Communication Study (CMST/CMST&)

Examines vital issues for people who use mass media or are affected by it. Emphasis on freedom of expression, censorship, fair trial, privacy, ethics, law, media economics, technology, effectiveness in communicating to audiences and relationships to social, cultural, and political values in the United States and throughout the world. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Humanities, Elective)

Interpersonal communication theory and practice is explored in this class in regards to both dyad and group settings. Communications process is explored through analysis of several areas, including: perception, listening, self disclosure, speech apprehension, ethics, nonverbal communication, conflict, power, and dysfunctional communication relationships. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Humanities, Elective)

Explores classic and modern elements of persuasion and applies that understanding to assemble, deliver, and evaluate extemporaneous speeches. Eligibility for or concurrent enrollment in ENGL& 101 is recommended. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Humanities, Elective)

In this course, students will be introduced to the various forms of professional communications. Students will create multimedia stories for web, radio/streaming/podcasting, online publications, and public relations. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Humanities, Elective)

Class explores the variety of careers available in professional communications across multiple fields of business, sales, public relations, and advertising. Class includes traditional internal and external communications and explores emerging roles in the field of mass communications. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Elective)

Introduction to Photojournalism I Foundation class in use of cameras, lenses, light, composition, timing, and field techniques. Emphasis on news and feature photography with principles applicable to all visual communications, including video. Produce black and white photos for assignments, mass communications, including the students news service The Buccaneer. Provide own DSLR camera equipment or mobile device and USB drive for photo storage and field work. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Humanities, Elective)

Intermediate/advanced class applying professional standards of journalistic photography to practical field experience and digital imagery. Produce color photos for assignments, mass communications, including the students news service The Buccaneer. Provide own DSLR camera equipment or mobile device and USB drive for photo storage and field work. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Elective)

This hands-on, project-based course introduces students to the basics of storytelling through creating their own podcasts, exploring their own voices and the voices of their communities. Students will examine different narrative styles and podcast types as well as interview techniques. Students will apply this knowledge while learning to plan, create, and publish podcast episodes. They can expect to become proficient in pitching ideas for stories, recording and interviewing, story boarding and writing scripts, as well as editing and crafting audio. Student may collaborate as groups or work individually to create their podcasts. Eligibility for college level English recommended. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Humanities, Elective)

Opportunities to gain experience and insights in communications careers through internships supervised by media professionals. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Elective)

Social media weaves a comforting security net for some and a withering web for others. An in-depth look at storytelling practices and civic engagement using emerging web tools. The tools of mobile technology in social media will be explored as they effect civic engagement, cultures, and communities around the world. Explore the phenomena of Twitter, Reddit, and the rise of information empires in the ascent of Facebook, our chosen family and fate. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Humanities, Elective)

Learn in incremental stages to gather information through direct observation, interviewing, document searches, web searches, and database mining with software, such as Access and Excel, and to build a report. Use the tools of reporting to increase the accuracy and depth of news stories with an emphasis on public affairs. Learn the philosophy and anatomy of a narrative story, drawn from short story fiction and creative news stories. These tools will be applied in the pursuit of reporting basic news and to exploring trends, creating profiles, and dissecting organizations in more advanced stories. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Humanities, Elective)

The editing class will engage students in the discipline of editing text and images for publication. News copy desk operations will be introduced, including headline writing, dummying, page design, pagination, creating news graphics, photo cropping, photo editing, and photo packaging. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Humanities, Elective)

Students will use journalistic techniques to publish the college Buccaneer including the digital publication. The Buccaneer will include news and feature stories, editorials and reviews. Publication of the Buccaneer will provide opportunities for students to use the publication as a public forum to inform, entertain, and persuade, using its online platform. Skills gained can be easily applied to a variety of careers. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Elective)

Building on the skills from CMST 150, Introduction to Podcasting, this advanced, hands-on workshop focuses on creating a podcast series, with students producing a pilot episode of a story of their choice. Throughout the course, students will engage in all aspects of podcast production-from developing the show, managing files, and creating artwork to distribution. Along the way, they'll explore how storytelling relates to human experience, culture, and society, and experiment with different narrative structures and genres. The course also encourages students to think critically about the ethical, artistic, and intellectual dimensions of their creative choices, including how to engage their audience. Working solo or in teams, students will take their projects from initial idea to final edit, while giving and receiving feedback in a supportive, collaborative setting. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Humanities, Elective)

Building on the skills from CMST 150, this course lets students take the lead in producing an instructor-approved podcast series about arts and culture. From planning and interviewing to editing and design, students will manage all aspects of production. Some will serve as editors, helping guide content and ensure each episode is polished. The course encourages students to explore how stories about art and culture shape and reflect society, while developing critical thinking and creative skills. With guidance from mentors, students will create a portfolio of podcast episodes that contribute to thoughtful conversations about art, culture, and the human experience. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Elective)

An in-depth look at storytelling practices and the emerging innovation Web tools offer news outlets in the Digital Revolution. More than a dozen workshops will be held in areas of newswriting, editing, photography, layout, design, media law, web publication, and multimedia production. These workshops will be led by professional journalists and multimedia experts from around the country. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Elective)