Course Descriptions
Communications
COM 240
Broadcast Journalism
3 credits
The principles of news worthiness, news selectivity and news writing for the electronic media will be examined and applied through work at the campus audio and television facilities. The course will emphasize the rights and responsibilities of radio and television journalism.
Prerequisite(s): TEC 101 and TEC 102
COM 245
Writing for the Media
3 credits
This course is designed to improve effectiveness in communication by developing prewriting, writing, and rewriting skills. Students will learn how to organize their ideas in a clear, methodical manner with emphasis on concept development. This course will explore various techniques used to produce scripts for spot advertisements, corporate video, television pilots, and features (movies). Students will produce scripts for radio and television spots and a short corporate video, as well as go through the story development process for a feature-length screenplay or television pilot.
Prerequisite(s): ENG 101
COM 300
Communication Theory
3 credits
This course examines various popular theories of interpersonal and mass communication, with emphasis on mass communication. The ways in which society and mass communication affect each other are critically examined, with the goal of developing the students’ own ideas, opinions, and preferences concerning these theories. Students will receive practical assistance in the areas of speaking, reading, writing, listening, and research. An advanced library orientation has been incorporated as part of this course.
Prerequisite(s): COM 245 or ENG 102
COM 303
Introduction to TV Studio Production
3 credits
This introductory course, designed to promote a basic understanding of how the television studio process works through theory and practice, allows students the opportunity to assume the various production roles found in a television studio. Students will learn the different studio and control room duties, including writer, producer, director, floor manager, camera operator, and technical director. Students will also have a working knowledge of video engineering and audio engineering.
Prerequisite(s): TEC 101 and TEC 102
COM 306
Script Writing
3 credits
This course builds on theories and techniques introduced in Writing for the Media. By reading and analyzing professional scripts (for both produced and yet-to-be-released projects), students will learn the techniques currently used in the industry and develop the skills to execute them. Students will complete the script for the feature (movie) developed in "Writing for the Media". Rewriting and methods of “breaking in” will also be covered.
Prerequisite(s): COM 245
COM 307
Streaming Media
3 credits
Creating streaming media is a multi-step process incorporating audio, video, and any other visual medium. Students will learn how to create streaming media projects. To create such projects, students will learn compression techniques, embedding techniques, and best practice methods for deploying streaming media. Additional topics of discussion include market research techniques, copyright issues, storyboarding, and scripting.
Prerequisite(s): TEC 101 and TEC 102
COM 310
Legal Aspects of Communication
3 credits
Students will examine various aspects of the law and mass communications in America. Special emphasis will be given to the evolution of present day interpretations of the First Amendment, censorship, libel, obscenity, privacy and public access to the media. In addition, students will study copyright law and government regulation of the media.
COM 311
The Early History of Film
3 credits
This course is designed to introduce students to the art of film and its early history. It will cover major trends, methods and issues in theatrical film history up to the Hollywood cinema of the 1950’s.
COM 312
The Modern History of Film
3 credits
This course is designed to introduce students to the art of film and its recent history. It will cover major trends, methods, technologies and issues in theatrical film history from the 1960s to modern-day cinema. Emphasis will be placed on the rapid technology changes in modern film history.
COM 322
Aesthetics of Film
3 credits
The course examines the motion picture as an art form. Elements of film such as writing, photography, acting, and editing are examined with emphases on the director’s role as a manipulator of these elements. To illustrate the interplay of these elements, selected feature films are screened and analyzed.
COM 331
Single Camera Video Production
3 credits
This course is designed to develop the students’ understanding of a single camera portable approach to moving image production using corporate-level equipment. The course will also develop techniques in planning, shot selection, sequential imaging, continuity, and editing.
Prerequisite(s): TEC 102
COM 335
Corporate Video Production
3 credits
This course is designed to provide students with an overview of industrial video production and script writing for applications in business, education, and industry, as well as for marketing and advertising purposes. Students will be expected to produce an industrial video.
Prerequisite(s): COM 331
COM 344
Writing and Reporting for the News Media
3 credits
This course examines how to report, write, and edit news for the mass media, including newspapers, magazines, newsletters, radio, and television. Emphasis will be on methods and styles of writing pertaining to various media, stressing differences in the approach demanded by each medium.
Prerequisite(s): ENG 101
COM 345
Field Journalism
3 credits
This is an intermediate course that builds upon COM 344-Writing and Reporting for the News Media. Students will use the principles and techniques of news writing and reporting acquired in COM 344 and expand these concepts to actual new gathering in the field. Both Broadcast and News Media styles of reporting will be explored. Students will use both still and video cameras to fulfill their assignments.
Prerequisite(s): TEC 101 and TEC 102 and COM 344
COM 350
Ethics in Journalism
3 credits
This elective course covers an examination of journalistic codes and standards as they apply to the broadcast, new media, and print journalists’ abilities to confront legal and ethical issues and problems faced on a daily basis. Additionally, students will learn press responsibilities using case studies, by reviewing historic and current approaches in reporting methodology.
COM 360
Human Computer Interface Design
3 credits
This course looks at the information architecture and discusses usability vs. aesthetic visuals. Students will learn how to implement man/machine interfaces via design principles.
Prerequisite(s): DSN 210 and DSN 220
COM 401
Producing the Documentary
3 credits
This course is an introduction to the theoretical foundations required for creating a documentary. Students will gain an understanding of how this genre is similar to and different from other television programming. The course will further develop scripting techniques and all facets of video pre-and post-production. As part of this course, students will produce a short documentary.
Prerequisite(s): COM 245 and COM 331
COM 412
Introduction to TV News Production
3 credits
This course is designed to teach students how to direct and produce news programs. Students further enhance their skills through the creation, development, and execution of hands-on productions. In this course, each student will be responsible for producing two 10-minute news programs.
Prerequisite(s): COM 303 and COM 420/COM 422
COM 413
Advanced TV News Production
3 credits
This course covers advanced theory and practice of video production, concentrating on television news and news type programming. Students will learn advanced shooting and editing techniques. Each student will produce one 20-minute newscast.
Prerequisite(s): COM 412
COM 420
Non-Linear Editing - PC
3 credits
This course introduces the technology and practice of digital editing, from the conversion of analog video and digital capture to final assembly. The course covers a basic introduction to editing software, including importing files, assembling, applying transitions, and adding titles. Editing techniques and theory are also covered.
Prerequisite(s): TEC 101 and TEC 102
COM 421
Advanced Non-Linear Editing—PC
3 credits
This second of two non-linear editing courses furthers the theory of editing with the various technical editing skills needed to edit a television show or digital film. Building on the abilities developed in Intro to Non-Linear Editing, students will exhibit proficiency in all areas of film editing. New techniques learned, but not limited to, will include chroma keying, importing from other programs such as After Effects and Photoshop, troubleshooting, audio sweetening, and color correction.
Prerequisite(s): COM 420
COM 422
Non-Linear Editing—Mac
3 credits
This course introduces the technology and practice of digital editing, from the conversion of analog video and digital capture to final assembly. The course covers a basic introduction to editing software, including importing files, assembling, applying transitions, and adding titles. Editing techniques and theory are also covered.
Prerequisite(s): TEC 101 and TEC 102
COM 423
Advanced Non-Linear Editing—Mac
3 credits
This second of two non-linear editing courses furthers the theory of editing with the various technical editing skills needed to edit a television show or digital film. Building on the abilities developed in Intro to Non-Linear Editing - Mac students will exhibit proficiency in all areas of film editing. New techniques learned, but not limited to will include chroma keying, importing from other programs such as After Effects and Photoshop, troubleshooting, audio sweetening, and color correction.
Prerequisite(s): COM 422
COM 425
Podcasting
3 credits
The ability of audio and video to be globally distributed through the Internet has created exciting technology that is affordable for nearly everyone. With the advance of MP3 players, and their availability in just about every imaginable kind of device, the technology has become ubiquitous in today’s society. This course will teach students how to get a quality podcast up and running—from planning to recording, editing and preparing your file, to getting heard, finding clients and making money.
Prerequisite(s): COM 420/COM 422, DSN 210, TEC 101 and TEC 102
COM 431
Media and Society
3 credits
This course examines the mass media and its influence on society. Students will compare how the press and the television and entertainment industries create images and perceptions for or against established social and political structures at home and overseas. The course will make students conversant with the economic, social, political, and cultural pressures which structure the way the media is produced and provide them with an understanding of the same theories against which it is measured.
COM 460
Topics in Communication
3 credits
This course surveys contemporary subjects and current events pertaining to communication.
Prerequisite(s): Permission Required
COM 485
Senior Project A
1 credits
This course is designed as a directed workshop to allow senior year students the opportunity to practice their specialization in a production environment. The workshop is divided into two sessions (A and B), one for each block of the semester. Session A covers the pre-production stage, and Session B covers the production and post-production stages. Students will agree upon a realistic project in their main competency area(s) with their instructor. Having also agreed upon a timetable for their project’s completion, the students will then begin a required minimum 30-hour flexible workshop where they must prepare a clear and comprehensive pre-production plan which follows the timetable. The students must also develop an appropriate corporate style and logo to accompany their project.
Prerequisite(s): Permission required
COM 486
Senior Project B
2 credits
This course is designed as a directed workshop to allow senior year students the opportunity to practice their specialization in a production environment. The workshop is divided into two sessions (A and B), one for each block of the semester. Session A covers the pre-production stage, and Session B covers the production and post-production stages. Students will agree upon a realistic project in their main competency area(s) with their instructor. Having also agreed upon a timetable for their project’s completion, the students will then begin a required minimum 30-hour flexible workshop where they must prepare a clear and comprehensive pre-production plan which follows the timetable. The students must develop an appropriate corporate style and logo to accompany their project.
Prerequisite(s): Permission required
COM 487
Senior Project C
3 credits
This course is designed as a directed workshop to allow teams of senior year students the opportunity to practice their specialization in a production environment. At the start of the group project, team(s) of students will agree on a realistic project in their main competency area(s) with their faculty mentor. Having agreed on a timetable for their project’s completion, the students will then begin a required/flexible workshop where they must prepare a clear and comprehensive pre-production plan. The students must also develop an appropriate corporate style and logo to accompany their project. All work must be presented in the best possible manner, with well designed Desktop Published pages, a proper use of color, typography, etc., using their own corporate style and logo.
COM 490
Internship
3 credits
This course will provide students with real-world experience in the field of communication where they will become acquainted with daily operations, while enhancing their professional skills and interacting with other communication professionals. iTAC students wising to complete their internship requirements should review procedures at http:/wilmu.edu/itac/internships.
Prerequisite(s): Permission required
COM 491
Internship
3 credits
This course will provide students with real-world experience in the field of communication where they will become acquainted with daily operations, while enhancing their professional skills and interacting with other communication professionals. iTAC students wising to complete their internship requirements should review procedures at http:/wilmu.edu/itac/internships.
Prerequisite(s): Permission required
COM 492
Internship
3 credits
This course will provide students with real-world experience in the field of communication where they will become acquainted with daily operations, while enhancing their professional skills and interacting with other communication professionals. iTAC students wising to complete their internship requirements should review procedures at http:/wilmu.edu/itac/internships.
Prerequisite(s): Permission required
COM 493
Internship
3 credits
This course will provide students with real-world experience in the field of communication where they will become acquainted with daily operations, while enhancing their professional skills and interacting with other communication professionals. iTAC students wising to complete their internship requirements should review procedures at http:/wilmu.edu/itac/internships.
Prerequisite(s): Permission required
COM 494
Internship
3 credits
This course will provide students with real-world experience in the field of communication where they will become acquainted with daily operations, while enhancing their professional skills and interacting with other communication professionals. iTAC students wising to complete their internship requirements should review procedures at http:/wilmu.edu/itac/internships.
Prerequisite(s): Permission required
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