2004-2005 Supplement
Updated information for this section was published in the catalog supplement printed September 2004.
Faculty Updates
Dr. Barbara Irwin has been elected chair for a three-year term, 2004-2007 term. She succeeds Dr. Barry Berlin, who will be on sabbatical in the fall of ’04.
Jamie O’Neil, a multimedia designer, has joined the Digital Media Arts program as an assistant professor. He succeeds Tom Wolfe.
Corrections
COM 488/498—Internship I and II Seminars can be taken for up to 12 credits.
The department participates in programs with Women’s Studies and Fine Arts.
Dual majors’ policy
Communication Studies students who are dual majors and successfully complete 3 or more credit hours in Independent Study or Internships (COM 488, COM 498 or COM 499) are required to complete 30 hours of in-class credit in order to complete the Communication Studies major (i.e., not 33 or 36 in-class hours) |
Full-Time Faculty: Barry Berlin, Chair, John S. Dahlberg, Benjamin J. Dunkle, Stanton H. Hudson, Jr., Barbara J. Irwin, Melissa B. Wanzer, Charles J. Wigley III, Thomas S. Wolfe
The Communication Studies major is grounded firmly in the liberal arts tradition. The Communication Studies curriculum reflects, therefore, an equal interest in what is communicated within and between cultures and in how communication takes place in intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, and mass contexts. The Department's curriculum addresses three major facets of the academic study of communication: theory, criticism, and production.
The program has two concurrent objectives: (1) To examine the dynamic nature of modern communication processes and technologies by emphasizing the theory, structure, function, value systems, and effects of society's communication institutions; and (2) To offer students a variety of opportunities to acquire professional knowledge and production competencies relevant to a diversity of careers in many communication-related fields.
Recognizing the need to prepare students for productive lives in a changing world, the Department aims at educating its graduates to welcome change. Instead of focusing on preparation for specialized jobs that exist today but may not be viable in the future, the Communication Studies faculty provides the foundation on which to build meaningful roles in the contemporary world.
Admission
Prospective Communication Studies majors must have a cumulative G.P.A. of at least 2.00, including a minimum grade of C- in all Communication courses taken to date. The performance of all majors is subject to review relative to their continuation in the program, using such criteria as academic record, demonstration of appropriate communication skills, co-curricular activity, interdisciplinary engagement, and community involvement. Communication Studies majors select an academic sequence within the Communication major. They need at least 36 hours of Communication courses (or 33 hours for dual majors) but are limited to a maximum of 54 hours in Communication.
A minimum overall average of 2.00 in all Communication coursework is required of all Communication Studies majors in order to be certified for graduation.
Communication Studies Curriculum:
| 1. ENG 101, ENG 102, PHI 101, RST 101 |
(4 courses) |
(12) |
| 2. Area Studies: Two courses from each of these areas: I, III, IV, V, VI, VII , VIII1 |
(14 courses) |
(42) |
| 3. Major course requirements: |
(12 courses) |
|
| COM 201 |
Oral Communication |
(3) |
| COM 202 |
Communication Theory |
(3) |
| COM 203 |
Writing for the Public Media |
(3) |
| COM 204 |
Interpersonal Communication |
(3) |
| COM 205 |
Mass Communication and Society |
(3) |
| COM 206 |
Introduction to Research Methods |
(3) |
|
Note: At least one of the above courses must be taken each semester until all six are completed with a minimum grade of C– in each.
Students receiving a grade of D or F must repeat the course. All six must be taken by all majors.
Communication electives: six courses.2 Communication electives must be chosen from within the three departmental sequences: |
| Advertising/Public Relations, Interpersonal /Organizational Communication, and Media Studies/Journalism |
(18) |
| 4. Electives |
(10 courses) |
(30) |
| Total |
(40 courses) |
(120) |
Recommended Schedule:
| Fall |
|
Spring |
|
| Freshman Year |
|
|
|
| ENG 101 |
3 |
ENG 102 |
3 |
| COM 201 or 202 or 203 or |
|
RST 101 |
3 |
| 204 or 205 or 206 |
3 |
COM 201 or 202 or 203 or |
|
| AS |
3 |
204 or 205 or 206 |
3 |
| AS |
3 |
AS |
3 |
| AS |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
Total |
15 |
| Sophomore Year |
|
|
|
| PHI 101 |
3 |
COM 201 or 202 or 203 or |
|
| COM 201 or 202 or 203 or |
|
204 or 205 or 206 |
3 |
| 204 or 205 or 206 |
3 |
Communication elective |
3 |
| AS |
3 |
AS |
3 |
| AS |
3 |
AS |
3 |
| AS |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
Total |
15 |
| Junior Year |
|
|
|
| COM 201 or 202 or 203 or |
|
COM 201 or 202 or 203 or |
|
| 204 or 205 or 206 |
3 |
204 or 205 or 206 |
3 |
| Communication elective |
3 |
Communication elective |
3 |
| Communication elective |
3 |
AS |
3 |
| AS |
3 |
AS |
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
Total |
15 |
| Senior Year |
|
|
|
| Communication elective |
3 |
Communication elective |
3 |
| AS |
3 |
AS |
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
Total |
15 |
| |
|
Total |
120 |
New Degree Program
The Communication Studies Department offers a new degree in Digital Media Arts.
Additional Information
The Communication Studies major at Canisius College is based on coursework tailored toward three main areas: Advertising/Public Relations, Interpersonal/ Organizational Communication, and Media Studies/Journalism. Four computer labs, digital video editing stations, an audio/music production studio and a digital television studio/control room are available for student use in Lyons Hall.
The Lyons Hall third-floor Mac Lab, in Lyons 312, features
24 Macintosh G4 towers with CD-RW drives, 40 GB hard drives, 533 MHz processors, 512 MBs of RAM, 250 MB zip drives and 15-inch liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors.
Software available on each computer includes Adobe Illustrator, Imageready, Pagemaker, Pagemill, Photoshop, iMovie, iTunes, Appleworks, Realplayer, Macromedia Director, Dreamweaver, Flash, Fireworks, Microsoft Office, Quark Express, Protools, After Effects and Cinema 4D.
A scanner and a laser printer flank the room. A touch-screen in an instructor's bunker controls a VCR, DVD player, an Elmo documentation presentation system, and ports for plug-and-go setups, including laptops and laserdisc players.
A web and imaging lab, in Lyons 325, provides two G4 Macs, an iMac with DVD burner, a Windows 98 Gateway, a scanner, three drawing tablets and a high-end color printer. Software is identical to the software in Lab 312.
A 14-station computer lab, located in Lyons 122, is set up for advanced digital courses.
A digital video and audio lab, in Lyons 413, houses two Media 100s for non-linear digital video editing, in addition to a Final Cut Pro/iDVD G4 video editing station for creating DVDs. It also features a sound recording studio with whisper room and five iMac DVs.
In the Media Center on the fourth floor of Lyons Hall, a 26' x 30" television studio features a hard cyclorama, lighting grid with dimmer control and three digital studio video cameras.
The control room has custom-built consoles to house the digital video switcher/ with special effects, a 16-channel audio mixing board, telepromtpter, DAT audio recorder, character generator, and an intercom/FB system. The digital video-mastering format is DVCAM with BetaCam SP playback capabilities, S-VHS and Hi-8 video transports. Four equipment racks will house the audio/video distribution, including patch panels and routers.
The studio also has the capability to send video to the campus cable RF video system. The college's Media center provides the TV studio's operational support.
Across from the TV studio, a screening room provides comfortable tiered seating, a video and DVD projector, as well as a professional sound system.
Students may sign out the following equipment from the Media Center: 4 Kodak 3400 Digital Still Cameras, 1 Nikon CoolPix Digital Camera, 12 Video Camcorders: 2 Canon ZR-10 Mini Digital DV Cams, 1 Panasonic DV600D, 3 Cannon GL-1, 1 Sony Digital 8 DCR-TR7000, 1 Sony Digital 8 DCR-TRV120, 1 VHS RCA CC4252, 1 VHS Panasonic AG-188, 1 Hi8 Sony CCD-TR7000, 1 Hi8 Sony CCD-VX3.
The Department has co-curricular arrangements with the student-operated radio station (WCCG), weekly student newspaper (The Griffin), campus Little Theatre, and the campus television club (CCTV). Student chapters of the American Advertising Federation, the Public Relations Student Society of America, and the Association for Women in Communications, Inc. provide networking opportunities with local and national professionals.
Internships awarding up to 12 credits total may be earned by qualified Communication Studies/dual majors at approved locations in Buffalo or other cities. The internships are individually arranged, require Department approval, and are available only to junior or senior candidates with a cumulative G.P.A. of at least 2.50 and a Communication average of at least 2.70. Internships are taken on a Pass/Fail basis.
Opportunity for independent study (three credits) is available for qualified upperclass students by arrangement with the Communication Studies chair and faculty supervisor.
The Department participates in a program with Women's Studies and regularly offers courses in this area.
Dual majors with Communication Studies are available with the permission and guidance of both chairs. Photography is limited to six credits in the major. Communication Studies dual major sequences allow several different choices; among those most frequently involved are political science, psychology, English, history, management/marketing, and modern languages.
Each Communication Studies and dual major is assigned a Department faculty adviser for the purpose of planning an individual program that will satisfy the Department's requirements and the student's personal goals. Course selections develop from communication major requirements, prerequisites, recommended sequences, and communication electives.
COURSES: 2003-2005
Note: Additional Communication courses will be offered each semester in both the day and evening. Students should consult the department.
COM 101 Communication in Contemporary Society 3
Survey of current issues of human communication with emphasis on concerns of young adults. Topics include communication problems such as communication in difficult situations (e.g., apologizing, embarrassment, assertiveness), divorce communication, and death and dying. (AS II)
COM 114 (FAS 114) Introduction to Still Photography 3
See FAS 114.
COM 201 Oral Communication 3
Study and practice of concepts, processes, and techniques of effective verbal communication in face-to-face, small group, and public-address contexts. Speeches required.
COM 202 Communication Theory 3
Fundamental forms of communication theory and perspectives are explored and related to particular lines of research in interpersonal, group, organizational, public, and mediated communication contexts.
COM 203 Writing for the Public Media 3
Intensive writing assignments employing message-design principles provide opportunities to prepare news, features, press releases, advertising copy, and opinion pieces.
COM 204 Interpersonal Communication 3
Study of theoretical and pragmatic aspects of interpersonal communication in numerous contexts to enhance self-awareness and effective self-expression.
COM 205 Mass Communication and Society 3
Survey of mass communication processes and the mass media in terms of development, structures, functions, effects, and interactive relationships with American society. (AS II)
COM 206 Introduction to Research Methods 3
The fundamentals of the scientific method, especially, the basics of research methods, designs, and hypothesis testing.
COM 211 (DMA 201) Intro to Digital Media 3
See DMA 201.
COM 212 (DMA 202) Intro to Digital Media 3
See DMA 202.
COM 213 (DMA 203) Intro to Digital Media 3
See DMA 203.
COM 215 (DMA 205) Intro to Digital Media 3
See DMA 205.
COM 216 (DMA 206) Intro to Digital Media 3
See DMA 206.
COM 226 (FAS 216) Intermediate Photography 3
See FAS 216.
COM 302 Small Group Communication 3
Communication variables in small groups involving task, maintenance, leadership, conformity, shift-to-risk, and development. Some emphasis on skill development.
2004-2005 only
COM 304 (WST 376) Family Communication 3
Survey of family communication research problems and theories of interaction. Special emphasis on relating to family members and applying course material to improve family communication.
COM 310 Print Journalism (Newswriting) 3
What news is, how it is gathered, interviewing. Writing with accuracy, clarity, objectivity, precision, and proper grammar.
COM 311 Principles of Advertising 3
The fundamentals of advertising, including history and development, advertising media, marketing, audiences, campaign objectives, budget, creativity, and agency functions.
COM 312 Public Relations: Principles and Practices 3
Historical antecedents and contemporary practice of public relations, the nature of day-to-day tasks and communication responsibilities of practitioners in a variety of professional settings, issues in the practice, and PR concepts and theories.
COM 315 Advertising and the Creative Process 3
Study of techniques, tools and theories for generating innovative concepts and ideas. Emphasize application to advertising context.
COM 316 Public Relations Campaigns 3
PR campaigns are concerted efforts of an organization to build socially responsible relationships by achieving research-based goals through the application of communication strategies and the measurement of outcomes. Students produce an actual campaign. Prerequisite: COM 312.
COM 318 Organizational Communication 3
Communication principles and practices, including communicator style variables, communication flow, and superior-subordinate communication.
COM 319 Training and Development 3
Methods for assessing training needs within organizations, and designing, implementing, and assessing outcomes of training. Emphasis on principles of effective training and development of training competencies. Students develop training skills.
Prerequisite: COM 201.
COM 320 Advertising Writing 3
Covers a variety of ways of developing advertising copy (copywriting) and creative concepts for persuasive advertising pieces. Includes workshop writing for print, television, and radio commercials.
COM 322 Feature/Magazine Writing 3
Profiles and other human-interest features developed for newspapers, magazines, broadcast. Free-lance writing introduced.
COM 325 Media Literacy 3
Focuses on theoretical approaches and practical skills enabling students to analyze, think critically, and produce effective mediated messages in a variety of formats and specialized content areas, including journalism, advertising, and political communication.
COM 326 (PSC 326, DMA 204) Digital Media Law/ Ethics 3
Introduces a wide range of legal issues surrounding cyberspace, including: the First Amendment, copyright, libel, hate speech, morality/obscenity, privacy, commercial speech and national security.
COM 327 (WST 375) Gender Differences in Human Communication 3
The reasons why men and women communicate differently and how gender influences communication in personal relationships and professional environments.
COM 328 Scriptwriting 3
Take an idea and develop it into a teleplay or screenplay. Explore characters, story, dialogue and the business of screenwriting. DMA elective.
COM 329 (GRN 329, ANT 329) Cross-Cultural Communication and Aging 3
See GRN 329.
COM 330 Public Relations Writing 3
Theoretical perspectives on various forms of public relations writing and the applications of each. Writing and editing skills. Students produce portfolio of PR writing tools and techniques. Prerequisite: COM 312.
COM 335 Communication and Personality 3
Individual differences in communication predispositions. Research related to communication traits, such as argumentativeness, apprehension, and disclosiveness.
Prerequisite: COM 204.
COM 336 Sports Journalism 3
First-hand exposure and instruction on writing for TV, print, and the Internet, radio anchoring and covering games. This course puts the student in front of the camera, computer, microphone and face-to-face with sports journalists and athletes.
COM 337 Constructive Uses of Humor 3
Examines classic and contemporary humor theory and research. Special emphasis on research that highlights the benefits of humor in education, medicine, and organizational contexts.
COM 338 (FAS 318) Advanced Photography 3
Focuses on studio lighting and still-life photography, medium and large format photography, black and white fine art printing, and digital and alternative photo processes.
Prerequisite: FAS 216/Com 226, or portfolio review with instructor, 35 mm camera with manual controls.
COM 342 Hypermedia (Web Design) 3
Introduction to the state of the art in on-line multimedia publishing. Students learn to publish well designed World Wide Web documents that communicate effectively, and work collaboratively in teams. DMA elective.
COM 352 Advanced Interpersonal Communication 3
Survey of the most current and significant interpersonal communication research. Students participate in a semester-long research project that explores a particular interpersonal theory or concept. Prerequisite: COM 204.
COM 353 Advertising Account/Media Strategy 3
Topics include client/business strategy, marketing communication planning, media plans, media mix (TV, print, Internet, etc.), and media sales. Most efficient, effective way to plan and place an ad campaign.
COM 361 Introduction to Television Production 3
Studio techniques, lighting, sound recording, set design, electronic graphics and editing, production of live and edited programs in studio. DMA elective.
COM 362 (DMA 310, FAM310) Digital Audio/Music Production 3
See DMA 310.
COM 366 Broadcast Journalism (News) 3
Learn what it is like to step inside the daily inner-workings of a TV newsroom. Act as the assignment editor, reporter, producer, director. Encounter ethical dilemmas. Learn the principles and skills to make resourceful broadcast decisions.
COM 368 Analysis of Daytime Television 3
The history, creation, production, industry trends, audience composition, content, and effects of programming unique to this genre, with particular emphasis placed on daytime serial drama.
COM 369 Television Features 3
Design, write and produce special feature reports, multiple-part series, investigative stories, and mini-documentaries. Emphasis on field reporting.
COM 374 (FAH 374) Film History 3
Development of film-making and cinema art from 1895 through World War II. Students will study, view, and discuss classic silent and sound pictures from Hollywood and abroad. DMA elective.
COM 375 (FAH 375) Film Classics 3
The development of cinema worldwide from World War II through the 1970s by studying, viewing, and discussing films representative of major directors, genres, and national cinema movements. DMA elective.
COM 381 Desktop Publishing 3
Designed for both Journalism and Advertising/ Public Relations concentrations, this Macintosh workshop helps develop skills using the most popular word processing, graphics, and page layout programs for electronic publishing. DMA elective.
COM 382 Issues in Broadcasting 3
Creativity, control, power, programming. What are the issues and controversies surrounding and shaping the broadcast industry today?
COM 387 (DMA 387) Digital Video Production 3
See DMA 387. Prerequisite: COM 361.
COM 394 Advanced Web Design 3
Students will address vector web animation, audio, video using Flash, Dreamweaver, Fireworks and their advanced functions and interactive capabilities. DMA elective.
Prerequisite: COM 342, or permission of Instructor.
COM 411 Advertising Campaigns 3
Designed as a capstone course for advertising students, this course examines current and classic advertising campaigns for technique and effectiveness. Students also have the chance to develop their own advertising campaigns. Prerequisite: COM 311 or permission of instructor.
COM 412 Public Relations Case Studies 3
Familiarization with a process for public relations problem-solving through analysis of a variety of PR case studies in major areas of the field, including employee relations, consumer relations, media relations, and crisis communications.
COM 414 Issues in Advertising 3
In this seminar, students explore a range of contemporary issues surrounding the advertising industry including consumerism, effects, ethics, racism and sexism, and trends.
Prerequisite: COM 311 or permission of instructor.
COM 418 Interviewing 3
Research on supportive/defensive communication, nonverbal communication, communication apprehension, and disclosure in professional, business, and bargaining/negotiation situations. Interviewing techniques.
COM 461 Advanced Television (Studio) Production 3
Advanced techniques in lighting, editing, set design, special effects and photography, production of short-form projects for professional distribution. DMA elective. Prerequisite: COM 361.
COM 488 Internship I Seminar 3-9
Student experientially learns communication functions in compatibly matched professional setting, locally or out-of-town. Faculty and on-site supervision. Seminar required. Pass/fail. May be repeated as COM 498; 12-credit limit for COM 488/498 combined. Prerequisite: Open to junior and senior majors with G.P.A. of at least 2.50 and Communication average of 2.70 and approved by Department faculty. Applications in Communication office.
COM 498 Internship II Seminar 3-9
Sequel to COM 488 for students taking a second internship. Each student is limited to a combined total of 12 credit hours for COM 488 and 498. Prerequisite: Same as for COM 488.
COM 499 Independent Study 3
Student conducts original project or self-designed course of study under the tutelage of Communication faculty member.
Prerequisite: Open to junior and senior majors in good standing with consent of instructor and chair.
1 Area II is automatically fulfilled because this program is in the Social Sciences.
2 Dual majors need only five courses as Communication electives (15 credit hours).