Course Descriptions:
Graduate
Studies
To view undergraduate courses in the SJMC, click here.
4xxx level courses: Primarily for undergraduate students in their fourth year of study. 4xxx courses can be counted for a Graduate School degree if the course is taught by a member of the graduate faculty or an individual appointed to Limited Teaching Status (LTS).
5xxx level courses: Primarily for graduate students; undergraduate students in their third or fourth year may enroll in such courses.
8xxx level courses: Courses for graduate students only.
JOUR 4171 - Capstone: Covering the Arts
(3.0 cr; Prereq-[3004W, 3101, [jour major or approved IDIM major or ICP major or BIS major]] or #; A-F or Aud, fall, spring)
Assignments may follow flow of Twin Cities arts/entertainment scene, including its controversies, or may trace the journey of a particular arts organization (e.g., Jungle Theater) through its season. Weekly writing assignments, readings, field trips, guest lectures from artists/arts journalists.
JOUR 4193 - Walter H Brovald and John Cameron Sim Community Newspaper Practicum
(3.0 cr; Prereq-3004W, [3101 or 3201], [jour major or approved IDIM or BIS or ICP]; A-F or Aud)
Field-based practicum at community newspaper in metropolitan area. Students work directly with editors, reporters, or advertising staff to produce news, features, or advertising material. Weekly meetings with instructor about newspaper assignments, readings, projects, or guest lectures.
JOUR 4259 - Cases in Strategic Planning and Thinking
(3.0 cr; Prereq-3004W, [3159 or 3201 or 3202], 3251, [jour major or approved IDIM major or ICP major or BIS major]; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, every year)
Strategic communication cases related to campaigns or issues in business, government, education, or community.
JOUR 4261 - Advertising: Media Strategy
(3.0 cr; Prereq-3004W, [3159 or 3201 or 3202], 3251, [jour major or approved IDIM major or ICP major or BIS major]; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, every year)
Strategic elements of media planning, media consumption patterns/trends. Context/role of media plan within marketing/advertising. Information resources, terminology, and tools used in media planning and negotiations.
JOUR 4263 - Strategic Communication Campaigns
(4.0 cr; Prereq-3004W, 3251, Mktg 3001, [3179 or 3241 or 3279 or 4159 or 4259 or 4261], [jour major or approved IDIM major or ICP major or BIS major]; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, summer, every year)
Developing campaign strategy/tactics. Emphasizes planning/decision-making skills. Students work in groups with varying specializations.
JOUR 4272 - Interactive Advertising
(3.0 cr; Prereq-Non-jour major or [jour major, course appr on prog plan] or [pre-jour, adviser approval]; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, summer, every year)
Interactive advertising models, how they differ from traditional ad models. Issues related to creating, measuring, pricing, and targeting interactive ads. Interactive ads in global, legal, and ethical contexts.
JOUR 4274 - Advertising in Society
(3.0 cr; Prereq-Jour major or jour minor or approved IDIM major or ICP major or BIS major; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, summer, every year)
Forms of regulation: self-regulation and governmental. Critique of advertising's role in society. Current issues (e.g., stereotyping, political advertising, advertising to children). Ethics in advertising.
JOUR 4302 - Electronic Photojournalism
(3.0 cr; Prereq-3004W, 3102, [jour major or approved IDIM major or ICP major or BIS major]; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, every year)
Practice of photojournalism in contemporary digital environment. Visual storytelling, digital processing, professional/ethical issues.
JOUR 4321 - Publication Graphics
(3.0 cr; Prereq-3004, 3321, [jour major or IDIM major or ICP major or BIS major]; A-F or Aud)
Design process applied to production of magazines, brochures, newsletters. Computer as tool to prepare electronic documents for printing.
JOUR 4451 - Capstone: Advanced Electronic News Writing and Reporting
(3.0 cr; Prereq-3004W, 3101, 3451, [jour major or approved IDIM major or ICP major or BIS major]; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, every year)
Researching, reporting, shooting, writing, and editing TV news packages. Lecture, lab.
JOUR 4452 - Capstone: Electronic Newscast Producing
(3.0 cr; Prereq-3004, 3101, 3451, [jour major or approved IDIM major or ICP major or BIS major]; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, every year)
Planning, writing, and producing live TV newscasts. Lecture, lab.
JOUR 4551 - New Media Culture
(3.0 cr; Prereq-Non-jour major or jour major with course appr on prog plan or pre-jour with adviser approval; A-F or Aud, spring, every year)
Impact of "new media" (all forms of internet communication, wireless media, and combinations of "old" and "new" media) on current/future cultures. How new media may change ways we communicate, distribute, and process information. Social impact.
JOUR 4721 - Mass Media and U.S. Society
(3.0 cr; Prereq-Non-jour major or jour major with course appr on prog plan or pre-jour with adviser approval; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, every year)
Economic, political, social determinants of character/content of mass communications in America. Effect, structure, functioning of mass media. Problems, prospects, criticism. Professionalism, technology, reform.
JOUR 4731H - Honors: Communications Problems and Issues
(1.0 cr; Prereq-[&4171 or &4193 or &4263 or &4451 or &4452 or &5131 or &5155 or &5174], jour major, honors; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, every year)
Honors discussion section in conjunction with capstone course.
JOUR 4801 - Global Communication (IP)
(3.0 cr; Prereq-Non-jour major or [jour major, course appr on prog plan] or [pre-jour, adviser approval]; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, every year)
Structures, processes, and consequences of global mass communication. Problems in free flow of information. Roles of international organizations. Mass communication in social, political, and economic development. Implications for conflict resolution.
JOUR 4990 - Special Topics in Mass Communication
(3.0 cr [max 9.0 cr]; Prereq-Jour major or approved IDIM major or ICP major or BIS major; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, every year)
Topics specified in Class Schedule.
JOUR 4990H - Honors: Special Topics in Mass Communication
(3.0 cr [max 6.0 cr]; Prereq-Honors, [jour major or approved IDIM major or ICP major or BIS major]; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, every year)
Topics specified in Class Schedule.
JOUR 4993H - Honors: Thesis
(1.0 - 3.0 cr [max 3.0 cr]; Prereq-Jour major, honors div regis; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, summer, every year)
JOUR 5004 - Advanced Information for Mass Communication
(3.0 cr; Prereq-Enrollment in M.A. in health journalism; A-F or Aud)
Messages, information, audiences, and storytelling. Search strategy and question analysis. Informal information sources. Libraries, electronic information, and data tools. Institutional sources. Interviews, polls, surveys, and evaluating information. Ethics and information for messages.
JOUR 5101 - Advanced News Writing and Reporting
(3.0 cr; Prereq-Enrollment in MA in Health Journalism or #; A-F or Aud, summer, every year)
Techniques of newspaper reporting and writing. Hands-on approach. What makes news. Basics of AP style. Thinking critically. Generating story ideas. Interviewing sources. Writing news stories and features. Exercises, discussion.
JOUR 5131 - Capstone: In-Depth Reporting
(3.0 cr; Prereq-[3004W, 3101, [3121 or 3173W or 3451], [jour major or approved IDIM major or ICP major or BIS major]] or grad student; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, every year)
Techniques/issues of special project stories. Explanatory, investigative, civic, and literary or ethnographic journalism. Topics (e.g., civil rights, governmental malfeasance, health care problems) typically involved in these stories.
JOUR 5155 - Capstone: Advanced Reporting Methods
(3.0 cr; Prereq-[3004W, 3101, [3121 or 3173W or 3451], [jour major or approved IDIM major or ICP major or BIS major]] or grad student; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, summer, every year)
Investigative techniques for mass media, computer-assisted reporting, use of records/documents, advanced interviewing, methods for adverse conditions, or field-based practicum.
JOUR 5174 - Capstone: Magazine Editing and Production
(4.0 cr; Prereq-[3004W, 3101, [3155 or 3173W or 3321 or 4302], [jour major or approved IDIM major or ICP major or BIS major]] or grad student; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, every year)
Writing, editing, illustration, design, layout, and photocomposition of print or Web magazine. Emphasizes reporting, telling substantive stories. Students work in groups with varying specializations.
JOUR 5251 - Psychology of Advertising
(3.0 cr; Prereq-jour maj or min or design comm or graphic pre-design or design comm or graph design or IDIM/ICP/BIS or #; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, summer, every year)
Psychological principles, research techniques, and applications in advertising/selling. Consumer attitudes/behavior. Psychological mechanisms upon which effectiveness of advertisements/commercials depends.
JOUR 5316 - Theories of Visual Communication
(3.0 cr; Prereq-[3006, [jour major or jour minor or approved IDIM major or approved ICP major or approved BIS major]] or grad student or #; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, every year)
Perspectives on study/analysis of visual communication. Message structure, systems of production, use of visual media. Contributions from sociology, anthropology, psychology, and history.
JOUR 5501 - Communication and Public Opinion
(3.0 cr; Prereq-Non-jour major or jour major with course appr on prog plan or prejour with adviser approval; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, summer, every year)
Theories of communication, persuasion, attitude change. Functions of interpersonal/mediated communication in diffusion of information and in opinion formation.
JOUR 5541 - Mass Communication and Public Health
(3.0 cr; =[00343]; Prereq-Jour major or jour minor or grad major or IDIM major or ICP major or BIS major; fall, spring, every year)
Role, function, effect of mass media on public health. Planned/unplanned effects. Review/analysis of literature on how theories, models, assumptions of mass communication research relate to public health.
JOUR 5552 - Law of Internet Communications
(3.0 cr; Prereq-Non-jour major or jour major with course appr on prog plan or [pre-jour with adviser approval]; A-F or Aud, fall, spring)
Whether/how/which traditional media laws/regulations apply to the Internet. Developing law of communication on Internet, global/ethical issues.
JOUR 5601W - History of Journalism (WI)
(3.0 cr; Prereq-Jour major or jour minor or approved IDIM major or ICP major or BIS major; IDL sections are open to non-majors; prereqs do not apply to IDL sections; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, summer, every year)
Development of American media, from beginnings in Europe to present day. Rise of film/radio/television/Internet. Relation of communications development to political, economic, social trends.
JOUR 5606W - Literary Aspects of Journalism (WI)
(3.0 cr; =[ENGW 5606]; Prereq-Jour major or jour minor or approved IDIM major or ICP major or BIS major; IDL sections are open to non-majors; prereqs do not apply to IDL sections; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, summer, every year)
Literary aspects of journalism as exemplified in, and influenced by, works of American/British writers, past/present. Lectures, discussions, weekly papers, critiques.
JOUR 5615 - History of the Documentary
(3.0 cr; Prereq-Non-jour major or jour major with course appr on prog plan or pre-jour with adviser approval; A-F or Aud, fall, spring)
Social history of photography, film, video. Informational, documentary, propaganda, and entertainment functions of visual communication. Rise/influence of visual media industries and of public-image making.
JOUR 5725 - Management of Media Organizations
(3.0 cr; Prereq-Non-jour major or jour major with course appr on prog plan or prejour with adviser approval; A-F or Aud, fall, every year)
Introduction to concepts/principles of media management. Strategic planning, leadership, organizational strategies, ethical/legal issues. Working in teams. Balance sheets, income statements. Motivating/promoting people.
JOUR 5771 - Media Ethics: Principles and Practice (C/PE)
(3.0 cr; Prereq-Non-jour major or [jour major, course appr on prog plan] or [pre-jour, adviser approval]; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, every year)
Connecting theoretical approaches to media ethics with real-life case studies. History of ethical standards in print, broadcast, photojournalism, public relations, and advertising. Making ethical judgments in complex situations.
JOUR 5777 - Contemporary Problems in Freedom of Speech and Press
(3.0 cr; Prereq-Jour major or jour minor or approved IDIM major or ICP major or BIS major; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, every year)
Legal/constitutional derivation of freedom of press/speech. Emphasizes case law, statutes, judicial theories. Leading cases in privacy torts, prior restraints, news gathering/dissemination. Access to courts/government, including via the Internet. Legal-research techniques.
JOUR 5825 - World Communication Systems
(3.0 cr; Prereq-Non-jour major or jour major with course appr on prog plan or prejour with adviser approval; A-F or Aud, fall, spring)
Mass media systems of world, described/analyzed regionally/nationally. Historical roots. Social, economic, cultural context. Contemporary conditions/prospects. Relevance of journalism/mass communication to international affairs.
JOUR 5990 - Special Topics in Mass Communication
(3.0 cr [max 9.0 cr]; Prereq-Jour major or approved IDIM major or ICP major or BIS major; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, summer, every year)
Topics specified in Class Schedule.
JOUR 5993 - Directed Study
(1.0 - 3.0 cr [max 6.0 cr]; Prereq-[Jour major or jour minor or approved IDIM major or ICP major or BIS major], GPA of at least 3.00, @, ?, #; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, summer, every year)
Directed study/projects.
JOUR 8001 - Studies in Mass Communication I
(3.0 cr; A-F or Aud, fall, every year)
Historical development of mass communication studies in social sciences, humanities, and legal areas; survey of research literature utilizing individualistic and structural approaches to mass communication.
JOUR 8002 - Studies in Mass Communication II
(3.0 cr; Prereq-8001; A-F or Aud, spring, every year)
Literature on history of the field, cultural and humanistic approaches to its study, and legal and ethical issues.
JOUR 8003 - The Changing Media Environment
(3.0 cr; Prereq-Journalism graduate students; A-F or Aud, fall, spring)
Nonprofessional skills course. Prepares entering graduate students to work in the changing media environment, emphasizing its political, social, economic, legal, ethical and technological implications nationally and globally; students produce scholarly research about changing media.
JOUR 8191 - Proseminar in Health Journalism
(4.0 cr; Prereq-Enrolled in MA in health journalism; A-F or Aud)
Skills/tools necessary to report on health/medical news for various media. Working in multiple media. Working with quantitative/technical information.
JOUR 8192 - Proseminar in Advanced Health Journalism
(4.0 cr; Prereq-Enrolled in MA in health journalism; A-F or Aud)
Skills/tools necessary to report on health/medical news for various media. Ethics, investigative skills. Reporting for specialized audiences. Second of two-course sequence.
JOUR 8193 - Directed Study: Health Journalism Capstone
(1.0 - 4.0 cr [max 4.0 cr]; Prereq-8191, 8195, health journalism MA prog; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, summer, every year)
Individual directed study, capstone course. Students prepare/present a final project that could be a publishable article on an important health topic, an original research paper on a dimension of health/communcations, or a multimedia production on a health issue/problem aimed at a particular audience.
JOUR 8195 - Information Technology and Health
(2.0 cr; Prereq-Grad student; enrollment in MA in health journalism preferred; A-F or Aud)
Trends in use/application of selected technologies.
JOUR 8200 - Communication Strategy Research in Rapidly Changing and Complex Media Environments
(3.0 cr; Prereq-Strat Comm MA grad major; A-F only, fall, spring, summer, every year)
Concepts, analytical techniques, and methods to analyze audiences, target markets, and social trends affecting communication strategy in context of complex and rapidly changing media environments.
JOUR 8201 - Factors Affecting Communication Strategy
(3.0 cr; Prereq-Strat Comm MA grad major; A-F only, fall, spring, summer, every year)
Literature/research concerning identification/analysis of the media and environmental, regulatory, competitive, and economic factors that affect the development of communication strategy.
JOUR 8202 - Generation and Selection of Communication Strategies
(3.0 cr; Prereq-Strat Comm MA grad major; A-F only, fall, spring, summer, every year)
Concepts/methods to support analytic/creative processes that lead to development of breakthrough communication strategies. Criteria for selecting among strategic alternatives.
JOUR 8203 - Integration of Communication Strategies Across Media
(3.0 cr; Prereq-8200, 8201, 8202, strat comm MA grad major; A-F only, fall, spring, summer, every year)
Concepts, analytical techniques, and methodologies used to plan communication strategies and implement communication campaigns utilizing a diverse range of media.
JOUR 8204 - Measuring the Effectiveness of Strategic Communication Campaigns
(3.0 cr; Prereq-8203, Strat Comm MA grad major; A-F only, fall, spring, summer, every year)
Examination, evaluation, and application of concepts/methods to evaluate effectiveness of strategic communication campaigns and their components.
JOUR 8205 - Cases in Strategic Communication
(3.0 cr; Prereq-8203, strat comm MA grad major; A-F only, fall, spring, summer, every year)
Case study analysis concerning development, implementation, and evaluation of communication strategies. Cases cover broad range of organizations, focus on such issues as brand introduction, brand reinforcement, revitalizations, crisis communication, issues management, and legal/ethical considerations.
JOUR 8206 - Directed Study: Development of an Integrated Strategic Communication Campaign
(3.0 cr [max 6.0 cr]; Prereq-8205, strat comm MA grad major; A-F only, fall, spring, summer, every year)
Project to develop a case study analysis concerning development, implementation, and evaluation of a strategic communication campaign.
JOUR 8317 - Seminar: Visual Communication Research
(3.0 cr; Prereq-5316, [[8001, 8002] or #]; A-F or Aud)
Theoretical approaches, analysis of research methods, development of research designs/projects.
JOUR 8333 - FTE: Master's
(1.0 cr; Prereq-Master's student, adviser and DGS consent; No Grade, fall, spring, summer, every year)
(No description)
JOUR 8442 - Seminar: Broadcast News
(3.0 cr; Prereq-4442 or #; A-F or Aud)
Major issues. Confrontations between federal government and network news departments. Historical studies.
JOUR 8444 - FTE: Doctoral
(1.0 cr; Prereq-Doctoral student, adviser and DGS consent; No Grade, fall, spring, summer, every year)
(No description)
JOUR 8501 - Seminar: The Process of Quantitative Mass Communication Research
(3.0 cr; Prereq-9 cr soc sci, EPsy 5260 or equiv or & EPsy 5260; A-F or Aud, fall, every year)
Logic of social sciences research. Relationship between theory and research, concept explication, measurement, instrumentation, and design issues.
JOUR 8502 - Seminar: Multi-method research in Mass Communication
(3.0 cr; Prereq-8501, [EPsy 5260 or equiv or & EPsy 5260]; A-F or Aud, spring, every year)
Quantitative/qualitative research principles/techniques applied to mass communication and kindred questions. Reliability, generalizability, and validity in their classic/contemporary senses. Survey methods, focus groups, interviews, other methods. Emphasizes "triangulation" of diverse methods.
JOUR 8513 - Seminar: Ethnographic Methods in Mass Communication Research
(3.0 cr; Prereq-[8001, 8002] or #; A-F or Aud)
Theoretical foundations in anthropology/sociology. Field projects.
JOUR 8514 - Seminar: Mass Communication Theory
(3.0 cr; Prereq-8001, 8002; A-F or Aud, fall, spring)
Research paradigms, concepts, and findings for developing a general theory of mass communication.
JOUR 8601 - Seminar: Methods in Mass Communication History Research
(3.0 cr; Prereq-5601, #; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, every year)
Critical analysis of research in journalism/communication history. Research designs/methods. Development of a research project.
JOUR 8602 - Seminar: History of Mass Communication
(3.0 cr; Prereq-5601; A-F or Aud, spring)
Research in history/development of U.S. mass media.
JOUR 8603 - Seminar: Theories and Models in Mass Communication History Research
(3.0 cr; Prereq-5601, #; A-F or Aud)
Literature on theory in historical research. Uses of theoretical models in historical explanations. Role of theory in historical research, debate about uses. Specific works in journalism/communication history in context of theoretical models. Development of major paper examining models/theories relevant to student's project.
JOUR 8620 - Seminar: Advertising Research
(3.0 cr; Prereq-5251 or #; A-F or Aud, fall, spring)
Advertising as persuasive communication. Current research/theory related to advertising decision-making process. Measurement issues in advertising and in market research.
JOUR 8651 - Seminar: Mass Media and Social Change
(3.0 cr; Prereq-8001 or 8002 or equiv; A-F or Aud, fall, spring)
Interplay between social theories and media studies. Pragmatism, structural-functionalism, Marxism, political economy, cultural studies, globalization.
JOUR 8662 - Seminar: Literary Aspects of Journalism
(3.0 cr; Prereq-5606; A-F or Aud)
Research in literary aspects of journalism exemplified in careers/works of American/British writers.
JOUR 8666 - Doctoral Pre-Thesis Credits
(1.0 - 18.0 cr [max 60.0 cr]; Prereq-Max 18 cr per semester or summer; doctoral student who has not passed prelim oral; No Grade, fall, spring, summer, every year)
(No description)
JOUR 8671 - Seminar: Communication Ethics--Public/Civic Journalism
(3.0 cr; A-F or Aud)
Historical underpinnings, philosophical debate, theoretical dynamics, legal concerns, ethical implications.
JOUR 8673 - Seminar: Media Management
(3.0 cr; Prereq-5725 recommended; A-F or Aud)
Management issues in media organizations. Relation to dynamics of organization structure, employees, markets, economics/finances.
JOUR 8675 - Seminar: Issues in Information Access and Communication
(3.0 cr; A-F or Aud, fall, spring)
Societal, industry, technological, and policy aspects/developments that affect information access, particularly through mass media.
JOUR 8678 - Seminar: Constitutional Law--Theories of Freedom of Expression
(3.0 cr; =[LAW 6059]; Prereq-5777 or #; A-F or Aud)
Problems of constitutional/tort law affecting the press. Underlying theories.
JOUR 8679 - Seminar: Research Methods in Media Ethics and Law
(3.0 cr; A-F or Aud, fall, spring)
Research at intersection of first amendment and media ethics.
JOUR 8681 - Seminar: Media and Globalization
(3.0 cr; Prereq-4801 or 5825 or #; A-F or Aud, fall, spring)
Main problems/currents. Concepts, research, policy relevant to global development. Issues of freedom/constraint, media technology, role of journalism in world affairs.
JOUR 8721 - Seminar: Communication Agencies as Social Institutions
(3.0 cr; Prereq-4721 or equiv or #; A-F or Aud)
Influence/effects of mass communication, internal dynamics of media organizations, criticism/modes of reform. Theoretical frameworks for analysis.
JOUR 8777 - Thesis Credits: Master's
(1.0 - 18.0 cr [max 50.0 cr]; Prereq-Max 18 cr per semester or summer; 10 cr total required (Plan A only); No Grade, fall, spring, summer, every year)
(No description)
JOUR 8801 - Seminar: Comparative Research in Mass Communication, a Cross-National Approach
(3.0 cr; Prereq-4801 or 5825; A-F or Aud, fall, spring)
Comparative research designs/strategies. Analysis of production, presentation, transmission, and consumption of mass media products/services (particularly news, entertainment, and information) across national borders. Theoretical concerns, empirical problems, policy. Ethical issues involving research on form/content of mass communication within/between countries.
JOUR 8888 - Thesis Credit: Doctoral
(1.0 - 24.0 cr [max 100.0 cr]; Prereq-Max 18 cr per semester or summer; 24 cr required; No Grade, fall, spring, summer, every year)
(No description)
JOUR 8990 - Special Problems in Mass Communication
(3.0 - 4.0 cr [max 12.0 cr]; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, summer)
Topics specified in Class Schedule.
JOUR 8993 - Directed Study
(1.0 - 6.0 cr [max 6.0 cr]; Prereq-Grad mass comm major or minor, #, ?; A-F or Aud, fall, spring, summer, every year)
Directed study.