and skills, including camera techniques, post-production special effects, ENG and studio lighting, operating the control room, and how to use on-air studio equipment. They put these skills to use in producing audio, video, and interactive programming for multiplatform distribution. Our students secure production jobs locally, regionally, and nationally in a variety of media industries.

The Broadcasting and Journalism – Multimedia Journalism option focuses on the preparation of students for careers in all aspects of news production. Our students learn to tell stories and report information that will be distributed on multiple platforms. On our NEWS3 TV newscast, students learn to gather news, cover news events, edit news packages, and produce and direct half-hour live newscasts that reach Macomb and McDonough County viewers. Students will also learn to write for print and digital-based media as contributors to the Western Courier digital newspaper. There are opportunities to be reporters and anchors (news, weather and sports), as well as to produce and direct newscasts.  Graduates from our program work in newsrooms across the country and around the world.

The Communication degree program provides majors with a dynamic and flexible curriculum that prepares our graduates for a broad range of career opportunities and pursuits. The major focuses on the primary areas of organizational communication, persuasive communication, interpersonal communication, and rhetorical communication in order to ground students in the theoretical and applied knowledge of the key role that communication plays in all aspects of human interaction. The discipline routinely prepares students to enter any number of diverse professions from event planner to sales, college recruiter to business management, human resources specialist to social media manager, training and development to politics. Students of Communication receive fundamental training in and exposure to the infinite number of contexts in which humans interact with and influence one another. This knowledge base then provides them with an understanding of message processes that will serve them on an ongoing basis, both professionally and personally.

Our Public Relations degree program provides majors with the opportunity to build both the creative and strategic skills necessary to pursue a successful career in public relations. Classes in this program focus on the techniques and processes used to create, produce, and place persuasive messages in both paid and earned media. Students in this program will also learn how to use the media to creatively and effectively deliver messages utilizing an integrated mix of traditional and new media and to develop complete campaign plans for a variety of products and services, as well as receive training in how to effectively manage crisis situations as well as how to maintain and develop organizational reputations. Our graduates are well-positioned to contribute to a host of professional fields.

Degree Programs

Bachelor of Arts—Broadcasting and Journalism

All students seeking the Bachelor of Arts in Broadcasting and Journalism must complete I, II, III.A or III.B or III.C, IV, and V below, and the Multicultural Perspectives requirement for the major#. The minimum semester hour requirement for the baccalaureate degree is 120 s.h.

1. University General Education Curriculum: 37 s.h.
2. Core Courses: 18 s.h.
   BC&J 100, 101, 200†, 212, 230, 400†
3. Options of Study (Select A, B, or C): 24 s.h.
   1. Broadcast Production
      1. Option Courses: 12 s.h.
         BC&J 311, 312, 385^ (3), 432
      2. Directed Electives: 12 s.h.
         1. Select 3 s.h. from BC&J 323, 350, 354
         2. Select 3 s.h. from BC&J 386, 450
         3. Select 6 s.h. of any BC&J 300- or 400-level elective courses
   2. Journalism and Strategic Media
      1. Option Courses: 21 s.h.
         BC&J 311, 331, 332, 340, 343, 431, 432
      2. Directed Elective: 3 s.h.
         Select 3 s.h. from BC&J 323, 385^, 430, 447, 451, 460
   3. Sports Broadcasting
   1. Option Courses: 21 s.h.
      BC&J 300, 301, 320, 321, 322, 420, 447
   2. Directed Elective: 3 s.h.
      Any BC&J 300- or 400-level elective course
4. Any Approved Minor: 16 s.h.
5. Open Electives: 25 s.h.

# The Multicultural Perspectives graduation requirement may be fulfilled by successfully completing one of the following: 1) a designated foreign language requirement; 2) any course designated as Multicultural (including a Broadcasting and Journalism [BC&J] Multicultural course); or 3) an approved Study Abroad program.

† BC&J 200 and 400 fulfill the Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) graduation requirement.

^ BC&J 385 must be completed three times with School student media—once with television, once with radio, and once is student’s choice.

Bachelor of Arts—Communication

All students seeking the Bachelor of Arts in Communication must complete I, II, III, IV, and V below, and the Multicultural Perspectives requirement for the major#. The minimum semester hour requirement for the baccalaureate degree is 120 s.h. Current °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ students must be in good standing (2.0 GPA or higher) to declare a major in Communication.

1. University General Education Curriculum: 37 s.h.
2. Core Courses: 12 s.h.
   COMM 130, 247†, 311†, 344
3. Directed Electives: 30 s.h.
   Select 30 s.h. of COMM courses, at least 9 s.h. at the 400 level.
4. Any Approved Minor: 16 s.h.
5. Open Electives: 25 s.h.

# The Multicultural Perspectives graduation requirement may be fulfilled by successfully completing one of the following: 1) a designated foreign language requirement; 2) any course designated as Multicultural (including a Communication [COMM] Multicultural course); or 3) an approved Study Abroad program.

† COMM 247 and 311 fulfill the Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) graduation requirement.

Bachelor of Arts—Public Relations

All students seeking the Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations must complete I, II, III, IV, and V below, and the Multicultural Perspectives requirement for the major#. The minimum semester hour requirement for the baccalaureate degree is 120 s.h.

Note : Students enrolled in this major may not minor in Advertising and Public Relations or Social Media.

1. University General Education Curriculum: 37 s.h.
2. Core Courses: 33 s.h.
   Broadcasting and Journalism: BC&J 101, 200†, 340, 345, 346†: 15 s.h.
   Communication: COMM 130, 311†, 333, 343, 345, 445: 18 s.h.
3. Directed Electives: 9 s.h.
   Select 9 s.h. from the following, at least 6 s.h. at the 400-level: BC&J 352, 400, 430, 447, 456#, 458; COMM 305, 314, 356, 381#, 400, 401, 413, 418, 425, 456, 457, 496
4. Any Approved Minor: 16 s.h.
   Note : Suggested minors include (but are not limited to) Emergency Management, Graphic Design, Marketing, or Professional Writing.
5. Open Electives: 25 s.h.

# The Multicultural Perspectives graduation requirement may be fulfilled by successfully completing one of the following: 1) a designated foreign language requirement; 2) any course designated as Multicultural (including BC&J 353, BC&J 456, and COMM 381); or 3) an approved Study Abroad program.

† BC&J 200, BC&J 346, and COMM 311 fulfill the Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) graduation requirement.

Minors

Minor in Advertising and Public Relations: 18 s.h.

Note : This minor is not open to students majoring in Public Relations.

1. Core Courses: BC&J 200, 340, 341: 9 s.h.
2. Select three of the following courses:
   BC&J 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 451, 456: 9 s.h.
   Note : Students minoring in Advertising and Public Relations may enroll in BC&J 451 for 3 s.h. only.

Minor in Broadcasting and Journalism: 18 s.h.

1. Core Courses: BC&J 100, 101: 6 s.h.
2. Directed Electives: 12 s.h.
   1. Select either BC&J 200 or 201
   2. BC&J Electives, two of which must be at the 300-400 level

Minor in Communication: 18 s.h.

1. COMM 130 and 247: 6 s.h.
2. Select three of the following: COMM 312, 343, 344, 356: 9 s.h.
3. COMM Electives from courses numbered 300 or higher: 3 s.h.

Minor in Health Communication: 18 s.h.

1. COMM 130, 333, and 425: 9 s.h.
2. Select three of the following: COMM 235, 315, 341, 343, 344, 356, 428, 456, 457, 496: 9 s.h.

Minor in Social Media: 18 s.h.

Note : This minor is not open to students majoring in Public Relations.

1. COMM 130, 345, 445: 9 s.h.
2. Choose three of the following: BC&J 340, 345; COMM 312, 356; any 400-level elective COMM course: 9 s.h.

Minor in Sports Broadcasting: 18 s.h.

Note : This minor is not open to students who are enrolled in the Sports Broadcasting option of the Broadcasting and Journalism major.

BC&J 220, 300, 301, 320, 321, 420: 18 s.h.

Course Descriptions

BROADCASTING AND JOURNALISM (BC&J)

Applied Studies (Practica). (1 s.h./semester, repeatable to a maximum of 10 semesters) Instruction in and practical application of sports broadcasting announcing, production, or reporting techniques for various sports. Prerequisites: Written consent of instructor. Enrollment in upper division courses (300 level) requires a grade of C or better in the lower division prerequisite course (200 level) having the same title.

260/360 Football Announcing

261/361 Basketball Announcing

262/362 Soccer Announcing

263/363 Volleyball Announcing

264/364 Baseball Announcing

265/365 Softball Announcing

266/366 Radio Sports Talk

267/367 Board Operations for Sports

268/368 Football Production

269/369 Basketball Production

270/370 Soccer Production

271/371 Volleyball Production

272/372 Baseball Production

273/373 Softball Production

274/374 Interactive Media Sports Production

276/376 Sports Reporting

100 Introduction to Mass Communication. (3) Introduction to the historical, programming, physical, legal, social, and economic aspects of the mass media.

101 Digital Media Production I. (3) Introduction to digital media production including electronic field production (EFP) and studio camera theory and operation, and editing with an industry-relevant nonlinear digital editing platform. Not open to students with credit in BC 261.

112 Audio Production I. (3) Introduction to audio production techniques, from simple voice and field recording to multitrack mixdown procedures. Content produced will be suitable for broadcast and internet distribution. Not open to students with credit in BC 250.

200 Introduction to AP Writing and Reporting. (3) Foundation course in gathering and writing news according to Associated Press style guidelines. Exercises in the assessment of newsworthiness in the coverage of local and regional events. Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) course. IAI: MC 919.

201 Introduction to Broadcast Writing and Reporting. (3) Foundation course in the gathering, writing, and presentation of news for the traditional broadcast and modern electronic media.

212 Introduction to Studio Production. (3) Introduction to studio-based, live and live-to-tape television production. Students acquire creative and technical skills and learn how to work as a production team. Course will prepare students for internships and careers in studio production.

220 Multimedia Sports Writing. (3) Fundamentals of the sports writing process for broadcast, streaming, and web-based media. Includes an overview of the history of broadcast sports writing in American culture. Prerequisite: BC&J 300.

230 Multimedia Performance. (3) Development of basic audio and video announcing and performance skills. Prerequisite: BC&J 100.

285 Broadcasting Practicum. (1, repeatable to 4) Opportunity for freshmen and sophomores to participate in live multimedia coverage of sporting events, to work at student radio station °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼S-FM, and to assist with School of Communication and Media video productions and other production and operation activities.

290 (Cross-listed with ENG 290) Introduction to Film. (3) Screening and discussion of films from around the world, introducing students to selected traditions, questions of social justice, and methods of interpretation (with laboratory). Not open to students with credit in ENG 290. IAI: F2 908.

300 (Formerly BC&J 120) Sports, Media and Society. (3) A critical analysis of issues in sports media and the history of sports broadcasting in American culture. Examines the ethics, literature, racial and gender issues, and the business of sports broadcasting. Prerequisites: BC&J 100, BC&J 212, or consent of instructor.

301 (Formerly BC&J 221) Interactive Web Sportscasting. (3) Examination of and instruction in advanced new media technologies to deliver sports media content across multiple platforms. Emphasis on the interactive nature of the online experience as it changes traditional notions of presentation and distribution. Prerequisites: BC&J 101, BC&J 212, or consent of instructor.

302 Broadcast Research and Writing II. (3) Examination of story structure, dialogue writing, and character development techniques for broadcast content. Exploration of non-scripted and scripted broadcast writing methods. Prerequisites: BC& 201; BC& 101 and 112 with grades of C or better.

311 Digital Media Production II. (3) Selected topics of interest in digital media production such as, but not limited to, corporate video, animation, documentary, and interactive media content production. Prerequisites: BC& 101 and 112 with grades of C or better, or permission of instructor.

312 Audio Production II. (3) Selected topics of interest in audio production such as, but not limited to, radio/talk production, music program production, internet radio, and other emerging audio technologies. Prerequisites: BC& 101 and 112 with grades of C or better, or permission of instructor.

320 Sports Production I. (3, repeatable to 6) Theory and practice of remote radio and television sports production for volleyball, soccer, and baseball. Prerequisites: ENG 180 and 280.

321 Broadcast Sports Performance. (3) Students receive instruction on play-by- play announcing and on the preparation and extemporaneous discussion of player and team statistics and other appropriate sports-related information. Prerequisite: junior standing.

322 Sports Writing. (3) Foundations of writing sports stories for traditional and digital media. Students will gain proficiency in gathering, writing, and delivering genres of sports-related stories through traditional and non-traditional platforms such as print, radio, TV, Internet, smartphones, and social media. Not open to students with credit in BC& 220. Prerequisites: BC& 300 or consent of instructor.

323 Diversity across Broadcasting and Journalism. (3) A survey of the history, theory, and impact of diverse voices and diverse audiences across the 20th and 21st centuries in broadcasting and journalism. Prerequisites: BC& 100 or consent of instructor.

330 Magazine and Feature Writing. (3) Practice in writing and placing fact-based articles for general-interest and specialized magazines, and for newspapers. Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) course. Prerequisites: BC& 100 and 200, or consent of instructor.

331 Multimedia News Reporting. (3) Production of self-contained news stories for School of Communication and Media newscasts and School website and the student radio station. Students are responsible for all aspects of production, from identification of the story and reporting performance to final editing. Prerequisites: junior standing; BC& 101 with a grade of C or better; BC& 201.

332 Multimedia News Editing. (3) Techniques of news editing for various media, including evaluation and processing of news, practice in copy editing, headline and lead writing, picture editing, and editing for online audio/video streaming and reading. Prerequisites: BC& 100 and 200, or consent of instructor.

333 (Cross-listed with ENG 333) The Hollywood Studio System: Structure & Process. (3)  Analysis of the American film industry, with an emphasis on the structure of the studio system. Comparison of the historical period with the current corporate structure of the industry. Does not count for the Broadcasting and Journalism minor. Not open to students with credit in ENG 333. Prerequisite: ENG/BC&J 290.

340 Fundamentals of Public Relations. (3) Principles, methods, and activities used by individuals, corporations, governmental bodies, and organizations to promote a favorable relationship with their publics. Open to non-majors.

341 Advertising Principles and Practice. (3) Advertising fundamentals; economic and social issues; research needs; and creative and production practices of advertising agencies. Open to non-majors.

342 Creative Strategy in Advertising. (3) Techniques and strategies used to create advertising including those related to design, graphics, makeup, and production. Prerequisites: BC&J 100 and 341, or consent of instructor.

343 Multimedia Planning for Advertising and Public Relations. (3) Analysis of the various multimedia planning strategies for advertising and public relations in terms of markets served, client needs, media interactions, and message factors considered in the planning and selection of multimedia. Prerequisites: BC&J 100, BC&J 340, or consent of instructor.

344 Advertising Copy and Layout. (3) Principles and practice of writing advertising copy for mass media; using technology to prepare layouts; portfolio development. Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) course. Prerequisites: BC&J 100 and 341, or consent of instructor.

345 Public Relations Strategy and Campaigns. (3) Analysis of public relations problems and procedures; practice in applying social science principles and research techniques to solve public relations problems; preparing public relations materials. Prerequisites: BC&J 100 and 340, or consent of instructor.

346 Public Relations Writing: Techniques and Style. (3) Techniques of public relations writing for print and broadcast media, and for special audiences; public relations research; legal considerations. Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) course. Prerequisite: BC&J 100 or consent of instructor.

350 Broadcasting and Society. (3) Traces the development of broadcasting as a major cultural form in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries through a critical review of historic and contemporary literature. BGS online writing course.

351 Comparative Broadcasting Systems. (3) (Multicultural) Classification and analysis of the structure of international broadcast systems. The role of media in developing nations, as well as CATV, public broadcasting, and satellite communication systems are discussed. BGS online writing course. Prerequisite: junior standing.

352 Mass Media and Minorities. (3) (Multicultural) Examination of relationships between minority groups and mass media. Reviews the portrayals of minorities in the electronic media and discusses effects on our society. BGS online writing course.

353 International Communication and the Foreign Press. (3) (Multicultural) Comparative study of journalism practices and of the mass media in representative countries; factors that determine the international flow of news. Open to non-majors. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing.

354 History of Mass Communications. (3) History of journalism and the mass media in the context of political, social, and economic change with an emphasis on press freedom and responsibility. Open to non-majors. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing.

355 Photojournalism. (3) Digital photojournalism: the production of news and feature page photographs as singles, spreads, stories, and essays. Prerequisite: BC&J 200 or consent of instructor.

356 Reviewing and Criticism. (3) Practice in reviewing books, plays, films, concerts, radio-television programs, and exhibits. Prerequisites: BC&J 100 and 200, or consent of instructor.

357 Editorials. (3) Practice in writing editorials and columns with an emphasis on calling for action, taking a position, analyzing events, and supporting assertions with research. Prerequisites: BC&J 100 and 200, or consent of instructor.

385 Production Practicum I. (1, repeatable to 3) Guided practicum in audio or video production. Student must apply for and be accepted into a specific practicum experience related to the operation of broadcast services or production of broadcast content. Prerequisites: BC&J 101 and 112 with grades of C or better, or permission of instructor.

386 Production Practicum II. (1, repeatable to 3) Guided practicum in audio or video production. Student must apply for and be accepted into a specific practicum experience related to the operation of broadcast services or production of broadcast content. Prerequisites: BC&J 101 and 112 with grades of C or better, or permission of instructor.

390 (Cross-listed with ENG 390) Film History. (3) This course is an historical survey that covers the international history of cinema from its origins to the present. It considers issues including the development of national film industries, national and international film movements, and the social history of film (with laboratory). Not open to students with credit in ENG 390. Prerequisite: ENG/BC&J 290 or consent of instructor.

394 (Cross-listed with ENG 394) Documentary Film and Video. (3) History of documentary film and video with focus on the documentary as a medium of communication, information, and interpretation (with laboratory). Not open to students with credit in ENG 394.

400 Mass Communication Law and Ethics. (3) Legal rights and constraints on the mass media. Topics include prior restraint, source protection, libel, privacy invasion, indecency and the safe harbor, and other legal and ethical issues. Includes print, broadcast, satellite/cable, and web-based mass media. Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) course. Prerequisite: Upper division standing or permission of instructor.

402 Advanced Broadcast Writing. (3) Students will write longer and more complex screenplays. Students will see projects through from idea through revisions to completed scripts. Regular critiques of student writing. Prerequisite: BC&J 302 with a grade of C or better.

410 Digital Media Graphics. (3) Students design computer graphics and animation. Projects include news anchor boxes, graphic backgrounds, and animated feature introductions. Prerequisites: BC&J 101 and 112 with grades of C or better, or permission of instructor; ENG 180 and 280.

420 Sports Production II. (3, repeatable to 6) Theory and practice of remote radio and television sports production for football, basketball, softball, and baseball. Students produce and direct coverage of sporting events. Prerequisite: BC&J 320.

430 Digital Media Skills for Journalists and Public Relations Practitioners. (3) The course will enhance digital media skills such as social media tools, multiplatform storytelling, and data visualization so students know how to generate and deliver news stories to web-based audiences. Prerequisite: BC&J 200 or consent of instructor.

431 Problems in Contemporary Mass Communication. (3) Research into current social, economic, political, and professional problems affecting the mass media. Open to non-majors. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing.

432 Multimedia News Producing. (3, repeatable to 6) Students produce and direct the School of Communication and Media’s newscasts and make content for the School website and student radio station. Students act as assignment editors, photographers, and reporters, and polish skills learned in earlier classes. Prerequisites: BC&J 101 with a grade of C or better and BC&J 201 with a grade of C or better.

447 Sports and Public Relations. (3) Introduction to public relations techniques and strategies used in sports, including those related to creating sports public relations campaigns, managing the sports organizations, and media relations. Prerequisite: junior standing or permission of instructor.

450 Senior Workshop in Production. (3) Capstone course in which Production emphasis majors create their own audio or video programs using journalistic, art, and entertainment forms found in news, drama, narration, and comedy. Students may perform published work or write their own. Prerequisites: Senior standing; BC&J 311 or 312.

451 Field Work in Journalism. (1–12, repeatable to 12) Credit for internships at newspapers, magazines or other publications, or in advertising or public relations offices. By arrangement. See School Director or Program Coordinator. No more than 6 s.h. can be used in the Journalism major, and no more than 3 s.h. of that can count toward the 400-level elective requirement. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing.

452 Independent Research in Communication. (1–6, repeatable to 6) Individual reading or research under supervision of the faculty. Open to juniors and seniors who have demonstrated competence in broadcasting, communication, rhetoric, public address, or the speech-language-hearing sciences. Prerequisites: ENG 180 and 280; consent of instructor and School Director or Program Coordinator.

453 Senior Honors Thesis Research. (3) Bibliographic and other preliminary work in preparation for a senior honors thesis (see BC&J 454). Students will produce a final, graded project for this course. This course may not be taken concurrently with BC&J 454. Prerequisites: ENG 180 and 280; students must be in good standing in the Centennial Honors College and must be second-semester juniors or first-semester seniors major in Broadcasting.

454 Honors Thesis. (3) Students will write a senior honors thesis. This course may not be taken concurrently with BC&J 453. Prerequisites: BC&J 453; ENG 180 and 280; students must be in good standing in the Centennial Honors College and must be seniors major in Broadcasting.

455 Broadcast Internship. (3) Senior practicum at a selected professional broadcast production center for a semester. In addition to a prescribed work schedule, the intern must submit regular station activity reports. Prerequisites: BC&J 312, 320, or 331; ENG 180 and 280; permission of internship coordinator; 2.50 GPA. Graded S/U only.

456 International Public Relations. (3) (Multicultural) Comparative study of the nature, scope, and practice of international public relations for businesses, trade associations, nonprofit organizations, and educational and governmental institutions. Global and intercultural aspects of public relations will be emphasized. Open to non-majors. Prerequisite: BC&J 340 or consent of instructor.

458 Mass Communications Research Methods. (3) Introduction to questionnaire construction, sampling, research design, and statistical methods used in mass communications research including those in advertising and public relations. Open to non-majors. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing.

459 Directed Study. (1–6, repeatable to 6) Opportunity for promising students of Journalism to pursue Journalism and mass communications material in depth. By arrangement. See School Director or Program Coordinator. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing.

460 Topics in Journalism. (3, repeatable for different topics) Discussion, research, and creation of content about special topics related to gathering, packaging, and presenting nonfiction material to an audience in various media, and how audiences receive and respond to the communication. Prerequisites: BC&J 100 and 200.

485 Production Practicum III. (1) Guided practicum in audio or video production. Student must apply for and be accepted into a specific practicum experience related to the operation of broadcast services or production of broadcast content. Prerequisites: BC&J 101 and 112 with grades of C or better; or permission of instructor.

486 Production Practicum IV. (1) Guided practicum in audio or video production. Student must apply for and be accepted into a specific practicum experience related to the operation of broadcast services for production of broadcast content. Prerequisites: BC&J 101 and 112 with grades of C or better; or permission of instructor.

494 (Cross-listed with ENG 494 and WS 494) Women and Film/Television. (3) An overview of women in film and television that considers the on-screen images of women as well as the positions of women working behind the scenes (with laboratory). Not open to students with credit in ENG 494 or WS 494. Prerequisites: ENG 180 and 280.

496 (Cross-listed with ENG 496) Topics in Film. (3) Study of major subjects and themes in film. Topics vary but may include intensive study of directors such as Alfred Hitchcock and Federico Fellini, or artistic movements such as Italian Neorealism, French New-Wave, Contemporary Spanish Cinema, or Russian Formalism. Not open to students with credit in ENG 496. Prerequisites: ENG/BC&J 290, ENG/BC&J 390, and 6 s.h. in approved film minor electives, or permission of instructor.

499 Field Work in Broadcasting. (3) Supervised applied experience in a sports organization or news broadcasting organization. Prerequisites: BC&J 312, 331, or 420; ENG 180 and 280; or permission of instructor.

COMMUNICATION (COMM)

130 Introduction to Human Communication. (3) Introduction to the various approaches and sub-fields which comprise speech communication, with a focus on the theoretical foundations of contemporary human communication theory.

235 Communicating in Small Groups. (3) Broad examination of the functioning of communication in small groups, including practical advice for becoming a more effective group member.

241 Introduction to Public Speaking. (3) (General Education/Communication Skills) Preparation and delivery of informative and persuasive speeches. Students apply concepts of critical listening, audience adaptation, organization/support of ideas, appropriate style, and effective delivery. Not open to students with credit in COMM 242. Accelerated section available. IAI: C2 900

242 Fundamentals of Public Speaking. (3) Preparation and delivery of informative and persuasive speeches. Students apply concepts of critical listening, audience adaptation, organization/support of ideas, appropriate style, and effective delivery completed in an online format. Not open to students with credit in COMM 241.

247 Argumentation. (3) A course in examining what it is to construct a strong argument in favor of any proposition through reasoning, critical thinking, and well-chosen evidence. Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) course. Prerequisite: COMM 241 or consent of instructor.

254 Great Speeches. (3) (General Education/ Humanities) An analysis of representative speeches that have significantly influenced the course of human events.

305 Interviewing. (3) Theory of interviewing and its purposes in various communication settings. Practical applications of the principles of interviewing.

309 Communication Theory. (3) A survey of communication theories. This course will also address the process of theory building and the role of communication theory across major paradigms guiding communication research. Prerequisite: COMM 130 with a grade of C or higher.

310 Qualitative Research Methods in Communication. (3) A survey of the qualitative research methods used in communication studies. Qualitative research design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation are addressed. Students will plan and conduct a final research project. Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) course. Prerequisites: COMM 130 with a grade of C or higher; ENG 180 and 280.

311 Communication Research. (3) A practical introduction to data-based communication research projects from research design through analysis and interpretation. Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) course. Prerequisites: COMM 130 with a grade of C or higher; ENG 180 and 280.

312 Rhetorical Criticism. (3) An introduction to the ways rhetoric works in language, images, and other media. Course explores the leading principles used to analyze and decode rhetorical messages encountered in daily life. Prerequisite: COMM 130.

314 Professional Presentations. (3) Advanced instruction for preparing and delivering engaging extemporaneous professional presentations using strategically designed messages. Topics include creating meaningful and aesthetically pleasing visuals, utilization of new communication technologies, working collaboratively in a group presentation, and adapting messages to diverse audiences. Prerequisites: ENG 180 and 280; COMM 241.

315 (Cross-listed with WS 316) Gender and Communication. (3) This course examines gender and gender-role differences and similarities in verbal and nonverbal communication and surveys several contexts in which sex differences in human communication occur. Not open to students with credit in WS 316. Prerequisite: COMM 130.

330 Language and Communication. (3) This survey course explores the historical and contemporary functions of language in communication. The course will examine theories of language, meaning, and communication, with emphasis on contemporary language research and controversies surrounding language and meaning in society. Prerequisite: COMM 130.

333 Risk and Crisis Communication. (3) Course is intended to provide students with an understanding of key elements of risk and crisis communication in organizational and health communication settings—pre-crisis, crisis, and post-crisis. Course focuses on understanding and developing effective messaging in such situations. Prerequisite: COMM 130 and ENG 180.

341 Small Group Communication. (3) Examination of significant factors which affect the behavior and effectiveness of social and task groups. Study of group behavior research.

343 Organizational Communication. (3) Survey of the different approaches to studying organizational communication as well as the various communication processes involved. Application to real-world scenarios and companies will also be discussed. Prerequisites: COMM 130; ENG 180 and 280.

344 Interpersonal Communication. (3) Theory and concepts relevant to face-to-face interaction. Focus on the content of communication in relationships and the role of communication in creating and defining relationships. Prerequisites: COMM 130; ENG 180 and 280.

345 Social Media. (3) Exploration of social media. Focus on and examination of competent communication technology use in a variety of contexts. Analysis of problematic issues of social media including accuracy, trust, privacy, and identity. Prerequisite: COMM 130.

346 Online Influencers. (3) This class will explore the role of social media influencers by reviewing research on opinion leadership and social influence as well as the communication variables involved in facilitating as well as hindering influencer effectiveness. Prerequisite: COMM 130.

356 Persuasion. (3) An exploration of cutting-edge and time-tested theories and techniques from the social sciences on changing minds and behavior. Prerequisite: COMM 130.

377 Nonverbal Communication. (3) Introduces basic codes, properties, and principles of nonverbal communication. Multidisciplinary content approached from scientific perspective rather than intuitive and experiential judgments. Designed to improve the communication effectiveness and understanding of the communication process. Prerequisite: COMM 130.

380 Special Topics in Applied Communication. (3) This course addresses special topics of interest in communication and/or provides students with the opportunity to develop communication skills that are transferable to personal and professional situations. Prerequisite: junior standing.

381 Intercultural Communication. (3) (Multicultural) Intercultural communication explores the intersection of culture, communication, and shared meanings. Topics may include cultural differences, traditions, contemporary issues in language across cultures, relationships, new technologies which shape our intercultural interactions, race, gender, religion, national identity, sexuality, politics, and education. Prerequisite: COMM 130.

400 Senior Honors Thesis Research. (3) Bibliographic and other preliminary work in preparation for a senior honors thesis (see COMM 401). Students will produce a final, graded project for this course. This course may not be taken concurrently with COMM 401. Prerequisites: ENG 180 and 280; COMM 310 or 311; students must be in good standing in the Centennial Honors College and must be juniors or first-semester seniors majoring in Communication or Public Relations.

401 Honors Thesis. (3) Students will write a senior honors thesis. This course may not be taken concurrently with COMM 400. Prerequisites: COMM 400; ENG 180 and 280; students must be in good standing in the Centennial Honors College and must be seniors majoring in Communication or Public Relations.

409 Communication and Conflict Management. (3) Study of the role of communication in conflict. Consideration of major theories of conflict management. Prerequisites: COMM 130; ENG 180 and 280.

410 Advanced Interpersonal Communication. (3) Study of theory, concepts, and methodology relevant to communication in close relationships. Examination of the dynamics and management of interaction within these contexts. Prerequisites: COMM 130 with a grade of C or higher; COMM 311 with a grade of C or higher; COMM 344; ENG 180 and 280.

413 Advanced Organizational Communication. (3) This course develops an understanding of theoretical and practical communication frameworks in order to analyze problems and generate strategies to overcome personal, group, and organizational barriers to effective communication in the workplace. Prerequisites: COMM 130 with a grade of C or higher; COMM 311 with a grade of C or higher; COMM 343; ENG 180 and 280.

418 Independent Research in Communication. (1–6, repeatable to 6) Individual reading or research under supervision of the faculty. Open to juniors and seniors who have demonstrated competence in broadcasting, communication, rhetoric, public address, or the speech-language-hearing sciences. Students may count up to 3 s.h. of COMM 418 toward the Public Relations major. Prerequisites: ENG 180 and 280; consent of instructor and School Director or Program Coordinator.

425 Health Communication. (3) This course will survey a number of topics relevant to both the institutional settings of medicine (e.g., doctor-patient interaction, media campaigns) as well as the interpersonal ramifications of illness (e.g., social support). Prerequisite: COMM 130 or permission of instructor.

428 Family Communication. (3) This course will investigate communication processes in the context of the family environment. Specifically, it will examine communication’s role in and its influence on family relational processes. Prerequisite: COMM 130 or permission of instructor.

430 Communication Training and Development. (3) This course explores the knowledge and skills necessary to engage 
in effective communication training and development in organizations and/or consulting in the field of communication. Prerequisite: COMM 311.

441 Rhetoric and Public Culture. (3) Study of the ways symbolic action shapes and energizes public culture. Practical case studies detail the powerful uses of rhetoric across a range of public, professional, and educational contexts. Prerequisites: COMM 312; ENG 180 and 280.

445 Social Media Analytics. (3) Study of message and relational processes in social media. Examination of theory and research exploring how individuals share, send, and receive messages via communication technologies. Prerequisite: COMM 345.

456 Communication Campaigns. (3) Principles and practical steps in designing campaigns targeted at the public using strategic message and channel choices. Prerequisites: COMM 130 with a grade of C or higher; COMM 311 with a grade of C or higher; COMM 356; ENG 180 and 280.

457 Social Influence. (3) Study of powerful impact other people have to change people’s minds. Students will learn how to leverage and resist social influences in their everyday lives. Prerequisites: COMM 130 with a grade of C or higher; COMM 311 with a grade of C or higher; COMM 356; ENG 180 and 280.

480 Special Topics in Communication. (1–3, repeatable to 6, for different topics, with permission of department chair) This course deals with selected topics of interest in communication such as nonverbal communication, intercultural communication, and family communication. Prerequisites: ENG 180 and 280; completion of at least 12 s.h. in Communication.

496 Communication Internship. (1–12, repeatable to 12) Directed work assignments in private or public sectors in communication areas. Students may count up to 3 s.h. of COMM 496 toward the Communication major or the Public Relations major. Prerequisites: Junior standing; 12 s.h. of Communication courses completed; ENG 180 and 280; permission of internship coordinator and School Director or Program Coordinator; a GPA of 2.50 in major courses taken as well as an overall GPA of 2.25. Graded S/U only.

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