Course offerings vary by term. These courses are currently approved for online delivery.
Students completing their BS in Communications Media/Media Studies degree online will take all required courses, including COMM 493 Internship for nine credits, one COMM writing intensive course, two COMM production courses, four media studies courses, and two additional COMM controlled electives for a total of 44 COMM credits. COMM controlled electives may include additional production or media studies courses.
Requirements for completion of your IUP degree include additional Liberal Studies courses and electives to reach the minimum of 120 credits required to graduate with your bachelor's degree.
COMM 101
Introduction to Communications, Media, and Culture
Required COMM Course
Offers an overview of how media have evolved over time as well as their social impact. Explores the relationship between media and culture. Guides students to becoming media literate by critically analyzing the communications media industry. Additionally, students analyze theories relevant to media effects, ethics, and culture. Required for Communications Media majors.
COMM 150
Media Aesthetics
Required COMM Course
Examines the aesthetics of sight, sound, motion, and light on the preproduction, production, and postproduction of a variety of media formats. Emphasizes the use of media aesthetics to tell stories.
COMM 201
Internet and Multimedia
COMM Elective
Focuses on the evaluation of information and multimedia resources available on electronic networks when doing research in an area of one's choice. Information literacy course for students to gain a more in-depth understanding of the information resources available electronically and of how to utilize them more effectively in communicating. Students learn how to access and utilize these resources for two-way communications and support for decision making while incorporating selected elements in multimedia presentations of their own design.
COMM 205
Making Presentations with Media
Meets COMM Media Studies Requirement
An introduction to basic presentation skills, emphasizing the use of media to enhance presentations. Student's research, organize, and write presentations; design appropriate media; and deliver individual and team presentations.
COMM 207
Online Media Production
COMM Production Course
Examines the development and production of media for online applications such as video sharing and social media sites. Discusses management, as well as the fiscal, ethical, and technological issues surrounding online media. Requires students to complete a production project where they develop and produce audio, video and other digital media components for online distribution for a social media campaign.
COMM 230
Global Media and Communication
Meets COMM Media Studies Requirement and Liberal Studies Global and Citizenship Requirement
An overview of global media and international communications. Describes how international communication and development of global media have influenced relationships among nations and among people with different cultural backgrounds. Covers social, economic, and political situations before and after globalization. Also covers press theories, media ownership, access to media, and the impact of media communications on culture and people living in developed and developing countries.
COMM 240
Communications Graphics
COMM Production Course
An introduction to graphic design concepts and related processes and techniques for a variety of forms of presentation media including television, multimedia, and online communications for educational, corporate training, and communications specialists. Both two- and three-dimensional design and basic animation concepts are explored. Hands-on experiences using a variety of graphic software applications.
COMM 271
Beginning Photography
COMM Production Course
Introduces beginning photography students to photography as a tool for communications and as a lifelong leisure activity. Covers basic camera operation and other means of image acquisition, imaging processing and manipulation, printing, and photo finishing. Student is required to have a camera, preferably a single-lens reflex, with fully manual focusing and exposure capability.
COMM 302
Research in Communications Media
Meets COMM Writing Intensive Requirement
Provides knowledge of the resource materials and research strategies used in the communications media field. Students design basic data gathering instruments, collect data, and assimilate information from various sources and data into communication products, services, or documents.
COMM 303
Scriptwriting
Meets COMM Writing Intensive Requirement
An introduction to the design of media materials and script writing. Style and techniques of writing are analyzed. Classroom emphasis is on writing critiques, and revision of designs and scripts. Scripts for audio, multimedia presentations and motion picture and television productions will be written. This course may be offered under a different topic area such as: COMM 303 Script writing: Comedy or COMM 303 Script writing: Drama. May be repeated for a maximum of six credits under a different topic area.
COMM 315
Persuasive Media Writing
Meets COMM Writing Intensive Requirement
Introduces concepts of writing persuasive announcements, such as commercials and promotional messages, and other content for digital media. Analyzes persuasive media announcements, and incorporates writing with the use of evidence, emotion and reasoning to reach audiences. Aids in understanding how to create media messages that influence audience attitudes and behaviors.
COMM 325
Gender in Media
Meets COMM Media Studies Requirement
Provides an overview and analysis of gender portrayal and representation in media. Analyzes topics related to media effects theories that affect identity perception and relationships with others. Examines the historical development and cultural influence on gendered communication as well as the social contexts that influence gender perception.
COMM 345
Television Criticism
Meets COMM Media Studies Requirement
The medium of television offers a unique environment for development and delivery of information, entertainment, and news. Explores and analyzes television programming. Includes examination of genres ranging from situation comedy to drama to miniseries and made-for-TV movies.
COMM 374
Documentary Photography
COMM Production Course
Prepares students to photograph documentary content that explores aspects of historical significance, cultural value, social change, and social injustice. Explores the differences and similarities between documentary photography and purely aesthetic photography to capture images focused on social and historical value. Calls for students to critically analyze documentary images, projects, photographers, and the societal impact they have made to create new and influential images for modern and future utilization. Students are required to have access to a digital camera.
COMM 380
The History of African Americans in Film
Meets COMM Media Studies Requirement
Traces the historical development of the roles of African Americans in film. Examines the early stereotypic portrayals of this group, the origins of these stereotypes, and the ongoing changes, positive and negative, that have occurred regarding the media representation through research, film, and archetypal analysis, observation, and discussion. The new generation of African American filmmakers and their creative efforts to promote more realistic portrayals are analyzed.
COMM 401
Media Programming and Promotion
Meets COMM Media Studies Requirement
Explores the process and practice of promoting media outlets and the content on those outlets. Engages in an understanding of the purpose and methods of developing, launching, scheduling, and evaluating programming on traditional and newer media platforms. Using those concepts, aids in an understanding of promoting that media content by providing instruction in developing, writing, and executing promotional concepts to gain audiences for specific media outlets.
COMM 445
Cinematic Directors
Meets COMM Media Studies Requirement
Analyzes examples of classical cinematic techniques, identifies, through research and watching film. Classical techniques of cinema as well as the preproduction, production and postproduction required to successfully utilize them. Offers a context and critical tools for better understanding of the moving image in its different manifestations.
COMM 460
Disturbing Trends in Communication Technology
Examines recent and developing trends in media technology, with particular attention to technologies and applications that come at some social cost. Engages in the broader cultural debates surrounding technologies and their use. Draws on historically rooted ethical frameworks to assess how we can develop and implement new technologies that are responsible in their real-world applications.
COMM 470
Media Management and Sales
Explores two essential functions of contemporary media: management of media organizations and content, and providing economic viability to media outlets through the selling of commercial time and space to clients. Investigates the fundamental theories and principles of managing media organizations as well as sales strategies, including the use of audience ratings and analytics. Examines the process of researching media organizations and developing strategies to sell media content to clients.
COMM 480
Seminar in Communications Media
Meets COMM Media Studies Requirement
A seminar in selected communications issues or problems. Includes the reading and review of the current literature as appropriate to the major topic presented in the seminar.