Course Directory
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT REGISTERING FOR CLASSES:
Many courses above the 100-level, particularly skills courses, have prerequisites. Students are responsible for checking those prerequisites because the registration system at UNC-Chapel Hill does not screen for prerequisites. If you register for a class and do not have the prerequisites, you will have to drop the class. For permission of the school, see staff in the student records office in Carroll Hall 154. For permission of the instructor, see the faculty member who is teaching that section of the course in the semester you are registering.
(Note: the first number is the course number in effect. The number in brackets is any course number prior to fall 2007. The number in parentheses is the credit hours.)
61 First-Year Seminar: Sex, Drugs, and Rock ’n’ Roll: Teen Health and the Media (3). Students will examine the existing research and gather their own evidence for or against negative health effects. They will create media literacy exercise that could help interpret/resist negative health effects.
89 First-Year Seminar: Special Topics (3). Special topics course. Contents will vary each semester.
100 Grammar Review for JOMC students (1). The goal of this course is to teach students basic skills in grammar, punctuation and spelling and help prepare them for the school's spelling and grammar exam. Students must earn a score of 70 or above on the exam to receive their degree.101 The World of Mass Communication (3). Overview of mass communication’s vital role in society with discussion of media institutions, theories, practices, professional fields, and effects on society, groups, and individuals.
102 Future Vision: Exploring the Visual World (3). Survey of visual communication tools, techniques, and theories, and how they may be used in all areas of the mass media, present and future. Not open to students who have already taken JOMC 180, 182, or 187.
121 Writing for the Electronic Media (3). Analysis of broadcast journalism; theory and practice in communicating news, primarily through the medium of radio.
137 Principles of Advertising and Public Relations (3). Survey of the economics, psychology, philosophy, and history of both fields, with emphasis on research foundations and the design, execution, and assessment of strategic communication efforts.
141 Professional Problems and Ethics (3). Intensive study through concepts and cases of ethical issues and problems facing mass communication professionals in modern society.
153 News Writing (3). Sophomore standing and keyboarding skills required. Study of elements of news stories, writing of leads, organization and writing of various types of news stories.
157 News Editing (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 153. Study and practice in copy reading, headline writing, and proofreading, with attention given to printing terminology, page makeup, type structure, computer use in editing, and analysis of newspapers.
180 Beginning Photojournalism (3). Permission of the school. An introductory course in photojournalistic technique and content gathering. Students photograph, edit, and publish assignments, including general news events, sports, feature and portrait assignments, and a picture story.
181 Intermediate Photojournalism (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 180. Permission of the school. Students expand their personal photographic vision and professional portfolio by honing their knowledge and skills of studio and location lighting, propping, and styling. Students learn studio and location portraiture and photo illustration and create a photo essay or portrait series.
182 Introduction to Graphic Design (3). Permission of the school. Principles and practices of design, typography, graphics, and production for visual communication for print and electronic media. Computer graphics and pagination.
187 Introduction to Multimedia (3). Permission of the school. Entry-level course in multimedia storytelling that includes modules on theory; the profession; design; content gathering; and editing, programming, publishing, and usability.
221 Audio-Video Information Gathering (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 153. Restricted to declared journalism majors and minors. Introduces students to the tools and skills needed to engage in quality news-oriented storytelling with audio, video, and multimedia. Students will learn to deliver news stories using multiple platforms, taking advantage of the strengths of each.
232 Public Relations Writing (3). Prerequisites, JOMC 137 and 153. Education and practice in communication skills required of public relations practitioners. Service-learning course.
240 Current Issues in Mass Communication (3). Analysis of the interrelationships between United States mass media and the society that they serve.
242 The Mass Media and United States History (3). An examination of the development of the mass media in the context of history. Emphasis is on major developments and trends within a chronological framework.
244 Talk Politics: An Introduction to Political Communication (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 153. An overview of political communication issues and an examination of political campaigns for students who intend to practice communication in the public arena and for those interested in political processes.
245 Sports and the Media (1). A comprehensive overview of the relationship between sports and the media. Athletes, coaches, and professionals share what goes into producing the sports journalism that we read, listen to, and watch.
253 Reporting (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 153. Exercises in news gathering, interviewing, and writing news.
256 Feature Writing (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 153. Instruction and practice in writing feature articles for newspapers and magazines.
258 Editorial Writing (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 153. Practice in writing editorials for daily and nondaily newspapers.
271 Advertising Copy and Communication (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 137. Application of findings from social science research; social responsibility of the copywriter and advertiser; preparation of advertisements for the mass media; research in copy testing.
272 Advertising Media (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 137. The media-planning function in advertising for both buyers and sellers of media; the relationships among media, messages, and audiences; computer analysis.
279 Advertising and Public Relations Research (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 137. Critical understanding and application of quantitative and qualitative methods used in the strategic planning and evaluation of advertising and public relations campaigns.
296 Individual Study (3). Permission of the instructor. An individual readings and problems course to be directed by a faculty member in whose field of interest the subject matter lies.
333 Video Communication for Public Relations and Marketing (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 137. Introduction to the use of video as a means of communication with a variety of an organization’s publics, both internal and external.
340 Introduction to Mass Communication Law (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 153. Introduction to press freedom and the First Amendment, including libel, privacy, access to information, free press-fair trial, advertising and broadcast regulation, journalistic privilege, and prior restraint.
342 The Black Press and United States History (AFAM 412) (3). A chronological survey of the African American press in the United States since 1827. Emphasis is on key people and issues during critical areas in the African American experience.
349 Introduction to Internet Issues and Concepts (3). Students develop an understanding of social, legal, political, and other issues related to the use of the Internet. Offered online.
376 Sports Marketing and Advertising (3). Examines the range of promotional techniques being used in the modern sports industry. Topics include sponsorships, advertising, merchandising, and the effects of commercialization.
377 Sports Communication (3). Permission of the instructor. Examination of organizations involved in the sports communication field, including publishing, team and league media relations, college sports information offices, broadcasting, and advertising.
394 Mass Communication Practicum (1). Prerequisite, JOMC 153. Permission of the instructor for students lacking the prerequisite. Students work with area media and advertising and public relations firms and meet weekly for consultation and evaluation by the faculty advisor. Must be taken Pass/D/Fail only.
421 Electronic Journalism (3). Prerequisites, JOMC 121 and 221. Examination and application of in-depth broadcast news reporting techniques, especially hard news reporting and special events coverage.
422 Producing Television News (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 421. Permission of the instructor. Students work under faculty guidance to produce "Carolina Week," a television news program, and are responsible for all production tasks such as producing, reporting, anchoring, directing, and others.
423 Television News and Production Management (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 422. Permission of the instructor. Students participate in a collaborative learning environment to hone skills learned in earlier courses and help less-experienced students acclimate to the broadcast news experience within the school. By invitation only.
424 Electronic Media Management and Policy (3). Introduces management, station operation, and economic and legal issues one might encounter while working in electronic media. Provides a background of electronic media organizations in addition to providing information needed to understand the policies under which media managers work.
425 Voice and Diction (3). Designed to help students develop presentation skills and use voices effectively as professional broadcast journalists.
426 Producing Radio (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 121. Students work under faculty guidance to produce "Carolina Connection," a weekly 30-minute radio news program, and are responsible for all production tasks: producing, reporting, anchoring, and editing.
427 Studio Production for Television News (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 221. This course is a project-based, hands-on studio production course with special focus on technical skill development and directing in a news environment.
428 Broadcast History (3). A theoretical course designed to help students develop an understanding of and an appreciation for the role broadcast journalism has played in recent American history.
431 Case Studies in Public Relations (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 137. Analysis of public relations practices, including planning, communication, and evaluation exercises, and management responsibilities.
433 Crisis Communication (3). Prerequisites, JOMC 137 and 431. Principles of effective crisis communication management are introduced, applied, and practiced in this service-learning class. Students apply the concepts, theories, and frameworks learned in the classroom by working with community partners to research, design, and deliver crisis communication plans and media training.
434 Public Relations Campaigns (3). Prerequisites, JOMC 232, 279, and 431. Capstone course that builds on concepts and skills from earlier courses. Students use formal and informal research methods to develop a strategic plan, including evaluation strategies, for a client.
435 Public Information Strategies (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 137. This course provides a comprehensive assessment and understanding of the role of public relations professionals throughout government and the nonprofit sector as well. The course examines the unique requirements placed on communicators who are simultaneously responsible for representing their respective organizations while keeping the public informed.
441 Diversity and Communication (3). An examination of racial stereotypes and minority portrayals in United States culture and communication. Emphasis is on the portrayal of Native Americans, African Americans, Hispanics, and Asian Americans in the mass media.
442 Gender and Mass Communication (WMST 415) (3). An examination of gender as it relates to media producers, subjects, and audiences with a focus on current practices and possibilities for change.
443 Latino Media Studies (3). An introductory course to the study of United States Latina/os and the media. It analyzes the media portrayal of Latina/os in United States mainstream media. The course also examines media that cater to Latina/os and explores the way in which Latina/o audiences use the multiple media offerings available to them.
445 Process and Effects of Mass Communication (3). Mass communication as a social process, incorporating literature from journalism, social psychology, sociology, political science, and history. To acquaint students with factors in message construction, dissemination, and reception by audiences.
446 International Communication and Comparative Journalism (3). Development of international communication; the flow of news and international propaganda; the role of communication in international relations; communication in developing nations; comparison of press systems.
447 International Media Studies (3). The study of media system operations in a particular country, such as Mexico, including how news and information are disseminated and used by audiences. Taught in the spring semester and includes a trip to that country during spring break.
448 Freedom of Expression in the United States (3). An examination of the development of freedom of expression in the United States within the context of the nation’s history.
449 Blogging, Smart Mobs, and We the Media (3). For advanced undergraduates through Ph.D. students. Practical and theoretical approaches to understanding, designing, building, and using virtual communities, including studies of network capital, social capital, and social production.
450 Business and the Media (3). Role of media in United States society and effects on public perceptions of business. Relationship of business press and corporate America. Current issues in business journalism.
451 Economics Reporting (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 153. Coverage of Wall Street and the economy, including stocks, bonds, and economic indicators. Reporting on the Federal Reserve, labor, consumer sector, manufacturing and inflation, and certain industries.
452 Business Reporting (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 153. Methods and tactics of covering businesses for mass communication. Why and how companies operate and how to write stories about corporate news from public records and other sources.
453 Advanced Reporting (3). Prerequisites, JOMC 153 and 253. Rigorous, in-depth instruction and critiques of students’ news and feature assignments done with different reporting methodologies: interviewing, official records, direct and participant observation, and survey research (the Carolina Poll).
454 Advanced Feature Writing (3). Prerequisites, JOMC 153 and 256. Writing and reporting important topics in in-depth feature articles. Discussion and utilization of writing and reporting techniques in order to complete articles for publication or other dissemination. In-depth instruction and critiques of student work.
455 Sports Writing (3). Researching and writing sports stories, including game coverage, magazine features, and opinion columns. Students complete reporting and writing exercises inside and outside of the classroom.
456 Magazine Writing and Editing (3). Prerequisites, JOMC 153 and 256. Instruction and practice in planning, writing, and editing copy for magazines.
457 Advanced Editing (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 157. Concentration on the editing and display of complex news and features stories and other print media content with a significant emphasis on newspaper design and graphics.
458 Southern Politics: Critical Thinking and Writing (3). News analysis with special attention to states of the American South and especially to elections. Social and economic trends, as well as politics and government serve as raw material for interpretive journalism.
459 Community Journalism (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 153. Comprehensive study of the community press, including policies, procedures, and issues surrounding the production of smaller newspapers within the context of the community in its social and civic setting.
463 Newsdesk (3). Permission of the instructor. Students work under faculty guidance to create and update a news Web site. Students will blog their reporting, conceptualize and execute multimedia news reports, and learn how to lead online conversations that engage both readers and sources. Requires travel in and around Chapel Hill.
472 Art Direction in Advertising (3). Prerequisites, JOMC 137 and 271. Focuses on the concept and craft of art direction in the advertising and promotional industries. Topics include an introduction to the use of typography, layout, design, and photography. Students will develop ideas and execute them in finished layout formats as samples for their portfolio.
473 Advertising Campaigns (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 271 or 272. Planning and executing advertising campaigns; types and methods of advertising research; the economic function of advertising in society.
475 Concepts of Marketing (3). Designed for students anticipating careers in advertising, public relations, or related areas, this course teaches the vocabulary and basic concepts of marketing as it will be practiced, emphasizing the role of mass communication.
476 Ethical Issues and Sports Communication (3). Permission of the instructor. Ethical dilemmas and decisions in the commercialization and coverage of sports, including the influence of television, pressure to change traditions and standards for monetary reasons, and negative influences on athletes.
478 Media Marketing (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 137. Principles and practices of retail advertising in all media, with emphasis on selling, writing, and layout of retail advertising for the print media.
480 Advanced Photojournalism (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 180; pre- or corequisite, JOMC 153. Permission of the school. Advanced course in photojournalism content gathering, history, ethics and storytelling. Students shoot advanced newspaper and magazine assignments and create short multimedia stories combining photography, audio, and video.
481 Documentary Photojournalism (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 480. Permission of the school. Students study the documentary tradition and produce stories within the social documentary genre of photojournalism. Students choose a relevant social issue and create a multimedia Web site featuring long-form documentary storytelling.
482 Newspaper Design (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 182; pre- or corequisite, JOMC 153. Permission of the school. Detailed study of page layout and graphics techniques in newspapers.
483 Magazine Design (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 482. Permission of the school. Detailed study of page layout and graphics techniques in magazines.
484 Information Graphics (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 182. Permission of the instructor for students lacking the prerequisite. Study and application of graphic design and information-gathering techniques to creating charts, maps, and diagrams.
490 Special Topics in Mass Communication (1–3). Small classes on various aspects of journalism-mass communication with subjects and instructors varying each semester. Descriptions for each section available on the school’s Web site under Course Details.
491 Special Skills in Mass Communication (1–3). Courses on various skills in journalism-mass communication with subjects and instructors varying each semester. This course satisfies a skills- or craft-course requirement. Descriptions for each section available on the school’s Web site under Course Details.
551 Digital Media Economics and Behavior (3). This course is designed to introduce a number of concepts, including creative destruction, public versus private financing, and digital revenue strategies as they relate to media economic issues. The course is appropriate for students in advertising and public relations, as well as those in journalism.
552 Leadership in a Time of Change (3). Prerequisites, JOMC 452 or 475 or 551. During a time of fast-paced technological innovation, this course examines the critical strategic choices facing media executives. Students will observe and research a media company that is making the transition, as well as produce a case study on that effort.
560 Medical Journalism (HBHE 660, HPM 550) (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 153. Permission of the instructor for students lacking the prerequisite. Prepares students to work as medical journalists for a variety of media, including print, broadcast, and the Internet. The course emphasizes writing skills and interpreting medical information for consumers.
561 Medical Reporting for the Electronic Media (HBHE 561, HPM 551) (3). Conceiving, scripting, reporting, producing, and editing medical stories for electronic media, especially television. Students work in teams to produce reports for "Carolina Week," the student-produced television newscast.
562 Science Documentary (HBHE 562, HPM 552) (3). Television students learn skills needed to produce a science documentary for broadcast on television, including research, reporting, script writing, and video editing.
564 Medical and Science Reporting (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 153. Required preparation, a second reporting or writing course. Focuses on developing strategies to research and write about medical issues, specifically selecting topics, finding and evaluating sources, and information gathering. Students produce a range of stories, from short consumer pieces to in-depth articles.
581 Multimedia Design (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 187. Permission of the instructor for students lacking the prerequisite. Theory and practice of multimedia design with an emphasis on usability, design theory, and evaluative methodologies, including focus groups, survey research, eye-track testing, and search engine optimization.
582 Interactive Multimedia Narratives (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 180 or 187; 221. Permission of the school. Students will learn audio and video content gathering, editing and story telling techniques, and how to publish these media onto a variety of multimedia platforms.
583 Multimedia Programming and Production (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 586. Permission of the school. Advanced course in multimedia programming languages that includes designing and building dynamic projects.
584 Documentary Multimedia Storytelling (3). Permission of the instructor. Students work on a semester-long documentary multimedia project that includes photo and video journalists, audio recordists, designers, infographics artists, and programmers. Open by application to students who have completed an advanced course in visual or electronic communication.
585 3D Design Studio (3). Prerequisites, JOMC 187 and 182. Permission of the instructor. The use of 3D design and animation to create visual explanations.
586 Intermediate Multimedia (3). Prerequisite, JOMC 187. Basic programming, graphic design and storytelling for the Web. Students will work in a Flash authoring environment and learn how to design, storyboard and script an interactive storytelling project. Students will collect and incorporate photos, videos, sound, text, graphics and database information into interactive multimedia presentations.
602 Mass Communication Education in the Secondary School (3). Graduate standing. Readings, discussion, and projects fostering excellence in teaching journalism-mass communication in the high school, from philosophy and practice to professional skills.
603 Mass Communication Law in the Secondary School (3). Graduate standing. Application of First Amendment speech and press freedoms to secondary school media, including libel, privacy, access to information, journalistic privilege, prior restraint, advertising and broadcast regulations, and ethical practices.
604 Mass Communication Writing and Editing in the Secondary School (3). Graduate standing. High school journalism teachers and advisors learn to teach the skills journalists need to communicate. Emphasis on writing and thinking skills necessary to convert information into clear messages.
605 Design and Production of Secondary School Publications (3). Graduate standing. High school journalism teachers and advisors learn to teach the skills journalists need to produce publications. Designed for persons with no background in design. Degree-seeking students may not use both JOMC 182/185 and 605 to complete degree requirements.
670 Special Topics in Advertising (1–3). Courses on special topics in advertising with subjects and instructors varying each semester.
691H Introductory Honors Course (3). Permission of the instructor. Required of all students reading for honors in journalism.
692H Honors Essay (3). Permission of the instructor. Required of all students reading for honors in journalism.
Updated August 2011.
