Required for the MAJOR in Journalism & Mass Communication:

Course Descriptions:

101 Mass Communication and Society

An interdisciplinary survey that examines the development, roles, freedoms and responsibilities of the mass media. In addition to study of the historical, social, economic, psychological and political aspects of the media, the course explores the impact of new technologies on social conceptions of community, democracy, and communication. The course requires weekly writing assignments.

Open to non-majors. Three credits.

102 Introduction to Writing

An introductory writing course devoted to "the literature of fact," a genre best reflected in the "new journalism" of such writers as John McPhee, Joan Didion and Tom Wolfe. Students will be required to complete weekly reading assignments and respond to them, either through critical analysis or emulation of style. Structure, note-taking, research skills, drafting and revision, and the technical aspects of the written language will be emphasized.

Open to journalism majors and minors only. Three credits.

110 New Media

Today, computers are the central artifacts of a communication revolution; digital technology has changed radically the ways text and images can be manipulated and delivered and, in the process, has altered forever the ways that individuals interact with their environments. This course introduces students to the personal and institutional practices associated with the digital revolution and explores the benefits and problems associated with new technologies in electronic publishing, interactive communication and digital-image processing. Students are introduced to new technologies and develop basic skills in their use and applications.

Open to non-majors with preference given to journalism majors and minors. Lab fee: $21. Three credits.

205 Writing for Media I

"Writing is an important test of thinking," communications scholar William Rivers once observed. That quote expresses the fundamental premise of Media Writing I. The course challenges students to become critical observers and effective communicators in print, broadcast and multimedia environments. The course covers the basics of media communication techniques, including news values; news judgment; the structure of written and broadcast news; information gathering and research techniques; Associated Press style; the ability to think quickly; and to write quickly, accurately and concisely on deadline. Students will write weekly news stories for the print and broadcast media.

Prerequisite: Sophomore standing, JO 101, 102. Lab fee: $42. Four credits.

207 Writing for Media II

Continued development of proficiencies and understandings introduced in Writing for Media I. Students report and write more sophisticated stories, including regular coverage of off-campus events and personalities. Students continue to write regularly for the print and broadcast media, both on and off campus.

Prerequisite: Sophomore standing, JO 201. Lab Fee: $42. Four credits.

211 History of US Media

The evolution and growth of the mass media in the United States from a historical perspective, in the context of political, social, economic and demographic change.

Open to non-majors. Three credits.

213 Media Law & Ethics

First Amendment law in the context of the media, including the philosophical basis for the Constitutional guarantees of free expression. The course examines the formal models of ethical decision making as they are applied to issues of mass media, and covers issues of libel, slander, privacy, journalistic privilege, obscenity, access to information, and emerging case law and legislation regulating digital and electronic information.

Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. Open to non-majors. Three credits.

221 Digital Photography

Introduction to digital photography in which students learn the basics of camera techniques and electronic imaging. The course is taught in the Macintosh laboratory, where students master Photoshop software as they learn the basics of picture editing, photographic essay planning, and execution for publication. Students contribute to The Defender and other publications.

Prerequisites: Class is limited to 16 students, with preference given to journalism majors and minors. Students must have access to a 35mm SLR camera. Lab fee: $80. Three credits.

266 Introduction to Digital Film and TV: Production and Analysis

Digital technologies have reshaped the ways in which film and television programs are created, distributed, and consumed. In this course, students will take a critical and in-depth look at methods and artistry of digital filmmaking in two complementary ways. Analysis: each week students will be screening and deconstructing a wide range of film and television programs with an eye towards analyzing the languages with which these media communicate as art forms and as social and political products. Production: students will also conceive, write, shoot, edit and present a series of their own digital film/TV productions throughout the course of the term.

Prerequisites: Sophomore standing. Preference given to students with a dedicated interest in film/TV analysis and criticism, and a desire to create their own films. Students will be writing and working with both DV cameras and computers on a weekly basis.

271 Media in a Diverse Society

Examines the role of the mass media in portraying and representing the multicultural elements of an increasingly diverse U.S. society. Students evaluate how the media cover minorities and women and perpetuate stereotypes, as well as the role and status of women and minorities in media organizations.

Open to non-majors. Three credits.

307 Feature Writing

A writing-intensive course designed to permit students to concentrate on individual in-depth writing projects for newspapers and magazines. Students examine writing styles, learn the process of marketing freelance articles for the magazine market, and complete a variety of articles for possible publication.

Open to non-majors. Three credits.

310 Visual Communication

Practical and theoretical understandings of visual communication including principles and practice of photography (traditional and digital), film, television, web design, typography, color and composition. Issues related to perception, semiotics, and visual literacy are explored. Students create, research, deconstruct, and evaluate visual images.

Prerequisites: JO 110, open to non-majors with preference to journalism majors and minors. Lab fee: $42. Three credits.

311 New Media II--Advanced Digital Design

This course is advanced new media course designed to help students further develop critical and ecological perspectives about new media as art forms. The course is focused on two major objectives. The first is to provide students an arena for evaluating and questioning the roles and influences of new media—a place where upper level students can delve deeper into important social, psychological, or philosophical, or economic issues ideas introduced in New Media 1. Second, this course is an advanced multi-media projects course aimed at providing students with the opportunity to produce unique and creative interactive new media projects. Students in the course learn how to use advanced multimedia authoring programs.

Prerequisites: JO110--New Media 1 and/or approval by instructor

313 Research Methods

The course teaches research techniques, including the nature of data, search strategies for primary and secondary sources, library research and strategies, biographic sources, databases and computer applications, government data including use of the Freedom of Information Act, electronic search strategies, and the Internet.

Open to non-majors with preference to journalism majors and minors. Three credits.

319 Special Topics

Various topics, ranging from women in the mass media to desktop publishing to literary journalism. Course may be taken more than once in different topic areas.

Open to non-majors. Three credits.

333 Producing and Directing Radio News

Students are introduced to the concepts and practices of production and direction of a radio news program.

Open to non-majors. Three credits.

343 Writing for Public Relations

Instruction and writing practice designed to develop the specific professional writing skills expected of the public relations practitioner. Course emphasizes different approaches and writing styles designed to accomplish different tasks for specific audiences.

Open to non-majors with permission. Lab fee: $21. Four credits.

361 Television News Reporting

Basic techniques of writing and newsgathering for video, including history and practice of the TV news industry, examination and analysis of TV news content, evaluation of the social impact of TV news, hands-on training in shooting and editing video footage for broadcast.

Open to non-majors with permission. Lab fee: $80. Four credits.

403 Advanced Reporting

Advanced techniques in newsgathering, interviewing and news writing for publication; focus on public journalism, breaking news coverage.

Prerequisite: JO 203, 205. Lab fee: $42. Four credits.

405 Principles of Advertising

A broad study of mass media advertising, including its planning, creation, targeting and implementation. The course reviews advertising in all media operations and attempts to lead students through as much practical application as possible.

Same as Business 405. Three credits.

411 Publication Editing & Design

The course synthesizes the theoretical and experiential learning acquired in previous courses as students design and produce the weekly student newspaper, The Defender, in both paper-copy and electronic versions. Students assign stories and photographs, act as writing coaches to junior reporters, report and write stories, edit news copy, write headlines and photo captions, and use electronic imaging and pagination software to produce the newspaper. Students will also be responsible for creating a World Wide Web page and posting the newspaper to the Internet each week.

Prerequisites: JO 101, 102, 110, 201, 203, 213, 310. Four credits.

413 Journalism Practicum

Provides practical, real-world experience in a media organization. Students work 12 to 15 hours per week for newspapers, radio, or television stations, in public relations or other communication positions.

Prerequisite: Junior standing and permission of instructor; open to non-majors. Three credits.

415 Video Production

Provides students with an understanding of appropriate uses of video technology through explorations of the aesthetic and technical elements involved in video production styles for television news, and non-broadcast educational and commercial applications. Course combines lecture, discussion and lab experiences. Students will produce television packages, a television public service announcement or commercial, and do additional work in documentary television and video production.

Prerequisites: JO 110, 310 or permission of instructor. Three credits.

433 Newspaper Management I

The course provides students who have completed JO 411 with opportunities to continue their learning experience in The Defender newsroom. Students in this course serve as executive, managing and design editors for the newspaper, providing leadership and direction in the newsroom.

Prerequisite: JO 411, permission of instructor. Four credits.

443 Newspaper Management II

Continuation of Newspaper Management I.

460 Senior Seminar in Journalism

This readings seminar requires students to master in-depth material about a particular media topic, ranging from media ethics to new technologies. In addition, students are requires to develop, research and produce a senior project to be presented at the close of the semester to the St. Michael's community.

Prerequisite: Senior standing. Three credits.

498 Journalism Internship

Mass media internships offered both on and off campus. Students must apply through the Journalism Department chair and the College internship office in the first month of the semester prior to the semester the internship will take place.

Prerequisite: permission of department chair. Three credits.