Media Studies Course Description
COM 200 Introduction to Communication Studies (3 credits)
This course will introduce students to the contemporary issues and studies of communication. This includes developing an understanding of the critical importance of the organized communication processes in delivering outcomes and causes for groups, and institutions. The conditions, features, operations, and structures of the processes of communications are explained and discussed with the aim of enabling students to have foundational competencies about the way these communication processes take on forms and functions to meet individual, organizational and societal needs.
Co-requisite: ENG 201
COM 210 Writing for Mass Media (3 credits)
This course aims at preparing students to recognize and describe all primary genres of Mass Media. There will be a special emphasis on communication rules, elements, processes, tools techniques and their determinant discourses and values. Students are expected to become familiar with the range of mediated genres and their dynamics in institutional processes and structures of different mass media related professions. Many case studies are used in this course.
Prerequisite: COM 200
COM 212 Introduction to Photography and Cinematography (3 credits)
The course provides students with an introduction to the ways the visual conceptualization take shape in the communication and mediated processes through the lenses of photography and cinematography. This involves providing students with the essential skills related to identifying and producing preliminary examples of still and animated images in terms of image frames, sizes, perspectives, processes, and functions by utilizing digital and film cameras.
Prerequisite: COM 200
COM 214 Digital Applications Skills (3 credits)
Students in this course concentrate on having a preliminary hands-on experience on a number of publication and audio-visual applications. They should become aware of the range of possibilities that a selection of professional software can create for different forms of mediated communications. This includes mini-projects that reflect students’ manipulation of a selection of professional software in page graphics and layout editing, photo editing, animation editing, broadcasting editing, as well as multimedia editing.
Prerequisite: MIT 200
COM 216 Mediated Performance: Theory and Practice (3 credits)
The course provides an opportunity for students to develop skills of performativity and engagement in different media-related context. Students will explore and discuss the framework of expressing gestural and bodily postures as well as associated textual constructions in the acts of performance to convey messages and create impact from an organization to a targeted audience. The students will also participate in acting out different types of performances in a selection of mediated events and institutions.
Prerequisites: ENG 201, ARB 201
COM 240 Fundamentals of Speech Communication (3 credits)
Students are exposed to a variety of experiences that develop basic concepts of the oral communication process. Students will explore communication theory and practice as well as speech preparation and delivery. Several styles of speeches are covered.
Prerequisite: ENG 201
COM 260 Theories of Mass Media (3 credits)
This course offers a historical and theoretical review of the development of Media Studies. It should enable students to become aware of the critical importance of media institutions in their role in disseminating rubrics of targeted messages to heterogeneous audiences via well-defined means of mass communication. Topics include critical issues related to the message forms and functions, their means of mediation, their sources and receivers and their ‘fit’ and impact processes in media institutions and society.
Prerequisite: COM 200
COM 280 English for Mass Media (3 credits)
Students are trained to analyze, write and edit the Media message as reported from the English language sources being it in print or broadcasted. Topics include identification and use of English specific to Mass Media format, structure, setting and presentation, the ability to read and comprehend English news and features as reported from different textual and visual sources, and build the skills to use Anglo-Saxon journalistic techniques. This course has special emphasis on writing news and features in English language.
Prerequisites: ENG 202, COM 200
COM 300 New Media Communications (3 credits)
This course acquaints students with the fundamentals of the New Media, known currently as digital communication. In addition to the theoretical understanding of the concept and technology, students are expected to become familiar with a range of multimedia functions and products that fit the World Wide Web and more broadly Internet. The emphasis here will be on forms, channels and techniques of online news, features construction, reporting and dissemination.
Prerequisites: MIT 200
COM 320 Audio Production (3 credits)
Students explore the basics of audio production for both broadcast and non-broadcast applications. Topics include digital non-linear editing, radio station operations, and the theories, tools, techniques, and regulatory controls of audio production. Students are required to complete laboratory activities for this course.
Prerequisite: COM 200, MIT 200
COM 340 Video Production (3 credits)
Students explore the basics of video production for both broadcast and non-broadcast applications. Topics include digital non-linear editing, video, composition, and field production. Students are required to complete laboratory activities for this course.
Prerequisite: COM 320
COM 350 Media Ethics and Law (3 credits)
This course offers a first-hand understanding of the rules, regulations and policies regulating the Mass media industry with all its constituencies. Topics covered include international, regional and local agreements and laws governing the appropriate capturing, processing, and dissemination of news using either print or broadcast media. Students, in this course, are also exposed to the ethical and legal requirements governing the dissemination of what is right and the identification of what is wrong in journalism, broadcasting, advertising, public relations and entertainment. This course presents many real life case studies.
Prerequisite: COM 200
COM 360 Intercultural Communication (3 credits)
Students focus in this course on the key concepts of communication and culture covering such topics as barriers in intercultural communication; dimensions of culture; multiculturalism, women, family and children; and culture's influence on perception. Several real life cases are exposed in class to enable students recognize cross cultural barriers and the ways to critically analyze them.
Prerequisite: COM 200
COM 380 Seminar in Communication (3 credits)
This course is variable content classroom course in Communication in which students pursue topics or subjects of current interest that are not part of the regular curriculum. A specific course description will be published in the course offering schedule.
Prerequisite: Consent of Advisor
COM 400 Mass Media in Lebanon (3 credits)
This course offers a thorough study of the media used in Lebanon. Topics include historical review of the Lebanese mass media covering its establishment, ownership, types, features, development, and coverage. Media include newspapers, magazines, radio, television, cinema, and websites. Students will also have a clear view of the Lebanese governmental regulations and policies regulating the mass media in Lebanon.
Prerequisite: COM 350
COM 230 Research Methods in Communication (3 credits)
Students are acquainted with the tools and techniques used in the acquisition, evaluation and analysis of information for communication decisions. This course emphasizes that students understand the scientific method of research in developing explicit and measurable research objectives, selecting appropriate methodologies, and analyzing data. Students will carry out a final project to put the course material into practice.
Prerequisite: COM 200, MAT 200
COM 440 Global Communication (3 credits)
This course presents global communication in the context of the dynamic changes governing the external business environments. Students will be acquainted with and explore the current communication practices, their recent developments, and the most appropriate projections of how communication will be created and placed globally. Topics include a review of the structural influences on international communication, an understanding of the geo-political, economic and cultural influences, and finally study the current state of the planning and execution of communication on a global geographic basis. Real case studies will be used extensively in this course.
Prerequisite: Senior Standing
COM 460 Electronic Media Management (3 credits)
Course focuses on the management principles and practices in the broadcasting and cable industry. Students will be enabled to examine the legal, financial, and technical aspects of broadcast stations and cable television systems. Best practices are critically reviewed.
Prerequisite: COM 340
COM 490 Independent Study in Communication (3 credits)
Students are trained to be independent in their quest to research contemporary subjects in Communication. With the supervision of a faculty member, students are responsible to deliver a research project related to any of the Communication topics. A formal report and oral presentation shall be scheduled to fulfill requirements of the course.
Prerequisite: Senior Standing
COM 497 Professional Placement (3 credits)
Students in their junior year are required to work on part time or full time basis in order to experiment with and practice what they learned in class. A student presents a formal report by the end of this training period then he/she makes a public presentation exposing his/her experience.
Prerequisite: Junior Standing and Consent of Advisor
COM 499 Media Studies Capstone Project (3 credits)
Students are prepared in this course to deal efficiently and effectively with the fundamentals of systematic research. Graduating students will learn to brainstorm the different available research opportunities and prepare a formal research project that shall constitute the capstone requirement for their graduation. Topics include design philosophies, problem conceptualization, problem definition, project planning and budgeting, development of specifications, and effective utilization of available resources. A formal oral presentation is required under the supervision of a formal judging committee formed from the faculty members.
Prerequisite: Senior Standing