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Course DescriptionsREQUIRED CORE COURSES
MCom 210 - Media and Social issues, 3 units. Selected readings and group discussions of significant published works dealing with mass communications: history, biography and appraisals, law and ethics of the print and broadcast media, advertising and public relations, public opinion and propaganda.
MCom 220 - Theory of Mass Communications, 3 units. Overview of the theoretical literature and research on mass communications, particularly as it relates to media institutions and their audiences. Approaches include media sociology, process and effects as well as critical and cultural theory.
MCom 230 - Mass Communications Research, 3 units. Quantitative and qualitative research methods in mass communications: historical, case studies, survey, experimental and content analysis. Emphasis on statistical aspects of data analysis and interpretation. (Prerequisite: statistics.)
GRADUATE ELECTIVES
MCom 240 - Communications History and Qualitative Methods, 3 units. Application of historical method in mass communications research; historical evidence, sources, and biographical materials.
MCom 250 - International Communications, 3 units. Factors affecting the international flow of news; sociocultural-economic influences on national media systems and concepts of press freedom; comparative mass media systems; the technology of international communications and its implications in developing a world community.
MCom 270 - Communication Law & Policy 3 units. A case study approach to mass media law, including libel, privacy, regulation of telecommunications, and Internet law. Major development and landmark decisions, with emphasis on contemporary ethical and social issues.
MCom 280 - Media Management and Economics, 3 units. This course explores practice and theory of Media management as it applies to on-line media, newspapers, magazines, radio and television history, advertising, public relations agencies, corporate and marketing communications. It incorporates leadership, media economics and strategies.
MCom 296E - Integrated Strategic Communications, 3 units. Emphasis in marketing communications strategies. Includes communication activities such as promotion, advertising, and public relations that, if integrated, work effectively to accomplish business/organizational goals.
THESIS OR PROJECT
MCom 298 - Special Studies in Mass Communications, 1-6 units (6 for Plan B Projects). Independent studies in specific areas of mass communications.
MCom 299 - Master's Thesis, 6 units. Supervised thesis in the field of mass communications.
UPPER-DIVISION ELECTIVES
MCom 101 - Media Law and Ethics, 3 units. Principles and case studies of mass communications law and ethics.
Constitutional guarantees, libel, privacy, contempt, privilege, copyright, regulation of telecommunications, and Internet law.
MCom 102 - Mass Communications and Society, 3 units. Theories and contemporary issues in the mass media correlated with social, economic, political, and historical trends.
MCom 103 - History of American Media, 3 units. Development of mass communications in the United States from colonial times to the present. Social, economic, and political factors which shaped modern journalism and the impact of mass media on the society.
MCom 104 - Introduction to Mass Communications Research, 3 units. Introduction to social science research in mass communications; emphasis on public opinion research, including sampling, survey research design, measurement; also precision journalism, content analysis, and external data bases.
MCom 105 - Lifestyles and Mass Communications, 3 units. Relationships between mass media and America's racial and ethnic minorities, the gay community, and women. Historical overview of the mainstream media's role in the socialization process and development of alternative media in various minority communities.
MCom 106 - Global Mass Communications, 3 units. World press systems. Gathering and distribution of world news; obstacles to the free flow of information across national and cultural boundaries.
MCom 111 - Internship, 3 units. Field practice for advertising, journalism, and public relations majors near end of junior or beginning of senior year. All majors, summer sessions. CR/NC grading.
MCom 180 - Individual Studies, 1-3 units. Advanced independent work in advertising, journalism, or public relations for majors only. CR/NC grading. Repeatable for credit.
Adv 116 - Daily Newspaper Advertising Staff, 3 units. Class constitutes the advertising staff of the Spartan Daily. Dailylecture and production. Repeatable for credit. (Prerequisite: Adv. 121 or 125 or instructor consent.)
Adv 121 - Retail Advertising, 3 units. Principles and practices of retail advertising. Planning and budgeting; copy preparation and layout; evaluation and selection of media.
Adv 122 - Business-to-Business Communications, 3 units. An integrative approach to the role of industrial advertising and corporate PR in product marketing among businesses. Special attention given to high technology industries.
Adv 123- Radio-Television Advertising, 3 units. Radio and television as advertising media; writing radio commercial copy; preparation of television commercials and story boards.
Adv 124 - Advertising Copy Writing and Evaluation, 3 units. Theory and practice in writing and editing advertising copy; copy testing; research methods and techniques; and consideration of ethical problems.
Adv 125 - Advertising Layout and Production, 3 units. Technical aspects of advertising. Layout preparation, instruction in typographic design, reproduction mechanical, engraving and printing processes, types of paper, uses of color.
Adv 126 - Advertising Media, 3 units. Evaluation and selection of advertising media for a variety of market situations. Market analysis, media characteristics, sources of media data.
Adv 128 - Advertising Management, 3 units. Planning, preparation, and coordination of the complete campaign. Use of case studies.
Adv 129 - Advertising Campaigns, 3 units. Preparation of advertising campaigns for actual clients. Class functions as an advertising agency.
PR 130A - Media Publicity, 3 units. Writing and preparation of public relations materials for dissemination to the mass media. Techniques of using various media distribution channels to reach target audiences.
PR 130B - Writing for Public Relations, 3 units. Writing and production of materials for special events, newsletters, brochures, institutional advertising, and other controlled media.
PR 131 - Fund Raising and Development, 3 units. Fund raising campaign management, strategies and techniques. Consideration of case statements, direct mail, annual giving, deferred giving, record-keeping, tax laws, and campaign planning.
PR 190A - Principles of Public Relations, 3 units. Principles, history, and professional practice of public relations. The processes of influencing public opinion, basic steps of public relations programming, and effective communication concepts.
PR 190B - Case Studies in Public Relations, 3 units. Case studies and typical public relations problems in industry, labor, education, government, social welfare, and trade associations. Practical application of public relations theory and research.
PR 192- Seminar in Public Relations, 3 units. Discussion of current issues and public relations as a management function. Student research, preparation, and presentation of public relations program plans.
PR 193 - Event Planning and Production, 3 units. Practical classroom experience in the planning, management, and execution of events. Lab activity by arrangement.
Jour 132 - Information Gathering for Reporters, 3 units. Development of skills and strategies for finding information for news stories from libraries, computerized data bases, public records and reports, interviews, press conferences, and
meetings.
Jour 133 - News Editing and Design, 3 units. Editing for print media. Operation of newspaper copy and picture desks. Newsroom policies and problems, news values, headline writing, page make-up, picture editing, and production techniques.
Jour 134 - Advanced Reporting, 3 units. Investigative and public affairs reporting for the journalism major in the final semester. Use of local government, courts, and community sources in developing stories.
Jour 135 - Daily Newspaper Writing Staff, 1-3 units. Class constitutes the reporting and writing, editing, and
photojournalism staffs of the Spartan Daily. Repeatable for credit with instructor consent. Lecture and lab. (Check catalog for prerequisites.)
Jour 139 - Specialized Writing, 3 units. Skills in a writing specialization. Topics vary from semester to semester. Typical subjects include the newspaper feature article, critical reviews and editorials, newspaper columns.
Jour 142 - Photojournalism I, 3 units. Introduction to concepts of photojournalism for newspapers, magazines, and corporate publications. Application of journalistic principles to black-and-white photography. Lecture and lab.
Jour 144 - Picture Editing and Graphics, 3 units. Picture editing for newspapers, magazines, and other publications; graphics, layout, design, and ethical considerations of art and photography in print journalism.
Jour 145 - Photojournalism II, 3 units. Advanced study and practice in photojournalism, using color photography as a medium. Considers aesthetics, lighting, composition, story-telling techniques, and picture content, with emphasis on building professional skills. Lecture and lab.
Jour 153 - Magazine Article Writing, 3 units. A study of magazines and magazine markets; writing for the magazine markets.
Jour 155 - Magazine Editing and Production, 3 units. Producing the magazine, including editorial concepts, design, planning and management, and ethical standards. Class serves as editors and art directors for Access Magazine and other department publications. Lecture and activity. (Prerequisite: Jour 153 or instructor consent.)
Jour 163 - Radio News Reporting, 3 units. Production technologies and field practice and newsroom work in radio news reporting and editing, including recording of ambient and actuality sound for incorporation into radio news copy, Lecture and activity.
Jour 164 - Television News Reporting, 3 unit. Production technologies and field work in television news reporting, including shooting and editing varied videotaped news stories, and producing television newscasts. Lecture: 2 hours/activity: 2 hours.
Jour 165 - Daily Radio and Television News Staff, 1-3 units. Production of radio and television news programs for broadcast over University, public, and commercial outlets. Lecture and lab. Repeatable for credit with instructor consent. (Prerequisites in catalog)
San Jose State University
School of Journalism & Mass Communications
One Washington Square
San Jose, CA 95192-0055
USA
408/924-3240
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