Course Descriptions
COM 200 Communication, Media and Society (3 credit hours)
An introduction to media literacy and a broad survey of the relationship between media industries and society. Exploration of general trends in media industry development, analysis of media texts, and charting of the politics of production and distribution of media. Particular attention is given to placing the Emirati experience in the larger global context.
COM 209 Foundations in Media Writing
Combined lecture and lab course to develop and enhance students’ language skills for communicating effectively and confidently in English across all media environments. The aim is to equip students with the linguistic tools necessary for them to develop as media professionals. Students will expand their vocabulary and learn how to deal with grammatical issues related to media writing in print, broadcast and online platforms.
COM 210 Media Storytelling I (3 credit hours)
Combined lecture and lab course that introduces students to practical reporting and writing. This course integrates critical thinking, creative thinking, and basic AP writing and production skills for nonfiction storytelling through words, photos, audio, & video.
Pre-requisite: 5.5 IELTS score in writing
COM 212 Digital Storytelling
Combined lecture and lab course that integrates critical thinking with professional media skills needed for exploring the creative challenges in mixed-media communication for non-fiction and/or fiction contexts; emphasis on matching audience, content and platforms–including social media–and use of multiplatform tools and concepts.
COM 230 Public Speaking and Persuasion (3 credit hours)
An exploration of the relationship between public speaking and persuasion. Theoretical perspectives and empirical evidence about what makes messages persuasive will be covered. Students will develop an understanding of the fundamentals of public speaking and learn how to speak confidently and effectively as well as deliver a persuasive message in a variety of public speaking situations.
COM 240 Media Law and Ethics (3 credit hours)
This course examines ethical and legal issues while gathering, framing, and circulating media content. Students will incorporate the accepted moral and ethical norms within the society as a guide to make the best possible media decisions for their respective audiences. They will develop an understanding of the moral and legal obligations while practising communication. Topics covered in this course include media content regulation, freedom of speech, defamation, copyright, privacy, and ethics for media practitioners.
COM 360: Applied Media Research and Analysis
The course focuses on making communication decisions by collecting, examining, and analyzing information and data from both primary and secondary resources to attain optimal results. Students will learn about creating measurable research objectives, sampling techniques, selecting appropriate research designs, and effectively analyzing data.
Pre-requisite: COM 210
COM 490 Internship (3 credit hours)
Supervised professional work experience in a media organization or in the media department of an appropriate organization in a field that is similar to a student’s concentration. Externships require the approval of the College.
Pre-requisite: senior status
COM 495 Independent Study (1-3 credit hours)
Independent study enables students to study material, pursue projects and/or conduct research in Communication and Media Sciences not available through regularly scheduled courses.
Pre-requisite: Permission of College Associate/Assistant dean.
COM 497 Special Topics in Communications and Media Sciences (3 credit hours)
Special topics and issues related to communication, media, integrated strategic communications and tourism and cultural communications.
Pre-requisite: Permission of instructor
ISC 251 Introduction to Integrated Strategic Communication
This course provides students with an overview of integrated strategic communications. Basic theories related to message approaches, persuasion and information processing, and characteristics of message delivery systems are introduced, along with a fundamental overview of advertising, public relations, and marketing. Importantly, students will learn how organizations integrate different forms of communication to deliver clear and consistent messages to consumer and public audiences across all their communications platforms.
ISC 353 Writing for Public Relations
This course examines professional skills and strategies for public relations writing in its many forms, including social and digital media. Topics explore both the content and style of corporate, agency, government and non-profit client creation of effective messages in today's dynamic media environment. Students will analyze stakeholder information needs and create effective messages using tools such as; news releases, newsletters, media advisories, feature writing, public service announcements, crisis communications, and other typical public relations writing as part of a strategic public relations campaign kit.
Pre-requisite: COM 210 and ISC 251
ISC 356 Media Planning and Management (3 credit hours)
Introduction to media planning, buying, and management concepts. Includes characteristics of all forms of media, media terminology and calculations. Emphasis on solving communication problems from the perspective of strategic decision-making. Students will identify problems, develop alternative media solutions, and evaluate proposed solutions.
Pre-requisite: ISC 251
ISC 357 Creative Advertising (3 credit hours)
Students will focus on developing the creative dimensions for an Integrated Strategic Communications campaign related to a contemporary social issue, a commercial product or service and engage imaginatively with agency briefs, examine how ideas are creatively expressed using words and images and develop creative concepts, prepare a creative pitch and explore the story-telling and copy-writing dimensions of advertising. The course will have a significant applied component.
Pre-requisite: ISC 251
ISC 359 Integrated Strategic Communication Management & Planning
This course explores management principles and their application to developing strategic communication campaigns. Students study planning, organizing programs and projects, research and evaluation, and the implementation of management objectives to solve organizational problems and maximize opportunities. An applied project will enable students to use skills taught in this course to address a variety of audiences, including employees, the community, government, and consumers.
Pre-requisite: ISC 251
ISC 383 – Introduction to social media
A theoretical and practical introduction to social media and its role in the media experience. Students will research how social media has transformed personal and business communication with a particular focus on their own discipline. Significant practical work with current social media platforms. Introduction to data analytics
ISC 451 Integrated Strategic Communication Campaigns
This course prepares students to master the elements of a strategic communication campaign using principles and strategies of advertising, branding, public relations, corporate communication, and agency management. Students apply strategic communication skills and knowledge to an existing ISC challenge for a client. Acting as consultants, students produce an integrated strategic communication campaign.
MPS 220 Visual Storytelling
Focuses on capturing and telling stories through photographs that can be used for print and Web publications. Digital camera techniques for shooting and photo editing. Significant work will also be done in commercial, portrait, and documentary photography. Students will complete this course with a body of work worthy of submission to national photography competitions
MPS 321 Video Production
A combined lecture and skills development course that introduces students to the principles and techniques of location production and visual storytelling for journalism, documentary and narrative film as well as the creative use of multi-camera techniques for studio productions. Emphasis on directing, camera and lighting techniques, sound design, graphics, and production equipment operation.
MPS 331 Media and Cultural Criticism (3 credit hours)
An introduction to contemporary approaches for interpreting media texts and constructing meaning using historical and critical analysis. Students will learn to apply critical methods to popular culture, evaluate the aesthetic quality of print and broadcast messages and assess the techniques used by mass media to influence audiences.
MPS 341 Audio Production
Radio Audio Production is a lecture/laboratory course designed to introduce students to the industry stand production techniques used in radio audio production. Students will be instructed in the use of radio production equipment and the techniques used in producing audio elements for various types of pre-recorded and live radio programs.
MPS 361 Media History
A review of key milestones in the development of human communication and media, including print, electronic media, film and Internet. An historical overview of the Emirates and GCC media. Discussion of the impact of globalization on media as well as contemporary trends toward convergence of the media.
MPS 380 Web Production (3 credit hours)
Design, implementation, and management of communication on the Web through a variety of platforms. Students will learn introductory tools and develop skills in interactive software.
Pre-requisite: COM 212
MPS 382 Multimedia Production (3 credit hours)
Advanced skills in merging video, audio, animation, photography, and print into interactive multimedia experiences. Covers aesthetic direction, process, development, time management, and various graphic creation. Techniques in multimedia authoring, with applications for cds, dvds, and the internet - within film, broadcast, and journalistic contexts.
MPS 421 Advanced Media Production
Combined lecture and skills development course that engages students through an in depth examination of the creative, technical, production and distribution techniques of specific media content (print, audio, video, online) through production experience and class discussion. The class will explore craft, aesthetic, production and storytelling issues for both fiction and non-fiction.
Pre-requisite: MPS 321
MPS 457 Senior Capstone Project
This course allows students to combine the various skills they have learned into a final media production project. This body of work could be a short documentary or narrative film, a radio documentary, a screenplay or a research project on the media industry. The goal is to have a strong portfolio piece that can be showcased beyond a university setting and serve as an introduction to potential employers.
Pre-requisite: MPS 421
MPS 481 Zajel Student Media Production
A lab course for students to expand skills in writing, research, photography, videography, interviewing, technology, design, communication and problem solving while producing a student publication relevant and entertaining to students, faculty and the community. This is a practical class offering experiential learning in a quasi-professional media setting.
TCC 237 Interpersonal and Intercultural Communication (3 credit hours)
The influence of culture on interpersonal and cultural 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.
TCC 371 Tourism Principles (3 credit hours)
Introduction to the major tourism theories, concepts and practices. Focus on the concept of the tourism system as a communication system and how the key sectors and stakeholders (government, private, community, transport, accommodation and attractions) interact to produce a complete tourism product. Considers the factors that influence tourism demand and the impacts of tourism on destinations and people.
TCC 372 Communicating Tourism, Destinations and Heritage (3 credit hours)
An integrated approach to the application of public relations, advertising and marketing strategies for the effective promotion of destinations, cultural heritage and other tourist attractions, facilities, products and services. Emphasis on the use of multichannel, multimedia communication to build destination image, raise awareness, attract and inform. Uses case studies of global and local best practices.
Pre-requisite: TCC 371
TCC 375 Planning and Promotion for Events and Festivals (3 credit hours)
Develops a fundamental understanding of the various types of events and festivals. Examines the events planning process, organization, implementation and evaluation, including the creation of comprehensive event proposals, feasibility studies, the development of integrated communication strategies to meet the identified objectives, and managing the event or festival as a project.
TCC 471 Senior Tourism Project
This course requires students to apply the knowledge and skills they have developed to a contemporary challenge in tourism, culture and/or heritage. Students develop research and work in depth on formulating communication strategies to address one particular challenge. In doing so, students develop the capacity to draw on the theoretical and practical knowledge they have acquired throughout their coursework and apply it to the resolution of a problem (in the form of event, campaign, applied research, or any other innovative project). Students work on these projects in teams and under the guidance of a faculty and/or a community partner. Ideally, students work with a real client in the tourism industry in the UAE and make use of real-life situations. All projects should contain an element of public engagement.
Pre-requisite TCC 372
