B.A. in Mass Communication

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

Fall Semester

MCO: 113: Introduction to Mass Communications 3

Spring Semester

Relations, and Marketing 3

Internships

450.1 Internship in Broadcast Journalism.

450.2 Internship in Public Relations.

450.3 Internship in Radio Production.

450.4 Internship in Television Production.

450.5 Internship in Print Journalism.

Research Project

499. 1 Research Project in Broadcast Journalism.

499.2 Senior Project in Public Relations.

499.3 Research Project in Radio Production.

499.4 Research Project in Television Production.

499.5 Research Project in Print Journalism.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Ref. To ENG 101 Introduction to the Study of English:

MATH 112: Survey of Mathematics I

A course designed to acquaint students with problem-solving strategies, sets and applications, logic, arithmetic in different bases, real number system, and algebra. Prerequisite: Two units of high school mathematics.

MCO: 113: Introduction To Mass Communications.

This course focuses on understanding how media operate with emphasis on contemporary social, economic, political, cultural and ethical issues. Credit: three hours.

MCO 115: Introduction to Cinema

Analysis of film processes, understanding of film as art form, and perspectives from the camera as well as editing, directing, screenplay, production, and distribution.

MCO 117: Sound Production 1

This course introduces students to the history of sound in radio and television. Students examine the influence of television on sound perception. Students learn techniques and applications of editing and sound processing. Students utilize music/sound libraries.

MCO 118: Speech.

This course provides the student training in the fundamentals of diction and effective oral expression in prepared, extemporaneous and informative speeches. Emphasis placed upon preparation and delivery. Techniques of interviewing will be explored.

MCO 119: Survey of Mass Communication

Processes, uses, and effects of media messages in society. History, structure, and functioning of newspapers, books, magazines, radio, television, cinema, and recording industry

MCO 120: Lifetime Fitness and Wellness

Designed to acquaint the undergraduate student with current and correct information concerning fitness and its components, and wellness concepts. Lifetime fitness and wellness is a general education core course providing lifelong learning by addressing general information concerning fitness and wellness promotion, as well as HIV/AIDS and drug abuse prevention.

MATH 121: Survey of Mathematics II

A course designed to acquaint students with consumer mathematics, geometry, mathematical systems, introduction to probability and statistics, and an introduction to computers.

Ref. To ENG 102 Introduction to College Composition:

MCO 124: Introduction to Technology in the Art

Applications of computer-based technology to the arts: music, theatre, video, and visual arts. Demonstrations of multimedia capabilities.

MCO 125: TV Production I.

This course explores the principles, mechanics, techniques, tools, processes, and aesthetics of television production. Students learn to perform the basic job requirements of the camera operator, audio operator, video switcher, lighting director, floor manager, graphics operator, and director.

MCO 126: African-American Literature I:

The aim of this course is to trace the beginning of African-American literature from the early plantation era to the modern phase which began with the Great Depression of the 1930's.

MCO 127: Newswriting and Reporting I:

Recognizing news, interviewing, reporting, and writing news for print.

MCO 201: Introduction to Broadcasting and Mass Communications

Presents the historical development of print, broadcast, and electronic media and its impact on society; examines the rapid growth and development of the internet; and introduces students to the inventors, patents, scriptwriting formats, federal regulation, and careers in the media industry. The course also examines the role of the audience in the creation of messages for advertising and public relations. Additional topics include: media ethics, news and information, media research, and global media.

MCO 211: Introduction to Applied Advertising, Public Relations, and Marketing

Focuses on analyzing and creating the types of promotional messages organizations produce to achieve their advertising, public relations, and marketing goals; emphasizes critical analysis of message design and content used to achieve marketing objectives.

MCO 201: News Reporting & Editing I:

This course gives basic instruction and practice in news gathering and writing for publication. Students are required to submit work for publication.

MCO 211: Public Affairs Reporting:

Gathering and writing in-depth news; covering courts, police, schools, and county and city governments.

MCO 212: Introduction to Advertising in Mass Media:

Survey of methods, techniques, and strategy involved in creating an advertising campaign.

MCO 213: Introduction to Public Relations

Survey of field of public relations in the United States. Relationships among marketing, advertising, and public relations. .

MCO 215: Introduction to Political Science.

A survey of the major concepts, issues, and controversies in the discipline of political science and its various sub-fields.

MCO 22O: Newswriting and Reporting II:

Practice in gathering and writing news, with experience in writing under pressure of deadlines and covering beats.

MCO 221: Television Production II.

This course builds on Television Production I and incorporates administering, directing, producing, editing, and programming of television programs.

MCO 223: Dramatic Writing for Television:

This course provides skills in preparing and writing scripted dramatic material for television, including the stages of script development.

MCO 224 Feature Writing:

Finding subjects, collecting information, interviewing, writing, and marketing magazine and newspaper features.

MCO 226: Elementary Foreign Language and Culture:

Beginning level of the chosen language for study. Will enable the student to acquire functional competency in listening, speaking, reading and writing appropriate to this level. Students will receive a systematic and regular introduction to the life and culture of the chosen language for study. Laboratory instruction is required.

MCO 227: Community Journalism:

This course introduces the principles of editing with emphasis on headline writing, page preparation, page make-up, newspaper organization, and the work flow on the advertising and editorial sides of newspaper production. Students are required to submit work for publication.

MCO 228: Mass Communication Law:

Legal limitations and privileges affecting publishing and broadcasting. Major court decisions. Fair comment, libel, right of privacy, fairness doctrine, and license renewal.

MCO 301: Broadcast Writing:

This course provides professional standards for use in preparing news for radio and television broadcasting, including broadcast news writing, news coverage, news editing, news problems, and legal considerations.

MCO 311: Propaganda and Public Persuasion:

Theory and practice of propaganda with emphasis on mass media as tools of propagandist. Nazi, Soviet, Africa and U.S. propaganda analyzed and critiqued in context of communication theory and ethics.

MCO 312: Telecommunications Management

This course examines mass communication management problems via examination of the historical, social, cultural, legal, and economic structure and operation of American media organizations and the impact of managerial problems on talent.

MCO 313: Newswriting for Broadcasting:

Information gathering for electronic media with emphasis on writing for ear and eye.

MCO 314: Broadcast News Gathering and Reporting:

This course enables students to gather and report news using electronic and traditional means. Students produce news segments using electronic news gathering equipment.

MCO 317: Television Production I:

Television production elements; cameras, sound, lighting, videotape recording, film, optics, and studio control centers. Group and individual production activities.

MCO 318: Magazine Editing and Production:

Principles and practice in story selection, copy editing, copy fitting, picture editing, cropping, and caption writing.

MCO 414: Media Law and Ethics:

This course examines the legal and ethical principles and standards governing print and electronic media. Furthermore, this course examines the performance of the various media of mass communication in light of ethical standards, employing case studies, lectures, and discussion sessions.

MCO 415: Mass Media and Society:

History of mass communication and research from 1940s to present. Transactional model of communication and symbolic-interactionist perspective used among other approaches to evaluate role of mass media in twentieth-century in Africa.

MCO 321: Fundamentals of Broadcasting.

Broadcasting technology, history of radio and television, economics of broadcasting, government regulation of industry, and assessment of medium in society.

MCO 324: Electronic Media Management

Organizational structures and business policies of radio, television, and cable companies. Planning basic program structures for broadcast and cable operations with consideration of audience requirements, FCC policy, and competitive market.

MCO 325: Multimedia Production:

Techniques for producing programming, utilizing personnel and equipment from music, theatre, graphic design, and related fields. Emphasis on computer-based technologies. Prerequisites: Junior standing and permission of instructor.

MCO 328: Public Relations Writing:

This course give students practical experience in developing written communication tools used in public relations. The student learns to prepare press releases, biographies, fact sheets, speeches, brochures, newsletters and press kits.

MCO 329: Media Citizenship:

Quantitative and qualitative measures of media content in television, film, magazines, newspapers, and computing networks.

MCO 410: Techniques of Layout and Design:

This course will provide experience in newspaper and magazine make-up. Students will have hands-on experience in preparation of news copy, page layouts, pictures, and other graphic materials for newspaper publication and layout, typography for magazines, newsletters, brochures, and similar publications.

MCO 412: Research in Communication:

Focuses on the source selection and information gathering process in the scholarly investigation of communication. The course emphasizes the critical assessment of the relevance, reliability and credibility of each source used.

MCO 413: Publication Copywriting and Design:

Explores the writing of copy and effective design for newsletters, brochures, fliers, advertisements, and business reports; emphasis is placed on factors affecting readability, the use of copy as an element of design, copy fitting, and copy formatting for print and electronic publications.

MCO 414: Electronic Media Programming:

Covers the fundamental programming strategies for conveying information, ideas, and values to target audiences. Emphasizes roles of management, advertisers, regulatory agencies, program producers, and media consumers; focuses on the development and distribution of television and radio program formats and series.

MCO 415: Stagecraft:

Gives practical study of basic technical production; emphasizes scenic construction and lighting techniques; includes scenic design, construction, rigging, painting, and the operation of lighting equipment; consists of lecture as well as shop hours; requires participation as technical crew and in Departmental productions.

MCO 416: Acting for Television and Motion Pictures:

Provides the opportunity for students who wish to enter media production in some aspect to discern and develop the ability to perform in the unique milieu of acting before the camera; involves an examination of these elements within the technical and performance demands of television and film production.

MCO 417: Television and Radio Announcing:

Explores the study of and involves practice in the techniques, duties, and tasks of the radio and television announcer; emphasis is placed on acquiring skills in analysis of copy, interpretation, and communication in a variety of speaking roles in front of the microphone and the camera.

MCO 417: Communication Research Methods:

Research questions, design, methodology, data gathering, and analysis. Practice in conducting, interpreting, and communicating research findings to public.

MCO 421: Ethical Issues in Mass Communication

Ethical theories and justification models are studied and then related to ethical decision making in a variety of mass communication contexts, including public relations, broadcast journalism, radio production, television production and media printing. The course will examine the components of good ethical decision making in mass communication, as well as obstacles that can stand in the way of responsible choices.

MCO 422: Newspaper Editing and Design—

News selection, copy editing, picture editing, and headline writing.

MCO 444: Mass Communications Practicum:

These courses allow students, under the supervision of an instructor, to study, observe, and participate in the production of campus publications and in broadcast activities.

MCO 445: Mass Media Internship:

Professional experience in public relations, journalism, or broadcasting. Student must work in area of major or minor at least five hours per week for 10 weeks for each unit of credit awarded. Prerequisites: Junior standing and prior approval of appropriate internship director.

MCO 432: Media Research Techniques:

This course provides experiences in the fundamentals of scientific research in general, and mass media in particular; it exposes students to a variety of research approaches and research methods, data collection, and data analysis procedures.

MCO 431: Credits Internship in Communications:

Provides practical experience in a work environment for the advanced student (in Journalism, Speech, Mass and Corporate Communications). Includes work experiences in business, industry, educational institutions, social services organizations, or other agencies involved in the appropriate communications activity. Requires supervision by an appropriate advisor during the internship, establishment of learning objectives, and a journal documenting the completion of the learning objectives.

MCO 499: Research Project

This course permits students to propose, write, design, produce, and MCO direct extended production programs.