UMHB Online Catalog
Department of Communication and Media Studies
The Department of Communication and Media Studies aims to educate students in all aspects of human communication. Our goal is to produce graduates who can think critically, reason morally, write and speak with precision and impact, and present performances in a variety of media to audiences of all types. We offer majors and minors in Communication and Mass Communication/Journalism (with concentrations in Public Relations and in Broadcasting) and majors in Speech Education and Performance Studies. Our Mass Communication degrees are complemented by lab work on the Bells, the UMHB student newspaper, and on the Bluebonnet, the university yearbook, as well as internships at a variety of local newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations. Our Communication and Speech Education degrees are supported by a growing and successful inter-collegiate forensics and speech competition team. Our Performance Studies program produces short films as well as one-person stage performances and internet webcasts.
Course Listing
COMM 1161
Beginning Yearbook Lab
Production of the yearbook is required, including designing pages, writing copy, and taking and printing photographs in a laboratory setting. Proficiency in photography required (or permission of instructor). Lab fee. Offered Fall and Spring.
COMM 1315
Introduction to Communication
A survey course designed to introduce the student to all types of communication study, including interpersonal, small group, public and mass communication environments. Emphasis is on understanding how communication sub-disciplines interrelate on a theoretical level. Offered Spring only.
COMM 1320
Public Speaking
A study of the principles of effective speaking. Practice in creating, organizing, and presenting informative, persuasive, and entertaining speeches. Offered Fall, Spring and Summer.
COMM 1340
Introduction to Speech Performance
Study and practice of oral performance of literature. Participants will use performance of literature to develop effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Offered Fall, Spring and Summer.
COMM 1350
Business Speech
Public speaking, group discussion, interviewing, sales presentations, and other oral communication skills designed for students majoring in business or pursuing a business-related career. Offered Fall, Spring and Summer.
COMM 2161
Intermediate Yearbook Lab
Production of the yearbook is required, including designing pages, writing copy, and taking and printing photographs in a laboratory setting. Ability to use Adobe PageMaker, proficiency in photography required (or permission of instructor). Lab fee.
Prerequisites: COMM 1161 or permission of instructor. Offered Fall and Spring.
COMM 2320
Introduction to the Mass Media
Survey of mass media effects and careers. Students develop a portfolio for future employment organized around employer expectations across all occupations. Study includes the history and use of books, magazines, newspapers, radio, movies, music, television, the web, advertising and public relations. Emphasis on media as social, political, economic, and cultural forces. Includes media theory, ethics, and trends toward commercialization, conglomeration, converging technologies, and globalization. Offered Fall and Spring.
COMM 2340
Storytelling
The oral interpretation of literature. Study of techniques of and practical experience in expressive reading aloud and in telling stories. Recommended for those certifying to teach and for those interested in working with youth. Offered Fall only.
COMM 2350
Advanced Public Speaking
Discussion of the history and the societal impact of oral communication. Creation and delivery of extended, challenging speeches.
Prerequisites: COMM 1320. Offered Spring only.
COMM 2360
Introduction to Journalism
Using news values to locate stories; interviewing sources; and locating, retrieving, assessing and verifying information, including computerized databases. Writing news, features, entertainment, sports, columns, editorials, and online. Basic proficiency in the use of a digital camera, the Associated Press stylebook, and layout, design, and editing software. Portfolio and laboratory section required. Lab fee.
COMM 3161
Advanced Yearbook Lab
COMM 3310
Persuasion
The study of the process of attitude change from a psychological and a rhetorical perspective. Students will read texts, study persuasive artifacts (including advertisements, films, novels, and newspaper articles), write papers, and give oral presentations to the class.
Prerequisites: COMM 1320. Offered Spring only.
COMM 3330
Photojournalism
This course studies the principles, theories, and language of photojournalism, emphasizing the use of images in mass media. Various photography elements are also explored.
Prerequisites: COMM 2360. Offered Fall only.
COMM 3350
Forensics and Competitive Speech
A synthesis of materials for participation in and competitive speech events. Survey of essentials of public speaking and interpretive individual events. Offered Spring only.
COMM 3351
Argumentation and Debate
An introduction to theory and practice of academic debate and the argumentation principles which underlie them. Offered Spring only.
Prerequisites: COMM 1320.
COMM 3355
Speech in the Secondary School
Study of methods of instruction in all aspects of speech communication, including public speaking, oral interpretation, and forensics competition (individual events and debate). Some attention given to the management of tournaments and festivals. Offered Fall and Spring.
COMM 3365
Advanced Journalism
Integrates interviewing, writing, and reporting skills to produce in-depth stories. Mastery of Associated Press stylebook required. Study includes investigative reporting, social science reporting, multiple-interview projects, and New Journalism. Requires digital camera skills as well as online and print design/production skills using layout, design, and editing software. Portfolio and laboratory required. Outstanding students may progress to a limited number of paid student publication staff positions. Lab fee.
Prerequisites: COMM 2360. Offered Fall and Spring.
COMM 3368
Broadcast Writing
Writing and editing news, conducting interviews, developing commercials, and writing fiction for broadcast.
COMM 3380
Voice and Diction
The study of voice science. Practical experience in vocal diction, delivery, and dialects. A course for those who desire to improve voice quality, production, and delivery. Offered Fall and Spring.
COMM 3390
Introduction to Film Studies
Survey of the history of film; the societal effects of film; the science and art of directing, screenwriting, and cinematography; and the development and future of the motion picture industry. Required lab in late afternoon or evening hours for viewing films under discussion.
Prerequisites: Offered Spring only. COMM 2320.
COMM 4150
Review for Certification Exam
This class prepares the student for taking the state certification exams for secondary teaching. Offered as necessary.
COMM 4190-4490
Independent Study
Possible topics might include Introduction to Advertising, Online Journalism, Video Editing, Popular Culture and the Mass Media, Theories of the Mass Media, etc. Offered Fall, Spring and Summer.
COMM 4195
Internship in Print Communication
Part-time employment experience in print journalism. Students will work with a mentor at a newspaper or magazine and learn writing, reporting, interviewing, time management, and research skills. Daily log of activities must be kept. Final paper and computer graphics presentation required upon completion. Offered Fall, Spring and Summer.
Prerequisites: COMM 3365 and senior standing (or permission of faculty advisor).
COMM 4195-4198
Internships
Three internships are required of all Mass Communication/Journalism majors. See separate course descriptions below. Internship Guidelines that state both workplace and academic expectations must be signed by the supervising professor, the supervising employer mentor, and the student. Written progress reports, a paper using journals from the profession, a portfolio, and a PowerPoint presentation to the department’s faculty and students summarizing what was learned and accomplished are required. Offered Fall, Spring and Summer.
Prerequisites: COMM 3365, a 3.0 grade-point average in the major, and permission of the supervising professor.
COMM 4196
Internship in Broadcasting
Part-time employment experience in broadcast journalism. Students will work with a mentor at a television or radio station and learn writing, reporting, camera operation, and research skills, as well as become familiar with editing, voice-overs, and other aspects of audio/video production. Daily log of activities must be kept. Final paper and computer graphics presentation required upon completion. Offered Fall, Spring and Summer.
COMM 4197
Internship in Public Relations/Advertising
Part-time employment experience in public relations or advertising. Students will work with a mentor in a PR or advertising capacity and learn writing, interviewing, time management, and research skills. Daily log of activities must be kept. Final paper and computer graphics presentation required upon completion. Offered Fall, Spring and Summer.
Prerequisites: COMM 4310 and senior standing (or permission of faculty advisor).
COMM 4198
Internship in Online Journalism
Part-time employment experience in online journalism. Students will work with a mentor at a newspaper or magazine and learn production skills related to online newspapers and magazines. Daily log of activities must be kept. Final paper and computer graphics presentation required upon completion. Offered Fall, Spring and Summer.
Prerequisites: COMM 3365 and senior standing (or permission of faculty advisor).
COMM 4310
Introduction to Public Relations
Examines public relations history, definition, principles, practices, code of ethics, career options and trends in business, government, non-profits and other entities. Research techniques will be discussed along with program planning, budgeting, evalutation, media relations, writing, special event planning. PR spexializations such as crisis communications and building and managing your organization’s image will also be discussed.
Prerequisites: COMM 2360.
COMM 4340
Law and Regulation of the Mass Media
Discussion of legal concepts in mass communication and journalism, including libel, obscenity, privacy, copyright, and telecommunications issues. Students will give in-class presentations on legal controversies and important court cases in the mass communication field. Offered Spring only.
COMM 4350
Mass Media and Society
A survey of controversial issues regarding the mass media’s effect on society, including violent and sexual content, government regulation, racial and ethnic stereotyping, media bias and the impact of new technologies. Offered Summer only.
Prerequisites: COMM 2320.
COMM 4360
Editing and Production
This course is designed to help writers distance themselves from the creative process and function as editors of their own work and work of others. The focus will be on meaning, accuracy, logic, language, sense, organization, style, and form appropriate to audience and medium. This class relies heavily on the AP Stylebook and the layout and design of items such as brochures, flyers, newsletters and other promotional items. Offered Spring only.
Prerequisites: COMM 2360.
COMM 4370
Distance Communication and Performance
The study of distance communication and performance in terms of modern computer-mediated technologies such as e-mail, e-discussion groups, websites, videostreaming, webcasting, video-conferencing, teleconferencing, satellite presentation and other topics at the discretion of the instructor. Offered Fall and Spring.
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