MCMP Comm Course Guide Recommendations Winter 2024
By: Olivia Yates, Communication and Media Student ‘24
Hi! I am a graduating senior who is majoring in Communication and Media and minoring in Law, Justice, and Social Change and I am going into Public Relations! Here are my class recommendations for the Winter 2024 semester to set Comm majors up for success.
COMM 409 - Seminar in Media Effects- Principles of Strategic Marketing Communications
“Connecting brands with potential customers in the marketplace is both art and science. Using real-world case studies, the course will look at how strong brands emerge, and present the language, processes, and strategies of effective marketing communications campaigns constructed on the RPIE (research, planning, implementation, evaluation) framework. With a focus on the promotional aspects of marketing, the portfolio of tools in earned and owned media (such as public relations, advertising, websites, email, SMS, social channels, direct mail, outdoor, and out-of-home) and how to integrate them for effective results will be understood. Students will practice writing strategic marketing communications plans that support business goals.”
This class has a great blend of creativity and strategy, teaching you how brands become successful and introducing you to the behind-the-scenes of drafting effective marketing campaigns. You'll learn about all the different sectors in the world of marketing, with a focus on different tools like public relations, advertising, social media, and more. This class is great if you are thinking about going into Marketing after college, as you learn how to create marketing plans that actually work for businesses.
COMM 290 - Public Speaking in the Digital Age
“This skills- and practice-based course, rooted in rhetorical theory, is designed to increase students' knowledge, understanding, and ability to use the fundamentals of oral communication for work and civic engagement. Students participate in lectures, discussions and activities, culminating in multiple presentations. Students leave this course as more confident, persuasive, and compelling speakers.”
In this course, you'll learn the skill of effective speaking in both your professional and personal life. Through engaging lectures, discussions, and hands-on activities, you'll become a more confident and persuasive speaker, a super important skill in society today!
COMM 334 - Race, Gender, Sexuality and U.S. Culture in Video Games
“Video games are one of the most widespread, profitable, and influential cultural forms in the U.S. Their rise to cultural dominance comes about at the same time as changing notions of race and gender in the U.S., such as liberal multiculturalism, the feminist movement, post-racialism, post-feminism, and a growing multiracial population. This course will avoid categorizing games as having positive or negative social effects, instead focusing on how race and racism have been expressed in a variety of types and styles of video games; how video games function as a window into U.S. race relations. We will look at the history, theory, and practice of video games in the U.S. with particular attention to racial stereotyping, user demographics, racial conflict in shared world and social games. The class will end with an examination of “serious” games and the potential of game texts, environments, and communities to help remediate social inequality.”
You should take this class because it will change the way you see video games! You'll learn how video games reflect and shape our culture, especially when it comes to race and gender, and you'll even get to play games as part of your homework. This is definitely a unique class that also fills your Race and Ethnicity requirement!
COMM 305 - Survey of Media Topics- Communication Strategies in the Fashion, Beauty, and Design
“This course is designed for communication majors who want to specialize in fashion and lifestyle PR. Students will explore the history of PR in fashion, understand how legacy media has shaped brands over decades, and how the digital revolution has transformed communication strategies. The course places a strong emphasis on practical skills, guiding students through the creation of PR campaigns, crisis management, and the art of storytelling tailored for fashion and design brands. Ethical considerations, the role of influencers, and the impact of global trends on local brands are also a part of the curriculum, ensuring students understand the complexities of the industry. Through a blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on projects, students will leave the course ready to step into the fast-paced world of fashion public relations, armed with the skills and insights needed to succeed.
Successful completion of this course will enable students to:
*Understand the history and evolution of public relations in the fashion, beauty,
and design industry
*Develop skills in creating PR campaigns, press release, and pitch letters for fashion and lifestyle brands
*Learn to manage and protect a brand’s image in times of crisis
*Understand the ethical considerations in Fashion PR (inclusivity and
sustainability)
*Explore the role of influencers and celebrities in the industry’s PR strategies
*Understand the role of events and fashion shows in PR strategies.
*Prepare for a career in PR through real-world case studies and projects.”
If you're a Comm major with a passion for fashion and lifestyle, this course is for you. It covers everything from the history of fashion PR to present-day digital strategies, highlighting practical skills like creating campaigns and how to handle PR situations. This class will teach you the basics of PR and prepare you to be ready to excel in the fashion and PR industries! Plus, Jimmy Draper teaches this course, who is someone you must take a class from before you graduate.
COMM 490 - Capstone Seminars in Media Topics - Media and Emotion
“This capstone course provides an in-depth look into the role of emotions in relation to media use and effects. Among other things, it considers emotion as a predictor of media selection, an outcome of media exposure, and a mediator of other psychological and behavioral outcomes resulting from media exposure. It examines emotions in various communicative contexts, including interpersonal, intergroup and cross-cultural communication, health, science and environmental communication, advertising, marketing, and new and emerging media (e.g., augmented and virtual reality). It includes discussions on different methodological approaches to the study of emotion and media, such as sentiment analysis, facial expression, neural basis, subjective feeling, and physiological arousal.
*Intended Audience: The capstone seminar is intended for Comm and Media majors in their final year of study.”
This senior capstone course explores how emotions drive media choices, are shaped by media exposure, and influence various psychological and behavioral outcomes. You will cover a variety of topics from advertising to augmented reality. This class is the perfect for fulfilling the senior seminar requirement for Communication and Media majors!
COMM 305 - Survey of Media Topics - Making of the Sports Documentary
“Investigates the theoretical, analytical and historical aspects of media. Topics presented may include introduction and overview of media industries, media and culture, media and identity, media effects and new, emerging media. Topics vary by section.”
This class sounds super interesting if you want to go into sports marketing! Though I haven’t taken it, it also seems like a great option for anyone looking to go into media production. All “Survey of Media Topics” are great classes that focus on the intersection of media and a specific topic!
