Coming Attractions
Fall 2008 Communication Studies/Digital Media Arts
COM 302 – Small Group Communication
Dr. Charles Wigley
Creative problem solving is often used in small groups. Learn how small groups form, develop, and use creative processes. Investigate the question, "do groups have their own personalities?" Study group pressure, risk taking, conformity, cohesiveness, consensus and voting principles & processes.
COM 311 – Principles of Advertising
Dr. John Dahlberg
One way or another, we all deal with advertising. In some ways we’re all experts; we hum jingles, remember tag lines, buy based on information we get from ads, clip coupons and look for sales. We’ll look behind how all this stuff we see on TV, in magazines, on the radio, in newspapers, on bus cards or through the Internet comes to be. And why it comes to be.
COM 312 – Public Relations: Principles and Practices
Dr. Catherine Foster
The contemporary practice of public relations builds on principles developed by early practitioners. This course examines the nature of day-to-day tasks and responsibilities of public relations practitioners in a variety of professional settings, issues in the practice and public relation concepts and theories.
COM 318 – Organizational Communication
Dr. Charles Wigley
Organize! Communication is the lifeblood of modern organizations. Find out how and why by examining the organizational communication in modern day settings such as NASA! You will, probably, work for a company, would it be good to know how communication operates (or fails!) in business settings?
COM 323 – Social Effects of Media
Ms. MaryBeth Fortunato
The media continue to create much heat and occasional light. How does media fare affect our pictures of the world? We will examine the social aspects of media, review “tried and true” theories and research in media effects, as well as innovative new research initiatives that have emerged in the interim.
COM 337 – Constructive Uses of Humor
Dr. Melissa Wanzer
Do you think you are funny? Most of us do! In this course we examine individual differences in humor production, the effects and functions of humor, and ways humor is used in different contexts (e.g., instructional, healthcare, corporate, intimate). By the end of the semester you will know a great deal about how individuals use humor to relate to others and cope with stressful situations.
COM 350 – Health Communication
Dr. Melissa Wanzer
Do you plan on pursuing a career in the health care field or visiting a health care professional in the future? Learn more about health communication from both provider and patient perspectives.
COM 363 – Editing for Print
Mr. Bruce Andriatch
Interested in producing professional-looking publications? Develop the skills sets to edit newsletters, newspapers and magazines. We’ll cover copyediting, headline writing, page layout, using graphics and photography and the art of typography.
COM 369 – TV News Features
Mr. Adam Benigni
Learn how to create in-depth television news features. Design, conduct interviews, write, report, and host. Focus on special feature reports, multiple-part series, investigative stories, and television magazine-style formats. Take this opportunity to create on-air quality feature material for television. Students in this course will work with the Digital Video Production course to make these features come to life.
COM 375 – Film Classics
Dr. Geraldine Bard
ATTENTION: Movie buffs, future filmmakers, critics of all ages. See some of the world’s greatest films, from the ‘40’s into the 90’s. Hallmark directors, genres. Students who are interested in film professionally or personally will be invited to view sequences from the finest motion pictures made in the past sixty years. The course will encompass films and filmmakers from the 40’s through the 90’s.
COM 413 – Issues in Public Relations
Dr. Catherine Foster
This course centers on a specific type of public relations, developing an in-depth understanding of its nature and practice. This term, the course will examine risk communication – presenting health, safety or environmental risks to the public.
COM 414 – Issues in Advertising
Dr. John Dahlberg
What controversies are at the forefront of advertising in contemporary American society? What issues do advertising practitioners face on a daily basis? Explore these issues and more in this course. In this seminar, students explore a range of contemporary issues surrounding the advertising industry including consumerism, effects, ethics, racism and sexism, and trends.
DMA 316 – Intro to Special Effects
TBA
This course will explore the history and techniques used to create cinematic visual effects over the past century. The course will begin with early optical illusions, and then progress to cover miniatures/models, matte paintings, stop-motion and 3D animation, and physical effects. Course content will quickly evolve to the study of modern digital visual effects, including hands-on exercises and projects. Students will utilize the application Adobe After Effects and Cinema 4D.
DMA 342 – Intro to Web Design
Mr. Benjamin Dunkle
Learn the fundamentals of designing for the web. Use HTML, CSS and Flash to deploy information and media on the web.
DMA 353 – 3D Dynamics
TBA
3D Dynamics is an exploration into the application of the real-world principles of physics to the 3D virtual environment. Upon successful completion of this course students will have gained a comprehensive understanding of rigid/soft-body dynamic simulations, particle effects, and paint effects.
DMA 387 – Digital Video Production
Mr. Jamie O’Neil
This course offers a "hands-on" approach to field production ranging from scripting, camera operation, and lighting to non-linear editing and video-streaming. Students will learn the entire production process by developing various projects from concept through final completion.
DMA 395 – Digital Illustration
Mr. Michael Gelen
Don’t violate copyrighted imagery off the web---create your own! You don’t have to know how to draw to create stunning graphics. Use Adobe CS to learn approaches, techniques, and current trends of professional illustrators.