Courses - Mass Communications:

MCOM 151: News Writing 3 cr.
A foundation course in news writing. Attention is given to elements of news, style, writing leads, spelling, and story structure. Proficiency in word processing is required. Three hours of lecture and in class writing.

MCOM 201: News Reporting 3 cr.
Prerequisite: MCOM 151. This course builds upon the news writing skills developed in MCOM 151. In addition to continued emphasis on good writing, the course familiarizes students with the various techniques, problems, and ethics of news gathering. Students cover beats for the campus newspaper. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 220: Writing for Public Relations 3 cr.
Prerequisite: MCOM 151. A course to prepare students for the writing challenges they will face in practicing public relations. Emphasis is placed on developing news judgment, appreciating the client’s perspective, producing error-free copy and cultivating professional relationships with those in the news media. Will involve weekly writing focused on styles of press releases, documents needed for event preparation and publications expected by clients. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 250: Principles of Photography 3 cr.
An introductory study of basic photography including camera and darkroom techniques. Not designed for communication majors. Three hours of lecture plus two hours of laboratory.

MCOM 251: Intermediate Photographic Techniques 3 cr.
Prerequisite: MCOM 250 or consent of the department. Continued photographic exploration into the areas of picture composition, exposure control, optional photo materials/equipment, film processing, and print making. Three hours of lecture plus two hours of laboratory.

MCOM 253: Photojournalism 3 cr.
An introductory photography course designed specifically for the needs of public relations and journalism majors. Three hours of lecture plus two hours of laboratory.

MCOM 266: Sports Journalism 3 cr.
A course emphasizing reporting techniques for both professional and non-professional sports. Students will have the opportunity to cover local games as well as to write background stories such as personality features and informational articles. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 270: Journalism Practicum 1 cr.
Prerequisite: MCOM 151 or consent of the department. The application of principles and techniques of journalism through work accomplished for the campus newspaper. May be repeated for a maximum of two hours credit. Credit earned on a pass/no credit basis. Three hours of laboratory.

MCOM 275: Broadcasting 3 cr.
The history of the broadcasting industry, its present structure, the relationship of the industry to government and society, and the growth of educational broadcasting. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 280: Desktop Publishing 3 cr.
A course emphasizing document design and creation with computer software. Students will become familiar with techniques for production of pamphlets, brochures, newsletters, magazines, and newspapers. Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory.

MCOM 285: Radio and Television Writing 3 cr.
Prerequisite: ENGL 115. Development of skills and practice in the art of writing for broadcast media. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 290: Topics in Mass Communications 3 cr.
Prerequisite: Consent of the department. Selected topics in mass communications will be taught. Topics will vary from term to term. May be repeated for a maximum of six term hours. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 310: Public Relations 3 cr.
Acquaints the student with the art and science of public relations, both external and internal, in business, education, and government. Discussion of principles and practice of effective techniques in publicity, public affairs, promotion, persuasion, public opinion, and employee relations. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 313: Feature Writing 3 cr.
Prerequisite: MCOM 151 or ENGL 115. Instruction and practice in the skills and techniques of writing features for newspapers and magazines. Attention is given to preparing inquiry letters, manuscripts, and personalized articles for various mass markets. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 317: Newspaper Editing 3 cr.
Prerequisite: MCOM 151. Intensive practice in copy reading, headline writing, and makeup. Practice in improving words and phrases, with an introduction to computer editing. A study of the purpose and structure of headlines and headline counting is included, along with problems in makeup. One hour of lecture and three hours of laboratory.

MCOM 320: Communication Research 3 cr.
Prerequisite: CSC 111 or consent of the department. A course designed to provide the student with the necessary skills and information to conduct basic research approaches which are widely utilized in the communications industry, and to understand the research reports which are provided to communications professionals. The student will learn basic statistics and research designs for laboratory, field, survey, content analysis, and historical approaches. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 343: Opinion Writing 3 cr.
Prerequisite: MCOM 151 or ENGL 115. A writing course for junior and senior students designed to develop skill in writing editorials and personal opinion pieces for newspapers and other periodicals. Students will critically evaluate examples of published opinion writing. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 344: Public Affairs Reporting 3 cr.
Prerequisite: MCOM 151 and ENGL 115. A course in reporting news that occurs in public forums such as city councils, courts, parish commissions and school boards. In addition, students will consider other community institutions and learn how to report hard to get news from or about these institutions. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 370: Understanding Mass Media Advertising 3 cr.
Prerequisite: MCOM 115 or consent of the department. This is a course designed to provide the student with the theoretical background necessary to understand the proper employment of the media in an advertising campaign. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 374: Radio Broadcast Production 3 cr.
A study of radio studio production and programming, including technical procedures necessary for the audio aspects of the medium. Two hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory.

MCOM 375: Television Production 3 cr.
This course is designed to develop production and performance skills needed in television broadcasting. Two hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory.

MCOM 376: Broadcasting Announcing 3 cr.
Prerequisite: COMM 135 and MCOM 115. This course emphasizes performance abilities essential to successful communication through the electronic media. Lectures and exercises will help the student develop specific performance skills for television/radio announcing, music and sports announcing, and news reporting. 3 hours of lecture.

MCOM 381: Digital Media Editing 3 cr.
Prerequisites: MCOM 151 and MCOM 280. Digital Media Editing will integrate writing, design and computer skills learned in previous Mass Communications classes. Students will learn to translate print stories into broadcast and Web site versions. Three hours of lecture and laboratory.

MCOM 385: American Cinema 3 cr.
An introductory course that examines Hollywood film as a system of representation and communication. Students should gain a working knowledge of film history and economics, an understanding of film as cultural artifact, and the ability to identify the characteristics of American film genres. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 411: Practical Applications in Public Relations 3 cr.
Prerequisite: MCOM 310 or consent of the department. This course considers the critical issues and problems confronting the public relations specialist, discusses alternative approaches to dealing with them, and includes the use of selected case studies. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 430: History of American Journalism 3 cr.
A survey course of the development of American journalism from its beginnings to the present. Special emphasis will be placed on significant periods of expansion of the press and the rise of broadcast journalism. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 433: The Law of the Mass Media 3 cr.
Study of how the law controls and empowers the mass media: historical background, freedom, rights and ethical responsibilities of the press and broadcasters. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 450: Ethical Values in the Mass Media 3 cr.
Prerequisite: PHIL 105 or consent of department. A seminar to examine the performance of the U.S. mass media in light of common ethical standards. Students will critically evaluate dozens of cases to discover which systems of values are being used and what ethical principles may support or contradict media performance. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 455: Electronic News Gathering 3 cr.
Prerequisite: MCOM 285. A course intended to enable the prospective television journalist to develop and exhibit those skills necessary to gather, package, and present professionally acceptable news under real-world conditions. Three hours of lecture and laboratory.

MCOM 470: Creating Advertising in the Media 3 cr.
Prerequisite: MCOM 370 or consent of the department. This course is designed to provide the student with practical instruction and practice in the design, writing, and application of advertising copy intended for presentation in the mass media. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 475: Mass Media in Society 3 cr.
The development of the mass media, their present structures, their relationship to government and the rest of society, and the ethical problems faced by media practitioners. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 480: Publicity, Media, and Campaigns 3 cr.
Prerequisite: MCOM 310 or consent of the department. This course is intended to serve as a capstone, synthesizing knowledge and skills gained in the communications curriculum. Emphasis will be placed on comprehensive communication campaign design from research through evaluation. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 481: Managing Public Relations 3 cr.
This course combines the most recent theories in the structuring and supervising of public relations departments in organizations with practical experiences in the management of routine, crisis, and special events. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 490: Seminar in Mass Communications 3 cr.
Prerequisite: Consent of the department. May be repeated for credit for a maximum of six term hours. Selected topics in mass communications will be discussed and will vary from term to term. Three hours of seminar.

MCOM 495: Independent Studies in Mass Communications 3 cr.
Prerequisite: Consent of the department. May be repeated for credit for a maximum of six term hours. Readings, conferences, and reports under the guidance of a member of the Journalism or Public Relations faculty. Three hours of research.

MCOM 499: Internship 3 cr.
Prerequisite: Majors only and/or consent of the department. Offers the student practical experience with professional newspapers, radio and television stations, advertising agencies, public relations firms. Ten hours of laboratory per week.

MCOM 611: Practical Applications in Public Relations 3 cr.
Prerequisite: MCOM 310 or consent of the department. This course considers the critical issues and problems confronting the public relations specialists, discusses alternative approaches to dealing with them, and includes the use of selected case studies. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 630: History of American Journalism 3 cr.
A survey course of the development of American journalism from its beginnings to the present. Special emphasis will be placed on significant periods of expansion of the press and the rise of broadcast journalism. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 633: The Law of the Mass Media 3 cr.
Study of how the law controls and empowers the mass media: historical background, freedom, rights and ethical responsibilities of the press and broadcasters. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 638: Advising School Publications 3 cr.
An examination of the objectives, techniques, activities, and problems in advising for school newspapers and yearbooks and in directing students in their publication. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 670: Creating Advertising in the Media 3 cr.
Prerequisite: MCOM 370 or consent of the department. This course is designed to provide the student with practical instruction and practice in the design, writing, and application of advertising copy intended for presentation in the mass media. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 675: Mass Media in Society 3 cr.
The development of the mass media, their present structure, their relationship to government and society, and the ethical problems faced by media practitioners. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 680: Publicity, Media, and Campaigns 3 cr.
Prerequisite: COMM 310 or consent of the department. This course focuses on the nature of publicity and the uses of the media in various campaigns including political, educational and organizational campaign strategies. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 681: Managing Public Relations 3 cr.
This course combines the most recent theories in the structuring and supervising of public relations departments in organizations with practical experiences in the management of routine, crisis, and special events. Three hours of lecture.

MCOM 690: Seminar in Mass Communication 3 cr.
Prerequisites: Consent of the department. May be repeated for credit for a maximum of six term hours. Selected topics from the field of mass communications will vary from term to term. Three hours of seminar.

MCOM 695: Independent Studies in Mass Communication 3 cr.
Prerequisites: Consent of the department. May be repeated for credit for a maximum of six term hours. Readings, conferences, and reports under the guidance of a member of the mass communications faculty. Three hours of research.

MCOM 791: Special Topics in Mass Communication 3 cr.
May be repeated for a maximum of six term hours credit. Special topics to be selected from the areas of broadcasting, public relations, and journalism. Topics will vary from term to term. Three hours of seminar.