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  School of Communication and Information 2015–2017 Undergraduate Programs Undergraduate Courses Journalism and Media Studies Courses  

Journalism and Media Studies Courses

04:567:200 Writing for Media (3) Fundamentals of writing across media platforms.  By the end of the course, students will be able to write in many journalistic and media-based styles using basic and accepted techniques.  This course will serve as a foundation for understanding and using different styles of writing, research, and content development.
Prerequisite: 04:189:102.
04:567:205 Digital Newswriting and Reporting (3) Fundamentals of gathering information and journalistic writing. By the end of the course, students will learn basic journalistic newswriting and reporting techniques and concepts, including writing in journalistic style, fact-gathering, conducting observation, freedom of information, and professional ethics. Prerequisites: 04:189:102; 04:567:200 or 324.
04:567:210 Media Management and Strategy (3) Focuses on the key economic and strategic concepts, challenges, and opportunities that are central to the management of contemporary media organizations.  The course is grounded in the growing academic and professional literatures examining the unique nature of media products and services and the unique and rapidly changing marketplace dynamics in which media organizations operate. Given the ongoing convergence of media industries and technologies, this course focuses on concepts, analytical tools, and issues that have relevance across the full range of media industry sectors.
Prerequisites: 04:567:200; journalism and media studies major.
04:567:274 Consumer Media Culture (3) Provides a critical understanding of advertising's role in modern society. Examines the history of advertising, the commercial and social aspects of the messages conveyed by ads, and the advertising industry's influence on social relations and institutions. (Conceptual course)
04:567:275 Social Media and Participatory Culture (3) This course takes a critical approach to understanding new media environments, especially with regard to what has been called at various moments "social media," "participatory culture," "digital media," "convergence," "Web 2.0," "social web," and "interactive media," among other things. Rather than focus on these emerging media practices as purely technological phenomena, the course situates them in broader social, political, and historical contexts. We will examine key dimensions of cultural life that make up our selves, including friendship, intimacy, labor, celebrity, power, gender, control, race, sexuality, activism, and privacy.  (Conceptual course)
04:567:276 Musical Cultures and Industries (3) This course looks at the invisible power of music over lives, exploring how music can influence how people feel, what they think, and how they think. Exploration of music's social power, delving into its rich history at the center of politics, religion, and a multibillion dollar global industry. Consideration of music's relationship to technology and how changes in the media landscape are altering the role music plays in human life.  (Conceptual course)
04:567:278 News Media and Government in America (3) Examines the relationship between media and institutions and the processes through which people and societies make political choices.  (Conceptual course)
04:567:310 Broadcast Newswriting (3) Fundamentals of newswriting and reporting for broadcast and new media. (Skills course) Prerequisites: 04:189:102 and 04:567:324. Open only to journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:314 Photojournalism (3) Fundamentals of still photography in print and audiovisual mass media with primary focus on print journalism. (Skills course) Prerequisites: 04:189:102 and 04:567:324. Open only to journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:320 Editing and Design (3) Fundamentals of editing and design for print and new media. (Skills course) Prerequisites: 04:189:102; 04:567:324, and 325 or 310. Open only to journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:325 Writing for Print Media (3) Intermediate-level writing and editing skills. (Skills course) Prerequisites: 04:189:102 and 04:567:324. Open only to journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:326 Multimedia Reporting (3) Advanced reporting and research skills for web-based and new media. (Skills course) Prerequisites: 04:189:102; 04:567:324, and 325 or 310. Open only to journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:327 Public Information and Public Relations (3) Techniques of public information and media relations. Focus placed on government, public affairs, public interest issues, and nonprofit organizations. (Skills course) Prerequisites: 04:189:102, 04:567:324, and 04:567:310 or 325. Open only to journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:328 The Hyperlocal Newsroom (3) This class will give students hands-on experience with traditional and digital journalism, including work in both written and multimedia formats, through the creation and management of a news-based website covering Rutgers and the city of New Brunswick. Students will report; write and edit stories; create video, audio, and graphics; take photos; and learn about the various uses of social media within the journalism field. Students will collaborate on a news-based website that will synthesize learned skills, journalistic practices, and knowledge of information and technology. Prerequisites: 04:567:324.
04:567:330 Exploring New Media (3) Examines the nature and impact of emerging media technology. Students will learn the primary ways new technology influences media and will study the five areas of media technology. (Conceptual course) Prerequisite: 04:189:102. Open only to journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:331 Digital Media Lab (3) Students use experimental new media tools to transform news reporting, media storytelling, and other media processes. Augmented reality, ereader technology, 360-degree cameras, immersive media, the Mobile Journalist Workstation, 3-D imaging and audio, 3-D printing, interactive video, video as input, geotagged content, animation and news, and other emerging new media tools are applied to journalism and media to create and test new story formats that in an analog world would be impossible, but in a digital, networked world can engage individuals across time and space; and provide much-needed context and customization, and in-depth, context-sensitive news and mediated entertainment. Prerequisite: 04:189:102. Open only to journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:333 Media and Popular Culture (3) Examines the relationship between media and popular culture and their impact on society. This course introduces students to the shifting trends, ideas, and competing forces that will lay the foundation for the cultural battleground of the future.
04:567:334 Gender, Race, and Class in the Media (3) Examines the role of the media in presenting gender, class, race, ethnicity, nationality, and sexual orientation in our society. (Conceptual course)
04:567:335 Mass Communication and the American Image (3) Mass communication and America's traditional self-imagery. Critical analysis of the ways in which the American experience is now, and has been, interpreted by the mass media; the relationship of myth to reality. (Conceptual course)
04:567:340 Science and Health Journalism (3) Reporting and writing about medicine, health, science, and technology. (Skills course) Prerequisites: 04:189:102, 04:567:324, and 04:567:310 or 325. Open only to journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:345 Media Publishing and Design (3) Computer-based writing, design, and pagination for newsletters, websites, magazines, and newspapers. (Skills course) Prerequisites: 04:189:102, 04:567:324, and 04:567:310 or 325. Open only to journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:347 Information Design for Web Journalists (3) Creation, design, and development of webpages as primary sites for distributing news content and to supplement other technologies for news transmission. (Skills course) Prerequisites: 04:189:102, 04:567:324, and 04:567:310 or 325. Open only to journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:350 Development of Mass Media (3) History of mass media in the United States. (Conceptual course) Prerequisite: 04:189:102.
04:567:351 Digital Media and Society (3) Historical and contemporary social, cultural, political, and economic issues related to digital media in society.
04:567:365 Mediating the Middle East (3) This course examines the ways in which Muslims have been constructed in popular discourse in the United States over the last half-century, with a particular emphasis on political Islam, and cultural constructions of Islam and its political uses. Overview of the historical encounters between the West and the areas of the world where Islam is the dominant religion, their post-World War II relationships, and the rise of political Islam in its own context. Examines how this story has been told by the mainstream media and in popular entertainment in order to make sense of post-9/11 discourse.
04:567:370 Journalism in American Film (3) Exposes students to many of the best-known American films about journalism. Examines how the practice and societal impact of journalism has been depicted. (Conceptual course) Prerequisite: 04:189:102. Open only to junior and senior journalism and media studies majors, or by permission of the instructor.
04:567:375 Television Reporting (3) Fundamentals of television reporting and electronic news gathering with students assigned to various projects. (Skills course) Prerequisites: 04:189:102, 04:567:310, and 324. Open only to journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:376 Advanced Television Reporting (3) Advanced television reporting and electronic news gathering, with students assigned to various projects. (Skills course) Prerequisite: 04:567:375. Open only to journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:379 Media and Politics (3) Examines who controls the media and how the media differentially serve the public and power holders. Attention to both news and entertainment media. (Conceptual course) Prerequisite: 04:189:102. Open only to juniors and seniors.
04:567:380 Media and Social Change (3) This course looks at how past and present social movements (e.g., environmental, civil rights, labor movements) challenge dominant social, economic, and political structures and how they have been portrayed in the mass media.  It also examines how social activists use media technologies to organize themselves and communicate their messages to wide audiences in order to achieve social change.  (Conceptual course)
04:567:388,389 Independent Study in Journalism and Media Studies I, II (3,3) Independent study in journalism and media studies topics under faculty supervision. (Elective course) Prerequisite: Approval by department chair and supervising instructor of a written project proposal. Open only to junior and senior journalism and media studies majors who have a minimum of 75 total credits, minimum of 15 credits in 04:567 curriculum, of which 9 credits are skills courses, minimum 2.75 GPA overall, and 2.5 GPA in the major.
04:567:393 Internship in Journalism and Media Studies (3) Supervised field experience at professional media outlets. Before registering, students must meet with the internship coordinator to determine eligibility and receive approval of the placement. Students must work at their site a minimum of 15 hours per week during the semester. Off-site (virtual) positions will not be accepted. Students will complete weekly journals and attend several in-class meetings during the semester. Students will be allowed to take both the 3-credit internship and the 6-credit internship, but are not allowed to take both of them in the same semester. Also note that students are limited to a maximum of 9 out-of-classroom credits in the major; the courses that fall under this heading are: Internship, Practicum, and Independent Study. Approval of the instructor. Open only to junior and senior journalism and media studies majors who have a minimum of 75 total credits, minimum of 15 credits in 04:567 curriculum, of which 9 credits are skills courses, minimum 2.5 GPA overall and 2.75 GPA in the major.
04:567:394 Internship in Journalism and Media Studies (6) Supervised field experience at professional media outlets. (Elective course) Students will be allowed to take both the 3-credit internship and the 6-credit internship, but are not allowed to take both of them in the same semester.  Also note that students are limited to a maximum of 9 out-of-classroom credits in the major; the courses that fall under this heading are: Internship, Practicum, and Independent Study. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Open only to junior and senior journalism and media studies majors who have a minimum of 75 total credits, minimum of 15 credits in 04:567 curriculum, of which 9 credits are skills courses, minimum 2.75 GPA overall, and 2.5 GPA in the major.
04:567:410 Magazine Writing (3) Magazine writing for publication, including consumer, trade, and business magazines. (Skills course) Prerequisites: 04:189:102, 04:567:324, and 04:567:310 or 325. Open only to journalism and media studies majors or by permission of the instructor.
04:567:411 Media Criticism (3) Survey of critical approaches to the analysis of media and popular cultural texts. (Conceptual course) Prerequisite: 04:189:102. Open only to journalism and media studies majors or by permission of the instructor.
04:567:415 Media, Science, and Public Engagement (3) This course will consider the intersections of science, media, and society. With a focus on both theory and practice, it explores the media's role in understanding and communicating about the most critical science and environmental issues of our day. Prerequisites: Journalism and media studies major; junior or senior status.
04:567:420 Global News (3) Investigates, analyzes, and discusses global production, distribution, and consumption of news. Issues include global news flows, journalistic cultures and practices, and international news coverage. (Conceptual course) Prerequisite: 04:189:102. Open only to junior or senior journalism and media studies majors or by permission of the instructor.
04:567:423 Communication Law (3) Examines laws and regulations governing U.S. mass media. (Conceptual course) Prerequisite: 04:189:102. Open only to juniors or seniors or by permission of the instructor.
04:567:425 Copyright, Media, and Culture (3) In this course we will discuss one of the most powerful social, cultural, economic and political institutions of our day: intellectual property (IP). How did we arrive at the notion that creative works and ideas can be owned, bought and sold like tangible commodities? What impact does this concept have on the way we view the world? How does it help us achieve our social goals, and how does it present obstacles to reaching those goals? And, in the age of digitized information and networked communication, how can we understand the role of IP in light of the rapidly changing developments in the way culture is produced and consumed? In our efforts to better understand these issues, we will read both primary and secondary materials, covering subjects ranging from the birth of copyright to the latest developments in the global "copyfight" over information in the digital age; view relevant and interesting documentary films; and enjoy guest lectures from a variety of knowledgeable speakers. Prerequisite: 04:567:423.
04:567:430 Sports Writing and Reporting (3) Fundamentals of sports writing, reporting, and commentary for print and online media.  (Skills course)
Prerequisites: 04:189:102, 04:567:324, and 04:567:310 or 325. Open only to journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:432 Multimedia Sports Reporting (3) Fundamentals of multimedia sports reporting, from conventional newspaper websites to robust sports sites. Examines the use of social networking services and newer technology to transmit sports news. Prerequisites: 04:189:102, 04:567:324, and 04:567:310 or 325. Open only to journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:434 Critical Issues in Sports Media (3) Examines the critical issues in sports and sports media, including race, gender, class, politics, culture, economics, and the role of sport in society. Prerequisite: 04:189:102. Open only to journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:450 Promotional Media (3) What is a promotional culture? Bringing together elements of media studies, visual culture, critical branding/marketing studies, and consumer culture, this course is designed to provide advanced undergraduate students with analytical tools to understand the extent to which promotional language, communication, and habits suffuse our everyday lives. Prerequisites: 04:567:274, and JMS major and junior or senior.
04:567:451 Topics in Journalism Practice I (3) Upper-level course on specialized topics relating to the practice of journalism. Prerequisite: 04:567:310 or 325. Open only to junior and senior journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:452 Topics in Journalism Practice II (3) Upper-level course on specialized topics relating to the practice of journalism. Prerequisite: 04:567:310 or 325. Open only to junior and senior level journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:453 Topics in Journalism Practice III (3) Upper-level course on specialized topics related to the practice of journalism. Prerequisite: 04:567:310 or 325. Open only to junior and senior journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:454 Practicum in Journalism and Media Studies (3) Specific directed project work conducted under faculty supervision. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor required. Open only to sophomore, junior, and senior JMS majors.
04:567:459 Media, Democracy, and the Public (3) The course explores how the news media have figured in constituting a public sphere in American history. Readings juxtapose classics of political philosophy with historical or sociological works describing democracy in practice in the United States. (Conceptual course) Prerequisite: Open only to junior and senior journalism and media studies majors or by permission of the instructor.
04:567:460 News, Entertainment, and Politics (3) Examines the connections between Hollywood and documentary-style film formats and American politics from a news perspective. (Conceptual course) Prerequisite: Junior or senior status.
04:567:470 Critical Analyses of News (3) Surveys and critiques of social science research on news, journalists, and the news media. (Conceptual course) Prerequisites: 04:189:102; 04:567:324 and 310 or 325. Open only to junior or senior journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:471 Contemporary Issues in Media Studies I (3) Upper-level seminars on specialized topics relating to media studies. (Conceptual course) Open only to junior or senior journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:472 Contemporary Issues in Media Studies II (3) Upper-level seminars on specialized topics relating to media studies. (Conceptual course) Open only to junior or senior journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:473 Contemporary Issues in Media Studies III (3) Upper-level seminars on specialized topics relating to media studies. (Conceptual course) Open only to junior or senior journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:474 Contemporary Issues in Media Studies IV (3) Upper-level seminars on specialized topics relating to media studies. (Conceptual course) Open only to junior or senior journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:475 International Media (3) Analyzes, explores, and debates the role of international media in the era of globalization. (Conceptual course) Prerequisite: 04:189:102. Open only to junior and senior journalism and media studies majors or by permission of the instructor.
04:567:480 Media Ethics and Law (3) Legal issues and ethical problems confronting journalists. (Conceptual course) Prerequisite: 04:567:310 or 325.
04:567:488 Independent Study in Media Studies (3) Independent study in media studies topics under faculty supervision.  (Conceptual course)
Prerequisite:  Permission of the instructor. Open only to junior and senior journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:489 Independent Study in Journalism (3) Independent study in journalism topics under faculty supervision. (Elective course) Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Open only to junior and senior journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:490 Senior Thesis/Project (3) Honors thesis or project under faculty supervision. (Elective course) Prerequisite: 04:567:489. Permission of instructor. Must meet certain GPA requirements. Open only to senior journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:495 Investigative and In-Depth Reporting (3) In-depth reporting project using public records and other investigative journalism techniques. (Skills course) Prerequisite: 04:567:325 or 310. Open only to journalism and media studies majors.
04:567:499 Capstone in Gender and Media (3) In this capstone to the gender and media minor, students will develop, discuss, produce, and critique a project related to gender, media, and technology. Students will articulate and present the project in written and oral formats and will have the option to also (1) create an in-depth multimedia component to the project; 2) complete an internship; or 3) complete a service learning experience. Prerequisite: Minimum of 12 credits in the minor must be completed before enrolling in the capstone.
 
For additional information, contact RU-info at 732-445-info (4636) or colonel.henry@rutgers.edu.
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