M.A. in Communications Management

Fall Semester

Human Resources Development 3

Spring Semester

Advanced Thinking and Writing 3

Summer Classes

COURSE DESCRIPTION

FIRST SEMESTER

BUS 700: Business

This course is designed to provide a foundation in such general business concepts as economics, finance, accounting, business law, marketing, and other business systems.

BUS 711: Issues in Business

Current and significant issues in business are examined. The course focuses on existing theories and practices as well as on new and emerging topics in the field. Course may be repeated for credit if content differs.

HRM 719: Ethics, Values, and Legal Issues in Human Resources Development

This course introduces the student to the various theories concerning values and human acquisition of values. Students explore personal value systems and how these systems influence their behavior and the behavior of others. Students examine ethical standards that can relate to human resources development and how these standards can affect actual workplace situations. This course investigates selected legal issues and situations that relate to the practice of human resources development.

PRL 735: Organizational Communications

This course considers the relationship of organizational mission, employee values, organizational cultures, and motivation. Both formal and informal communication networks are studied as they pertain to appropriate use of media to communicate with employees or volunteers. Students examine case studies showing proactive employee information efforts.

HRM 720: Managing Human Resources

This course is a comprehensive view of personnel policy development with emphasis on the interdependence of personnel and operating functions. Students analyze personnel functions of recruitment, development, training, compensation, integration into the workforce, and maintenance of personnel for the purpose of contributing to organizational, societal, and individual goals.

INT 701: International Business

The student is introduced to the language and terminology of international business and major international political and economic policies that affect modern international businesses. Special attention is given to fundamental concepts of international finance, accounting, law, management, and marketing.

INT 712: International Business Management

Course content focuses on the development of management skills related to multinational business. Students examine the issues of operating in a foreign country or across national boundaries and how management theory and practice in an international setting differ from those in the United States.

MGT 700: Management

In this course, the student is introduced to the basic concepts of management and organizations. Primary emphasis is given to three primary functions: planning, organizing, and controlling. Additional topics include: organization theory, the global environment, ethics, and decision making.

PRL 734: Public Relations

This course integrates communications strategy with organizational mission statements, demonstrates stakeholder and issues management techniques, and considers ethical dilemmas in public relations situations. Public relations cases are examined in order to learn effective strategic and tactical answers to public-perception problems and opportunities.

MKT 720: Marketing

Students examine the character and importance of the marketing process, its essential functions, and the institutions exercising these functions. Course content focuses on the major policies that underlie the activities of marketing institutions and the social, economic, and political implications of such policies.

MEDC 730: Media Communications

Students examine communications theory and its application to mass media. The course introduces students to the graduate program and describes program expectations as well as introduces research methodologies used throughout the program and discusses academic preparation for Seminar in Media Communications. Therefore, students must take this course even if they have academic and/or professional experience in media communications. Prerequisite: Students should have an educational background or professional experience in media communications, or they must enroll in 6 credit hours of additional preparatory undergraduate coursework, as determined by an academic advisor.

MEDC 710: Introduction to Graduate Studies: Advanced Thinking and Writing

This course is an introduction to graduate studies that provides students with knowledge and skills in three important ways to maximize academic success as a graduate student. The course will focus on critical thinking and advanced analysis skills, basic information on academic research and library searches, and advanced writing. The course will also offer a brief introduction to effective online learning.

MEDC 732: Strategic Communications

This course is taught from a top-management perspective regarding the strategic role of communications, and the communications manager, in achieving the company mission and measurable bottom-line results. It introduces students to an integrated approach to managing all communications functions, including all direct and indirect communications requirements for both internal and external audiences and intermediaries, such as customers, suppliers, distributors, employees, shareholders, competitors, politicians, analysts, journalists and lobbyists. It encompasses the functional areas of marketing communications, organizational communications, media relations, investor relations, government relations and corporate branding.

MEDC 733: Media and Culture

This course examines the mass media as it reflects and influences the attitudes, values, behaviors, myths, and preoccupations that define a given culture. The course considers the functions of mass media in society and the effect on the individual.

MEDC 744: Media Organization and Regulations

The student examines the legal structure of the media communications industry. The course focuses on the formation, rationale, and implications of policies that form the basis of media law and regulation.

PRL 751: Crisis Management Communications

A specialized function of the public relations practice is the management of crisis communications. Students in this course study the relationship of the organization and its culture to the external environment in times of crisis. Risk assessment, preparation of a crisis plan, and use of appropriate media in addressing crisis communication needs are studied.

MEDC 736: International Communications

This course focuses on the history, issues, and future of international communications. The class considers individual media systems, including different understandings of the role of the media, freedom of press and information in different areas of the world; parity between distribution of news and the shaping of the public mind; international stereotyping; and international propaganda. The course also examines the relationship between national and global media systems and the role of international communications in the development of the new world order.

MEDC 747: Media Production Management

This course exposes the student to the principles of management, planning, and execution of media-oriented activities and events. The student examines the role and functions of the manager of media-oriented projects: pre-production organization and research, proposal writing, scheduling, and budgeting.

MEDC 736: Seminar in Media Communications

In this course, students are expected to synthesize and integrate the learning experiences acquired in all graduate media communications courses and to evaluate current media communications research topics relative to a particular area of interest. Techniques used to accomplish these goals may vary, but students should seek to add to the body of media communications knowledge with all capstone research papers. Papers used in previous courses cannot be resubmitted or repackaged in order to meet the requirements of this course. However, it is acceptable to continue researching ideas which students may have pursued during their degree program, building on them to complete the large, comprehensive paper required in this capstone course. Students are encouraged to have their capstone research paper topics approved prior to the start of class. Prerequisite: Completion of all other graduate courses in program. This should be the last course taken before graduation. Any exceptions must be approved prior to registration by submitting a program option request to be signed by the director of Graduate Studies and the dean of the School of Communications.

MEDC 752: Media Communications Technology

The student explores new technologies in mass communications and the choices that these technologies present in the area of media communications. Course content focuses on the impact of computer technology, artificial intelligence, and wireless technology on business and government and the increasing reliance on the management and communication of information. Future applications, active media technology, E-commerce and Web services, and Web-based social networks are also considered.

MEDC 784: Media Research

This course introduces students to the major research methodologies, communication theories, and topics of study within media research. Theories, models, and methods are applied toward the development of research projects. Students discuss and examine qualitative and quantitative methods of media research employed by various aspects of the media.