Media and Communication

Introduction to Media Studies

Introduces students to the role played by mass media in culture. Media institutions and technologies are examined in terms of their histories, economic and legal characteristics, and contemporary social influence. Offered every semester.

Smartphone Video Production

Students will learn fundamental skills in creating high quality video content entirely on a smartphone. These skills include how to shoot video and sound with high technical and aesthetic value and the fundamentals of video and sound editing.

Writing for the Mass Media

An introduction to the study of newsgathering, reporting, and writing across multiple media platforms, including ethical, legal, and stylistic concerns. Prerequisite: ENG 105 with a grade of C or higher. Offered each semester.

Media Writing Workshop

A practical workshop in which students discover and develop a specialty writing for the student newspaper. The course may be repeated one time; however, the student must work on two different sections of the newspaper. Prerequisite: ENG 105 with a grade of C or higher or consent. Offered each semester.

Sports Writing Workshop

A practical workshop in which students write for the sports section of the student newspaper. The course may be repeated one time. Prerequisite: ENG 105 with a grade of C or higher or consent. Offered each semester.

Experimental Film and Video

Explores the history and theory of experimental film and video through lecture, discussion, reading, and screenings and through creative action. Students produce their own avant-garde videos as they learn the form's aesthetic heritage and contemporary developments. Offered intermittently.

Public Speaking

An individualized introduction to the theory and practice of informative and persuasive speech communication. Extemporaneous speaking is explored in depth while impromptu and group communication are also examined. The communication model is stressed, including sender, receiver, message (verbal and non-verbal) channel, noise, and feedback. Offered every semester.

Understanding Film

A survey of film as an artistic and cultural medium. The course explores film historically and aesthetically, considering aspects of film technology, style, narrative, genre, and ideology. Emphasis is placed on historically important films, filmmakers, and film movements, but contemporary trends are also addressed. Offered every semester.

Introductory Filmmaking

Introduces students to the techniques and traditions of fictional narrative filmmaking. Emphasis is placed on principles of visual storytelling and conventions of continuity and composition, videography, lighting, editing, and production management. Students also learn the fundamentals of screenwriting. Offered every semester.

Media Law and Ethics

Examines the legal principles and regulatory structures, primarily in the areas of First Amendment law and copyright, governing print, and electronic media. Additional discussion concerns ethical standards and potential ethical dilemmas faced by working media professionals. Prerequisite: Sophomore status or consent. Offered spring of odd-numbered years.

The Art of Animation

An in-depth look at the history of animation as a developing art form. The course also looks at animation as a reflection of culture and as a business. Prerequisite: Sophomore status or consent. Offered intermittently.

Theories of Mass Communication

An overview of the major theories that characterize the study of mass communication. Addresses both humanities and social sciences approaches and explores theory as a lens for conducting research. Students majoring in communication will typically take MC 321 (Theories) in the fall and MC 331 (Mass Communication Research Methods) in the spring of their junior or senior year. Prerequisite: Junior/Senior status or consent. Offered every fall.

Organizational Communication

Examines all forms of communication in any profit or non-profit organization. Combines theory and practice to understand intended and unintended messages. Topics include culture, networking, impact of technology, medium and channel, and rhetorical purpose. Prerequisite: Sophomore status or consent. Offered every spring and summer.

Persuasion and the Media

An examination of the methods and techniques that advertisers use to persuade audiences. Prerequisites: junior/senior status or consent. Offered every fall.

Children, Teens, and the Media

A study of children and teens as a media audience focusing on their usage and preferences. Attention is given to child development, generational media profiles and artifacts, and media effects, both prosocial and antisocial. Prerequisite: Sophomore status or consent. Offered every spring.

Public Relations

An introduction to the public relations and advertising profession with an emphasis on writing. Students examine the role of public relations and advertising in a free society and the demands and constraints, including ethical ones, placed upon them. They write background or briefing papers, press releases, informational and persuasive copy, and find promotable elements in products and services. Identical to ENG 328. Prerequisite: Junior/Senior status or consent. Offered every fall.

Strategic Sports Communication

To explain the theories and principles of sports communication and to provide an understanding of contemporary applications. The course is a foundation for students planning careers in fields that require an understanding of the strategic communication in sports related professions. Identical to SRM 329. Prerequisites: MC 201 or consent. Offered every fall.

Mass Communication Research Methods

Introduces mass communication research methods and includes field, survey, and experimental methods as well as content analysis. Prerequisite: Junior/Senior status or consent. Offered every spring.

Special Topics in Media and Communication

An investigation of selected themes, genres, directors, periods, or topics in mass media and cultural studies. Sample topics include "American Silent Film," "The Movies of 1939," "The Films of the Coen Brothers," "Women and Film," "The Documentary Tradition," and "The Western." May be repeated if the topic is different. Prerequisite: Sophomore status or consent.

Social Media and Digital Mass Media

The course explores the ways current and emerging social media and digital mass media technologies affect individuals and society. Topics include the place of devices in our lives, digital media business models, privacy, mis/dis-information, social media and the self, and others. Prerequisite: Sophomore status or consent. Offered every fall.

Editors in the Workshop

An opportunity for editors of The Marlin Chronicle to superintend the professional performance of their sections. Editors run weekly budget meetings; make assignments; encourage, assist, and evaluate staff; and produce a responsible, quality publication. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Consent. Offered each semester.

Senior Seminar in Media and Communication

In-depth investigation into the art, history, culture, and ethics of various media through the lens of a particular topic. For example, students may explore the construct of celebrity or friendship as formulated, manufactured, and disseminated through mediated channels. Prerequisite: Senior status or consent. Offered every fall.

Documentary Film Production

A guided individual study with primary focus on the production of a documentary short film. The production work will be supplemented by guided study in the history and theory of documentary film. Course enrollment is limited to one student per semester. Prerequisite: MC 250 and consent. Offered intermittently.

Internship in Media and Communication

A significant, practical learning experience for the student of communication and, as such, a required component of the program of studies. Students may complete one or two internships as part of the major. All internships must be approved by the Communication Internship Director. Prerequisite: Junior/Senior status or consent. Offered every semester.