APR Graduate Course Descriptions

Note: Plan I and Plan II programs have different course requirements.
 
ADVERTISING & PUBLIC RELATIONS COURSES
APR 522. Media Planning: Three hours. Development of media objectives, strategies, and budgets and implementation of media plans for advertising and public relations. Each student prepares and presents a media plan.

APR 570. Contemporary Advertising and Public Relations: Three hours. An advanced survey of the academic and professional literature underlying the contemporary practice of advertising and public relations.

APR 572. Persuasive Communication: Three hours. The practice of creating, writing, editing, and producing persuasive communication for advertising and public relations. Writing skills are exercised extensively in this course.

APR 582. Advertising and Public Relations Management: Three hours. Problems and decision-making processes involved in the management of advertising and public relations programs and organizations.

APR 583. Research Applications in Advertising and Public Relations: Three hours. Prerequisite: MC 550. Application of research methods and procedures for problem solving and impact assessment in advertising and public relations programs.

APR 590. Visual Communication: Three hours. The practice of developing ideas and creative strategies for professional evaluations about design and its application. Each student prepares a portfolio.

APR 592. Integrated Communication Project. A message-oriented course. Students conceptualize and execute integrated communication programs. Topics vary.

APR 596. Independent Study or Research: One to three hours. Prerequisite: consent of the academic adviser and instructor.

597. Communication Campaign Workshop I: Three hours. Research to develop an advertising and public relations campaign for a specific organization. This is the preparation stage for the major case study prepared by the student in APR 598.

598. Communication Campaign Workshop II (Master's Project): Three hours. Development and presentation of a complete advertising and public relations plan and proposal for the specific organization studied in APR 597. Integration of theory, concepts, and techniques in a complete communication program.

599. Thesis Research: Three hours. Prerequisite: consent of the academic adviser.
 
MASS COMMUNICATION COURSES
501. Mass Media Law and Regulation: Three hours. A study of the laws affecting the mass media, decisions, and case histories that act as guides for the media. Independent readings and papers are required.

503. Theory of Communication: Three hours. A study of the basic theories of the process and effects of communication. Independent readings and papers are required.

505. Social Responsibility of the Mass Media: Three hours. Interrelationships of government, the public, and the media. Independent readings and papers are required.

509. History of Mass Communication: Three hours. An intensive study of the historical development of the mass media. Independent readings and papers are required.

511. International Mass Communication: Three hours. A survey of mass communication systems and theories operative in the world. Independent readings and papers are required. 513. Communication and Diversity: Three hours. Study and analysis of issues of diversity as they relate to groups in society and in mass communication fields. Emphasis is on the mass media's treatment of various groups in society.

515. Mass Communication Processes and Effects: Three hours. Mass communication processes and their social-psychological and cultural effects on the individual, groups, and society; impact of media messages on knowledge, attitudes, and behavior.

517. Mass Communication and Public Opinion: Three hours. Nature, development, formation, and distribution of politically relevant attitudes and opinions; role of leadership, persuasion, and communication in opinion-policy process. Emphasis on the role of the mass media in the formation of public opinion and on how the mass media are influenced in turn by public opinion.

521. Political Communication: Three hours. The purpose of this course is to explore the general character and dimensions of the cross-disciplinary field of political communication. The principal aim is to familiarize each participant with the literature and propositions surrounding to familiarize each participant with the literature and propositions surrounding key approaches, methods, and substantive areas of inquiry in political communication.

550. Communication Research Methods: Three hours. A survey of qualitative and quantitative methods in communication research.

551. Seminar in Communication Theory*: Three hours. A study of the development of selected theories of communication as they pertain to interpersonal, public, and mass communication.

581. Media Analysis Seminar: Three hours. A study of media content and its effects on society.

582. History of Communication Seminar: Three hours. Research and study in the historical development of the media, particularly in the United States.

583. Media and Society Seminar: Three hours. Research and study in society's expectations of the media and the response of the media.

584. International Communication Seminar: Three hours. Research and study in specific media, press systems, and theories outside the United States.

585. Communication Law Seminar: Three hours. Research in and study of specific laws and regulations related to the media.