2013-2014 Undergraduate Catalog

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

School of Communication Studies

JMC 100 Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communications

The economic, social and legal forces shaping media content today; how our perception of mass media is a reflection of their history and current function.

3

JMC 210 Newswriting

Prerequisite: ENG 122 with a "C" or higher and either JMC 100 or consent of instructor. Functional typewriting skill (25 wpm). Sharpen skills and judgment in reporting and writing for broadcast and non-broadcast mass media.

3

JMC 212 Visual Media

Prerequisite: JMC 100. Majors/Pre-majors only. Learn how to put text, images and audio together for print and multi-platform presentations for the web. Learn to write and produce stories for “stand alone” use or incorporation into converged media.

3

JMC 241 Radio Production and Broadcast Announcing

Majors only. Learn to write and produce basic radio programming and to effectively announce over radio and television.

3

JMC 315 Sports Reporting

Prerequisite: JMC 210. Majors and minors only. How to report and write about sports. Emphasis on what constitutes sports news and both the uniqueness of sports journalism and how it is similar to other beats.

3

JMC 340 Broadcast Newswriting

Prerequisite: JMC 210. Majors only. News for the ear and for the television camera eye; radio, television and cable newscasts.

3

JMC 341 Visual Journalism for New Media

Prerequisite: JMC 210. Emphasis is on multimedia reporting, photography, videography and editing.  Learn how to put text and audio together, and use still and video images, for interactive multimedia presentations for the World Wide Web. Course Fee Required.
3

JMC 342 Television Production

Consent of instructor. Majors only. Learn the terminology, procedures and skills of basic studio television production. Application of techniques to the production of programs.

4

JMC 345 Advertising Principles

Majors and minors only. The skills and techniques necessary in the preparation and production of broadcast advertising and promotion developed through practical training in the writing of commercials and announcements.

3

JMC 350 News Editing and Layout

Prerequisite: JMC 210. Majors only. Copy editing, headline writing and the graphic concepts needed to produce attractive and readable designs for print media. Application of skills involved in the selection and judgment of news.

3

JMC 352 Reporting Contemporary Issues

Prerequisites: JMC 210 and JMC 350 or instructor's consent. Majors only. How to identify, research, analyze and report contemporary public issues of importance and interest. Emphasis on in-depth and investigative reporting.

3

JMC 361 Magazine Writing

Prerequisite: JMC 210. Majors and minors only. Develop skills needed for writing articles geared toward specialized audiences; examine current issues in magazine publishing; explore rights and responsibilities of the magazine writer.

3

JMC 380 Public Relations

Majors and minors only. Consent of instructor needed for recreation majors. The concepts, procedures and theories behind public relations work. Examine current practices in business, government and other settings.

3

JMC 385 Media Planning and Research

Prerequisite: JMC 345. Majors only. A managerial approach to the study of media research and media planning strategies. Methods and procedures used in the planning and evaluation of the media mix will be examined.

3

JMC 387 Advertising Copywriting

Prerequisite: JMC 210, JMC 345. Majors only. Advertising from the copywriter's standpoint; planning and writing creative strategies. Create copy for broadcast and print media and learn illustration and layout concepts.

3

JMC 390 Impact of Mass Communications on Society

Juniors and above. The effects and roles of media content and media industries in contemporary society; the current state of media effects on theory and research.

3

JMC 397 History of Mass Communications

Juniors and above. Survey of the cultural, technological and economic evolution of the mass media, with emphasis on issues and trends in mediated communications.

3

JMC 404 Practicum

By arrangement with advisor. Incorporate discipline specific skills in practical working situations on-campus. Repeatable, maximum three credits.

1 - 3

JMC 408 Special Topics

Current issues or problems in journalism and mass communications. Repeatable, under different subtitles.

1-3

JMC 410 Advanced News and Feature Writing

Prerequisites: JMC 210, JMC 350, and JMC 352. Majors and minors only. Covering news beats, C-SPAN events. Researching and writing features, editorials and columns for all media.

3

JMC 422 Directed Study

Individualized investigation under the direct supervision of a faculty member. (Minimum of 37.5 clock hours required per credit hour.) Repeatable, maximum concurrent enrollment is two times.

1 - 3

JMC 443 Electronic Field Production

Prerequisites: JMC 210, JMC 340, JMC 342. Consent of instructor. Majors only. Principles and techniques of videography, field reporting and video editing.

4

JMC 444 Cable Television Production

Prerequisites: JMC 342, JMC 443. Consent of instructor. Majors only. Practical application of visual communication skills in producing television news programming.

3

JMC 460 Media Management

Majors only. Procedures, issues and responsibilities that must be mastered by managers of newspapers and radio and television stations.

3

JMC 481 Public Relations Techniques

Prerequisites: JMC 210, JMC 380. Majors only. Seniors only. Effective tools and techniques used by the professional public relations practitioner.

3

JMC 485 Media Ethics

Prerequisite: JMC 100 Majors and minors only. Explores ethical theory and ethical decision-making tools as they relate to dilemmas in the media professions.

3

JMC 492 Mass Communications Internship

Prerequisite: JMC 342 or JMC 350. Consent of advisor. Majors only. Off-campus work experience in a professional media enterprise specific to the student’s major emphasis. Repeatable maximum three credits.

1 - 3

JMC 495 Television Criticism

Critically evaluate television's performance as an informative, persuasive, entertaining, socializing, and culture-transmitting medium.

3

JMC 497 Mass Communications Law

Seniors or above. Current and perennial ethical and legal issues in journalism and mass communications media that affect journalists, media management and the public.
3