Prospective Students > Undergraduate Course Descriptions

Required courses

JMS 200. Mediated Communication in the Information Age

Mass media and emerging forms of niche media in the global community. Theories, structures, functions, practices, problems, interrelationships, economics, critical analyses, history, and ethics.

JMS 375. Media Technology in the Global Environment

Technology’s crucial role in shaping the knowledge economy and communication policies affecting life and work in the global age. Emphasis on digital communication, media convergence, media regulation, and economic development.

JMS 489. Research Methods in Mediated Communication

Understanding and critically analyzing media reports of public opinion polls and other scientific research. Sampling and inferences to populations. Basic design and measurement issues. Margin of error. Levels of measure.

JMS 494. Media Law and Ethics

Importance of freedom of expression. Legal rights and responsibilities of print, electronic, and online media, and applications to advertising, journalism, and public relations. Ethical dilemmas encountered by media professionals and communication specialists, including challenges posed by global technologies.

Journalism courses

JMS 220. Writing for the Mass Media

Introduction to writing techniques for mass media. Laboratory practice in informational and persuasive writing, evaluation, and judgment.

JMS 300. Principles of Journalism

Theory and practice of journalism; survey of history, ethics, law, international news systems, and social responsibility of the press. Operations of newspapers, news magazines, radio and television news departments, and other news agencies. Impact of new media and technology on journalism, economics, and management of news organizations.

JMS 310W. Media Writing and Reporting

Writing for advertising, journalism, and public relations products in various media platforms. Gathering information, interviewing, conducting observations, and using online databases. Laboratory and fieldwork.

JMS 315. Editing for Print Media

Techniques of preparing content for print publication, including copy editing, headline writing, use of photos and graphics, and layout and design. Laboratory experience.

JMS 420. Public Affairs News Reporting

Field and laboratory practice in news gathering and writing, covering news beats including courts, local governments, and other news sources. Emphasis on accuracy, clarity, comprehensiveness, and interpretation.

JMS 425. Writing Opinion, Reviews, and Criticism

Principles and practices of writing editorials and opinion essays for media outlets (print, electronic, and online). Includes writing reviews of theatre, music, books, and film.

JMS 430. Online Writing and Design

Using the Web to publish media content and design, including how to use text, graphics, sound, and video to effectively transmit information. Role and responsibilities of media professionals as they add online publication to already established print and electronic platforms.

JMS 441. Magazine and Feature Writing

Planning, gathering material, writing and marketing articles for specialized and general publications. Production of expository articles and marketing of at least one article.

JMS 445. Electronic News Reporting/Producing

Electronic news, focusing on reporting and producing newscasts. Shooting, writing, editing, and presenting the news. Understanding roles and responsibilities in electronic newsrooms, including the role of the producer.

JMS 470. Multimedia News Writing

Advanced principles and techniques of writing news for print, online, radio-television, and emerging media platforms. Field and laboratory experience.

JMS 490C. Journalism Internship

Supervised work at organizations engaged in professional journalism activities under combined direction of practitioners and professors. Maximum credit three units.

JMS 529. Investigative Reporting

Development of articles of substance and depth in specialized areas. Research, analysis and interpretation of complex issues in the news. Special problems of the sustained, reportorial effort. Field and laboratory practice.

JMS 550. Multimedia News Lab

Capstone: Using skills and knowledge acquired in critical-thinking, reporting, editing, production, and design courses, students work in teams to prepare multimedia news content. Field and laboratory experience.

Advertising courses

JMS 460. Principles of Advertising

Concepts, history, theory, social responsibility, management, and regulation of advertising. Survey of advertising practices, including planning, consumer and market research, creative, and media.

JMS 461. Advertising Creative Development

Advertising creative philosophy, strategy, and tactics; art, copy, and creation of advertisements for broadcast, print, and interactive electronic media. Application of computers to creative development.

JMS 490A. Advertising Internship

Supervised work at organizations engaged in professional advertising activities under combined direction of practitioners and professors. Maximum credit three units.

JMS 506. Advertising and Society

Theoretical and philosophical analysis of advertising in modern society.

JMS 560. Advertising Research

Systematic application of quantitative and qualitative research to planning, design, and management of advertising campaigns. Cases, practices, and problems in application of research to consumer, market analysis, positioning, creative selection, media planning, and campaign evaluation.

JMS 565. Advertising Campaigns

Planning and creation of advertising campaigns including situation analysis and strategy, advertising and marketing objectives, consumer analysis and target audience selection, creative development, media strategy and tactics, sales promotion, and campaign evaluation.

JMS 574. International Advertising

Comparative cultural, economic, legal, political, and social conditions relevant to international advertising.

Public relations courses

JMS 480. Principles of Public Relations

Concepts, history, theory, social responsibility, and management of public relations. Survey of problems and practices in corporations, government agencies, associations, and not-for-profit organizations.

JMS 481. Public Relations Media and Methods

Practical applications of public relations techniques with emphasis on writing and media usage. News releases and media relations, print and electronic communications production, multi-media techniques, speeches, other audio-visual presentations, and special events. Field and laboratory practice.

JMS 490B. Public Relations Internship

Supervised work at organizations engaged in professional public relations activities under combined direction of practitioners and professors. Maximum credit three units.

JMS 581. Public Relations Research

Qualitative and quantitative methods used in to plan, track, and evaluate public relations programs. Computerized statistical analysis.

JMS 585. Professional Practices in Public Relations

Advanced cases in public relations management. Theory and practice of issues management, integration of the public relations function in strategic management in a variety of corporate, governmental, nonprofit, social, and cultural organizations.

JMS 595. Seminar in Theoretical Approaches to Public Relations

Diverse theoretical approaches to public relations, including management, rhetorical, critical, relational, and marketing approaches. Preparation for independent scholarly research project or master’s thesis.

Media studies courses

JMS 408. Media and Society

Media theories, models, and research exploring media effects and audience uses of media.

JMS 409. Women and Media

Role of women in media, including messages about women and employment status of women.

JMS 410. Media and Sexuality

Sexuality and sex-related issues in mass-mediated news, entertainment, and advertising content. Sexuality in the media and its effects on interpersonal relations, sexual identity, sexual politics, social discourse, and public policy. Study of portrayals of conventional sexuality and of sexual minorities.

JMS 412. Media and Individual Empowerment

Reviewing and dissecting claims made by media organizations. Examining models about how individuals make sense of these claims. Investigating how individual and group actions can alter media institutions and content.

JMS 450. Using Media to Understand Cultures

Cultural phenomena through media products, including films, television programs, and print media. Appreciation of various cultures and practices through the analysis of media products. Focus may vary depending on the instructor.

JMS 475. Mediated Communication in Intercultural Contexts

Cultures and the role of culture in professional fields, such as advertising, journalism, media studies, and public relations. Cultural values and practices as applied to various mediated communication products and contexts.

JMS 492. Media Convergence

Examining the new and often unexpected convergence of media institutions, technology, and content. Exploring new economic and social alliances, uses, and effects.

General courses

JMS 440. Management of Media Organizations

Revenue generation, marketing, distribution, production, personnel, social responsibilities, and current developments in media organizations. Planning, organizing, implementing organizational plans.

JMS 505. Government and Telecommunications

Responsibilities of telecommunication organizations as prescribed by law, government policies and regulations, and significant court decisions.

JMS 589. Ethical Issues in Mediated Communication

Exploring ethical challenges faced by journalists, public relations and advertising practitioners, and other communication specialists. Classical and modern ethical concepts and issues as they apply to mediated communication, as well as codes of ethics.

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