COM 125 Communicating Globally
2 Credits

This course explores how people around the globe communicate to inform, to entertain, to relate, and to persuade. It compares media in the Middle East with media in other parts of the world. It also looks at how communication professionals in public relations and advertising, tourism and special events management, multi-media/web design, magazine publishing, and film/ broadcast production do their jobs in different parts of the world and how culture, history, and politics affect their work.

COM 201 Media Writing and Reporting 
3 Credits

Writing skills for media: news judgement, fundamentals of style, importance of good grammar, spelling and punctuation. Basics of writing accurately and concisely for newspapers and magazines, radio and television, and advertising and public relations.

COM 202 Arabic Media Writing
3 Credits

This course covers writing for the media in Arabic, and includes practicing news judgment and fundamentals of style. Emphasizes the basics of writing accurately and concisely in Arabic for all print and broadcast media, advertising and public relations.

COM 204 Information Design/Production
3 Credits

Introduces students to visual and physical elements of design and the production essentials needed by media professionals to communicate information effectively. Topics include visual literacy, aesthetics, and style; publication design; information graphics; standard photo editing; and merging text with visual elements. Tools include the MacIntosh operating system, QuarkXPress for page layout, and Adobe PhotoShop for imaging.

Prerequisite(s): COL 110A OR COL 110

COM 207 Interpersonal Communication 
3 Credits

Interpersonal communication processes including cultural, gender-related, relational, and individual factors which influence communication patterns. Attention to both conceptual understanding and development of interpersonal communication skills.

COM 209 Popular Media and Society
3 Credits

Provides students with the necessary media survival skills for the information age. Uses readings and practical exercises to facilitate a comprehensive and critical understanding of how the mass media are organized and how they are used to communicate, produce meaning, and construct social reality.

COM 230 Public Speaking and Professional Presentation 
3 Credits

Basic principles of effective and ethical public speaking. Practice in leadership, presentational speaking, and interviewing. Importance of public presentation and communication in shaping society. Development of speaking skills from listening to development and extemporaneous delivery of speeches. Elements of persuasion and analytical thinking.

COM 232 Group Communication 
3 Credits

Principal components of effective communication within groups. Communication within families, task groups, decision-making groups and organizations. Ethics of being responsible contributors to group missions, teamwork and leadership. Development of group and teamwork skills.

COM 295 Independent Study 
3 Credits

Independent study devoted to examining some aspect of mass media, media technology, public relations, marketing, or interpersonal, group, intercultural, organizational, or mass communication.

COM 300 Practicum in Media Communication 
1 Credit

Professional practicum. Will involve working for ZU-TV, or ZU-Radio or on special projects in film, broadcast, publishing, multi-media, media research, public relations, and advertising. Minimum commitment is 60 hours per semester. May be repeated for credit. A maximum of 3 credits may be counted toward graduation.

COM 301 Writing for Public Relations & Advertising
3 Credits

Writing skills for advertising, public relations, sales promotion and marketing. Basics of writing advertising copy, news releases, copy for promotional publications and scripts for infomercials, video news releases and other audio-visual messages.

Prerequisite(s): COM 201

COM 303 Media Writing and Reporting II
3 Credits

Advanced course in writing for media in English and Arabic for print, broadcast, and web media. Focus on professional media writing in specialized contexts, such as feature writing, writing for television or radio, and public affairs writing. May be repeated for credit with new topic. 

Prerequisite(s): COM 201

COM 305 Research Methods in Communications & Media
3 Credits

Investigates the primary methods communication professionals employ to gather and test information. From survey writing and interpretation to critical and content analysis, this course introduces students to the rigors of systematic investigation. 

Prerequisite(s): COM 201

COM 309 Web Design and Publishing
3 Credits

Introduction to Web concepts and techniques for creating Web sites. Introduction to HTML and simple graphic techniques is followed by planning a site based on the marketing and communication needs of a client, company or publication. Creation of graphics for various parts of Web sites.

Prerequisite(s): COM 204 OR COM 104

COM 318 Video Production I 
3 Credits

Introduces students to moving images, with focus on producing and editing images for film, television, and web broadcast using digital technologies. Significant lab and project work. 

Prerequisite(s): COM 204 OR ART 251

COM 319 Video Production II 
3 Credits

Techniques of digitally capturing and editing moving images for use in television, film, or web streaming. Fundamentals of telling stories with video. Significant lab/project work. 

Prerequisite(s): COM 318

COM 320 Photojournalism 
3 Credits

Photography for newspapers, magazines and Web publications. 35 mm and digital camera techniques for taking and editing photos through individual and group photo assignments.

Prerequisite(s): COM 318

COM 328 Publication Design and Production I 
3 Credits

Layout and design of magazines, newspapers, and other periodicals. Theory and practice in magazine editing, photo and graphics editing, page editing, and copyediting. Significant lab/studio work. 

Prerequisite(s): COM 201 AND COM 204

COM 329 Publication Design and Production II
3 Credits

Advanced study of publication design and production from an editor's point of view. Includes editorial planning and direction, shaping and developing article ideas, production methods, issue development, and topics related to circulation, advertising, and art. Examines effect of culture and audience on design, content, and aesthetics. 

Prerequisite(s): COM 328

COM 331 Intercultural Communication 
3 Credits

The influence of culture on communication processes. Focus on the impact of values, beliefs, perspectives and verbal and non-verbal codes on intercultural interactions. Development of interpersonal communication skills that improve competence in communication across cultures.

COM 332 Organizational Communication 
3 Credits

The use of communication within organizations to establish norms, build consensus, resolve differences and create an effective decision-making climate. Includes some aspects of interpersonal communication, small group communication, conflict resolution and negotiation, and organizational behavior.

COM 333 Conflict Management 
3 Credits

Examines the nature of conflict, the communication forces that cause or control it, and the principles of how to communicate ethically to manage or resolve it. Examines conflict in interpersonal, group, organizational, and cultural contexts. 

COM 335 Persuasion 
3 Credits

Guides students to construct a conceptual understanding of the psychological dynamics of persuasion by analyzing theories, practices, and research findings. Goal is to improve skills in critically analyzing persuasive messages and their role in society and culture.

COM 336 Media and Cultural Criticism: Topics  
3 Credits

Examines media and cultural messages using historical and critical analysis. Application to various forms of human communication may include advertising, websites, television, political and social movements, storytelling, art, architecture, city design, etc. May be repeated for credit with new topic. 

COM 351 Principles of Public Relations 
3 Credits

Introduction to public relations, including theory and principles; understanding of organizations and institutions; identification and analysis of publics; public relations practice.

Prerequisite(s): COM 201

COM 361 Principles of Advertising 
3 Credits

Introduction to advertising, including advertising principles and communication theory, common industry practices; basics of copy, media, budget decision making, and environmental influences.

Prerequisite(s): COM 201

COM 371 Tourism Principles  
3 Credits

Introduction to tourism theory and practice. Focus on the concept of the tourism system as a communication-based system and how the major industrial sectors of the system (accommodation, transport, and attractions) interact to produce a complete tourism product. 

COM 372 Destination Promotions 
3 Credits

Application of public relations, advertising, and marketing communication strategies for effective branding and promotion of nations, cities, attractions, and other tourism destinations. Case studies of best practices in destination promotions globally. 

Prerequisite(s): COM 361 or BUS 310

COM 395 Independent Study 
3 Credits

Independent study devoted to examining some aspect of mass media, media technology, public relations, marketing, or interpersonal, group, intercultural, organizational, or mass communication.

COM 397 Special Topics 
3 Credits

Special topics and issues related to media, public relations, advertising, mass communication, and interpersonal/group/intercultural communication.

COM 401 Strategic Planning in PR/Advertising
3 Credits

Integration of theory, techniques and research methods into the planning and execution of communication campaigns for specific organizations. Emphasis on devising concepts and strategies and on developing plans, targeted to specific audiences and for specific purposes to implement those strategies. Use of case studies. 

Prerequisite(s): COM 351 OR COM 361

COM 403 Strategies in Tourism Communication 
3 Credits

Broad overview of current issues and strategies to communicate tourism messages to diverse audiences. Uses an integrated marketing communication approach to plan, produce, and critique communication messages intended to raise awareness, inform and persuade about tourism policies, products, and services. 

COM 408 International News Criticism 
3 Credits

Explores the theoretical and practical issues concerning international media, the implications of new technology for old media, and the challenges of globalism to local media. Students also learn to analyze critically and comparatively how the coverage of news events differs across special interest groups and between countries.

COM 411 Infographics
3 Credits

Production of graphic material to convey information for print publications, film, television, and multi-media news and entertainment. Includes post-production techniques in basic and advanced video titling. 

Prerequisite(s): COM 204

COM 413 Media Management: Case Studies
3 Credits

Examination of issues and case studies in the management of the media and communication industries. Addresses the strategies involved in specialized contexts, such as PR/Advertising, Film & Broadcast, Publications, and general Media Management. May be repeated for credit with new topic. 

COM 416 Multi-Media Production I 
3 Credits

Development of techniques for integration of video, audio, graphic, and interactive elements into multi- media advertisements, interactive magazines, film, broadcast media, and convergent news. Significant lab/project work. 

Prerequisite(s): COM 318 AND COM 309

COM 417 Multi-Media Production II 
3 Credits

Advanced techniques in multi-media authoring, with applications for CDs, DVDs, kiosks, and the Internet within PR/Advertising, film, broadcast, and journalistic contexts. Creation of static and interactive multi-media experiences. Teaches the project development and carry-through skills needed to produce an independent multi-media capstone. Significant lab and studio work. 

Prerequisite(s): COM 309 AND COM 416

COM 420 Scriptwriting 
3 Credits

Techniques of writing extended scripts using traditional screenplay forms. Focuses on the development of a cohesive story and believable characters; strategies for dialogue and dramatization; and use of image and sound. Students develop and submit a complete script. Rotating topics course; may cover genre such as drama, documentary, docu-drama, or radio theatre. May be repeated for credit with new topic. 

COM 421 Producing and Directing Film
3 Credits

Process of directing and producing long-format programs. Provides opportunity for students to produce and direct video productions, such as documentaries, feature film-style dramas, news magazine stories, and info-tainment ads. Significant studio and field work is required. May be repeated for credit with new topic. 

Prerequisite(s): COM 319

COM 423 Special Event Management and Promotion 
3 Credits

Provides students with the fundamentals of event planning and promotion process, focusing on types of events, planning schedules, developing ideas, working with vendors and suppliers, securing sponsors, fulfilling commitments, managing staff, and planning a communication strategy for event promotion. Examples of events include awards, recognitions, new product or service launches, trade shows, sales promotions and developing client relationships.

COM 430 Communication Theory 
3 Credits

Examines the philosophies and practices that underlie the development of communication theory and research. Includes discussion of modern trends in communication research. Goal is to understand the various approaches to communication and analyze the work of significant researchers to determine their perspectives, assumptions, and contributions.

COM 440 Media Law and Ethics
3 Credits

Examination of U.A.E. law as it affects journalists and media practitioners. Comparisons are made with neighboring countries, and broader regional issues affecting media control and freedom are discussed. Students also consider ethics and examine the best practices based on International Federation of Journalists guidelines.

COM 490 Internship 
6 Credits

Supervised internship with an organization that enables students to apply a variety of communication concepts and skills.

COM 495 Independent Study 
3 Credits

Independent study devoted to examining some aspect of mass media, media technology, public relations, marketing, or interpersonal, group, intercultural, organizational, or mass communication. Requires permission of College assistant dean.

COM 497 Special Topics
3 Credits

Special topics and issues related to media, public relations, advertising, mass communications, and interpersonal/group/intercultural communication.

COM 498 Senior Seminar 
1 Credit

Exploration of issues related to making the step from student to communication professional. Students will complete their academic portfolio and separate out the best examples into a professional portfolio. Serves as the site for final assessment of University and Major learning outcomes for graduation. 

COM 499 Capstone Project
3 Credits

Students complete, in consultation with faculty, a significant professional public communication project. PR & Advertising students design a campaign proposal with sample media products. Film/Broadcast and Journalism students develop a media project, such as a digital film or photo documentary, news program, feature article series, or multi-media website.

• PR/Advertising
• Film/Broadcast Media
• Magazine & Multi-Media Journalism