BA Communication (Florham)

COMM1001 This introductory course will provide students with a foundation in communication concepts, theory and research, while helping them begin to master practical communication skills, such as listening and critical thinking, using technology to communicate, understanding nonverbal communication, creating persuasive strategies, and managing group conflict. Topics will include self-development, interpersonal communication, family communication, group communication, public speaking, media/technology, communicating in the workplace, and in public.

COMM2001 What is communication? This is the question that drives this course. The question is deceptively simple since you can probably provide an answer with little difficulty. You may say something like ?Communication is the transmission of ideas from a source to a receiver,? or something very similar. Answers to the question, ?What is communication?? have been dominated by a very particular tradition of Northern American scholarship since the early part of the Twentieth Century. Words like ?source,? ?receiver,? ?effectiveness,? and ?transmission,? have not only formed the basis of our common sense understanding of what communication is. They have also organized communication research in both America and Europe since the 1950?s. The structure of this course reflects the fact that there are two main schools in the study of communication. The first see communication as the transmission of messages. It is concerned with how senders and receivers encode and decode and sees communication as a process by which one person affects the behavior or the state of mind of another. The second school sees communication as the production and exchange of meanings. It is concerned with how people interact with messages or texts in order to produce meaning, and examines the roles of texts in our culture. This course will examine both areas of communication study.

COMM2002 The study of the behavior in groups as it relates to group norms, rules, roles, leadership, decision-making, problem-solving and conflict management. Examination of the theoretical and practical aspects of small group communication with stress on small group exercises.

COMM2003 This course examines the processes of communication as they occur between people (i.e.,inter-personal) with particular emphasis on relationship development, formation of self and relational per- ception.

COMM2004 This course explores the field of professional public relations covering the role, origin and trends affecting the future of the practice. Additionally, the course will cover topics such as effective writing skills, campaign development and ethical and legal implications of the profession.

COMM2005 This course examines a variety of forms that narrative communication takes (story, myth, fairy tale, report, rumor) in different media (spoken interaction, radio, film, literature, news and entertainment television) and explores the many functions narrative communication serves.

COMM2006 This course is designed to enhance student awareness of how nonverbal cues are used in sending and receiving messages and in enacting culture. The course provides and in-depth study of physical appearance, gesture and movement, facial expression, eye contact, touch, use of time, and the voice to communicate nonverbally in a variety of interpersonal relationships across personal, professional, public, and cultural contexts. By the end of the course, students will better understand how the nonverbal components of messages impact human interaction.

COMM2011 A survey course in the history of journalism in America, with emphasis on the development of principles of modern journalistic practice, including broadcasting.

COMM2012 A preliminary course dealing with such topics as: The language of T.V., the production process, T.V. news, and digital journalism.

COMM2099 A writing and oral communication course which emphasizes the importance of collaborative communication techniques used in the workplace. The course features an extended simulation that integrated work-related written and oral communication through practical application. The simulation allows students to gain experience similar to that of the workplace. The course also concentrates on business writing, including letters, memos, reports and proposals; oral presentation; listening skills; and group dynamics.

COMM2102 This course discusses issues such as images of foreign countries, (mis)understanding of different cultures, the flow of information, and cultural invasion/imperialism. By taking this course stu- dents will 1)gain a better understanding of the relationship between international communication and globalization, 2)grasp the role mass media play in global communication, and 3)enhance criti- cal awareness of problems mass media make.

COMM2204 Course provides an introduction to a wide range of theories and research about effective communication in contexts such as friendship, small groups, and organizations. Special emphasis on interpersonal and intercultural communication issues.

COMM2214 This course provides an introduction to the principles and practices of the broadcasting industry. While the focus will be on radio broadcasting, many of the discussions will have application to the television industry as well, particulary when it comes to legal issues. The course wull include training & practice in radio productions. Students will also receive an introduction to radio programming (both commercial & noncommercial), production, broadcast station policies, legal issues and industry trends.

COMM2221 Study of the role of advertising in current society and its significance in our economic system; practical exercises in setting advertising goals; planning, implementing and evaluating creative strategies; discussion of ethical and legal issues.

COMM2443 Ethics in both the print and broadcast media, using current newspaper articles and news programming as resources. Students participate in the decision-making process of reviewing and selecting information for mass audiences. Emphasis on class discussions.

COMM2861 from OIS 954 E0145

COMM2866 With an empohasis on print and electronic journalism, an examin- ation of the history, role, and impact of womenand minorities in the American media; analysis of traditional minority media outlet and their audiences; the transition to participation in the major media marketplace of ideas; contemporary issues of race, enthnicity, and sex and how they are reported.

COMM3004 This course offers a comprehensive examination of organizational communication from the Industrial Revolution to the present. Primarily, it will examine the meanings of actions and practices in organizations. The aim will be to develop and use multiple frameworks for the analysis of everyday organizational life. Through these frameworks, the course will explore such topic areas as organizational politics, globalization, leadership, power, motivation, empowerment and workplace ethics.

COMM3005 With the advent of virtual communities, online social networks, and the rapidly advancing use of social media, the question of effective communications can be addressed through multiple lenses. Drawing upon the theoretical literature from various disciplines, this course will enable students to understand what constitutes social media and its associated technology and its impact on communications within groups, organizations, and society in general. Students will be expected to actively engage in several forms of social media. In addition, students will be introduced to the concept and practice of social network analysis and its role in measuring communication flows within organizations and groups.

COMM3006 This course examines a variety of forms that narrative communication takes (story, myth, report, fairytale, rumor) in different settings (spoken interaction, radio, film, literature, news and entertainment television) and explores the many functions narrative communication serves.

COMM3012 Practical instruction in newswriting, feature writing and reporting and interviewing for newspapers. How to cover and write about meetings, speeches, crime, the courts and business. Standard news style and ethical and legal limitations on the press.

COMM3013 Practice in writing feature articles for magazines, newspapers and other print media.

COMM3014 This course examines family relationships, roles, structures, crisis management strategies, myths and dynamics from a communicational systems perspective. Family interaction as foundational to lifelong experience is a central consideration of the course. Historical, economic social and legal issues relating to the family are explored.

COMM3016 Practical instruction in editing copy and writing headlines for newspapers. Also covers standard news style, newsroom routine, newsroom technology, wire services, photo editing, typography, page makeup and design and ethical and legal limitations on the press.

COMM3018 The history and contemporary trends in print, broadcast and computer media; investigation of issues of media ethics, censor- ship and media law as well as the social and psychological impact of communication media.

COMM3019 This course surveys a broad range of communication issues related to globalization. It will explore international and intercultural communication, diversity issues relating to gender race and ethnicity, postmodernism, the role of technology, and the impact of the "global village" on the nature of work. Time will also be spent exploring how globailization has led to com- pressions of time and space and significant changes in our social relationships.

COMM3022 A field such as communication defines itself by the integrity of its research. To be capable of reading and making contributions to a field's literature, it is essential that a student have a working knowledge of research methods. This course is designed to help students develop skills to critically interact with the discipline's research through an examination of the fundamental concepts and terminology of social science research.

COMM3023 A course in the way film reflects and influences culture. Focus on a historical or cultural theme represented in film; background reading in appropriate cultural texts and documents. Topics vary from semester to semester, such as politics and community in American film; American individualism and the Western; the crime film and American values; America and the psychology of war. Film screenings held in addition to class time.

COMM3030 Event planning is an important component of marketing and public relations. Events have the power to build consumer awareness and create a connection to a company or brand that other channels can't match. From product launches to fundraising galas, effective events can help brands and organizations achieve measurable business goals. But event planning is more than just throwing a good party -- each production takes months of planning and strategy. In this course, you'll learn how to create successful events from conception to completion. You will develop essential materials for your event including invitations, advertisements, calendar listings, and media alerts to create awareness, you will create and manage an even budget, and think creatively to build exciting strategic collaborations.

COMM3035 This course will introduce students to the field of public relations and provide them with a good repertoire of writing skills and techniques for use in public relations. It will discuss both the theory and practice of public relations with particular emphasis on writing for the media, for crisis communication and for advertising and publicity.

COMM3050 This course offers a broad exploration and appreciation of communication theory and its centrality to everyday life. It explores the process of theory construction in modern communication studies through a multidisciplinary survey of many of the theories that have historical and contemporary value to communication scholars.

COMM3051 A great deal of research has been done that explores the difference between men and women in terms of communication. Not only is it valuable to explore this research for its personal value, but it holds professional value as well. Starting with a more general exploration of gendered communication, and moving into media and workplace-specific applications, this course seeks to blend extensive reading and personal reflection into a solid understanding of what "gender" means in today's society and the implications that this understanding has for communication in our personal and professional lives.

COMM3060 This course will address all of the key areas that go into the creation, production and distribution of television news. Time will be spent exploring how television news is researched, written, and produced and how all of the elements come together to form the final polished (and sometimes not so polished) broadcasts that we see each and everyday. The course will consider the differences between network and cable news broadcasts, between local and 24-hour news, and between morning and evening network news broadcasts. Time will also be spent examining the ethical, racial and gender issues that come up when making decisions regarding television news. Through this course students will gain valuable experience writing copy for television news and laying out the elements of a 30-minute news broadcast while also exploring the inner workings and politics of a career in television news.

COMM3101 Course provides an introduction to the research procedures and techniques used in such fields as advertising and journalism. Emphasis on understanding the rationale for survey, experimental, and ethnographic research methods.

COMM3244

COMM3248 This course will prepare students to write for the electronic news media. In addition to developing the skills necessary for writing good radio and television news copy and promotional/ commercial copy, students will also discuss current issues (ethics, legal issues and history) as well as current events in broadcast journalism. Writing projects will be completed both individualy and in teams and sample asignments may include radio and television commercials, broadcast news copy, broadcast interviews, public service announcements, and dramatic pieces.

COMM3341 This course will deal with radio management functions and operations. In addition to exercises that will enable students to more closely examine trends in the world of radio, radio programming, and station development, students will enhance their hands-on skills as well. Students will devlop a working knowledge of the operation of radio stations including the audience rating methods that impact their programming design.

COMM3349 A prelimary course dealing with such topics as: The language of T.V., the Production Process, Art Design, T.V. News and the Development of Israli T.V.

COMM3432 This course is one of the Sports & Movement minor electives. It is concerned with the news and feature writing of sports events, including reportorial skills, photography, and opinion writing. Attention given also to public relations and promotion of sports and sports events.

COMM3437 This course explores how communication constitutes the work that people do in a variety of professional contexts, including medical care, emergency service, legal interrogation, broadcasting, public hearings, and political press conferences. Students will study talk in these contexts to discern how it is organized to accomplish certain tasks, what constitutes procedures and best practices, and how talk can serve multiple functions, from getting help to getting information, along with getting along and getting the job done. The approach of the class is practical and applied; students are engaged in analytical excercises geared toward sharpening their communication skills and heightening their awareness of how talk works.

COMM3838 Ethics in both the print and broadcast media, using current newspaper articles and news programming as resources. Students participate in the decision-making process of reviewing and selecting information for mass audiences. Emphasis on class discussions.

COMM4001 Practical experience in communication in a professional setting.

COMM4002 Practical experience in communications in a professional setting.

COMM4005 Consideration of classical and contemporary theoretical approa- ches to literature and communication. Literature as a communica- tion model. Emphasis on recent theories that reassess the status of texts, the role of the reader, the relationship between high and popular cultures and the nature of meaning, among other issues.

COMM4444 This course will attempt to keep up with the ever-changing media landscape. In addition to developing the skills needed to ensure they produce solid journalism, students will learn how to apply multimedia techniques to tell stories in new and interesting ways. Throughout the semester, students will work on developing their own Web pages, complete with original reporting, audio and video components, photography and blogs. Students will also study current events, as well as ethical and legal issues in electronic media.

COMM4480 This course specifically examines the dynamic practice of crisis communication on the organizational level. It seems that we live in a culture of crisis - organizations must be proactive and reactive in their public relations practices. Topics discussed will include image repair strategies, options available to organizations facing crisis, crisis management teams, crisis management as a form of public relations, and examination of case studies. Using the most recent scholarship, students will learn about this timely topic in an interactive and engaging environment.