Division of Communications
Courses Descriptions

ALL COURSES AWARD 3 CREDIT HOURS

CORE COURSESA value is required.

CO 305. INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC SPEAKING This course is designed to introduce students to public speaking. Emphasis is placed on analysis, construction, and delivery of speeches. Students will have the opportunity to practice developing and delivering speeches in a classroom setting. CO 310. INTRODUCTION TO MASS COMMUNICATION This course provides students an opportunity to explore the pervasive influence that mass media has on our society. Students will trace the development of mass communication from the earliest symbols to the newest technologies as they examine the humanistic, artistic, and scientific impact of the various media. CO 320. INTRODUCTION TO MEDIA WRITING Students are introduced to the different styles of writing demanded by the various media. Emphasis is placed on preparing students to gather information and communicate effectively to any mass audience. CO 355. NEWS REPORTING Students apply the basic techniques of reporting, interviewing, and writing in order to produce news stories for class assignments and for publication. Prerequisite: CO 320. CO 360. DIGITAL VIDEO I This course introduces students to the language of broadcast video and audio production. Additionally, through lab work and individual projects, students gain hands-on experience in using digital video production equipment. Skills taught will include basic camera operation, audio, and basic video editing. CO 425. MEDIA LAW AND ETHICS The course examines law and ethics as they apply to media practitioners. Emphasis is placed on legal obligations and restraints and on standards of behavior governing the profession. Students examine precedent-setting laws and review ethics case studies and current issues. CO 455. MEDIA RESEARCH METHODS The course introduces the major methods of research used in mass media studies. Basic principles used in conducting surveys, designing experiments, and employing content analysis are examined. Major findings in fields such as media violence, the effects of media on children, and the persuasive effects of the media provide examples of current research. Prerequisites: CO 305, 310, 320. CO 490. INTERNSHIP Students in their junior and senior year gain real work experience preparing them for the job market. Internships are arranged by the student and instructor. Students serve at off-campus media institutions and agencies. Every effort is made to place students in areas of primary interest: e.g. advertising, public relations, newspaper reporting, television production, and media management/sales. Prerequisites: CO 305, 310, 320, and two required electives. MAJOR ELECTIVES CO 340. ADVERTISING The course examines basic advertising including how to develop campaign strategies, target markets, address the competition, and write successful creative platforms for advertising. CO 345. PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGING This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of digital photographic techniques. Through hands on participation and use of the computer lab, students also learn the basics of image manipulation and special effects within the digital medium. Additionally, students learn lighting, composition, and the difference between the storage and transfer of traditional film and digital mediums. This course also instructs students on the fundamental principles of conventional 35mm photography and photo processing. CO 350. PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MESSAGE DESIGN This course is designed to give communications students the fundamentals that make public relations a viable profession and career path. This class focuses heavily on writing for public relations. Students are exposed to the theoretical principles and frameworks that govern the work of public relations practitioners. Students demonstrate ability to target audiences/constituencies, create concepts and media content specifically for these audiences, and determine the best means of achieving results. Prerequisites: CO 305, 310, 320. CO 356. MILEAN LAB. Students work with the college's student publication, The Milean, in a range of news production positions. They gain valuable experience in print news. CO 355. CO 370. DIGITAL VIDEO II Students begin to apply technical applications learned in CO 360 to a variety of production projects. Additionally, students begin to learn the skill of multimedia editing. Prerequisite: CO 360. CO 375. ADVANCED MEDIA WRITING This course involves researching and writing major, multiple-source articles, series, and projects for newspapers and magazines. It includes study and execution of computer assisted reporting. Prerequisites: CO 355. CO 380. BROADCAST HISTORY The course examines the history of broadcasting with a focus on the economic, political, and technological implications that have influenced society and the broadcast industry. CO 390. PRINT LAYOUT AND DESIGN This course affords the student the opportunity to combine technological skill and expertise with a good theoretical foundation of the print medium. Laser printer, photographic editing, and scanning devices are incorporated to enhance students' technological knowledge and skill in new age publishing. Prerequisites: CO 305, 310, 320. CO 410. BROADCAST AND CABLE PROGRAMMING The course introduces radio as well as broadcast and cable television programming. Students learn how ratings are used to determine programming decisions, common programming strategies, and the various sources for programs in each field. CO 415 TELECOMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT The course examines local TV stations, cable TV and network organization, decision-making, and research techniques. It emphasizes broadcast management, research on leadership and communication management, and how management functions. CO 420. DIGITAL VIDEO III Students enhance their television production skills by producing and directing individual projects, both in the studio and in the field. Production projects include traditional talk show formats, commercials/PSAs, and full television and cable news programming. Prerequisites: CO 370. CO 421. MC-TV: STUDIO LAB. Students work on the college cable television news magazine, MC-TV: Studio, and gain valuable production experience. CO 430. SCRIPTWRITING The course instructs students in reporting for electronic media and writing scripts for the eye and ear. It also introduces students to writing commercials and public service announcements for radio and television. CO 435. ANNOUNCING This course provides training in all aspects of broadcast announcing, including voice and diction, reading, programming, and editing styles. The skills are relevant to radio and television formats. Prerequisites: CO 305, 310, 320. CO 436. RADIO PRODUCTION The course enables students to perform the functions of a broadcaster of a "Live-On-Air" radio shift. Students will be able to use an audio board, cue CDs, and fill out and follow a "Log and Show Rundown." CO 451. PUBLIC RELATIONS STRATEGIES AND TACTICS The course enables students to use or demonstrate relevant skills and knowledge of case studies relating to the practice of public relations; strategies to deliver messages to local, national, and global publics; approaches to communicate within a multicultural society; and new media, such as Facebook, You Tube, and Twitter. The course format includes lectures as well as presentations by PR professionals and students. Prerequisite: CO 350 CO 460. BROADCAST REGULATION This course provides students with information regarding old and new issues facing the mass communication industry. Classroom lectures and extensive reading and research of varied case studies are primary focuses of this course. Prerequisites: CO 425. CO 480. SENIOR PROJECT This course is designed to give communications students an opportunity to examine topics of consequence to their areas of interest. The project may take the form of research or be developed as a practical application, such as a public relations campaign or radio/TV documentary. The project must be creative, scholarly, and supervised by a communications instructor. Prerequisites: senior status, and all core courses except CO 490. BL 321. BUSINESS LAW I It's a survey of the general principles of law as applied to various business transactions.