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MC 100 Introduction to Mass Media
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(3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand The study of the power and importance of mass media in national and international affairs with emphasis on the nature, functions and influence of broadcast media, print media, emerging mediums, advertising and public relations in the digital age. MnTC Goal 9. MC 200 Visual Communications (2) Fall: On Demand Spring: On Demand Summer: On Demand A survey of the visual components that make up mass communications, including structural elements, psychological effects, and general visual literacy. MC 210 Media Writing [ W ] (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand Media Writing is designed to achieve the following outcomes: proficiency in the use of the parts of speech, proficiency in the use of Associated Press style relative to capitalization, abbreviations, use of numerals and punctuation, and proficiency in composition of media messages designed for print and broadcast journalism, public relations and advertising. Prerequisite: ENGL 101 MC 212 University Newspaper Publication (1) Fall: On Demand Spring: On Demand Summer: On Demand Practicum for students working on the MSU Advocate staff. Repeatable to 4 credits. MC 220 Layout and Typography I (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand The course is designed to develop proficiency in terminology, design principles, use of software, critical analysis, and the publication ready production of projects in layout and typography. MC 230 Photography (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand The student will experience an introduction to the compositional and conceptual aspects of photography and an exploration of sequencing photographs. Options exist for both digital and film-based photography. Cameras can be rented from the department. MC 240 Radio Programming and Production (3) Fall: On Demand Spring: On Demand Summer: On Demand The objectives of this course include developing a basic understanding of station operations, production processes, programming standards and experience with live and recorded productions. MC 241 Radio Practicum (1-3) Fall: On Demand Spring: On Demand Summer: On Demand The objective of this course is to provide the student with an experiential learning opportunity. MC 251 Video Production for Ad, News, and PR (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand The course is designed to develop proficiency in the terminology, pre-production planning, use of software and hardware, critical analysis, and production of video projects for advertising, news, and public relations. MC 300 International Communications (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand The course is designed to achieve the following outcomes: students will acquire a geographical knowledge of countries (including basic demographic and media data) and world regions; experience in intercultural cyberspace correspondence; acquire knowledge of a non-Western country gained from non-U.S. on-line and off-line publications; ability to gather information from diverse sources, to analyze the findings critically and rationally using problem-solving skills, and to communicate effectively through clear writing; and an understanding of the ongoing Third Communication Revolution. Students will also acquire a knowledge of the major controversies related to international communication. MC 302 History of Mass Communications (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand Students will acquire knowledge of the history of journalism, broadcasting, advertising, and public relations in the United States from the American Revolution to the present. MC 303 Advertising Principles (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand The course is designed to achieve the following learning outcomes: acquire an understanding of advertising theories and principles, how advertising is used, why it is used and how it impacts the American society and economy; acquire an understanding of the advertising industry that includes the function and operation of an advertising agency and the components of an integrated advertising campaign. MC 304 Public Relations Principles (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand The course is designed to achieve the following learning outcomes: acquire an understanding of the principles, theories and practices of public relations; develop an understanding of the four-step process and how business, government and not-for-profit organizations use it to alter, adapt to or maintain their environments to achieve organizational goals. MC 305 Imaging in Advertising and Public Relations (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand Students will gain technical and conceptual skills in the manipulation of digital images for the fields of advertising and public relations. Projects involve acquiring images and producing creative manipulations that can be used for a variety of clients. Prerequisite: MC 230 MC 306 Advertising Copywriting [ W ] (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand The course is designed to achieve the following learning outcomes: an ability to analyze consumers; proficiency in the design and construction of advertising messages targeting specific consumers; proficiency in adapting the message copy to fit the mediums used to transmit the message; and proficiency in the public presentation of advertising copy. Prerequisite: MC 210 MC 303 MC 307 Writing for Public Relations [ W ] (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand A writing intensive course for students in public relations; writing projects include public relations messages shared through media platforms such as e-mail, newsletters, blogs, news releases, publication pitch letters, fact sheets, brochures, annual reports, web pages, e-blasts, tweets, speeches, podcasts, broadcasts, public service announcements, and other forms of strategic communications. MC 308 Broadcast Journalism (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand The study of radio and television news. Students will learn a specific style for writing broadcast news stories from notes, satellite feeds, news releases and the Associated Press. Students will write and re-write stories for both radio and television and learn the basics of editing television news stories. Prerequisite: MC 210 MC 309 Reporting [ W ] (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand Reporting is designed to achieve the following outcomes: proficiency in writing both hard news and soft news; experience in integrating writing, editing and design through teamwork; competence in using Associated press style, grammar and syntax, as well as on-line and off-line research sources; skill in interviewing; and acquire an understanding of the theory and contemporary practice of journalism. Prerequisite: MC 210 MC 310 Copy Editing (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand Copy Editing is designed to achieve the following outcomes: competence in using Associated Press style, grammar, and syntax; skill in headline writing, cutline writing, photo and graphic editing, page layout and design; experience in producing a newsletter through the integration of writing, editing, and design; knowledge of current affairs; and an understanding of the theory and contemporary practice of copy editing. Prerequisite: MC 210 MC 306 OR MC 308 OR MC 309 MC 320 Layout and Typography II (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand The course is designed to develop additional proficiency in terminology, design principles, use of software, critical analysis, and the publication ready production of projects in layout and typography. MC 327 Editing Public Relations Copy (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand A course for students in public relations that includes experiences in the process of editing and adapting public relations messages intended for targeted publics involving multimedia delivery platforms. The course focuses on the process and principles of copy-editing, adapting the message for multimedia platforms, publication design, and evolving stylistic considerations in the public relations profession, as well as assessing message effectiveness. MC 330 Photojournalism (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand Photojournalism is designed to achieve the following learning outcomes: an ability to produce feature, sports, spot news, and environmental portrait photographs for the printed page; proficiency in shooting and laying out photo stories; and an introduction to the history and legal aspects of photojournalism. Prerequisite: MC 230 MC 331 Photo Editing (3) Fall: On Demand Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand The class is designed to achieve the following outcomes: proficiency to electronically scan, manipulate, sequence and lay out photographs for publication. MC 341 Television News Writing (1-3) Fall: On Demand Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand A practicum whereby students participate in the development of a weekly television program or project as part of a series of newscasts, public affairs programs or informative programs. May be repeated for credit. MC 342 Television News Reporting (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand A practicum whereby students learn to produce television news packages. Reporters learn to cover stories as assigned and work along with photographers to construct weekly news packages. Those enrolled in this course must also take MC 344: Television News Editing. May be repeated for credit. MC 343 Television News Photography (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand A practicum whereby students learn to produce television news packages. Photographers shoot stories as assigned and work along with reporters to construct weekly news packages. Those enrolled in this course must also concurrently take MC 344: TV News Editing. May be repeated for credit. MC 344 Television News Video Editing (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand A practicum whereby students learn to produce television news packages. Video editors work with reporters and photographers to construct weekly news packages. They may be assigned also to edit video for voice-overs, sound bites and closing credits. Video editors edit television news packages with natural sound, natural lighting and video sequences. May be repeated for credit. MC 345 Television News Producing (2-3) Fall: On Demand Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand A practicum whereby students learn to produce television news programs. Producers stay informed about news stories, ensure that the future file is up-to-date, and assign stories to reporters, photographers, and videotape editors. Producers select readers, voice-overs, sound bites and packages for inclusion in a weekly newscast, determine the order of these stories and develop a smooth-flowing program within time constraints. Producers coordinate numerous aspects of the news operation and provide feedback to other participants. May be repeated for credit. MC 351 Interactive Online Communications (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand The course examines the multimedia concepts of online communication. Students choose, edit, produce and post stories to an ongoing or new journalism Web site of their design. Course will cover the fundamentals of information architecture and Web authoring using such software tools as Macromedia Dreamweaver. MC 352 Social Media Campaigns (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand Introduction to the theory, application and criticism of social media communication for producers of online advertising and public relations campaigns. The course is designed to achieve the following learning outcomes: 1) to develop an awareness and understanding of the nature of the communications transaction occurring in a social media campaign; 2) to develop an awareness and understanding of the various media platforms encompassed under the rubric of social media; 3) to develop a proficiency in the design and construction of a social media campaign targeting a specific public(s) of an extant organization; and 5) to develop an ability to critically evaluate the effectiveness of a social media campaign. MC 353 Producing Sports Audio and Video (3) Fall: On Demand Spring: On Demand A course designed to teach the principles and techniques of audio and video production for use in online and live sporting event situations. The learning objectives of this course include: to develop an awareness and understanding of the audio and video techniques of production employed in a sports broadcast situation; to develop an entry level proficiency in the use of audio and video production equipment; to develop an understanding of the process to stream audio and video messages over the internet and/or on a stadium display board; to demonstrate an ability to function effectively as a member of a sports broadcasting production team; and to demonstrate an ability to produce a live or recorded broadcast that meets an entry-level standard of excellence in the sports broadcasting industry. MC 354 Social Media Metrics (3) Fall: On Demand Spring: On Demand Summer: On Demand A course designed to teach the principles, processes, and techniques of evaluating the social media choices using industry established metrics. The learning objectives of this course include, to: 1) develop an awareness and understanding of the social media measurement process; 2) develop an awareness and understanding of the various metrics available for measuring social media objectives; 3) develop an understanding of the criteria involved in selecting an appropriate metric for measuring a given outcome; 4) provide an experience in the measurement of an objective(s) in a social media campaign; 5) develop an understanding of the process of analyzing and interpreting the data generated in a social media campaign; and 6) develop an understanding of the process of reporting the results of measurement in a social media campaign. MC 356 Multimedia Authoring and Development (3) Fall: On Demand Spring: On Demand Summer: On Demand This course examines the layers, facets and the concepts of multimedia; the workings of multimedia in the fields of education, medicine, architecture, graphic and corporate communications, and entertainment. MC 365 Media Planning (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand The course is designed to develop an understanding of the principles involved in the selection of media; proficiency in the evaluation of syndicated media research; proficiency in planning the strategic use of media placements; proficiency in the estimation of media costs; proficiency in the execution of media buys at the local and national levels; and proficiency in the development of a media schedule. Prerequisite: MC 303 MC 366 Personal Selling (3) Fall: On Demand Spring: On Demand Summer: On Demand A practical course in professional selling that explores the role of personal selling in the marketing mix and the development of effective techniques for the modern sales executive. Same as MKTG 330. MC 373 Radio/Television Performance (3) Fall: On Demand Spring: On Demand Summer: On Demand Theory and practice in the professional areas of radio and television performance, from auditioning through final tapings. MC 375 Case Studies in Organizational Public Relations (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand The course is designed to achieve the following learning outcomes; an ability to analyze an organizational public relations case study and identify the salient issues; an ability to assess the relative value of the public relations strategies and tactics employed in a case study; an ability to synthesize relationship-building communication strategies and tactics as a means of theory construction; and to develop a repertoire of strategic organizational public relations responses to problems and/or opportunities that impact the relationship between an organization and its external and/or internal publics. Prerequisite: MC 304 MC 376 Crisis Communications (3) Fall: On Demand Spring: On Demand Summer: On Demand Crisis Communications is a course designed to develop an awareness and an understanding of the principles and communication processes used to respond to a crisis that threatens the image, credibility and/or viability of an organization. Topics include the typologies of a crisis, the stages of a crisis, the process of developing and administering a comprehensive crisis communications plan, the strategies and tactics of messaging and interacting with media and other key publics in a crisis setting, and an examination and critique of case histories of an organization's response to an actual crisis. MC 379 Ad Agency Practicum (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand Flypaper Creative Services is a student-run ad agency centered in FR 256. The agency interacts with actual clients, mostly nonprofits or start-up companies, and produces materials like posters, brochures, advertisements, television and radio commercials, web sites and/or marketing plans. Participants in the agency serve as account managers, copywriters or designers. Participation in this class is by special permit only, granted to those who demonstrate competence in the areas of design, copywriting and account management. Participants receive three credits per semester and are encouraged to participate for more than one semester. MC 381 Sports Information and the Media (3) Fall: On Demand Spring: On Demand Summer: On Demand The course deals with the role of the sports information director in creating sports publicity. Attention is concentrated on how the sports information director serves as an information broker between organizations, both professional and amateur, and media outlets. Prerequisite: MC 210 MC 382 Sports Promotions (3) Fall: On Demand Spring: On Demand Summer: On Demand The course focuses on the promotion of sports through marketing, sales and public relations in a seminar with experts in sports and related industries. Prerequisite: MC 303 OR MC 304 MC 383 Event Planning (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand The course is designed to achieve the following outcomes: understand the value of events and the role they play in the overall communication of ideas; understand effective meeting design; and learn tactical skills necessary to execute a strategic event. Must have Junior standing. Prerequisite: MC 304 MC 390 Special Topics (1-3) Fall: On Demand Spring: On Demand Summer: On Demand Study of a particular mass communication topic: exploration of emerging issues, methodologies, and new technologies related to the study or application of mass communications theory not addressed in other courses. May be repeated when topic varies. MC 400 Mass Media Ethics and Issues (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand Study of ethical considerations in advertising, journalism and public relations as well as major contemporary issues in the mass media. Emphasis will be placed upon research findings regarding mass media effects and the resultant alternatives for policymakers, practitioners and consumers. MC 401 Communications Law (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand Examination of the legal and constitutional history of freedom of speech and press, and a consideration of the legal philosophy bearing upon the communications media and a system of freedom of expression. Students will explore leading cases involving freedom of speech, press, assembly and petition. MC 402 Introduction to Publishing (3) Fall: On Demand Spring: On Demand Summer: On Demand The course familiarizes students with small press publishing and with the various facets of the writing, publication and marketing processes. It also includes an orientation to New Rivers Press, a working non-profit press located at MSUM, and a daylong field trip to various publishing facilities in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. MC 405 Writing for the Web (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand As a result of actively participating in the course, students should be able to: (1) Understand changing media consumption and production patterns as media increasingly converges on the Web, (2) gain and build proficiency in writing and crafting media messages designed specifically for Web presentation, (3) identify and use evolving mass communication methods not solely available to print or broadcast media, and (4) understand best writing practice for connecting with Web-based audiences. Prerequisite: MC 210 MC 309 MC 406 Feature Writing (3) Fall: All Years Spring: On Demand Summer: On Demand Feature Writing is designed to achieve the following outcomes: proficiency in writing feature stories for publication in a print or an online media outlet; develop an understanding of the process of writing features; competency in adapting to the variances required in a feature story when the medium of publication changes; and competency in pitching potential feature stories to editors, as well as the process of adapting feature stories to meet requisites imposed by paying clients. Prerequisite: MC 210 MC 310 OR MC 309 MC 407 Magazine Writing [ W ] (3) Fall: On Demand Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand Magazine Writing is designed to achieve the following outcomes: proficiency in writing appropriate materials for publication in a print or an online magazine; an understanding of the editorial and production processes of successfully publishing in print and online magazines; and competency in pitching a prospective story to publishers. Prerequisite: MC 210 MC 310 OR MC 309 MC 420 Digital Storytelling (3) Fall: All Years Spring: On Demand Advanced use of multimedia software applications for online journalism. Story, structure, design and interactivity are stressed. Legal and ethical issues for online publishing are also addressed. Prerequisite: MC 230 MC 305 MC 351 MC 423 Marketing Communications (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand A survey of the elements of marketing, advertising, public relations, sales promotion, and personal selling--with a strong emphasis on the strategic integration of these methods to achieve synergy in their application in the marketplace. Prerequisite: MKTG 310 MC 430 Documentary Photography (3) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand The class is designed to achieve the following outcomes: an ability to research, photograph, organize and present a group photographic project documenting some aspect of our region. Repeatable for credit. Prerequisite: MC 330 MC 440 Broadcast Documentary (3) Fall: All Years Spring: On Demand Summer: On Demand History and analysis of non-fiction documentation via radio, film and video. Each student will write a treatment and shooting script for a documentary and participate in the development of a television documentary program. MC 459 Advertising Campaign Research (3) Fall: All Years Spring: On Demand Summer: On Demand The course is designed to achieve the following learning outcomes: an ability to analyze an advertising campaign situation; an ability to identify salient issues relative to the market, consumer, media and product; an ability to design and construct a research plan; proficiency in conducting primary and secondary research using selective research methodologies drawn from content analysis, historical-critical analysis, survey, in-depth interview and focus groups. The AAF campaign topic is used and student membership in AAF is required. Prerequisite: MC 306 MC 460 Advertising Campaign Execution (3) Fall: On Demand Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand The course is designed to achieve the following learning outcomes: proficiency in the design and production of a strategic campaign document using the AAF topic that includes a situation analysis, a market plan, a media plan, a promotions plan, a public relations plan, an advertising plan, a budget, a campaign schedule and a plan of evaluation, oral presentation of the campaign at the annual AAF competition. Membership in AAF is required. Prerequisite: MC 459 MC 461 Ad Portfolio Development (3) Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand Students in this course will develop portfolio elements such as advertisements, logos, posters, brochures and banner ads. The course is for students who are interested in working in a creative department of an ad agency or in-house advertising department. Individual portfolio elements are sent out for evaluation to working professionals from the local area, the region and the nation. In order to be part of a student's portfolio, the piece must have been approved by at least one outside source. At the end of the semester, students will have at least 12 approved pieces for their portfolios and will have both a physical portfolio and an online portfolio. Prerequisite: MC 306 MC 462 Practicum in Publishing (3) Fall: On Demand Spring: On Demand Summer: On Demand This course is designed to familiarize students to the working functions of a small press literary publishing house through lectures, demonstrations, and supervised group activities such as participating on editorial book teams, writing teacher guides for the website for New Rivers Press books, developing marketing plans, reading tours, distributor marketing packets etc. All projects are presented in class to foster a broader class understanding of the overall activities of a small press. Prerequisite: ENGL 402 OR MC 402 MC 469 Internship (1-12) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: All Years Practical work at an approved media agency. Students must be Mass Communications majors and just have Junior standing. A maximum of 12 internship credits may be applied to the degree. MC 470 Public Relations Campaign Research (3) Fall: All Years Spring: On Demand Summer: On Demand The course is designed to achieve the following learning outcomes: an ability to construct a research plan; proficiency in conducting primary and secondary research using selective research methodologies drawn from content analysis, historical-critical analysis, survey, in-depth interview and focus groups. The PRSSA campaign topic is used and student membership in PRSSA is required. Prerequisite: MC 375 MC 471 Public Relations Campaign Execution (3) Fall: On Demand Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand The course is designed to achieve the following learning outcomes: proficiency to design and produce a strategic campaign document that includes a situation analysis, an analysis of the PR problem and/or opportunity, a statement of objectives, an articulation of programming executions and an identification of the mechanisms to be employed in the evaluation of a public relations campaign. Membership in PRSSA is required. Prerequisite: MC 470 MC 490 Special Topics (1-4) Fall: On Demand Spring: On Demand Summer: On Demand Study of a particular mass communication topic: exploration of emerging issues, methodologies, and new technologies related to the study or application of mass communications theory not addressed in other courses. May be repeated when topic varies. MC 492 Online Journalism Workshop (3) Fall: On Demand Spring: All Years Summer: On Demand A capstone seminar designed to provide students with an opportunity to produce an online publication. Repeatable for credit. Prerequisite: MC 420 MC 493 Topical Workshop (1-3) Fall: On Demand Spring: On Demand Summer: On Demand A course designed for workshops on current media topics. MC 496 Mass Communications Seminar (3) Fall: On Demand Spring: On Demand Summer: On Demand Study of various aspects of mass communications with subjects and instructors varying each semester. MC 497 Problems in Mass Communications (1-4) Fall: All Years Spring: All Years Summer: All Years Individual problems in areas of specific interest to the student. |