Dept of Communication, NIU

Additional Schedule Information

This posting includes general information, permit instructions and the course schedules for the Department of Communication (COMS and JOUR) Summer and Fall 2004 semester. Room assignments will be announced in the NIU Schedule of Classes publication. A number of courses have not been assigned to instructors/ professors at this time. Last-minute staff or room changes may be made on occasion. You will note that many Spring courses are permit courses. This reflects the high demand for our courses and our major programs.
Interested in earning COMS 407 credit in the Fall or Summer? To learn more about COMS 407 opportunities and obtain paperwork, attend the informational session Monday, March 29, at 5 p.m. in DuSable 276 and/or go to www.niu.edu/comm/ugrad/407.
For more information on earning credit while studying overseas, go to the Study Abroad office in Williston 417. Study Abroad programs for Summer 2004 – which are accepting registrations now – include:
- “Media & Culture in Ireland,” led by Dr. Jeff Chown, June 21 through July 16:
  *COMS 454Z, COMS 496MZ and/or COMS 549Z

NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, handicap or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam-era veteran. Such discrimination is prohibited by Titles VI/VII of the Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments, sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Age Discrimination Acts of 1974.

GENERAL EDUCATION INFORMATION

Any Communication Studies or Journalism course may be taken as an elective by students. General Education credit, however, is granted only for the following courses:

Humanities:

COMS 220 Rhetoric and Public Issues

COMS 230 Rhetoric and the Media

COMS 240 Rhetoric of Interpersonal Communication

COMS 356 Critical Interpretation of Film/TV

COMS 410 Communication and Gender

Interdisciplinary:

JOUR 150 Introduction to Mass Communication

One can use these courses in one's second major or in a minor and as general education but not in general education and one's first major. In COMS/JOUR, one can't do COMS for JOUR or JOUR for COMS, even in a minor or second major.

For more information about general education classes, go to www.reg.niu.edu/gened.

QUICK TIPS

The following tips are VERY GENERAL. They SHOULD NOT take the place of a session with an advisor, who can give advice specific to a student’s interests and course of study. Furthermore, advisors get VERY BUSY when permits are due. Plan ahead and schedule an advising session now.
Summer classes DO NOT require permits; however, summer classes can fill quickly. Enroll via TRACS (web or phone) as soon as you are eligible. Additional information about off-campus summer offerings is available at www.outreach.niu.edu/rcc.
A number of fall class sections are currently listed as administratively closed. If the budget allows, these sections will be opened and seats will be available via TRACS (web or phone). Please check TRACS for the status of these sections: COMS 309-2; COMS 404-2; COMS 491-1; JOUR 312-3; JOUR 410-1.
Students starting out in the COMS major should take COMS 252 as soon as possible.
COMS 364X and JOUR 364 are the same class.
There will be a portfolio review process for a seat in COMS 426. Obtain an application form from www.niu.edu/~tm0lrv1/portfolio.
To fulfill the law requirement, students may take COMS 403 or COMS 455 or JOUR 480. Students should take only one of these courses. Because the law courses are rigorous, students should take their law class toward the end of their program of study.
If you took COMS 461 in the past, it is the same as the new COMS 461A. Do not take both! COMS 461A and COMS 461B are different courses – you may take both.
There is no COMS 495A or COMS 495B in the summer. COMS 491 also fulfills the senior capstone requirement. (For more information, see the hot pink flyer in the metal racks outside Watson 209 or meet with your advisor.)
COMS 495A should be arranged now for the spring semester. Do not wait until the spring semester begins, or professors may elect not to work with a student. Forms are available in Watson 209.
COMS 435X and JOUR 435 are the same class. .
Students starting out in the JOUR major or minor should take JOUR 200A or JOUR 200B as soon as possible.JOUR 200A is basic news writing with a broad focus. JOUR 200B is geared a little more specifically on news writing for electronic media. Journalism students may choose either class.