Media Communication Studies

This course traces world cultural development through the arts of architecture, sculpture and painting. The emphasis is on the social, economic, political, and geographic influences on the stylistic characteristics, subject matter and art forms of various world sites from the earliest prehistoric through the Modernist eras. The cultures of Africa, Australia, Oceania, the Near East, Greece, Rome, India, China, Japan, Europe (England, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy) and the Americas will be considered. Field Trip and fee required.

Description pending.

Students will study theories of mass communication and the role that mass communicators play in modern society. The rise of print and electronic media will be discussed in detail. Special attention will be given to the rights, responsibilities and practices of mass media and merging trends.

Fundamental visual art principles constitute the basis of effective visual communication. This hands-on course explores these fundamentals while applying the creative approaches unique to digital photography. Students will learn how to use advanced digital cameras (DSLR) to create an on-line portfolio, as well techniques to manage and archive media. In addition, students will develop a framework to analyze and evaluate photographs, whether created by themselves or others. PREREQUISITE: None

An introduction to the basic principles and techniques of writing for the media. Formats include informational, persuasive and entertainment content for a variety of audiences across different types of media and platforms. Students will write scripted material for traditional media (radio, TV, and print) and produce written content across various digital platforms, including podcasts, streaming audio/video, social media and other web-based industries. PREREQUISITE: None.

In this introductory class, students with learn graphic design production skills. A focus will be on developing proficiency with the industry standard software tools of InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop. Students will learn the fundamentals of designing communication materials, including: how to effectively convey a message whether with typography, images or symbols. Logo design and branding will be covered. Students will create communications pieces that benefit the AIC community.

Digital multimedia projects in mass communication will be developed from among advertising, journalism, public relations, radio and television genres. The purpose of this course is for students to produce multimedia projects. In the process, students will use their individual writing, reporting, photographic and audio/video skills to develop a concept, produce separate elements and finally assemble the project. This project, whether burned to a DVD or posted on the web, will include text, graphics, photos, audio and video. Laboratory fee charged.

The course covers the technical and creative aspects of transmitting converged media across a wide variety of platforms. This course utilizes student’s skills in digital video photography, editing, and sound, emphasizing the potential of multiple platform presentation including social media, television, cable, streaming, and emerging media. Students will learn the importance of compressing/encoding media, non-linear editing, audio/video production and more. PREREQUISITE: COM1212 or COM1400

This class builds on and adds to the concepts introduced in Graphic Design 1. Dreamweaver software will be introduced so students can create projects for the Internet. Students will create mock projects for fictional clients to gain understanding how communications materials affect consumers. Students will also create communications pieces that benefit the community surrounding AIC.

One of the strengths of the communication program is the close relationship the program enjoys with the local, regional, and national media. Communication students are required to take at least three credits of professional learning experience in the media and are encouraged to take as many as 12 credits. Students document their professional learning through a compilation of published stories, podcasts, blog entries and other forms of media. Students have completed internships at 91.9FM/New England Public Media, WWLP TV-22, Western Mass News,102.1FM/WAQY, as well in many local/regional video production studios, public relations firms, and marketing agencies. Summer internships can be arranged so that students continue their professional growth during recess and the program already has a proud record of graduates being placed in media jobs. PREREQUISITES: Permission of the department chair and approval of the dean of the School of Arts, Education and Sciences. PREREQUISITE: None

This course explains the basic concepts of media research. Included are measurement and methodologies for measuring the effectiveness and impact of mass mediated messages (from radio, newspaper and TV to web site hits). Recognition tests, recall and association tests, opinions and attitude ratings, projectile methods, laboratory testing, and content analysis are each explained and studied. Research applications focus mainly, but not entirely, on consumers of mass media. Quantitative as well as qualitative methods are discussed in detail.

The Communication Department programs and operates 91.9 WAIC FM as a learning laboratory for our students. This course provides an overview of the broadcasting business and provides training in various aspects of broadcasting, including scheduling, traffic, advertising and ratings, basic engineering, announcing and practice in news and informational radio.

This course provides students with the production techniques and programming applications necessary to work at a music radio station. In addition to learning different music programming formats, students will gain hands-on experience on the air at 91.9 WAIC. Student training includes writing and producing station liners, stagers and positioning statements using state of the art digital audio editing systems, producing live broadcasts and phone drops, as well as discussion of taste and sensibility issues, FCC requirements, interpreting ratings data and developing an on-air personality.