400

This course explores the ethics, laws and issues that affect the media and various communications professions. Students will discuss many repetitive elements of ethical conduct in organizations and learn about laws and violations in a multimedia world along with court decisions and sources of laws. Students learn about the interrelated principles of professional communications and the code of ethics, First Amendment and Freedom of Speech, intellectual property rights, copyright and ethical obligations. Students will examine Supreme Court decisions and copyright law for communications and explain theoretical issues that pertain to PR and social media in a global environment. Pre-requisite(s): LAE 101 and LAE 102 with a grade of "C" or better or equivalent as determined by advisor and COM 104 and COM 105 or permission of academic advisor. Co-requisite(s): None 5 QH

This course will encourage students to develop their potential to improve, enhance and transform their own public identities, businesses, communities and personal lives. Students will learn to be adaptive, innovative, problem-solvers and how to utilize creative skills for any career in communications. Students will be exposed to various building blocks of innovation, pattern breaking, teaming, risk-taking, cooperative communications and paradigm shifts. This curriculum will build skills that help students learn to adjust to meet the changing needs of the industry. Students will work in teams to solve a real-world problem through innovation and change management. Pre-requisite(s): LAE 101 and LAE 102 with a grade of "C" or better or equivalent as determined by advisor and COM 104 and COM 105 or permission of academic advisor. Co-requisite(s): None 5 QH

Students in this course will learn the functions of public relations (PR) in a globally networked society and define theoretical frameworks. Students will develop common skills for PR professionals including employee communication and ethical conduct in an organization. Students will evaluate how technology and social media impact how to build and sustain relationships within and beyond an organization. Students will research the current issues of risk assessment and crisis management. Students will construct a strategic roadmap for success by understanding common trends and work collaboratively to devise and critique a custom PR campaign that would be successful in today’s society. Pre-requisite(s): LAE 101 and LAE 102 with a grade of "C" or better or equivalent as determined by advisor and COM 104 and COM 105 or permission of academic advisor. Co-requisite(s): None 5 QH

Students will examine the lasting effects of advertising as a social and cultural force that defines consumerism in America. Students will research integrated marketing strategies and advertising theories and apply them to various product campaigns. Students will examine the different mediums for advertising and various campaigns from recent years. Market research strategies will be introduced and students will conduct basic market research and apply statistical analysis for recommendations. Students will experiment with creating a branding message and delivering it to a targeted audience while considering integrations across platforms. Students will discuss the ethical and legal aspects that apply to advertising. Pre-requisite(s): LAE 101 and LAE 102 with a grade of "C" or better or equivalent as determined by advisor and COM 104 and COM 105 or permission of academic advisor. Co-requisite(s): None 5 QH

This 6-hour, in-person workshop will identify the different components that go into developing an advertising campaign proposal for a real, modern-day client. The elements of an actual advertising pitch will be discussed and explained including defining target audience, advertising strategies, traditional and social media usage and message development. Elements of successful public speaking and persuasion skills will be utilized as students work in teams to construct competing campaigns that will be prepared, presented and then debated and evaluated. A pre-assignment and post- assignment will be included. Pre-requisite(s): None Co-requisite(s): None 1 QH

This 6-hour, in-person workshop allows students to sample a range of hands-on, exciting communications activities that are modeled from current Public Relations (PR) scenarios. Students will work in tight deadlines to produce press releases and other artifacts that will be critiqued onsite. Through case studies and real-time practitioner samples, students examine contemporary successful public relations programs and campaigns to discover how practitioners function and utilize ethical behaviors within a variety of organizations. In addition, PR in a variety of functions will be explored including community relations, political campaigns, crisis-management and media relations. A pre-assignment and post-assignment will be included. Pre-requisite(s): None Co-requisite(s): None 1 QH

This 6-hour, in-person workshop allows students to sample a range of hands-on communications activities. Exploration of current innovative models and methods that have proven successful in the communications industry will supply students with new skills to take into their professional lives. For example, students will utilize improvisation techniques to encourage workplace innovation and creativity as a team, as a leader and as an individual. Students build skills and confidence to lead an innovative process within an organizational context. Students will leave with a range of techniques and strategies to drive them to innovation. A pre-assignment and post-assignment will be included. Pre-requisite(s): None. Co-requisite(s): None 1 QH

This 6-hour, in-person workshop allows students to sample a range of hands-on communication activities to enhance knowledge, expertise and application. Students will quickly improve their basic writing, debate and speaking skills by competing against peers in a healthy mock debate. Students will collect and organize ideas, evaluate evidence, speak convincingly and identify logical connections that make an argument convincing. This course will guide students to approach issues from various points of view and to present with a coherent flow of information. Activities are designed to help students improve confidence when delivering a presentation. A pre-assignment and post-assignment will be included. Pre-requisite(s): None. Co-requisite(s): None. 1 QH

The course is designed to prepare students to make the transition from theory to practice, helping students to prepare portfolios and "look books" that can be used when interviewing and showcase all of the program accomplishments and skills mastered through tangible examples. Students will have to gather and analyze data from their course deliverables, document sources, present work accomplished and accolades earned in a single digital resource that will serve as an invaluable tool to advance any career. This is the culminating course of the B.A. Applied Communications program. Prerequisite(s): Completion of entire Bachelor of Arts in Applied Communications program: COM 104, COM 105,COM 106, COM 204, COM 205, COM 305, COM 306, COM 404, COM 405, COM 406, COM 407, COM 485A, COM 485B, COM 485C, COM 485C, and COM 485D. Co-requisite(s): None. 1 QH

This is the capstone course in the Applied Communications major, designed to prepare students to make the transition from classroom to professional practice. Students gather and analyze work from their prior courses, curate their best projects and deliverables into a tangible and consistent body of work that fully represents their best set of skills, and compile their achievements in a digital portfolio. Additionally, they integrate their portfolio with other career artifacts and career management strategies, such as résumé, online presence, professional social networking, professional memberships, and long-term career planning. Pre-requisite(s): COM 200, COM 204, COM 205, COM 206, COM 207, COM 306, COM 404, COM 405, COM 406, and MKT 300; or permission of Program Chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours