Mass Communication is the study of the applied communication processes of the mass media, and the environment in which they occur. Mass communication plays a diverse role in society. Radio, television, newspapers, magazines and media advertising inform, entertain, educate; they also provide access to the fine arts. Students have an opportunity to prepare for careers in one of these fields: Broadcasting; Media Advertising or Journalism.

Broadcasting-Electronic Media

The field of broadcasting is going through a period of rapid change. One of the trends is the combination of radio and television with computers and interactivity. Even the title of the field will shift from the present emphasis on broadcasting to electronic media.

There are expanding opportunities in the field beyond radio and television positions to non-broadcast media. These production areas include the activities of corporations, health care centers, and educational organizations in producing in-house videos, training materials, promotional videos, commercials, and web sites. Careers will encompass not only performance, but technical skills, including video, audio, text and graphics. Students will need to be thoroughly trained in the use of all new media.

Media Advertising

Advertising is a field that demands excellent oral and written communication skills. Obtaining a degree in advertising entails learning about the research involved with developing advertising strategies, how advertising campaigns are produced and how marketing plays into advertising, as well as becoming proficient in the use of computers.

Advertising will be one of the top 20 growth career areas for the 21st century. This growth appears to be based on the industry coming into contact with the role of advertising as it relates to new electronic, computer-based technologies, including the Internet, DVD and CD-ROM.

Journalism

Journalism involves researching and gathering information and communicating it to the public through written, spoken or visual means. Careers in journalism include: reporter, editor, newscaster, author, copy writer, script writer, sports writer, publisher, news services researcher, technical writer, acquisitions editor, media interviewer, photojournalist, journalism educator and talk show host.

The communication program enables students to study with faculty of superior professional and academic qualifications. In order to obtain this degree, students must take 39 hours in communication and must also earn an 18 hour "minor" in another field that is in some way related to communication or the student's career interests. Students also obtain a firm educational foundation in other fields such as the humanities (including languages), the behavioral sciences, the arts, mathematics, economics, and the physical and biological sciences.

Additionally, some concentrations in the department enable students to take course work in business administration. The goal is to provide preparation that will enhance a student's ability to succeed changing job markets and meet life's problems with communication in solutions.

A complete listing of course requirements is available in PDF.
(open PDF in free Adobe Reader to view or print course requirements)

Advertising Majors

Journalism Majors

Students must achieve a “C” or better in all prerequisites.

101.  Oral Communication For International Students. (1, 2, 3). Listening and speaking skills for students whose native language is not English.  Equivalent to CMCN 200.  Restr:  International students only. 

170.  Media and Society.  (3, 0, 3).  History, economic, legal and technological influences of mass media.  Professional practices within the media as well as advertising, public relations, and the international flow of communication.  Formerly CMCN 110.

200.  Principles of Human Communication. (3, 0, 3). Theories of effective communication; practical applications in interpersonal, small group, and public communication settings.  Prereq:  ENGL 101 or 115.

202.  Argumentation and Debate.  (2, 1, 3).  Case construction, refutation strategies, and techniques utilized in educational and community situations; provides experience in competitive events management.  Formerly CMCN 222.

203.  Honors Fundamentals.  (3, 0, 3).  Major issues and fields of study in communication; mastery of basic theories and skills.  Formerly CMCN 242.

210.  Interpersonal Communication.  (3, 0, 3).  Theories including personal perception, conflict resolution, networks, verbal and non-verbal communication; experience in individual and class role playing, Transactional Analysis, and other techniques.  Formerly CMCN 270.

212.  Introductory News writing. (3, 0, 3).  Journalistic writing for print and broadcast journalists and public relations writers.  Includes writing leads, AP style, inverted pyramid format, and media law and ethics.  Prereq:  ENGL 102 or 115 with a grade of “C” or better.  Keyboarding skills required.

215. Video Basics. (2, 3, 3). Visual storytelling, video composition and desktop editing with field production. Restr: For non-broadcast majors.

250.  Audio Production. (2, 2, 3). Theory and practice of digital audio production, including sound recording and editing techniques.  Also covers writing, producing, and announcing.

301.  Organizational Communication. (3, 0, 3).  Communication systems and flow in formal organizations; climate, leadership, work control systems, networks and performance enhancement and evaluation.  Formerly CMCN 381.

302.  Competitive Forensics.  (0, 6, 3).  May be repeated once for credit.  Development of speech communication skills through intercollegiate debate, individual events, and public speaking tournaments.  Restr:  Permission of instructor.  Formerly CMCN 322.

304.  Group Process and Problem-Solving. (2, 1, 3). Presents theories of small group dynamics; and provides experience in the use of creative and structured techniques of problem-solving in small groups and task groups.

305.  Honors Group Problem Solving. (3, 0, 3). Offers advanced theory and practice for UL honors program students concerning small group and task force processes; and examines creativity, problem-solving techniques, and planned change processes.

309.  Interview Theory and Technique. (3, 0, 3).  Interviews as communication transactions; conducting and synthesizing information from varying formats, such as journalistic interviews, personal interviews, and symposium interviews.  Formerly CMCN 370.

310.  Public Speaking. (3, 0, 3). Theory and practice for the preparation and delivery of speeches through a variety of formats. 

311.  Principles of Journalism. (3, 0, 3).  Explains the news process, including how print news activities are organized, and what elements constitute news; provides students with experience writing news formats such as speeches, press conference reports, interviews, features, and business reports; and improves proficiency with quotations, journalistic style, readability, and deadlines.  Prereq:  CMCN 212.

312.  Advanced Reporting. (3, 0, 3).  Advanced theory and practice in the use of background research and computer-assisted reporting, including on-line database searches; source identification and interviewing; verification; and legal and ethical factors.  Prereq:  CMCN 357 or 311.

313.  News Editing. (3, 0, 3).  Explains and provides practice in newspaper editing, including newsroom organization, news evaluation, the importance of style, copy-editing, headline-writing, typography, page design, picture-editing and cutline preparation.  Prereq:  CMCN 311.

320.  Principles of Public Relations. (3, 0, 3). Public relations for profit and not-for-profit organizations.  Development of the profession, ethical and legal responsibilities, career opportunities; relationships between public relations and management, including strategic planning.  Restr:  Freshmen excluded.

321.  Writing for Public Relations. (3, 0, 3).  Theory and practice writing in different formats for publics and mass media including publicity, advertising, speeches, position papers, scripts and storyboards, fundraising, brochures, business reports, and proposals.  Prereq:  “C” or better in CMCN 320 and either “B” or better in CMCN 212 or “C” in CMCN 212 and credit for ENGL 352.

330.  Principles of Advertising. (3, 0, 3).  Introduces the fields, structures and activities within advertising; deals with the economic needs for and impacts of advertising; discusses strategic planning, including formative research, Management by Objectives and evaluation research; and examines concepts, strategies and techniques employed in creative processes and media selection.

333.  Photojournalism. (2, 2, 3).  Introduction to photography for the media with emphasis on taking, developing and printing pictures.  Students purchase supplies.

335.  Media Graphics I. (3, 0, 3). Introduces desktop publishing software for page layout, illustration and photo editing.  Includes basic of typography, layout and design, as well as an introduction to printing processes. 

337.  Media Graphics II. (3, 0, 3).  Advanced visual communication techniques and practices based on media graphic design and visual communication theory.  Includes production of advanced portfolio projects, mass media, advertising, and public relations.  Prereq:  CMCN 333 or CMCN 335 or CMCN 338 or permission of instructor.

338.  Internet Communication. (3, 0, 3). Historical and interdisciplinary theoretical framework for computer-mediated communication; applications include HTML. 

340.  Advertising Creative Strategy I. (3, 0, 3).  Principles of creativity, strategy, copy writing and visualization in advertising; copy and script writing for print and electronic media; basic visualization for print media ads and electronic media storyboards.  Prereq:  CMCN 212, 330, or permission of the instructor.

341.  Advertising Creative Strategy II. (3, 0, 3).  Application, copy and script writing for print and electronic media; visualization and computer-based typography, design and layout for print media ads and electronic media storyboards; basic concepts of commercial production and direction.  Prereq:  CMCN 212, 330, 335, 340, or permission of the instructor.

342. Electronic Media Advertising. (3, 0, 3).  Preparation, planning, design, and production of radio, television and Internet advertisements, public service announcements and promotional materials.  Prereq:  CMCN 340, or permission of instructor.  Formerly CMCN 430(G).

350.  Principles of Electronic Media. (3, 0, 3).  Introduction to radio, TV, cable, and Internet media; explains the business and technology of those industries and their impact on society.  Formerly CMCN 351.

352.  Scriptwriting. (3, 0, 3). Introduces students to scriptwriting techniques for motion pictures, television, radio, and other electronic media.  Explores the unique capabilities of media, and stresses development of creativity while balancing aesthetic, economic, and production consideration.  Prereq:  ENGL 102 or 115.

354.  History of American Media. (3, 0, 3).  Chronological examination of political, social, economic and cultural roles of American media encompassing newspapers, magazines, book publishing, advertising, public relations, photojournalism, motion pictures, radio, television, and the Internet.

357.  Broadcast Newswriting. (3, 0, 3). Theory and practice of broadcast journalism with emphasis on reporting for radio.  Covers news values, narrative strategies, reporting and interviewing techniques in production of a news program.  Prereq:  CMCN 250.  Formerly CMCN 307. 

360.  Television Production. (2, 3, 3). Introduction to television studio production; focuses on camera, audio, lighting, control room operation, producing, and directing.

365.  Single-Camera Production. (3, 0, 3).  Advanced video and film style field production and digital editing for a variety of program formats including commercial, news, and entertainment.  Emphasizes reproduction planning, production, and post-production stages.  Prereq/coreq:  CMCN 360.

374.  Cultural History of Film. (3, 0, 3).  Evolution of the motion picture industry.  Examines the worldwide influences that led to the development of a modern cinematic language.

377.  Film and Television Aesthetics. (3, 0, 3). Aesthetic language and structure used in creating various visual media.  Covers major image elements--light, space, time-motion, and sound--and how they are used effectively in aural/visual mass communication. 

384.  Communication Theory.  (3, 0, 3).  Concepts including functions and effects of mass media on society, persuasion, influences on mass media content, and interpersonal/organizational communication.  Restr:  Upper division status.  Formerly CMCN 344.

385.  Communication Law and Ethics.  (3, 0, 3).  Historical and philosophical context of First Amendment freedoms of speech and the press; privacy laws, free press and fair trial, protection of news sources, obscenity laws, regulation of advertising and broadcasting, and the news media as a business.  Prereq:  Upper division status.  Fa.  Formerly CMCN 345.

To enroll in any 400-level course, students must be admitted to the Upper Division; to enroll in a 400(G)-level course in which there are graduate students, students must have junior or higher standing.

400(G).  Nonverbal Communication.  (3, 0, 3).  Study of nonverbal codes of communication, such as gesture, facial expression, voice, distance, touch, and appearance and how they are used to express emotion, form impressions, regulate interactions, maintain relationships, deceive, and influence.

401(G).  Intro to Training and Development. (3, 0, 3).  Overview of training profession in public and private sectors.  Restr:  computer proficiency needed.  Formerly: CMCN 491(G).

402(G).  Persuasion.  (3, 0, 3).  Examines classical and contemporary persuasion models to provide working knowledge of social influence theory.

406(G).  Communication Consultation. (3, 0, 3).  Capstone course, roles of communication consultant in organizations, problem analysis and needs assessments, design and implementation of problem solving strategies, training and evaluation skills.  Prereq:  CMCN 301 and 475 with grade of “C”.   Restr:  If prerequisite not met, permission of instructor is required.  Formerly:  CMCN 466(G).

411(G).  Environmental Journalism. (3, 0, 3).  How to cover such environmental issues as pollution, urban sprawl, population growth, endangered species, global climate change and other issues.  Emphasizes such wetlands issues as coastal erosion, flooding, siltation, introduced species, wildlife and fisheries.  Prereq:  CMCN 357 or 312.  Restr:  If prerequisite not met, permission of instructor is required.

412(G).  Feature Writing. (3, 0, 3).  Idea-development techniques, organization of material, point of view, manuscript mechanics, elaboration of a first draft, factors dictating revision and rewriting, and publication strategies.  Prereq:  ENGL 102 or 115, or CMCN 212.

413(G).  Public Affairs Reporting. (3, 0, 3).  Capstone course; theory and practice in field reporting of news relating to government, community organizations, and public affairs.  Portfolio validation required for completion.  Prereq:  CMCN 357 or 312.

414(G).  Media Management. (3, 0, 3). Media structure and management functions including research, sales and profitability, technical services, human resources, and public relations.

415(G). Multimedia Journalism. (2, 3, 3). Basics of online audio and video news presentation in a multimedia format including techniques for basic camera use; desktop editing with audio, video and graphics for web presentation; and scripting for online writings with exercises. Prereq: CMCN 212, 215, and 338.

423(G).  Public Relations Case Studies. (2, 0, 3). Preparation and analysis of public relations case studies in all sectors; analysis based on the Research, Objectives, Programming and Evaluation (ROPE) paradigm; problem-analysis and problem-solving skill development.  Prereq:  CMCN 320.

425(G).  Public Relations Campaign Management. (2, 2, 3).  Capstone course, team project of designing and developing a campaign for community client.  Management of primary research, objectives, programming, budgeting, evaluation, and stewardship.  Portfolio validation required for completion.  Prereq:  Grade of “C” in CMCN 320, 321, 423, 475.  If prerequisites not met, permission of instructor is required. 

435(G).  Advertising Media Planning. (3, 0, 3).  Develops analytical skills; applies advertising research to practical decision-making; evaluates various advertising media related to markets and creative strategies.  Prereq:  CMCN 330.  Restr:  If prerequisites are not met permission of instructor is required.

437(G).  Advertising Campaigns. (3, 0, 3).  Capstone course.  Community client projects, creative and managerial frameworks, copy platforms, positioning and media strategy, media mix, control, budgeting, evaluation, client interaction and presentations.  Portfolio validation required for completion.  Prereq:  CMCN 341, 342, and 435.  Restr:  If prerequisites not met, permission of instructor is required.

445(G).  Advertising Sales Strategies. (3, 0, 3).  Advertising functions, sales management, account service strategies and techniques, promotion and development in competitive media markets.  Prereq:  CMCN 330.  Restr:  If prerequisite not met, permission of instructor is required.  Formerly CMCN 485(G).

448(G).  Trends in 21st Century Communication Seminar. (3, 0, 3).  Content varies.  May be repeated for credit once.  Special topics seminar examining developing theoretical propositions, communication technology, and communicator-consumer interactivity in 21st century advertising, public relations, and institutional communication.  Restr:  permission of instructor.  Formerly:  CMCN 457(G).

455(G).  TV News Production. (2, 2, 3). Theory and practice in news gathering, writing, editing, producing, and performance for television news.  Prereq:  CMCN 357, 360, 365.  Pre or coreq:  CMCN 338.

460(G).  TV/Film Producing and Directing. (3, 0, 3). Individual and group projects in creating, pre-producing, producing, directing and editing video taped materials; advanced TV techniques.  Prereq:  CMCN 365.  Restr:  If prerequisite not met, permission of instructor is required.

465(G).  Documentary Filmmaking. (2, 2, 3). Essential creative, analytical and production skills.  Research,  documentation, writing,  and production for television and filmmaking.  Prereq:  CMCN 360, 455 or 460.

469(G).  Digital Media Convergence.  (3, 0, 3).  Capstone course.  Theoretical and practical instruction incorporating audio, video, and graphics in a multimedia environment.  Portfolio validation required for completion. Prereq:  CMCN 338, 360 365. 

470(G).  Intercultural Communication. (3, 0, 3). Survey of the theory and research on cultural variants in the communication process; deals with topics including language, culture and co-culture, cultural variations in perception and information processing, knowledge diffusion and planned social change.

475(G).  Communication Research. (3, 0, 3).  Methodologies, techniques, and research designs used in mass media, advertising, and public relations; management utilization of formative, informational, and evaluative research to support decision making.  Formerly:  CMCN 405(G).

477.  Special Topics in Communication. (3, 0, 3).  Content varies.  May be repeated once for credit.  Analysis and discussion of a selected topic in communication beyond present course offerings.  Students evaluated on the basis of research projects, written examinations and explicit learning objectives. 

478(G). Special Topics in Communication. (3, 0, 3). Content varies. May be repeated once for credit. Analysis and discussion of a selected topic in communication beyond present course offerings. Students evaluated on the basis of research projects, written examinations and explicit learning objectives.

487(G).  Global Media.  (3, 0, 3).  Major media outside the U.S.  Print and broadcast, news services, and diverse media operations.  Formerly:  CMCN 447(G).

488(G).  Computer-Mediated-Communication Issues. (3, 0, 3).  Contemporary issues, including identity, community, censorship, public-private spheres, intellectual property, and electronic commerce.  Formerly: CMCN 468(G).

490(G).  Internship. (1, 10-15, 3).  Students gain work experience in companies and organizations, learn how to develop a résumé, interview for employment and advance in their profession.

497-498.  Independent Study. (3 cr. ea.). Provides opportunities for independent study on topics not covered by existing coursework; requires written contract with a CMCN faculty member.  Prereq:  Junior standing.

Learn about potential career paths and prospective employers.

Department of Communication
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
P. O. Box 43650
Lafayette, LA 70504-3650

Office located in Burke-Hawthorne Hall, Room 107
Phone: (337) 482-6103
Fax: (337) 482-6104
Email: joann@louisiana.edu

Web Site: http://comm.louisiana.edu/