Journalism and Mass Communication (JOURN) < University of Wisconsin-Madison

JOURN 150 — INTRODUCTION TO SPORTS COMMUNICATION

3 credits.

Explore the central activities and concepts related to various communication professions involved in the realm of sports. These activities include sports journalism, sports broadcasting, sports marketing communications, and sports public relations. Consider major social issues that impinge upon these professions including how sports and media intersect with concerns associated with race and gender. Explore strategies to build careers in sports communications and beyond.

Requisites: None

Course Designation: Level - Elementary
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify and explain the core concepts and principles that are part of the practice of sports journalism, broadcasting, advertising and public relations.
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Recognize the importance of strategic, creative and ethical thinking as applied to context of sports communications.
Audience: Undergraduate

JOURN 162 — MASS MEDIA IN MULTICULTURAL AMERICA

3 credits.

An introduction to the roles and functions of print, film, electronic and digital media in multicultural America. International comparisons highlight differences and commonalities in the social and cultural position of mass media in societies with racially and ethnically diverse populations.

JOURN 163 — GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN MASS COMMUNICATION

3 credits.

Exploration of the role that gender and sexuality both play in media representation, production, reception, and activism.

Requisites: None

Course Designation: Breadth - Either Humanities or Social Science
Level - Elementary
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Spring 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Develop an understanding of the different definitions of gender that currently exist.
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Compare the difference between gender and sexuality.
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Describe the way that sexuality is connected to our social and personal identities.
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Examine how the mass media represent gender and sexuality.
Audience: Undergraduate

5. Determine the ways in which gender and sexuality inform the practice of media production.
Audience: Undergraduate

6. Demonstrate how gender and sexuality impact media reception.
Audience: Undergraduate

7. Articulate the way media activism campaigns specifically address issues of gender and sexuality.
Audience: Undergraduate

8. Apply the knowledge gained in the course in order to design a media activism campaign that focuses on gender, sexuality, or both.
Audience: Undergraduate

JOURN 175 — MEDIA FLUENCY FOR THE DIGITAL AGE

3 credits.

An introduction to digital media and how it influences - and is impacted by - society, culture, politics, and the economy. Create on-trend digital media content and critically examine digital mediums, messages, and audiences.

Requisites: None

Course Designation: Breadth - Either Humanities or Social Science
Level - Elementary
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Summer 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Understand what it means to be digitally fluent.
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Understand key media fluency terms and know why they are important.
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Critically examine how digital media forms are both consumed and produced in society - and how this affects society, culture, politics, and the economy.
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Apply media fluency knowledge and skills to produce fun and interesting, yet critical and thought-provoking digital media across a variety of forms – including podcasts, video, blogs, Wikipedia content, and other forms of social media.
Audience: Undergraduate

5. Be aware of ethics, policies, and industry standards surrounding content production in the digital space.
Audience: Undergraduate

JOURN 176 — SPECIAL TOPICS IN MASS COMMUNICATION

3 credits.

Special focus on a specific conceptual issue or topic involving mass communication.

Requisites: None

Course Designation: Breadth - Social Science
Level - Elementary
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S

Repeatable for Credit: Yes, unlimited number of completions

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Think critically about their own societies and the larger global community.
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Demonstrate knowledge of one or more methodologies.
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Demonstrate knowledge of one or more theoretical approaches.
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Synthesize and apply social science concepts.
Audience: Undergraduate

5. View issues from multiple perspectives.
Audience: Undergraduate

JOURN 201 — INTRODUCTION TO MASS COMMUNICATION

4 credits.

How the mass media are organized and how they function in modern society; their technological basis, economic and political foundations, and social implications.

JOURN 202 — MASS COMMUNICATION PRACTICES

6 credits.

Build increasingly sophisticated communication skills, including writing, editing, gathering information, working with data, and presenting stories through varying media forms. Develop an appreciation of how different media influence message design by communicators and reception by audiences. Develop a complex toolkit of conceptual and practical skills for media work in journalism, strategic communication, and hybrids. Build writing skills and critical thinking abilities, two elements common to success in any field.

Requisites: Declared in a Journalism undergraduate program and JOURN 201 and concurrent enrollment in JOURN 203

Course Designation: Level - Intermediate
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Write clearly, concisely, effectively and efficiently for a variety of media platforms and formats
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Think critically (asking the right questions in interviews, collecting and analyzing information, and assembling ideas)
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Review and synthesize information and develop appropriate messages
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Create professional, ethical work that uses proper grammar and style
Audience: Undergraduate

5. Work well in collaboration with other students and instructors
Audience: Undergraduate

6. Speak and write clearly about current events and trends by integrating knowledge across subject matter arenas and incorporating multiple sources
Audience: Undergraduate

7. Meet deadlines and manage competing demands
Audience: Undergraduate

8. Evaluate how to best present stories in a variety of formats, including audio, video and online, and produce those forms
Audience: Undergraduate

JOURN 203 — INFORMATION FOR COMMUNICATION

3 credits.

Develop information skills - information collection, information verification, information analysis, and information presentation (the CVAP approach) - that are used by professionals in journalism and strategic communication. Includes practical techniques that enhance basic skills related to the collection, evaluation, analysis and presentation of information. These skills will provide a foundation for the major and in journalism and mass communication careers.

Requisites: Concurrent enrollment in JOURN 202

Course Designation: Level - Intermediate
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Develop knowledge of the various information sources used by professional journalists and marketing professionals, as well as working knowledge of how to use the most important information sources.
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Cultivate and practice critical skills for evaluating the validity of different forms of information used by journalists and marketing professionals, and to judge its quality and veracity.
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Explore different forms of analyzing and presenting information in forms that are useful to journalists and strategic communication professionals, including data visualization techniques.
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Practice skills and strategies for accomplishing group tasks and engaging in peer learning.
Audience: Undergraduate

JOURN 335 — PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF REPORTING

4 credits.

Basic reporting for print and electronic media. Bring together technical and conceptual skills by creating a variety of print, audio, and web-based news stories on a current public issue.

JOURN 345 — PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION

4 credits.

Introduction to strategic communication for students interested in advertising, public relations, health communications, and political campaigns.

Requisites: JOURN 202 or graduate/professional standing

Course Designation: Level - Intermediate
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S
Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Understand the professional and social overview of the field as a single exposure to strategic communication.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

2. Develop a foundation for higher-level courses for those interested in pursuing a career in strategic communication.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

3. Learn content concerning research and account planning, campaign management, creative message development, conventional and digital media buying and planning, as well as public relations, promotions, and event planning.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

4. Learn the fundamentals of the academic study of strategic communication in society, its history, laws and ethics, and the application of these principles to social, health and political campaigns, as well as career trajectories that involve the use of these principles beyond brand marketing.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

5. Demonstrate a higher-order synthesis of concepts related to strategic communications.
Audience: Graduate

6. Develop an of application of these principles to a designated health or political campaign.
Audience: Graduate

JOURN 350 — SPORTS MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS

3 credits.

Explore various activities related to the promotion domain of sports marketing including marketing research, sports branding, image management, advertising promotion, event promotion, sports sponsorships, and public relations. Examine each of these activities, and focus on the marketing communications associated with each of these activities.

Requisites: JOURN 150

Course Designation: Level - Intermediate
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Understand the basic concepts and principles that are part of the practice of sports marketing communications.
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Produce a strategically grounded, creatively inspired plan for various activities related to sports marketing.
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Persuasively pitch these activities to an audience.
Audience: Undergraduate

JOURN/POLI SCI/URB R PL 373 — INTRODUCTION TO SURVEY RESEARCH

3-4 credits.

Theory and practice of survey research; questionnaire design, sampling, data visualization, statistical analysis.

Requisites: Sophomore standing

Course Designation: Breadth - Social Science
Level - Intermediate
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S
Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Formulate and construct logical arguments about political phenomena and evaluate those arguments using survey research
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Explain the theoretical components of survey research
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Interpret survey results in general with a particular focus on political polling
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Design and assess political surveys, including questionnaire design, question wording, survey mode, sample size, nonresponse, survey experiments, standard error, and margin of error
Audience: Undergraduate

5. Demonstrate statistical analysis skills in the context of political surveys including: hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, difference of means tests, data visualization and linear regression
Audience: Undergraduate

6. Recognize ethical issues in survey research
Audience: Undergraduate

7. Assess the state of a body of scholarly literature related to course themes, identify gaps in that literature, and formulate an original research question in the context of those gaps.
Audience: Graduate

JOURN 401 — IN-DEPTH REPORTING

4 credits.

Advanced reporting with emphasis on critical evaluation of evidence and on recognizing the complex effects of government actions. Explore and develop community context stories that originate in a range of venues from the courts to the schools.

JOURN 404 — INTERPRETATION OF CONTEMPORARY AFFAIRS

4 credits.

Preparing and writing of editorials, columns and news analyses.

JOURN 405 — CREATIVE NONFICTION

4 credits.

Creative elements of non-fiction story telling to develop skills necessary for writing across the journalistic spectrum, from newspapers to magazines to books.

JOURN 411 — MULTIMEDIA DESIGN

4 credits.

Visual communication and graphic design in multimedia contexts. Build design and production techniques to relay creative messages through print and digital media. Content explores design theory and techniques, as well as the effects and ethics of visual media messages.

JOURN 415 — SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM

4 credits.

Instruction and practice in strategies for communicating science to the public. Emphases include (1) how to explain difficult concepts and prrocesses; (2) skills for telling interesting and artful stories; and (3) strategies for making reasonable judgments about scientific evidence.

JOURN 417 — MAGAZINE PUBLISHING

4 credits.

Integrated, in-depth approach to magazine management, writing, editing and design. Covers the magazine industry from both the editorial and business ends, bringing together journalism and strategic communication students. Includes production of Curb magazine in print, online and mobile formats.

JOURN 420 — INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

4 credits.

Techniques of investigative and long-form enterprise reporting. Includes extensive reporting in the field and a final project.

JOURN 425 — VIDEO JOURNALISM

4 credits.

Video journalism is widespread, thanks to online news and sources such as YouTube. Create news stories using the techniques of videography, digital editing, writing and producing. Video journalism is unique in its language, requiring engaging material, a fast start, sharp focus, short narrative and natural voices. Focus on capturing stories with strong visuals and ambient sound of the people affected by issues and events.

JOURN 426 — COMMUNITY-BASED REPORTING

4 credits.

Provides advanced, targeted instruction in reporting that pays close attention to neighborhoods or very small communities (subcommunities), also known as hyperlocal reporting. These small communities can be defined by geographic boundaries or boundaries of shared topical interest. Locate community-based reporting's place in the larger media ecology of mainstream media (newspapers, TV, weekly papers, magazines, independent websites, etc.), and investigate how local journalism's place in changing media ecologies helps (or discourages) people from becoming active citizens in a democracy.

JOURN 445 — CREATIVE CAMPAIGN MESSAGES

4 credits.

Introduction to the creative aspects of message development for advertising, public relations, and other strategic communications.

JOURN 447 — STRATEGIC MEDIA PLANNING

4 credits.

Introduction to media planning for students interested in careers in advertising, public relations, or other forms of strategic communication.

JOURN 449 — ACCOUNT PLANNING AND STRATEGY

4 credits.

Process of planning, implementing, and analyzing strategic communication campaigns.

JOURN 450 — SPORTS REPORTING AND WRITING

4 credits.

Core skills and issues of communicating about sports to a mass audience in a changing media landscape, as well as advice and support in starting a sports communication career including access to professionals in the field. Utilizes professional, historical and theoretical perspectives in helping participants gain proficiency in disseminating information about sports-related events and topics for informative and strategic purposes, while developing a sense of the role of sport in contemporary society.

Requisites: JOURN 150

Course Designation: Level - Intermediate
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Gain an understanding of best practices particular to sports reporting and communication in a variety of media, including event and feature coverage, interviewing, sourcing, investigative techniques, data utilization and sports marketing/public relations.
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Articulate an understanding of the impact of sport on societal issues and attitudes.
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Apply best practices and theoretical understanding through written, discussion, and experiential exercises.
Audience: Undergraduate

JOURN 453 — STRATEGIC MEDIA RELATIONS

4 credits.

Develop the advanced practical skills and conceptual understanding necessary to function impressively as an entry-level professional in media relations, i.e., transmitting news to mass communicators in traditional and interactive media on behalf of a client or organization.

JOURN 455 — EMERGING MEDIA AND THE NEWS

4 credits.

Tools and platforms with which to produce professional content for publication. Examples for course topics will include social media, multimedia and other new technologies that professional communicators must master.

JOURN 456 — LONG FORM VIDEO

4 credits.

Develop skills needed to conduct professional-level journalism and strategic communication in long-form video. Produce documentary pieces of covering a contemporary topic of local or regional interest and complete other exercises in video analysis, composition and production.

JOURN 457 — STORYTELLING THROUGH SOUND

4 credits.

Audio storytelling as an art form, with a focus on creating a series of episodic long-form audio storytelling segments. Develop interview and writing skills, as well as field recording and editing techniques. Develop personal style and voice, while learning practical skills necessary to write and produce audio content for over the air or online.

Requisites: JOURN 335, 345, or graduate/professional standing

Course Designation: Level - Advanced
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S
Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Spring 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify compelling news that make use of the audio medium.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

2. Illustrate field recording and editing techniques to draw audio rich news narratives.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

3. Apply and integrate interview and writing skills to concisely form stylized narrative arcs.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

4. Rethink and compose message creation to publish work for media outlets.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

5. Demonstrate deeper engagement with the principles underlying the learning outcomes.
Audience: Graduate

6. Analyze and apply select concepts related to subject.
Audience: Graduate

7. Apply specific principles to revise and produce an additional project.
Audience: Graduate

8. Demonstrate characteristics of structure and applications that benefits the message.
Audience: Graduate

JOURN 463 — DIGITAL MEDIA STRATEGIES

4 credits.

Provides an overview of digital media from an objective, strategy, and tactical planning perspective within strategic communication media and promotion campaigns.

JOURN 464 — PUBLIC RELATIONS STRATEGIES

4 credits.

Provides an overview of public relations from an objective, strategy, and tactical planning perspective within strategic communication campaigns. Investigates one core element of a strategic communications campaign and provides an in-depth study into the topic area of public relations.

JOURN 465 — SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS

4 credits.

Provides an overview of social media marketing planning and buying from an objective, strategy, and tactical perspective within strategic communication campaigns. Investigate one core element of a strategic communications campaign, and provides an in-depth study into the topic area of digital media.

Requisites: Declared in a Journalism undergraduate program and JOURN 345

Course Designation: Level - Advanced
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Spring 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Distinguish social media from other strategic communications management and communications functions.
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Integrate social media into a broader strategic communications campaign.
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Strategically analyze social media audiences and influencers.
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Critically evaluate ethics and legalities of social media, and how social media plays a role in both creating and solving public relations crises.
Audience: Undergraduate

JOURN 470 — STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGNS CAPSTONE

4 credits.

Provides a grounding in advanced principles of strategic communication campaign development and execution, further developing skills used in creating advertising and marketing communications, focusing on research, strategy, copy and design, media, and public relations/promotions.

JOURN 475 — SPECIAL TOPICS IN ADVANCED CONCEPTS AND SKILLS

1-4 credits.

Exploration of a particular set of concepts and skills in more depth. Subject will vary.

JOURN/HISTORY 560 — HISTORY OF U.S. MEDIA

4 credits.

Evolution of the mass media in the United States in the context of political, social, and economic change.

Requisites: Junior standing

Course Designation: Breadth - Social Science
Level - Advanced
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S
Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify and explain important people, themes, events, and technologies that shaped media history.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

2. Identify and explain historical arguments in secondary literature.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

3. Analyze primary sources and know what questions to ask to be able to do that.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

4. Produce original historical knowledge through research in primary and secondary sources.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

5. Produce research suitable for submission to an academic journal or history magazine.
Audience: Graduate

JOURN 561 — MASS COMMUNICATION AND SOCIETY

4 credits.

Relationships between mass communications and society; analysis and evaluation of media performance and of suggestions for change.

JOURN 563 — LAW OF MASS COMMUNICATION

4 credits.

Freedom of speech and press with particular emphasis on major legal issues confronting media practitioners; introduction to such areas of law as censorship, libel, invasion of privacy, access to information, regulation of electronic media and commercial speech.

JOURN 564 — MEDIA AND THE CONSUMER

4 credits.

Advertising and other mass media content from the consumer's viewpoint; consumer's need and opportunities for information, and use of opportunities; consumer evaluation of media performance, guidelines for effective use; alternative means for obtaining information; implications of consumer movement.

JOURN 565 — EFFECTS OF MASS COMMUNICATION

4 credits.

Use and effects of mass communication for individuals and societies. Examines who is affected, what effects occur and how much, what different media content is involved and what situations make effects more or less likely.

JOURN 566 — COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC OPINION

4 credits.

The role of the mass media of communication in the formation of public opinion. Propaganda goals of government, political, economic, and social groups.

JOURN 567 — MASS MEDIA AND GLOBAL COMMUNICATION

4 credits.

Introduces key concepts and issues in mass media and global communication studies. Covers broad trends, key topics, and critical debates in media and communication studies under global contexts and standpoints.

Requisites: Junior standing

Course Designation: Breadth - Social Science
Level - Advanced
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S
Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement

Repeatable for Credit: No

Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify and explain key concepts and urgent issues in mass media and global communication studies.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

2. Acquire different theoretical and methodological approaches to study global communication.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

3. Examine various mechanisms of communication networks, media flows, media industries, and digital platforms across global contexts.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

4. Learn interview skills and produce theoretically informed analysis of media consumption patterns and networks.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

5. Analyze global media phenomena and produce research papers that rigorously engage with key concepts and issues covered in the course.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

6. Recognize and understand critical connections between global changes, local issues, and personal lives.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

7. Critically evaluate ideas from different sources and integrate (or contrast) different global communication theories to produce research suitable for submission to an academic journal.
Audience: Graduate

JOURN 601 — COLLOQUIUM IN PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION CAREERS

1 credit.

Explores a wide variety of post-undergraduate communication career options available in Journalism. Topics related to job hunting, resume writing, and networking are also covered. Focuses on opportunities and challenges in a wide variety of communication fields, from advertising and public relations to radio, newspapers and TV broadcasting. Guest speakers or panelists will span different sectors (agencies, corporations, nonprofits, higher education, government, etc.).

Requisites: Declared in a Journalism undergraduate program

Course Designation: Level - Intermediate
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Expand knowledge about possible communications career paths, across a variety of industry sectors
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Use practical and specific tools to help obtain a ‘first job’ after graduation
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Network with communications industry experts
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Reflect on possible future career paths and opportunities
Audience: Undergraduate

JOURN/COM ARTS/HDFS 616 — MASS MEDIA AND YOUTH

3 credits.

Children's and adolescents' use of mass media and mass media effects on them. Particular attention is given to changes in comprehension and other cognitive activities that give insights into media use and effects.

Requisites: JOURN 202, COM ARTS 325, HDFS 262 (or HDFS 362 prior to Fall 2023), ED PSYCH 320, PSYCH 460, LSC 251, or graduate/professional standing

Course Designation: Breadth - Social Science
Level - Advanced
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S
Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Spring 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Explain how children and youth process media
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Compare/contrast the impact of different types of media content on development
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Explain how individual differences moderate the impact of media on development
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Describe moderating effects of the context in which media use occurs
Audience: Undergraduate

5. Read, interpret, evaluate, and discuss social scientific reports of findings in this area
Audience: Undergraduate

6. Synthesize and interpret research in this area for a lay audience
Audience: Undergraduate

7. Explain with nuance how children and youth process media
Audience: Graduate

8. Compare/contrast the impact of different types and formats of media content on development, with reference to key developmental milestones
Audience: Graduate

9. Explain how individual differences and social contexts moderate the impact of media uses and interpretations on development
Audience: Graduate

10. Synthesize and interpret research in this area and identify a research gap for future work
Audience: Graduate

JOURN/COM ARTS/LSC 617 — HEALTH COMMUNICATION IN THE INFORMATION AGE

3 credits.

Examines the role of communication in health, how the revolution in information technology has affected health communication, and the assumptions about health information and communication that drive current efforts to use technologies.

Requisites: Junior standing

Course Designation: Breadth - Social Science
Level - Advanced
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S
Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Demonstrate their understanding of major theories, approaches, concepts, and current research findings in the area of health communication
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

2. Gain a sense of the methodological issues involved in the construction and evaluation of health communication
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

3. Demonstrate their understanding of the connections between the environment (e.g., physical, social, media), cognition, and behavior
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

4. Communicate effectively through written reports, oral presentations and discussion
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

5. Evaluate ideas from different sources critically
Audience: Graduate

6. Derive new testable hypotheses by integrating or contrasting different theories
Audience: Graduate

7. Develop variations on theoretical models or ideas such as contingent conditions or mediating factors
Audience: Graduate

JOURN 618 — MASS COMMUNICATION AND POLITICAL BEHAVIOR

4 credits.

Interrelationships of news media, political campaigning, and the electorate. Impact of media coverage and persuasive appeals on image and issue voting, political participation and socialization.

JOURN 620 — INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION

4 credits.

Historical, political, economic and cultural trends in global mass communication systems.

JOURN 622 — THE IMPACT OF EMERGING MEDIA

3 credits.

Provides an introduction to the literature and research on emerging communication technologies (e.g., blogs, social media, massively multiplayer games, mobile devices) and the effects of these technologies on the individual and societal levels. Illuminates the psychological, social, political, industrial, and policy implications of the use of emerging communication technologies. Become equipped with a basic social and scientific understanding of the interplay between technology, individuals, and society, and recurring issues concerning the adoption and usage of new communication technologies. Emphasizes empirical approaches to understanding these relationships, delving into contexts such as journalism, strategic communication, and the place of digital media in politics and society.

JOURN 649 — BRAND STRATEGY IN ADVERTISING & INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS

4 credits.

Provides a comprehensive introduction to classical consumer packaged goods brand management by exploring the intersection of marketing, advertising, and strategy to grow sales profitably over time with winning products and effective campaigns. Illuminates the foundational concepts, frameworks, and tools brand management professionals use to drive awareness, consideration, trial and repeat of their offerings to increase market share and establish long-lasting brand equity with target consumer groups. Engages leadership and positioning principles to cultivate and communicate one's professional and personal brand in any career or life path.

Requisites: Sophomore standing

Course Designation: Breadth - Social Science
Level - Intermediate
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S

Repeatable for Credit: No

Learning Outcomes: 1. Possess a basic understanding of the consumer packaged goods industry and the core concepts behind the work brand management professionals do to drive profitable sales growth in their product categories.
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Apply key brand and marketing management frameworks, calculations and approaches for handling specific business opportunities and problems.
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Know the project management cycles of short and long term initiatives including new product innovation and strategic campaign development.
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Formulate a complete and compelling strategy recommendation memo for use in future internship and full-time professional job roles (particularly in the advertising, marketing, and brand management fields).
Audience: Undergraduate

5. Present knowledge, analysis and thought leadership to a large audience.
Audience: Undergraduate

6. Recognize how fundamental brand principles can be applied to enhance one’s personal-professional “brand.”
Audience: Undergraduate

JOURN/ART HIST/HISTORY/L I S 650 — HISTORY OF BOOKS AND PRINT CULTURE IN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA

3 credits.

History of books and print culture in the West from ancient times to the present. Focus on the influence of reading and writing on social, cultural, and intellectual life. Methodologies, theories, and sources for study of book and print culture history.

JOURN 651 — COMMUNICATING SPORTS CONTROVERSIES

3 credits.

Exploration of prominent controversies that pervade the realm of sports and engage the activities of sports communication professionals (such as sports journalists, broadcasters, marketers, and public relations specialists). Discuss the issues involved in these controversies and pay special attention to the way they impinge upon professional practices.

Requisites: JOURN 150, 162, 201, or junior standing

Course Designation: Level - Advanced
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Examine the core concepts and principles that are involved in today’s most salient sports controversies.
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Explore the perspectives and practices of sports communication professionals with respect to these controversies.
Audience: Undergraduate

JOURN 657 — UNDERSTANDING RESEARCH DESIGN & STATISTICS IN MASS COMMUNICATION

4 credits.

Covers fundamental thinking skills necessary for the critical evaluation and presentation of arguments in mass communication, especially those based upon quantitative information. Introduces generic logic and quantitative reasoning concepts through analysis and discussion of specific cases drawn from research reported in the mass media (e.g., health and business news, public opinion polls), research on the media (e.g., the impact of media violence), and research for the media (e.g., audience research). Logical and quantitative reasoning skills will be improved through a variety of "hands on" projects.

Requisites: Junior standing

Course Designation: Breadth - Social Science
Level - Advanced
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S
Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement

Repeatable for Credit: No

Learning Outcomes: 1. Gain a sense of the methodological issues involved in the construction and design of mass communication research studies, giving them the ability to critically evaluate the various types of reliability and validity.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

2. Understand how to analyze and interpret survey data in mass communication research contexts (e.g., confidence intervals, t-tests, correlations, etc.) using various programs (e.g., Excel, R).
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

3. Critically evaluate and summarize information related peer reviewed mass communication research articles.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

4. Communicate effectively through written reports, oral presentations and discussion on topics in mass communication.
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

5. Critically evaluate ideas from different sources, integrating (or contrasting) different communication theories, deriving new testable hypotheses, developing variations on theoretical models or other ideas such as contingent conditions or mediating factors important in mass communication research.
Audience: Graduate

JOURN 658 — COMMUNICATION RESEARCH METHODS

4 credits.

Survey of methods for investigating mass communication process and effects.

JOURN/ASIAN AM 662 — MASS MEDIA AND MINORITIES

4 credits.

Representations of minority groups in U.S. news and entertainment mass media. Historical, social, political, economic, and other factors influencing the mass mediated depictions of minorities.

JOURN 664 — SOCIAL NETWORKS IN COMMUNICATION

3 credits.

Examines key concepts in social network theory and develops and applies them to the field of communication. Attention is paid to the differences between social and online networks, as well as their relationships. Explores major concepts and questions in social network theory and analysis, including the elements that make up a network; network relationships (e.g. homophily, knowing others like ourselves); the construction of whole social networks out of dyads (two people) and triads (three); strong and weak ties; roles and positions; groups, cliques, and clusters; as well as small worlds and communities. Emphasis will be on what these concepts mean and how they work. There will be minimal introduction to technical network analysis and hands- on work.

JOURN 669 — LITERARY ASPECTS OF JOURNALISM

3 credits.

Critical reading of the best reporting and writing.

JOURN 675 — TOPICS IN GOVERNMENT AND MASS MEDIA

3 credits.

Analysis of political and legal relationships between mass communication and government with emphasis on current problems and issues.

JOURN 676 — SPECIAL TOPICS IN MASS COMMUNICATION

1-4 credits.

In-depth analysis of a conceptual mass communication issue.

JOURN/L I S 677 — CONCEPTS AND TOOLS FOR DATA ANALYSIS AND VISUALIZATION

3 credits.

An introduction to information and data visualization: introduction to major concepts, instruction in specific tools for data analysis and visualization, and application of skills in a final project.

JOURN 678 — LEGAL & ETHICAL DIMENSIONS OF EMERGING MEDIA

3 credits.

Examines the legal and ethical questions surrounding digital media and their effects on society and individuals.

JOURN 681 — SENIOR HONORS THESIS

3 credits.

Mentored individual research and study for students completing Honors in the Major.

JOURN 682 — SENIOR HONORS THESIS

3 credits.

Mentored individual research and study for students completing Honors in the Major.

JOURN 691 — SENIOR THESIS

3 credits.

Mentored individual research and study for students completing a senior thesis.

JOURN 692 — SENIOR THESIS

3 credits.

Mentored individual research and study for students completing a senior thesis.

JOURN 697 — INTERNSHIP

1-3 credits.

Advanced directed study projects as arranged with a faculty or instructional academic staff member, based on internship experience.

JOURN 698 — DIRECTED STUDY

1-6 credits.

Advanced directed study projects as arranged with a faculty or instructional academic staff member.

JOURN 699 — DIRECTED STUDY

1-6 credits.

Advanced directed study projects as arranged with a faculty or instructional academic staff member.

JOURN 800 — ADVANCED MASS MEDIA PRACTICE

3 credits.

Advanced projects in professional practice in mass media.

JOURN 801 — MASS COMMUNICATION AND THE INDIVIDUAL

3 credits.

Theory and research on individuals' use of mass communication and effects of mass communication. Topics include choice, selection and functions of mass media use, attention and cognitive processing, information effects, persuasion and emotion/involvement, and social and behaviroal effects.

JOURN 802 — MASS COMMUNICATION AND SOCIETY

3 credits.

Examines systematic procedures for theory building and comparison of theories of communication processes between mass media and other societal institutions and their relationships with both individuals and micro-social systems.

JOURN 803 — MASS COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE

3 credits.

Intensive readings focusing on the critical studies and/or cultural studies traditions in mass communication theory and research.

JOURN/HISTORY 808 — MASS COMMUNICATION HISTORY

3 credits.

Intensive reading and discussion designed to introduce literature of mass communication.

JOURN/LSC 811 — CONCEPTUALIZATION AND DESIGN OF MASS COMMUNICATION RESEARCH

2-3 credits.

Assists students in turning research questions into substantive research designs with understanding of the concepts involved. For most students, the final product will be a well-developed thesis or dissertation proposal.

JOURN 812 — QUALITATIVE COMMUNICATION RESEARCH METHODS

3 credits.

Research methodology. Design research, analyze and interpret evidence, and develop a deeper appreciation of research strategies.

JOURN 813 — PRACTICUM IN COMMUNICATION RESEARCH

3 credits.

Detailed practicum on conducting and publishing empirical research in mass communication.

JOURN 818 — COMPUTATIONAL APPROACHES TO COMMUNICATION RESEARCH

3 credits.

Surveys major computational approaches and analytical tools that are promising in advancing communication research and practices in the modern digital information environment.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

Course Designation: Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Fall 2022

Learning Outcomes: 1. Gain familiarity with major computational methods currently available to social scientists.
Audience: Graduate

2. Develop a conceptual understanding of the core assumptions, modeling strategies, and programming tools associated with each of the surveyed computational method.
Audience: Graduate

3. Critically assess how computational methods could help describe, predict, and explain communication phenomena and improve Interventions.
Audience: Graduate

4. Examine how computational approaches could triangulate with other research methods to help advance communication theory.
Audience: Graduate

5. Collectively build a shared resource library that includes annotated bibliographies, short response papers, and tutorials & codes for a selected set of R packages popular for computational communication research.
Audience: Graduate

6. Gain experiences with applying computational methods to address research questions of your interest.
Audience: Graduate

JOURN 821 — HEALTH COMMUNICATION

3 credits.

Application and integration of theory in understanding the effects of mass media, with close attention to health communication campaign messages.

JOURN 822 — GLOBAL COMMUNICATION

3 credits.

Readings and discussion focussing on global media issues. Topics may include news flow, cultural imperialism, representations, history and political economy, globalization trends, new technologies, mass media and nation building, communication and grassroots politics.

JOURN/ENVIR ST/LSC 823 — SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT COMMUNICATION

3 credits.

Tracks the evolution of mass media coverage of science and the environment. Emphasis on how journalists utilize evidence, the influence of scientific and journalistic norms on stories, and the effects of mass media on science and environment messages to the public.

JOURN 824 — RACE, ETHNICITY AND MEDIA

3 credits.

Examines key theoretical and empirical readings in the area of race/ethnicity and media.

JOURN/LSC 825 — LAW AND ETHICS OF COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA

3 credits.

Explores critical questions of media law and ethics within the United States.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

Course Designation: Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Spring 2021

Learning Outcomes: 1. Understand the dimensions of legal and ethical philosophies and frameworks as applied to media work.
Audience: Graduate

2. Interpret and critique common elements of media ethics codes and practices.
Audience: Graduate

3. Interpret and critique legal precedents and doctrines
Audience: Graduate

4. Apply philosophy and frameworks to current media concerns and controversies.
Audience: Graduate

5. Rationally defend or critique choices in specific media contexts.
Audience: Graduate

6. Research and write about law and ethics in scholarly or professional publications.
Audience: Graduate

JOURN/LSC 826 — JOURNALISM THEORY

3 credits.

Focus on the content and purposes of journalism, explores cultural values associated with journalism, relationships between journalism and other institutions, and current issues facing journalists at a time when the profession faces many challenges.

JOURN/GEN&WS 828 — GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN MASS COMMUNICATION

3 credits.

A scholarly theory overview on gender and sexuality in communication studies.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

Course Designation: Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Spring 2023

Learning Outcomes: 1. Explain how cultural theorists have defined “gender,” “sexuality,” and “intersectionality.”
Audience: Graduate

2. Analyze how gender and sexuality are represented in the mass media.
Audience: Graduate

3. Explain how gender and sexuality are relevant to media production, media consumption (media audiences), and media activism.
Audience: Graduate

4. Describe how gender and sexuality inform the creation of media publics.
Audience: Graduate

JOURN/POLI SCI 829 — POLITICAL COMMUNICATION

3 credits.

This course examines the role of communication in American politics. Topics covered include the communication of politics (e.g., communication by politics elites, effects of mass media and interpersonal communication on political attitudes) as well as the politics of communications (regulation of political communication, policy issues, etc.).

JOURN/COM ARTS/LSC 831 — PSYCHOLOGY OF ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA

3 credits.

Provides an an in-depth look into entertainment media, including its effects on individuals, social groups, and society. The focus on entertainment content is across platforms - from "mass" to social media. Emphasis will be paid to psychological, individual-level effects.

JOURN/LSC 833 — TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

3 credits.

Considers the effects of new communication technologies on everyday life and political mobilization.

JOURN/LSC 834 — COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL THEORY

3 credits.

Looks at key questions in social theory from the 20th century and provides concepts and analytical frameworks to think carefully about how networks work and what they do at different levels of society.

JOURN 835 — NEWS FRAMING AND SOCIAL PROTEST MOVEMENTS

3 credits.

Addresses the multi-disciplinary theory and research that have contributed to our understanding of both the antecedents and consequences of mediated messages as they impinge upon processes related to social protest. Draws from literature in mass communication, political science, sociology, psychology and other disciplines to examine questions about the role of communication media in the dynamics of social protest.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

Course Designation: Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Master the literature in the areas of framing, framing effects, and news coverage of social movements.
Audience: Graduate

2. Design and execute a research project that contributes to the literature of news framing and social protest.
Audience: Graduate

3. Develop skills in analyzing and presenting their own and others’ research.
Audience: Graduate

JOURN 880 — TOPICS IN MASS COMMUNICATION

3 credits.

In-depth investigation of a specific topic in mass communication.

JOURN 901 — COLLOQUIUM IN MASS COMMUNICATION

1 credit.

Research presentations by mass communication scholars, and is designed to acquaint graduate students with theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of communication.

JOURN 902 — GRADUATE TEACHING COLLOQUIUM

1 credit.

Colloquium series in fields related to communication and information studies. Teaching presentations on various theoretical and practical approaches to teaching and learning in the communication and information fields.

JOURN 903 — PROFESSIONAL MASTER'S COLLOQUIUM

1 credit.

Expands the toolkit of skills and experiences through direct work with working journalists and communication professionals.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

Course Designation: Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Spring 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Gain professional lessons about the craft and industry of journalism and media from those who practice it.
Audience: Graduate

2. Apply skills learned using WordPress and other technology to develop pieces for a professional portfolio.
Audience: Graduate

3. Craft an understanding of the ethics and practice of journalism from a practical and theoretical perspective and demonstrate how to apply them in professional situations.
Audience: Graduate

4. Develop relationships with professionals and mentors to further their careers in journalism.
Audience: Graduate

JOURN 990 — THESIS

1-9 credits.

Advanced level mentored reading and research for students with dissertator status.

JOURN 999 — INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PROBLEMS

2-4 credits.

Advanced level mentored reading and research for dissertators.