28 courses with the subject COM, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
COM 101Introduction to Mass Communication3
This is a foundational course that establishes general knowledge about the field of mass media and communication. Students will explore the range of communication methods. Topics include print media, traditional broadcast industries, Internet communications and media regulation. This broad introduction is intended to help students identify their particular interests, and to aid them in choosing elective courses for their major emphasis or minor focus. 3 Credit(s).
Students will develop topics of their interest into professional quality audio podcasts. Media messafe design, pre-production planning, and digital file management will be intoduced, along with some basic techniques and equipmane used for audio recording. 3 Credit(s). 3 Contact Hour(s).
This course introduces students to script formats for film and television, and the creative processes associated with these formats. The course broadens student knowledge of the story components that contribute to the making of scripts. Students will interpret script structures by reading screenplays from popular films, and examine their own script ideas, and concepts to gain a better understanding of the screenwriting process 3 Credit(s). 2.45 Contact Hour(s).
COM 141142 to 441, 442 - Radio Performance Practicum/Seminar1
This course introduces students to the basic principles and techniques required in the day-to-day operation of a college radio station. Students are taught to use the equipment necessary to do a radio broadcast. Students will begin developing voice and performance techniques for radio. Students learn how to maintain the proper records for reporting performance activities and the rules and regulations laid out by the Federal Communications Commission that govern broadcast in the United States. The laboratory for the class will be FerrumRadio.com, the Ferrum College radio station. The students involved in the practicum will maintain a regularly broadcast radio show throughout the semester they are enrolled in the course. The minimum show length will be two hours a week. Courses must be taken in order. 1 Credit(s).
Starting with COM 142 each course has the preceding course as a
COM 173Sports in the Media3
This course introduces students to the link between media and sports organizations. The course highlights the various strategies that media institutions use to secure broadcasting rights, develop sports programming schedules, and plan brand-specific sports programming to generate revenue. Students will explore the various programming strategies of diverse sports networks, watch industry-specific documentaries and interviews with executives and sports media professionals, and identify the process of creating sports-based media content for sporting events. 3 Credit(s). 3 Contact Hour(s).
COM 190290 - Special Topics in Media and Communication3
This course provides flexibility to the Media & Communication curriculum by focusing on a timely topic of special interest that is not addressed in the regularly scheduled course offerings. Special Topics courses will provide students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of Media & Communication through in-depth study of narrowly defined topics. A student may repeat the course for credit only if the topics offered are different. 3 Credit(s).
COM 200Understanding Social Media: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly3
This course is an introduction to the vagaries of social media starting with the history of the Internet and chronologically moving through the heyday of social media platforms in the early 2Ks to our current state of hyper-politicized, divisive language and problematic monetization of platforms which have created an “attention economy.” We will answer questions in class, such as: Is social media still useful as a tool to communicate or is it simply harmful to society? How can we as a public change it to better serve users? The course syllabus may draw from some aspects of the previous iteration of this class regarding case studies from pubic relations but the emphasis would be on individual utilization of platforms and complications for users and attempting to answer broader societal questions in our current digital environment. 3 Credit(s).
ENG 112 - Composition & Research with a ”C” or higher in each class. Course Session Cycle: Every Semester Course Yearly Cycle: Every Year
COM 201Public Speaking3
[OC] Development of basic skills in oral communication through the study and practice of public speech construction and delivery, audience analysis, and listening and fundamental voice and body control. 3 Credit(s). This course has been identified in the General Education Curriculum as meeting the Oral Communication [OC] requirement.
This course will familiarize students with the structure and design of a variety of radio program formats, including analysis of both the content and business paradigms of present day radio broadcasts. Students will learn to create and produce radio programs through writing and practical on-air experience. Students will also design daily broadcast and commercial programming schedules. 3 Credit(s).
This course will introduce production skills building on knowledge learned in COM-111 Intro to Podcasting. This course will delve further into editing, interviewing, and producing. We will continue to listen to podcasts but the emphasis will be on recording and editing. Students will be evaluated on final projects and how effectively they interview, edit, and produce their stories. 3 Credit(s).
Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, the environment and managing environmental challenges have been the inspiration for everything from Pulitzer-winning newspaper series to thought-provoking Hollywood films to wildly popular social media campaigns. In this class, we’ll examine the ways the environment has been portrayed – aggressor, villain, hero, victim – and examine the effects of these portrayals on public opinion and public policy. Through this course, students will gain a greater understanding of issues including climate change, environmental preservation, and natural phenomena as well as examine the differences in various media portrayals of the environment in news articles, film, and social media. 3 Credit(s).
This course focuses on using a mobile device for multimedia storytelling. Students will explore and practice using the latest mobile tools (such as smartphones and tablets) and apps (such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, iMovie, Storify), with a commitment to telling stories that are fair, accurate, interesting, thorough, and humane. Specifically, students will learn to use the latest techniques and tools for writing, editing, video, audio and graphics for multimedia publication, including print, web and broadcast using mobile technology. 3 Credit(s).
COM 101 and ENG 112 - Composition & Research with a “C” or higher in each class. Course Session Cycle: Spring Semester Course Yearly Cycle: Even Years
COM 218Women Film Directors3
This course centers on the trials, triumphs, lives and socio-political context of female directors throughout history, in order to illuminate their significant cinematic contributions. Students will gain knowledge of the breadth and scope of female filmmakers’ work to date, will analyze relevant films, and will learn about how these women came to be filmmakers. Subject matter will move from overlooked early directors of the Silent, Sound and Golden Age periods, to the work of contemporary directors. For the latter portion of the class, an intensive look at the work of female directors, from the 60s to now, will illustrate both how their work has taken shape and the current climate of the industry.
ENG 112 - Composition & Research with a C or better.
COM 223Basic Audio Recording3
Students will learn the language and techniques of capturing and mixing sound. They will develop the skills needed to produce coherent audio recordings while developing their ability to analyze production quality and aesthetics. A foundation in audio recording prepares the student to make musical recordings, contribute to video and motion picture productions, or work in sound reinforcement. It is an academic stepping-stone to greater success in other media courses and prepares majors for their senior seminar capstone project. 3 Credit(s).
This course familiarizes the student with standard video production equipment and techniques with an emphasis on electronic field production (EFP) for news gathering and location videography. Standard studio production methods and control room functions are also examined. 3 Credit(s).
COM 236237 to 436, 437 - Video Production Practicum1
Students gain first-hand practical experience in video production by providing service to the College, local community, business, or the Media & Communication program. Forty-five service hours equals one credit. 1 Credit(s). 45 Service Hour(s).
COM 235 - Fundamental of TV and Video Production Course Session Cycle: Every Semester Course Yearly Cycle: Every Year
COM 310Media Law & Ethics3
Survey of general principles of legal and ethical issues that arise in the mass media. Legal issues include libel, intellectual property, obscenity, censorship, and access to public records and meetings. Ethical issues include fabrication, plagiarism, and privacy. The course methodology involves the student’s learning general principles of media law and ethics and applying those principles to cases. Course is cross listed with ENG-310. 3 Credit(s). 3 Contact Hour(s).
ENG 112 - Composition & Research with grade of C or better. Course Session Cycle: Spring Semester Course Yearly Cycle: Even years
COM 312Podcasting Skills3
This class further builds on podcasting production skills and will require students to exercise field reporting skills in addition to studio skills and complete two to three audio projects. 3 Credit(s).
[HFA] In this class, we’ll consider a variety of forms of food media, including food memoir, as well as food writing, criticism, and reporting. We’ll learn through all of our senses, training our palates through in-class tastings and visits to local farmer’s markets and restaurants. Building on this embodied knowledge, we’ll grow our writing skills of description to fully capture in words what foods taste like, whether surprising and new or nostalgic and comforting. 3 Credit(s). This course has been designated as Humanities and Fine Arts [HFA] in the General Education Requirements for Ferrum College.
ENG 112 - Composition & Research with a C or better. Course Session Cycle: Fall Semester Course Yearly Cycle: Every Semester
COM 323Stage Audio3
Students will learn the language and techniques of mixing live sound for the stage. They will develop the skills needed to produce effective audio reinforcement and their ability to analyze production quality and aesthetics. A foundation in audio reinforcement prepares the student to create and execute sound amplification strategies for a variety of stage productions intended for live audiences. 3 Credit(s).
COM 223 - Basic Audio Recording with a “C” or higher. Course Session Cycle: Fall Semester Course Yearly Cycle: Even Years
COM 335Advanced Video Production3
This course emphasizes production quality in visual storytelling. Students will use professional grade video production equipment, digital editing software, standard audio recording equipment, and mobile lighting equipment. Students will practice techniques for news gathering and location videography. High levels of sound recording and video production quality will be stressed while producing visual stories. 3 Credit(s).
COM 235 - Fundamental of TV and Video Production with a “C” or higher. Course Session Cycle: Spring Semester Course Yearly Cycle: Even Years
COM 345Sports Media Broadcasting3
This course focuses on developing sports ideas for visual production. Students will practice methods for sports broadcasting, editing, and videography. Students will also create television sports narratives and highlight reels. 3 Credit(s). 3 Contact Hour(s).
COM 235 - Fundamental of TV and Video Production Course Session Cycle: Spring Semester Course Yearly Cycle: Even Years
COM 359Documentary Photography3
This course focuses on capturing images in the documentary style. Media & Communication students may choose this as a program elective. Documentary Photography emphasizes visual storytelling that reflects reality as captured in the moment the image is made, rather than digital or darkroom image manipulation. This approach is essential to photojournalists and those interested in creating fact-based film or video. 3 Credit(s).
ART 215 - Photoshop with a “C” or higher. Course Session Cycle: Spring Semester Course Yearly Cycle: Even Years
COM 390Multiculturalism and the Media3
Students will watch a series of documentary films that looked in to the way gender, ethnicity, age, and nationality are presented in the media. Meanwhile, they’ll have a face-to-face conversation with practitioners and scholars from the U.S. and other nations to discuss hot-button topics in our society, including the origins of stereotypes and the representation of gender and ethnicity in media. Ultimately, students are expected to have a comprehensive understanding of race, gender, sexual preference, religion, nationality, and even age. approx $80/ student 3 Credit(s). 3 Contact Hour(s).
The goal of this class will be to produce an actual pilot episode of a podcast and include skills such as scheduling interviews, using recording equipment, editing, and marketing and promoting student’s shows. This class curriculum will culminate in submission to the NPR College Student Podcast Challenge. 3 Credit(s).
This course emphasizes writing in several formats. Student projects will include short scripts for film and television. This course prepares the production-oriented student for their senior seminar capstone project in Media and Communication 3 Credit(s).
ENG 112 - Composition & Research with a “C” or higher, COM 133 - Screenwriting Fundamentals and Junior standing. Course Session Cycle: Spring Semester Course Yearly Cycle: Every Year
COM 483Senior Synthesis Seminar3
This course is the capstone experience for Media and Communication majors. Students demonstrate an applied synthesis of media theory by producing either: (1) an empirical inquiry and scholarly report on one communication topic, or (2) a coordinated set of detailed planning and pre-production documents suitable for producing a professional-grade video or film. 3 Credit(s).
ENG 112 - Composition & Research , COM 101 - Introduction to Mass Communication , COM 304 - Communication Research , COM 369 - Mass Media and Behavior with a “C” or higher in each class. Course Session Cycle: Spring Semester Course Yearly Cycle: Every Year
COM 499Internship3
This course will allow the student to gain practical experience and apply their academic preparation in an environment related to their career interests. Internships are normally spent in a 400-hour off-campus work situation or voluntary service activity. They are carefully supervised and designed to provide practical experience in professional environments. This course has an additional fee. 3 Credit(s). 400 Service Hour(s).
