General:

 

COMM 1003 - INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION STUDIES

 

 This class will attempt to explore the multiple ways that researchers, both Christian and otherwise, have thought and written about communication.  Note that this course (and indeed the entire major) reflects an academic perspective on communication.  You will not merely learn practical communication skills, but will gain a theoretical understanding of how communication works.   Thus equipped, I trust you will grow into effective, faith-driven communicators who can impact the world no matter what professional field you enter.

 

 

COMM 1203 - MEDIA HISTORY

 

 Students will understand the significance of media history.  Students will study key people, events, and discoveries that have shaped modern media and will learn how past events impact future media developments.

 

 

COMM 2603 - PERSUASION & RHETORIC

 

 Students will discover the historical roots of rhetoric and persuasion. Students will learn the theories and techniques of classical and modern persuasion and will discover how persuasion works in both mediated and non-mediated contexts, such as advertising and debate. Students will apply theories of persuasion and rhetoric to a contemporary media campaign of their own creation.

 

 

Mass Media Concentration:

 

COMM 2403 - INTRO TO POP CULTURE

 

 Media is social, it is cultural and a major part of our individual lives every day. Some might say that in our digital society, we not only consume media, but we are consumed by it. The movies we watch, the news we read, the music we listen to, the social media we interact with and all other media activities we engage with may not have immediate impact on our lives and daily decision-making, but over time it shapes us individually and societally. We will explore the psychological and sociological influences of our mediated communication activities throughout history and in particular today. People now say we live in an information society or economy, I say we also are in the age of the creative society and economy and it is because of our media use that we have come to such a creative point in history. Let’s find those creative triggers to become more intentional in our use of media.

 

 

Production Concentration:

 

 

COMM 1503 - MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION

 

 This class will hopefully be different than any class you have ever taken.  Since we will be working with media technologies, much of this course will be hands-on.  We will work in lab situations, learning step-by-step how to use representative digital technologies.  Those of you not familiar with Macs should get with someone who is.

 

 

COMM 2503 - INTRO TO DIGITAL MEDIA

 

 Digital media is more than a series of “1s” and “0s” in varying orders. Whether you are telling your story in print, broadcast or digital platforms; content is KING. In this class we will be sharpening our digital storytelling skills. It will involve layout, design, typography, photography, videography and any other skills associated with visual communication on digital media. But, there’s more; story telling begins with conceptual constructs and the best way to organize, then communicate those constructs is in writing. We will write in this class. All of our lab assignments will contain written elements to help stretch our creative and critical thinking muscles.