Communication, Culture, and Media – BA

Required Major Courses (24 units)

CCM offers its majors exciting core courses introducing them to key concepts, methods, and issues in the study of media, culture, and technology, critical theory, globalization, and human communication, as well as essential skills in research, writing, presentation, and digital media design and production. (Please note: these syllabi are samples; do not use them to as a basis to purchase course textbooks.)

• HU2810 Research and Writing in Communication Studies
• HU2820 Communication and Culture
• HU2830 Public Speaking & Multimedia
• HU2642 Intro Digital Media
• HU3800 Communication Theory
• HU3810 Technology and Cultural Theory
• HU3871 New Media Theory
• HU3882 Media Industries

 

Elective Courses (52 credits)

CCM students choose 52 credits to complement the core major requirements. Students can choose from any of the courses listed in the sample clusters as well as from the following additional courses:

• HU2110 – The Writer’s Craft
• HU2324 – Intro to Film
• HU2400 – Intro to US Diversity
• HU2633 – Fundamentals of Digital Imaging
• HU2645 – Graphic Design
• HU3261 – Communicating Across Cultures
• HU3325 – Film History and Theory
• HU3326 – World Cinema
• HU3401 – Gender and Culture
• HU3621 – Introduction to Journalism
• HU3630 – Publications Management
• HU3650 – Web Design
• HU3701 – Philosophy of Technology
• HU3820 – Interpersonal Communication
• HU 3830 - Creativity, Culture, and Change
• HU4510 - Color, Visuality, Culture
• HU 3840 - Organizational Communication
• HU3860 – Popular Culture
• HU3890 – Documentary
• HU3910 – Global Language Issues
• HU4625 – Risk Communication
• HU4642 – Advanced Topics in Media
• HU4694 – Grant Writing
• HU4695 – Digital Rhetoric
• HU4800 - Media & Globalization
• HU4850 – Cultural Studies
• HU4890 – Special Topics in Communication
• (up to 6 credits of the following courses)
• • HU4600 — Humanities Internship
  • ENT1960 – Enterprise Orientation (Cin/Optic)
  • ENT2950 – Enterprise Project Work I (Cin/Optic)
  • ENT2960 – Enterprise Project Work II (Cin/Optic)
  • ENT3950 – Enterprise Project Work III (Cin/Optic)
  • ENT4900 – Senior Enterprise Project Work I (for Non-Engineering Majors)
  • ENT4910 – Senior Enterprise Project Work II (Cin/Optic) (for Non-Engineering Majors)
• FA1662 – Intro to Audio Production
• FA2300 – 2D Design
• FA3300 – 3D Design
• FA3330 – Art History
• FA3340 – Art History II
• FA3730 – Sound Design
• FA3732 – Audio Creative Lab II

 

Disciplinary Knowledge of Communication, Culture, and Media:
Students acquire in-depth interdisciplinary knowledge of the fields of communication, cultural studies, and media studies, as well as opportunities to focus in areas of interest (film and media studies; theory and practice in digital media; communication and advocacy). This includes, for example:

• a history of communication from cave painting to the Internet
• familiarity with a broad range of communication theories within human interaction, language, representation, and media networks
• an understanding of communication, media, and technology as forces within contemporary contexts of capitalism, democracy, cultural practices, and professional and social life
• knowledge of communication, technology, and media’s relation to complex global processes
• communication-focused critical analyses of dominant ideologies of technology and their relation to culture
• exposure to the role of social responsibility and advocacy in communication practices
• recognition of communication’s function in promoting inclusive and ethical communication

Communication and Media Research Skills:
Students develop skills to independently conduct research on topics in communication and media within academic, professional, and everyday life contexts. They are able to:

• apply qualitative and humanistic methods, models, and tools to study a variety of communication forms and processes
• identify and evaluate appropriate sources according to academic standards
• develop ideas in structured and coherent formats
• draw theoretically informed judgments and conclusions in critique and problem solving
• create research reports that use information effectively and ethically
• reflect on theoretical, ethical, and relational issues and responsibilities in research

Critical Media Literacy and Creative Thinking:
Students learn to critically analyze media (industries, texts, and audiences), technology, and human interaction and develop an understanding of the creative process in order to produce diverse and adaptable solutions to problems in communication contexts. They learn to think critically and with contextual awareness about a variety of issues in interpersonal and organizational communication; information society; technology and culture; media representation and identity; media industries, democratic participation and social change; international communication and globalization. They demonstrate insight and thoughtful analysis about:

• the economic, social, political, and technological implications of cultural production in historical and contemporary contexts
• meaning-making in interpersonal, popular, professional, and public contexts
• regulatory issues concerning media conglomeration, the public interest, and participatory democracy
• the impacts of communication and media technology in shaping human relationships, identity, creative practices, political processes, and social life

Communication and Leadership Skills:
Students acquire professional communicative and leadership skills appropriate for a global and media-saturated world. They are skilled at effectively presenting their work in written and oral form. These skills include:

• delivering prepared and focused presentations for a variety of audiences, situations, and purpose
• applying knowledge of media technology to effectively communicate in written, oral, and digital contexts
• adapting communication strategies for effective leadership in diverse contexts and with cultural competency
• practicing collaborative teamwork

Media Production:
Students who choose this area of coursework develop practical media skills and experience in the areas of graphic design, digital photography, digital media, web design, and documentary production. They learn about:

• graphic design, logo-identity, and branding
• web design, development software, and programming languages
• digital photography and photographic manipulation
• how to develop a signature aesthetic through the study of past and current design practices and aesthetics
• creative visual solutions to everyday business and/or advocacy applications

18 Credits

The Communication Studies minor provides a focused study of a wide array of communication practices, theories, and contemporary and global issues. Students can choose from such areas of study as: media production and critique; relational and workplace communication; communication and technology studies; language and society; communication in global contexts; cultural studies. The minor emphasizes communication competencies and critical awareness of communication practices in multiple contexts. For more information, consult the official minor audit form, which lists required courses for this minor. 

• HU 2820 - Communication and Culture
• HU2830 – Public Speaking & Multimedia
• HU 3800 - Communication Theory

CCM students interested in film, television, media theory, and visual studies can focus their coursework to learn about textual analysis, interpretation and critique, media forms and production, media and identity, cultural studies, audience reception, the political economy of the media and cultural industries, and global communication systems and processes. Sample courses include but are not limited to:

• HU2324 – Intro to Film
• HU3325 – Film History and Theory
• HU3326 – Topics in World Cinema
• HU3505 – Forms, Genres, and Modes
• HU3810 – Technology and Cultural Theory
• HU3860 – Popular Culture
• HU3882 – Media Industries
• HU3890 – Documentary
• HU4510 – Color, Visuality, and Culture
• HU4642 – Advanced Topics: Documentary Workshop
• HU4880 – Media and Globalization
• HU4890 – Special Topics: Media Effects
• HU4890 – Special Topics: Media Violence
• FA1662 – Intro to Audio Production
• FA2800 – Script Analysis
• FA3730 – Sound Design
• FA3732 – Audio Creative Lab II

CCM students who want to develop design and production skills in digital media can focus their coursework to learn about web design, web development, social media, user-centered design, information architecture. Courses in this area also explore the theories and cultural contexts behind digital media practices and productions. Sample courses include but are not limited to:

• HU2632 – Fundamentals of Digital Photography
• HU2633 – Fundamentals of Digital Imaging
• HU2642 – Intro to Digital Media
• HU2645 – Graphic and Information Design
• HU3600 – Professional Development in the Humanities
• HU3630 – Publications and Information Management
• HU3650 – Introduction to Web Design
• HU3810 – Technology and Cultural Theory
• HU3832 – Advanced Digital Presentation
• HU3871 – New Media Theory
• HU3882 – Media Industries
• HU4050 – Advanced Media: Documentary Theory & Practice
• HU4510 – Color, Visuality, and Culture
• HU4642 – Advanced Topics: Documentary Workshop
• HU4642 – Advanced Topics: Web Design
• HU4695 – Digital Rhetorics
• FA2300 – 2D Design
• FA3300 – 3D Design
• FA3340 – Art History
• FA3300 – Art History II
• FA3330 – Art Appreciation
• FA3340 – Art History

CCM students who enjoy multi-modal writing in journalistic and critical styles can cluster coursework in order to develop a sound foundation in writing, commentary, and criticism of social, political, and cultural practices and processes. Students interested in this area concentrate on the power of communication, technology, creativity, and meaning-making in advancing cultural diversity and social justice. Sample courses include but are not limited to:

• HU2110 – The Writer’s Craft
• HU2633 – Fundamentals of Digital Imaging
• HU2645 – Graphic Design
• HU3130 – Rhetorical Theory and Criticism
• HU3151 – The Rhetoric of Everyday Texts
• HU3261 – Communicating Across Culture
• HU3400 – Topics in Diversity Studies
• HU3401 – Gender and Culture
• HU3514 – Workshop in Creative Nonfiction
• HU3600 – Professional Development in the Humanities
• HU3621 – Introduction to Journalism
• HU3629 – Grant Writing
• HU3630 – Publications Management
• HU3701 – Philosophy of Technology
• HU3860 – Popular Culture
• HU3800 – Communication Theory
• HU3850 – Cultural Studies
• HU3810 – Technology and Cultural Theory
• HU3840 – Organizational Communication
• HU3880 – Creativity, Culture, and Change
• HU3890 – Documentary
• HU4625 – Risk Communication
• HU4701 – Political Philosophy