Course Catalog Communication (COMM)


COMM  102 - Introduction to Mass Communication
Survey of the interplay between American society and mass media, both print and broadcast; commercial, cultural, and political functions of the media; popular taste; the pseudo-environment of symbols; the concept of a free and responsible press.
No Prerequisites
Typically offered in Fall
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  133 - Fundamentals of Public Address
Examination of the principles of oral message preparation and presentation. Students will prepare and present actual public communications.
No Prerequisites
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  166 - Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication
Principles of personal interaction as a basis of communication: role of communication in interpersonal relationships; role of identity and self-concept in communication behavior; significance of information reception and evaluation in the effectiveness of communication.
No Prerequisites
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  200 - Communication Processes: An Introduction
Overview of a variety of communication processes: what they share, how they differ, their uses for communication, for art, and for individual growth, their effect on the social fabric; includes practical experience as well as a theoretical framework.
P: none; REC: one prior comm cse.
Typically offered in Fall
Writing Emphasis: Writing Emphasis
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  201 - Human Information Processing
The study of human cognition from an information processing perspective. Examines the processes of sensation, perception, memory, thinking, language, and problem solving with special attention to their roles in communications.
P: one prior communic cse; REC: Comm 200 or Psych 102.
Typically offered in Spring
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  203 - Newswriting
Reporting, interviewing, writing, and editing a variety of basic news stories for the mass media, with an emphasis on using correct news style. Accuracy, fairness, objectivity, and ethics are stressed.
P: Eng Comp 100 or 164 or ACT English score of 25 or higher; REC: Eng Comp 105.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Writing Emphasis: Writing Emphasis
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  253 - Practicum in Print Journalism I
Supervised hands-on experience as a staff member of the Fourth Estate, the campus newspaper. Provides opportunities for in-depth study of one facet of newspaper operation: newswriting, feature writing, photojournalism, layout, management or editing. Involves one-on-one work with professor and editor.
P: Eng Comp 100 or 164 or ACT English score of 25 or higher; REC: Comm 203 or 243 or Art 243.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Course is repeatable to 6 credits.
Writing Emphasis: Writing Emphasis
3 units min / 3 units max, Field Experience


COMM  280 - Business and Professional Communication Skills
Business and Professional Communication Skills provides the student with the information and practice to develop communication skills in business writing, employment interviewing, and business speaking to inform and persuade.
P: major/minor in Comm or Pre Comm.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Writing Emphasis: Writing Emphasis
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  282 - Principles of Public Relations/Corporate Communications
An overview of topics, issues, concepts, and practices of public relations/corporate communications; individual and group case work.
No Prerequisites
Typically offered in Fall
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  303 - Feature Writing
Researching, reporting, writing, interviewing, and editing several types of feature stories for both newspapers and magazines. There is also an emphasis on marketing newspaper and magazine features.
P: Comm 203 or Eng Comp 105.
Typically offered in Fall
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  305 - Elements of Electronic Media
Exploring the potentials of electronic media; analyzing communication strategies employed in these media; examining policy and practice in commercial and educational operations and the forces that control them.
P: Comm 102; REC: Comm 243.
Typically offered in Fall
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  306 - Radio Broadcasting
Commercial and non-commercial radio as a communications medium and as a business enterprise: radio audiences, audience ratings, programming and program formats, news, advertising, promotion and sales.
P: Comm 102.
Typically offered in Fall
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  307 - Television Production Techniques
Exploration of various uses of television as an informative, persuasive, and entertainment medium. Combines analysis of current uses of the medium in a professional context with practical experience in planning and producing a finished product for television.
P: Comm 305.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  308 - Information Technologies
A survey of information technologies, their operations and limitations, and how the major electronic technologies are changing and affecting both the workplace and the household.
P: Comm 200 or Info Sci 210.
Typically offered in Spring
Writing Emphasis: Writing Emphasis
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  309 - Electronic Media Advertising Campaigns
TV/media/Internet advertising as a unique form of communication. Through the use of both individual and team/group projects, the demands and rigors of the strategic creative process are revealed. Legal, ethical and Internet considerations are also discussed.
P: Comm 305.
Typically offered in Fall
Writing Emphasis: Writing Emphasis
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  322 - Modern Linguistics
Structure and system in language, with attention to modern English and including principles of structural, computational and generative-transformational linguistics.
P: none; REC: Hum Stud 160.
Typically offered in Fall
Writing Emphasis: Writing Emphasis
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  326 - Modern Semantics
A study of meaning of language: how meanings of words and phrases change, how meanings may be measured, the relations between logic and meaning, cultural differences in meaning due to language structure differences, and the effects of situation on meaning.
P: none; REC: Comn Art 160.
Typically offered in Spring Even
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  333 - Persuasion and Argumentation
Awareness, appreciation, understanding, and skill in contemporary forms and methods of oral persuasion and argumentation.
P: Comm 133; REC: Comm 200.
Typically offered in Spring
Writing Emphasis: Writing Emphasis
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  335 - Organizational Communication
Communication in the modern organization: communication variables in the context of organizational theory; development of a systems perspective regarding functions, structures and levels of communication in the organization; use of evaluation tools and training strategies.
P: Comm 133, 200 or 201; REC: Comm 166.
Typically offered in Fall
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  336 - Theories of the Interview
Basic theory behind conducting effective interviews. Specific types of interviews are discussed, such as selection, counseling, exit, discipline, appraisal, mass media and research interviews, from both the interviewer's and the interviewee's perspective.
P: Comm 133, 200 or 201; REC: Comm 166.
Typically offered in Fall
Writing Emphasis: Writing Emphasis
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  337 - Small Group Communication
The role communication plays in small group processes; focuses on development of the special communication skills needed in the small group setting.
P: Comm 133, 200 or 201; REC: Comm 166.
Typically offered in Fall
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  353 - Practicum in Print Journalism II
Supervised hands-on experience on the staff of the Fourth Estate, the campus newspaper. Provides opportunities for developing advanced skills in some facet of newspaper operation: reporting, feature writing, photojournalism, layout, editing, or management. Involves one-on-one work with professor and editor.
P: Comm 203, 303 or 253; REC: prior experience on 4th Estate.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Course is repeatable for credit.
Writing Emphasis: Writing Emphasis
3 units min / 3 units max, Field Experience


COMM  366 - Media Planning and Selling
This course examines the processes used in connecting advertisers' messages with their target audiences. Through lecture, readings, and two case studies, students prepare and present a comprehensive media plan and a media sales package. Traditional media channels (e.g., newspapers, TV) and new media (e.g. the Internet) are included.
P: Comm 309.
Typically offered in Spring
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  380 - Communication Law
Freedom of the press and broadcast media, problems of gag orders, contempt, privacy, censorship, libel and slander. Overview of copyright law, the Federal Communications Act and other laws affecting communication.
P: jr st; REC: 9 cr of comm cses.
Typically offered in Spring
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  382 - Public Relations Writing
This course provides students with professional preparation for the writing required for a public relations career. Students will learn strategies for creating, delivering, and evaluating several types of P.R. writing: news releases, PSAs, magazine queries, newsletters, backgrounders, among others.
P: Comm 282 AND (Comm 203 or Comm 253). REC: Comm 280, 303, 403.
Typically offered in Spring
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  403 - Advanced Reporting
Development of advanced-level reporting, interviewing, writing, and editing of investigative stories, in-depth articles, and copy for the new world of online journalism.
P: Comm 203; REC: Comm 306 or 353.
Typically offered in Spring
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  430 - Information, Media and Society
The role of information in society, including interpersonal, mass, and institutional sources, in producing a range of effects on individuals, groups, and society as a whole; critical examination of the changing information environment in legal, economic, political, and social contexts.
P: Comm 102 or 200 or Info Sci 210.
Typically offered in Spring
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  445 - Human Communication Theory
Integration of a variety of theories to promote sensitivity to and understanding of the complexity of human communications; examines the construction of various communication theories, contexts and processes in communication.
P: 9 cr in upper level communic cses.
Typically offered in Spring
Writing Emphasis: Writing Emphasis
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  478 - Honors in the Major
P: min 3.50 all cses req for major and min gpa 3.75 all UL cses req for major.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
3 units min / 3 units max, Independent Study


COMM  480 - Cases in Communications and Media Management
This course examines the strategies and practices of communications and media management in organizations. Students integrate their knowledge of oral, written, and visual communication to solve real-world cases.
P: Comm 282; and Comm 200 or 201; REC: Comm 280.
Typically offered in Spring
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  487 - Communication Audits
A communication audit identifies and analyzes strengths and weaknesses of communications within an organization. In conducting an audit, students gain practical experience as well as furthering their understanding of theoretical concepts in organizational communication.
P: Comm 335 or 336; REC: one cse in statistics.
Typically offered in Spring
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture


COMM  495 - Teaching Assistantship
Students will learn the successful components related to successful instruction, including theoretical perspectives, empirical research, and pedagogical techniques relating to teaching that they can apply to a broad array of future teaching and learning experiences.
P: Jr. st.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Course is repeatable to 6 credits.
3 units min / 3 units max, Independent Study


COMM  496 - Research Assistantship
Students will assist faculty in conducting research. Responsibilities may include literature reviews, library/Internet investigations, questionnaire development, recruitment and interview of research participants, data collection, management of research studies, data entry and analysis.
P: Jr. st. REC: Comm 200.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Course is repeatable to 12 credits.
1 units min / 6 units max, Independent Study


COMM  497 - Internship
Supervised practical experience in an organization or activity appropriate to a student's career and educational interests. Internships are supervised by faculty members and require periodic student/faculty meetings.
P: jr st.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Course is repeatable for credit.
1 units min / 12 units max, Field Experience


COMM  498 - Independent Study
Independent study is offered on an individual basis at the student's request and consists of a program of learning activities planned in consultation with a faculty member. A student wishing to study or conduct research in an area not represented in available scheduled courses should develop a preliminary proposal and seek the sponsorship of a faculty member. The student's advisor can direct him or her to instructors with appropriate interests. A written report or equivalent is required for evaluation, and a short title describing the program must be sent early inthe semester to the registrar for entry on the student's transcript.
P: fr or so st with cum gpa > or = 2.50; or jr or sr st with cum gpa > or = 2.00.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Course is repeatable for credit.
1 units min / 4 units max, Independent Study


COMM  525 - Applied Linguistics
Application of linguistic principles to specific problem areas such as language learning, reading, English as a second language and writing; special emphasis upon problems faced by teachers.
No Prerequisites
Typically offered in Spring Even
3 units min / 3 units max, Lecture