Northern Illinois University
Department of Communication
Undergraduate Emphasis: Media Studies

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Design & Maintenance: Matt Duncan
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Published: Dept. of Communication, NIU
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Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate, you must fulfill lines 1-5 (according to 2003-2004 NIU Undergraduate Catalog).

  1. Required courses:
    • COMS 251 : Introduction to Media Studies (3)
    • COMS 252 : Introduction to Communication Studies (3)
    • COMS 355 : Media Writing (3)
    • COMS 356 : Critical Interpretation of Film/TV (3)
    • COMS 407 : Practicum (1) The practicum can be filled in several ways (as a teaching assistant, research assistant, lab assistant, etc.). You can find a list of 407 opportunities in the racks outside Watson 209. You must fill out a permit for this requirement, available from Watson 209.
  2. Choose one of the following courses:
    • COMS 357 : Introduction to Studio Production (3)
    • COMS 358 : Introduction to Field Production (3)
  3. Choose one of the following courses:
    • COMS 455 : Media Law and Ethics (3)
    • COMS 403 : Freedom of Speech and Communication Ethics (3)
    • * JOUR 480 : Journalism Law and Regulation (3)
  4. Choose one of the following courses:
    • * COMS 495A : Capstone Project: Senior Thesis (1)
    • * COMS 495B : Capstone Project: Senior Portfolio (1)
  5. Choose six of the following courses:
    Note: Of these six courses (18 hours), no more than three courses (9 hours) may be at the 300 level, and no more than 2 courses (6 hours) may be in journalism. Students should choose additional courses up to the limit of fifty (50) in the major to enhance their own program. Profiles of suggested courses of study are available for students interested in corporate video production, corporate interactive video, broadcast production and critical studies.
    • * COMS 309 : Performance in Speech Communication (3)
    • COMS 357 : Introduction to Studio Production (3)
    • COMS 358 : Introduction to Field Production (3)
    • COMS 359 : Interactive Media Production I (3)
    • COMS 370 : Principles of Advertising (3)
    • COMS 380 : Corporate Advocacy and Issue Management (3)
    • COMS 419 : Political Communication in America (3)
    • * COMS 426 : Advanced Field Production and Post Production (3)
    • * COMS 436 : Advanced Post Production (3)
    • COMS 446 : Designing for the Internet (3)
    • * COMS 449 : Audio Production (3)
    • COMS 454 : Transnational Communication and Media (3)
    • COMS 456C : History of Film Before 1950 (3)
    • COMS 456D : History of Film After 1950 (3)
    • COMS 457 : The Documentary Tradition (3)
    • COMS 459 : History of Broadcasting (3)
    • COMS 460 : Broadcasting Theory and Criticism (3)
    • COMS 462 : Film Theory and Criticism (3)
    • * COMS 463 : Advanced Studio Production (3)
    • COMS 465 : Computer-Mediated Communication (3)
    • * COMS 466 : Narrative Scriptwriting (3)
    • * COMS 467 : Corporate Scriptwriting (3)
    • * COMS 469 : Interactive Media Production II (3)
    • * COMS 470 : Campaign Strategies and Development (3)
    • * COMS 491 : Methods of Research in Communication (3)
    • ** COMS 496M : Special Topics in Media Studies (3)
    • COMS 497 : Internship (3)
    • COMS 498A : Tutorial: Non Production (3)
    • COMS 498B : Tutorial: Media Production (3)
    • * JOUR 335 : Principles of Public Relations (3)
    • * JOUR 354 : Fundamentals of Broadcast News (3)
    • * JOUR 435 : Advanced Public Relations (3)
    • * JOUR 449 : Media Management (3)
    • * JOUR 483 : Mass Media in Modern Society (3)

* Course requires a prerequisite. See undergraduate catalog for details.

** Special Topics in Media Studies may each be repeated to a maximum of 6 semester hours when topics vary.

Note: All transfer evaluations, substitutions, waivers, etc., will be processed in the undergraduate director’s office. (Course permit details will be available during the beginning of each term.)

Also note: Courses cannot count twice in double major, double emphasis or major/minor combinations (e.g., if JOUR 480 is in a journalism minor, you must have a different course – not COMS 403 or COMS 455, just a COMS elective – in your communication major).

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