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Communication Studies (COMM-ST)

COMM-ST 393      History Of The Hollywood Musicals View Details
The course offers an historical survey of the development of the film musical as a major Hollywood film genre from the introduction of the sound film in 1927 to current manifestations of the genre. The course gives particular attention to the development of the studio musicals of the 1930s, the role of the musical during World War II, the ""Golden Age"" of the MGM musical in the 1950s-60s, and the effects on the traditional Hollywood musical of the Vietnam Era social upheavals. Offered: On Demand
Credits: 3 hours
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COMM-ST 394      The World Of ""Film Noir View Details
The course offers an historical survey of the development of ""film noir"" as a major film genre. The course examines the major characteristics that define ""film noir"" and offers an introduction to the historical roots of this genre in German Expressionism, as well as the social and political context for the development of ""film noir"" as a hollywood studio genre in the late 1940s. Particular attention is given to the social/ political conditions of the 1950s that contributed to both the rise and decline in popularity of ""film noir"" during the Cold War, as well as the film genre's revival in the ""neo-noirs"" of the 1970s. Offered: On Demand
Credits: 3 hours
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COMM-ST 400      Special Studies View Details
(A-N) This is an upper-level course on a subject which is not a part of the regular department offering. The course results from one or more of the following: (1) the expressed desire of students (2) the broadened or refocused scholarship of a member of the communication studies faculty (3) the temporary presence of a scholar whose specialization is not reflected in the department's regular offerings (4) the conclusion by the department that the course meets a community need (5) the effort of the Communication Studies faculty to provide an interdisciplinary approach to an era or topic. The course is experimental in the sense that it is a ""one-time"" offering with the potential of repetition or modification, depending upon student, faculty and community response. On demand.
Credits: 1-3 hours
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COMM-ST 402      Cluster Course: American Social Film:Silver Screen&American Dream View Details
This course will combine American social history and American film history. Using Hollywood entertainment films, the course will look at Hollywood as an indicator of social, political, and economic conditions in the U.S. from the early 1900s to the late 1950s. The main topics are war and the threat of war, poverty and affluence, racial tensions, censorship, and political zealotry. A paper is required, and a social history textbook, a film history textbook, a play by Arthur Miller and a collection of articles constitute core readings.
Credits: hours
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COMM-ST 403      Cc: Radical Changes Since 1945 View Details
This cluster course will focus on modernism, post-modernism and expressionism in the visual arts and literature since World War II. Lectures address intellectual movements-such as existentialism and formalism-and cultural development-such as increased impact of technology and mass media-in contemporary society. By focusing on these movements, we hope to provide an integrated view of the literature and visual arts of the period and to draw upon analogous developments in contemporary architecture, music, philosophy and film. This course is offered as a cluster with ENGLISH 300CE.
Credits: hours
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COMM-ST 404      World War I in Film: The World made Modern View Details
This cluster course examines World War I and its legacy through the lenses of international history and film studies. It explores the origins and conduct of the "Great War," as it was called at the time, as well as its transforming effects on the modern international relations and the ongoing process of globalization. It also examines how the war spurred the growth of an infant motion picture industry, and how movies produced during the decades that followed helped shaping popular memories of the conflict-reflecting and shaping cultural discourses regarding the myth or reality of modern civilizational progress; the ethics of modern weaponry; the individual's placed in mass society; constructions of class, race, and gender; and the meaning of national identify in a globalizing world. The class will draw on selected history texts and an array of films and film clips. Cross listed with HISTORY 420CC
Credits: hours
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COMM-ST 405      Cluster Course: Race in American Film View Details
This course examines representations of race and ethnicity in American film from the silent era onward in mainstream and countercultural traditions. It explores how social, political, and economic conditions contribute to constructions of race and ethnicity. This course is offered as a cluster course with ENGLISH 300CQ and HISTORY 300CF.
Credits: hours
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COMM-ST 431      Colloquium In Interpersonal Dynamics View Details
An examination of the practical application of communication principles and theories, with focus on one of the following: health, organizational, nonverbal, intrapersonal, conflict management, computer0mediated, or intercultural communication. Prerequisite: None Offered: On demand.
Credits: 3 hours
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COMM-ST 432      Press, Politics And Public Policy View Details
Undergraduate component of Comm Studies 532. An advanced course in the study of the press and political establishments in the formation of public policy. Lecture, discussion and research.
Credits: 3 hours
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COMM-ST 444      Intercultural Communication View Details
A consideration of communication phenomena in multicultural settings. A study of the public forum with an emphasis on the interpersonal aspects of international, intercultural, and co-cultural communication. Lecture and discussion. On demand. Prerequisite: Successful completion of the WEPT.
Credits: hours
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COMM-ST 446      Principles Of Advertising View Details
A survey of advertising as an industry and a career field, examining its history and development in America, and its application in mass and special media. Specific procedures are studies for linking the development of advertising strategies, messages and campaigns to the marketing process, and for evaluation and selection of appropriate media to carry the advertising message.
Credits: 3 hours
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COMM-ST 448      Principles Of Public Relations View Details
An overview, presenting the function, purposes, procedures and practices of public relations, its role in society, industry, government and politics, and its potential as a career field. This is a survey course with primary emphasis on theory, supplemented with applied techniques.
Credits: 3 hours
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COMM-ST 454      Advanced Screenwriting View Details
This course provides students with advanced theory in narrative screenwriting, training in industry standard script analysis (called "coverage") and story editing. Students will be required to draft, revise and workshop a short film screenplay or will focus on a feature screenplay, delivering a draft and revision of the first act and a detailed outline for the rest of the script. Students will workshop feature screenplays in small groups, emphasizing the art of constructive story editing.Prerequisite: COMM-ST 354. Offered: Spring
Credits: hours
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COMM-ST 457      Producing And Distributing Media View Details
Survey of Contemporary practices used in the producing, funding and distribution of media for theatrical, broadcast, home video/dvd and web-based markets. Lectures, discussion and projects. Prerequisites: None
Credits: 3 hours
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COMM-ST 458      Publicity, Promotion And The Media View Details
Writing intensive. A study of controlled and uncontrolled (public) media and their use to effect motivation of various target audiences, and alteration of attitudes, opinions, and beliefs in special publics; examination of the theory and nature of messages and materials generated by PR departments or counseling firms; analysis and practice in development of specialized communications materials, such as house organs, news releases, publicity and speeches to gain reaction and support from specialized groups. Prerequisite: COMM-ST 351 and successful completion of the WEPT. Offered: Fall.
Credits: hours
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COMM-ST 462      Public Broadcasting View Details
A study of the development of public broadcasting, its position and responsibilities in the world of modern communications. Programming and operations concepts and philosophies of public broadcast facilities will be studied and analyzed. Prerequisite: COMM-ST 220. Offered: On demand.
Credits: 3 hours
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COMM-ST 466      Advanced Electronic Journalism View Details
An advanced study of television and Internet news gathering, field production and performance for electronic media. Prerequisite: COMM-ST 456 or consent of instructor. Offered: Spring
Credits: 3 hours
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COMM-ST 470      Directing View Details
An advanced course in video techniques with emphasis on creating complex formats for broadcasting, recording and performance. Lecture, discussion, and laboratory. Prerequisite: COMM-ST 250. Offered: Spring.
Credits: 3 hours
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COMM-ST 471      Advanced Media Production View Details
An advanced course in media production techniques involving knowledge and practical use of video, film and sound equipment to create professionally competitive media productions. Lecture, discussion, laboratory and research. Prerequisites: COMM-ST 250, COMM-ST 373, and COMM-ST 354 or Instructor Consent. Offered: Fall
Credits: 3 hours
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COMM-ST 478      Media Law View Details
A comprehensive examination of the law as it pertains to advertising, public relations, journalism, commercial and electronic media, broadcast regulatory agencies, corporate speech and corporate participation in elections. Students will study topics that include the First Amendment, defamation and privacy. Court opinions and legislation will be the course's primary focus, however students will also examine contemporary and historic theory of free expression. Offered: On demand.
Credits: 3 hours
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