Elective Courses
In addition to required courses, you must take one Journalism elective. The following courses are currently offered as Journalism electives:
| Course # | Title | |
| 0535-315 0535-316 0535-317 0535-410 0535-411 0535-415 0535-421 0535-422 0535-426 0502-444 0535-452 0535-460 0535-461 0535-463 0535-520 0535-525 0535-532 0535-550 0535-580 |
Quantitative Research Methods Qualitative Research Methods Critical Research Methods Computer-Mediated Communication Health Communication Organizational Communication Public Relations Ethics in Technical Communication Archival Research Technical Writing Uses and Effects of the Mass Media Copywriting and Visualization Principles of Advertising Campaign Management and Planning Intercultural Communication Special Topics: Communication Professional Writing Film and Society International Media |
0535-315 - Quantitative Research Methods
An introduction to the methods and ethics of scientific, scholarly communication research. Techniques taught include the methods of locating, analyzing, and critiquing communication research literature. This course focuses on social scientific empirical research methods and culminates in the development of a research project proposal. This research proposal or one developed in the other required Research Methods course should be used as the groundwork for the student’s project in Senior Thesis in Communication. Prerequisites: 0535-200, 445.
0535-316 - Qualitative Research Methods
Introduction to the methods and ethics of critical research, participant observation, naturalistic study, and focus group interviewing. Qualitative research methods rely on the researcher's observational, analytic and critical skills and seeks to understand the behaviors, beliefs, values, attitudes, assumptions, rituals and symbol systems that characterize relationships between the source, message, media and audience of specific communication acts. Students develop a research proposal suitable for implementation as the Senior Thesis in Communication. Required course for professional and technical communication majors. Prerequisites: 0535-200, 445
0535-317 - Critical Research Methods
The course develops a disciplined ability for the critical appraisal of public discourse. Students learn methods enabling them to systematically investigate and explain human symbolic action and artifacts. In addition to the specialized form of critical thinking it teaches, the course promotes criticism as a means for understanding the processes of rhetorical action.
0535-410 - Computer-Mediated Communication
Readings, discussions, and observations of online behavior introduce students to Computer-mediated communication (CMC) terms and theories to further develop their skills. CMC was originally defined as a form of electronic written communication. As networking tools advanced, CMC expanded to include new software developments, such as instant messenger and the internet. Today, the term computer-mediated communication is used to refer to a wide range of technologies that facilitate both human communication and the interactive sharing of information through computer networks.
0535-411 - Health Communication
An introduction to the subject of communication in health care delivery and in public health campaigns, with an emphasis on interpersonal, organizational, and mass communication approaches. Also covered is the interrelationship of health behavior and communication.
0535-415 - Organizational Communication
Offers the seasoned communication student a comprehensive overview of the organizational communication field. This overview is focused on the conceptualization of organizations, communication theories as applied to organizations, significant research from the past and present, and speculations about the future.
0535-421 - Public Relations
An introduction to the study of public relations. Topics include history, research areas, laws, ethics, and social responsibilities as they relate to the theory and practice of public relations.
0535-422 - Ethics in Technical Communication
Ethics is the study of morals, of what is right and good, especially regarding specific moral choices. In a given situation, a system of ethics helps us answer the question: What should I do? "Ethics in Technical Communication" explores the ways in which ethical conduct is important in the communication of technical information, particularly among professional technical communicators; establishes principles, based on the history of ethical studies, for making ethical choices as technical communicators; and provides opportunities to apply ethical principles to case studies, in order to better understand the often problematical nature of ethical choices in technical--or any--communication.
0535-426 - Archival Research
An applied learning experience designed to guide students through the research process using special collections of archival material. The course provides an opportunity to develop specialized research skills necessary to access, sort, and examine specific collections pertinent to independent communication scholarship. Examples of the changing research topics are Visual Communication, Material Culture, and Historical Documents. Class meetings are held in computer labs for preparatory on-line exploration of collections. Class schedule includes research at local collections, e.g., Wallace Library, local and regional historical societies, the International Museum of Photography at the George Eastman House, the Strong Museum. When possible class trips to remote sites will be available, e.g. National Archives in Washington DC. Prerequisites: Third-year status and permission of instructor.
0502-444 - Technical Writing
Technical Writing furnishes knowledge of and practice in writing skills most often required in technical professions. Students gain instruction and experience in technical writing style; organizing, preparing and revising short and long technical documents; using effective page design features, principles and format elements; designing tables, charts and graphs; and writing technical definitions, physical and process descriptions, and instructions. Prerequisites: 0502-227 or equivalent.
0535-452 - Uses and Effects of the Mass Media
Through the use of theory and scientific research, this course provides an analysis of the media's "effects" on people and people's "uses and gratifications" of various mass communication forms. The course focuses on building and refining mass communication theory. Prerequisite: 0535-482
0535-460 - Copywriting and Visualization
An opportunity for undergraduates to learn the verbal and visual thinking skills utilized in the creation of advertising messages. To create an effective strategy for an advertising campaign, the advertising copywriter/art director team needs to combine linguistic and visual metaphors into a persuasive message. Students will develop creative advertising messages by researching and writing a creative brief and then implementing the plan by transforming concepts into actual advertising messages and campaigns.
0535-461 - Principles of Advertising
This course is an introduction to the advertising communication process. It is designed to show how advertising is integrated into the larger discipline of marketing communications. Marketing communications is the integration of internal and external communication systems. It involves coordinating the various promotional mix elements (advertising, sales promotion, publicity, and public relations) along with other marketing activities to more effectively communicate with a company's customers.
0535-463 - Campaign Management and Planning
This course introduces students to the managing and planning of advertising and public relations campaigns. It takes a team project approach thereby helping students learn how to work together in class as well as in a competitive agency. Service-learning will be used to expose students to community causes and service-learning.
0535-520 - Intercultural Communication
An examination of the role of culture in face-to-face interaction. Students may find a basic background in communication, anthropology or psychology useful. Professional elective for professional technical communication majors. Option for concentrators in Arabic and French foreign language culture concentrations and for the communication minor. Also may be taken as a liberal arts elective. Prerequisite: 0535-200
0535-525 Special Topics in Communication
A focused, in-depth study and analysis of a selected advanced topic in communication and associated issues. Specific topic varies according to faculty assigned and is published when the course is offered. Topics may include: semiotics, communication technologies, gender differences in communication, legal communication, group dynamics, and censorship and propaganda. Professional elective for communication majors. Prerequisites: For junior/senior communication majors; permission of the instructor required for all others.
0535-532 Professional Writing
Students develop writing, research, and interviewing skills necessary to the composition of articles for magazines, newsletters, and other similar publications. In addition students learn how to investigate the market for and “sell” their writing, and how to write query letters. Much of the course is conducted as a workshop, during which students appraise each other’s work, and make suggestions for revision. Required course for communication majors and may be taken to fulfill a communication minor. Prerequisites: 0535-230 or equivalent
0535-550 - Film and Society
An inquiry concerning the relationship between motion pictures and society that uses historical, humanistic and social science research to achieve an understanding of movies as a social force, industry and art form. Prerequisite: 0535-482
0535-580 - International Media
An introduction to media technology use in the international setting and in various countries and regions of the world. Selective theories about the media, international communication developments, and government challenges and restrictions also are considered.