Classes & Concentrations - [ Concentrations & Course Descriptions ]
- Arts and Sciences Core and Communication Curriculum
- Arts and Sciences Core Courses
- Arts and Sciences Core Courses Requirements
- Communication Course Requirements
- Double Concentrations
The Department's Five Concentrations
1. Broadcasting
The Broadcasting concentration prepares students for work in radio, television and multi-media. Graduates work in front of and behind the camera, from anchor person to camera technician. Broadcasting graduates also find jobs in extension service, university relations and in government and industry.
Coordinator: Karyn Brown | (662) 325-7952 | kbrown@comm.msstate.edu
MSU Television Center
2. Communication Studies
The career track for this area is aimed at positions in corporate and public communication offices. Students preparing for graduate school in communication and other areas often choose the Communication Studies curriculum.
Coordinator: Hank Flick | (662) 325-7847 | hflick@comm.msstate.edu
Communication Studies Core Courses
3. Journalism
In addition to occupying positions on newspapers, magazines, and Web publications in the state and around the country, graduates of the Journalism sequence obtain news-related jobs in universities, business, and industrial relations.
Coordinator: Frances McDavid | (662) 325-8935 | fmcdavid@comm.msstate.edu
4. Public Relations
The Public Relations sequence prepares students for a variety of professional positions. In addition to work with public relations and advertising agencies, graduates are employed by newspapers and broadcasting organizations, banks, churches, hospitals, insurance companies, charitable and political groups and state and federal governments.
Coordinator: Lora Defore | (662) 325-8934 | ldefore@comm.msstate.edu
5. Theatre
Students emphasizing in theatre find positions with regional and repertory companies, with community theatre both on stage and off stage, and other professional theatre positions in educational institutions, broadcasting, and film.
Coordinator: Wayne Durst | (662) 325-7954 | dur@ra.msstate.edu
Core Courses
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Fundamentals of Public Speaking
CO 1003. Fundamentals of Public Speaking. (3) Three hours lecture. The psychological processes and adjustments necessary in preparing, organizing, wording, and delivering effective speeches.
Introduction to Communication Theory
CO 1223. Introduction to Communication Theory. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 1003 or CO 2253). Three hours lecture. A comprehensive introduction to the bases of contemporary communication theory.
Introduction to the Mass Media
CO 1403. Introduction to the Mass Media. (3) Three hours lecture. How American newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and film industries are organized to collect and distribute news, editorial, and entertainment material.
Introduction to Theatre
CO 1503. Introduction to Theatre. (3) Three hours lecture. A comprehensive view of the theatre, including plays, playwrights, directing, acting, theatres, and technicians.
Broadcasting
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History of the Mass Media
CO 1423. History of the Mass Media. (3) Three hours lecture. The origin and development of newspapers, magazines, radio, television and film in America as a means to mass communications.
Introduction to News Writing and Reporting
CO 2413. Introduction to News Writing and Reporting. (3) (Prerequisites: CO1403, two semesters composition, and ability to type). Three hours lecture. Practice in writing simple news stories and the place of the reporter in the news-gathering organization.
Television Production
CO 2333. Television Production. (3) (Prerequisite: CO1403). Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Elementary principles, practices of television production in varied program formats.
Newswriting for the Electronic Media
CO 2313. Newswriting for the Electronic Media. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 2413). Practice in gathering, writing, and delivering news copy for telecommunications media. Examination of the role of the reporter, the news writer, and the newscaster.
OR Writing for Radio, Television and Film
CO 2343.Writing for Radio, Television and Film. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 1403). Three hours lecture. Study and practice of the principles and techniques of documentary and dramatic script writing.
Interviewing in Communication
CO 3833. Interviewing in Communication. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 1223). Three hours lecture. The communicative processes and adjustments necessary in preparing, organizing, wording, and participating in various types of interviews from both the interviewer and the interviewee perspectives.
Advanced Television Production
CO 3333. Advanced Television Production. (3) (Prerequisite:CO 2333). Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Advanced principles, techniques of producing and directing television programs.
Practicum in Television News
CO 4373/6373. Practicum in Television News. (3) (Prerequisites: CO 2333, 15 additional hours of CO courses and consent of the instructor). Two hours lecture, two hours laboratory. Theory and practice of producing a television news program.
Mass Media Law
CO 4313/6313. Mass Media Law. (3) (Prerequisite: Junior standing). Three hours lecture. Study and analysis of laws and regulations significantly affecting newspapers, magazines, motion pictures, and broadcasting in America.
Mass Media and Society
CO 4323/6323. Mass Media and Society. (3) (Prerequisite: Junior standing). Three hours lecture. The effects of mass communication on social and cultural institutions.
Upper Division Communication Elective (2)
Communications Studies
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Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication
CO 2253. Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication. (3) emphasis on two-person interactions to increase student's understanding and appreciation of communication principles.
Small Group Communication
CO 2213. Small Group Communication. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 1003 or junior standing). Three hours lecture. A study of the problems and techniques of participation in and leadership of small groups.
Nonverbal Communication
CO 4203/6203. Nonverbal Communication. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 1223 or PSY 1013). Three hours lecture. Study of nonverbal cues as they affect the communication interface in numerous contexts including social events, political campaigns, and dramatic productions.
Advanced Communication Theory
CO 4223/6223. Advanced Communication Theory. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 1223). Three hours lecture. Analysis of twentieth century communication theories. A study of mass, interpersonal, and intrapersonal communication processes and effects.
Elements of Persuasion
CO 4253/6253. Elements of Persuasion. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 1223). Three hours lecture. A study of the motivation of audiences and techniques of persuasive campaigns and communications.
Rhetorical Theory
CO 4243/6243. Rhetorical Theory. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 1223). Three hours lecture. Survey and criticism of the theories of public speaking found in the works of Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Quintilian, and St. Augustine.
Mass Media and Society
CO 4323/6323. Mass Media and Society. (3) (Prerequisite: Junior standing). Three hours lecture. The effects of mass communication on social and cultural institutions.
OR Political Communication
CO 4213/6213. Political Communication. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 1223). Three hours lecture. Analysis and evaluation of the verbal and non-verbal dimensions of political communication in the United States since 1609.
Upper Division Communication Elective (4)
Journalism
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History of the Mass Media
CO 1423. History of the Mass Media. (3) Three hours lecture. The origin and development of newspapers, magazines, radio, television and film in America as a means to mass communications.
Introduction to News Writing and Reporting
CO 2413. Introduction to News Writing and Reporting. (3) (Prerequisites: CO1403, two semesters composition, and ability to type). Three hours lecture. Practice in writing simple news stories and the place of the reporter in the news-gathering organization.
News Editing, Typography and Makeup
CO 2423. News Editing, Typography and Makeup. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 2413). Three hours lecture. Editing newspaper copy, writing headlines, and using type and pictures in makeup of newspaper pages.
Introduction to Photography as Communication
CO 3403. Introduction to Photography as Communication. (3) Three hours lecture. Study and practice of fundamentals of photography as a communicative art.
Feature Writing
CO 3423. Feature Writing. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 2413). Three hours lecture. Feature markets and practice in preparing and writing features for newspapers and magazines.
Mass Media Law
CO 4313/6313. Mass Media Law. (3) (Prerequisite: Junior standing). Three hours lecture. Study and analysis of laws and regulations significantly affecting newspapers, magazines, motion pictures, and broadcasting in America.
Advanced Newswriting and Reporting
CO 3443. Advanced NewsWriting and Reporting. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 2423). Three hours lecture. Practice in writing more complex news stories and the responsibilities of the reporter in news gathering and writing.
Journalism Ethics
CO 4403/6403. Journalism Ethics. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 2413). Three hours lecture. Examination of ethical problems in contemporary journalism.
Upper Division Communication Elective (3)
Public Relations
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Principles of Public Relations
CO 3803. Principles of Public Relations. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 1403 or consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. The role and origin of public relations in society, the identification and influence of publics, and applications of public relations principles to campaigns and organizations.
Introduction to News Writing and Reporting
CO 2413. Introduction to News Writing and Reporting. (3) (Prerequisites: CO1403, two semesters composition, and ability to type). Three hours lecture. Practice in writing simple news stories and the place of the reporter in the news-gathering organization.
Small Group Communication
CO 2213. Small Group Communication. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 1003 or junior standing). Three hours lecture. A study of the problems and techniques of participation in and leadership of small groups.
Television Production
CO 2333. Television Production. (3) (Prerequisite: CO1403). Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Elementary principles, practices of television production in varied program formats.
OR Introduction to Photography as Communication
CO 3403. Introduction to Photography as Communication. (3) Three hours lecture. Study and practice of fundamentals of photography as a communicative art.
Writing for Radio, Television and Film
CO 2343.Writing for Radio, Television and Film. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 1403). Three hours lecture. Study and practice of the principles and techniques of documentary and dramatic script writing.
OR Feature Writing
CO 3423. Feature Writing. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 2413). Three hours lecture. Feature markets and practice in preparing and writing features for newspapers and magazines.
OR Newswriting for the Electronic Media
CO 2313. Newswriting for the Electronic Media. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 2413). Practice in gathering, writing, and delivering news copy for telecommunications media. Examination of the role of the reporter, the news writer, and the newscaster.
Interviewing in Communication
CO 3833. Interviewing in Communication. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 1223). Three hours lecture. The communicative processes and adjustments necessary in preparing, organizing, wording, and participating in various types of interviews from both the interviewer and the interviewee perspectives.
Public Relations Case Problems
CO 3813. Public Relations Case Problems. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 3803). Three hours lecture. The analysis and valuation of specific real and hypothetical cases using public relations theory as a base.
Public Relations Copy and Layout
CO 3823. Public Relations Copy and Layout. (3) (Prerequisites: CO 2413 and CO 3803). Three hours lecture. Practice of written communication skills used in public relations. Includes experience in writing and producing news releases, brochures, speeches and other devices.
Public Relations in Organizations
CO 4813/6813. Public Relations in Organizations. (3) (Prerequisites: CO 3813, CO 4253/6253). Three hours lecture. Studies in using various communication techniques for image building and campaign development for profit and non-profit organizations.
Mass Media Law
CO 4313/6313. Mass Media Law. (3) (Prerequisite: Junior standing). Three hours lecture. Study and analysis of laws and regulations significantly affecting newspapers, magazines, motion pictures, and broadcasting in America.
OR Mass Media and Society
CO 4323/6323. Mass Media and Society. (3) (Prerequisite: Junior standing). Three hours lecture. The effects of mass communication on social and cultural institutions.
Elements of Persuasion
CO 4253/6253. Elements of Persuasion. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 1223). Three hours lecture. A study of the motivation of audiences and techniques of persuasive campaigns and communications.
Theatre
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Voice and Articulation
CO 2013. Voice and Articulation. (3) Three hours lecture. A study of the phonetic and acoustic features of speech.
Introduction to Oral Interpretation
CO 2613. Introduction to Oral Interpretation. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 1503). Three hours lecture. Basic principles of comprehending and communicating literature to a listening audience.
Acting
CO 2503. Acting. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 1503). Three hours lecture. Principles of character interpretation. Classroom projects involving presentation of scenes from plays.
Stagecraft and Lighting
CO 2524. Stagecraft and Lighting. (4) (Prerequisite: CO 1503). Three hours lecture. Forty hours work on a major production. Theory and practice of set construction, scene design and stage lighting and its application to theatre production.
History of the Theatre
CO 4504/6504. History of the Theatre. (4) (Prerequisite: Junior standing). Four hours lecture. A survey of the theatre with emphasis on the physical structure, production problems and theatrical personalities.
Makeup and Costuming
CO 2544. Makeup and Costuming. (4) (Prerequisite: CO 1503). Three hours lecture. Forty hours work on a major production. Theory and practice of theatrical makeup and costumes for the theatre production.
Directing
CO 4524/6524. Directing. (4) (Prerequisite: CO 2524 and Junior or Senior standing). Three hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Evaluation of dramatic styles and analysis of stage composition. Supervised hours in actual directing experience.
Theatre Management
CO 4573/6573. Theatre Management. (3) (Prerequisite: Junior standing). Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Business organization and management for the educational (secondary and university), community and professional theatre, including budgeting, publicity, public relations and box office principles.
Advanced Acting
CO 4533/6533. Advanced Acting. (3) (Prerequisite: CO 2503). Three hours lecture. Intensive study of the theories and techniques of acting in the various dramatic styles.
Playwriting
CO 4583/6583. Playwriting. (3) (Prerequisite: Completion of Freshman composition and CO 1503). Three hours lecture. Practice in the fundamentals of dramatic composition. Reading, discussion, and analysis of written work.
Theatre Practicum #2
CO 1523. Theatre Practicum #2. (3) Nine hours laboratory. Preparation for and participation in department production activities.
