Communications (COMM)
COMM 1101 Understanding Journalism. Designed for the general education student, the course discusses the major theories about journalism, democracy, and citizenship. In this course, journalism is re-defined as the process in which citizens inform themselves about the issues that affect their lives and their future. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Designation: Political, Global, and Economic Systems (QPE)
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Periodically)
COMM 1110 Speech Communication. (Formerly SPCH 110) An introduction to public speaking, communication theory and small-group and interpersonal communication. Assignments cover informative speaking and persuasive debate. The course includes researched extemporaneous speeches and several in-class exercises. Please note: For the Online courses, speeches must be delivered to a live audience and recorded for submission. IAI C2900 3 semester credit hour/s.
Designation: Oral Communication
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Fall and Spring Terms)
MESA
MESA
COMM 1150 Introduction to Media Studies and Mass Persuasion. (Formerly 150) A writing and speaking-intensive introduction to communication arts theory and research, with an emphasis on analyzing mass media messages and understanding their underlying cultural and historical contexts. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Designation: Writing Intensive Class
Campus: MESA
COMM 1155 Introduction to Digital Story Telling. (Formerly 155) In this course, students will be introduced to a variety of media production technology including digital photography, videography, visual communication, the Adobe Creative Suite for Layout, Graphic Design, and Editing. This course is designed to give students introductory knowledge to the tools they will use and skill sets they will develop as Communication Arts majors. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Campus: MESA (Typically Offered: Spring Term)
COMM 2201 Advertising Persuasion and Consumer Society. (Formerly 201) A critical examination of Madison Avenue’s advertising images and narratives. Students in the class learn how to recognize the hidden persuasion techniques that are used in advertising. Writing and speaking intensive 3 semester credit hour/s.
Designation: Writing Intensive; Literary and Rhetorical (QLR)
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Fall and Spring Terms)
MESA (Typically Offered: Fall and Spring Terms)
MESA (Typically Offered: Fall and Spring Terms)
COMM 2208 Layout and Design for Publication. (Formerly 208) Layout and Design for Publication. Design principles and professional processes are emphasized. Projects may include newspaper, magazine, and other projects, using InDesign and Photoshop. Course fee: $50.00. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Fall and Spring Terms)
MESA
MESA
COMM 2209 Newswriting and Reporting. (Formerly 209) Principles and practice in gathering and writing news as well as preparing copy for publication. Prerequisite: WRIT 1101. IAI MC919 3 semester credit hour/s.
Designation: Writing Intensive
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Fall and Spring Terms)
MESA
MESA
COMM 2210 Public Relations Principles and Practices. An introductory course that examines the foundations and workings of public relations. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Fall Term)
MESA (Typically Offered: Fall Term)
MESA (Typically Offered: Fall Term)
COMM 2235 Photojournalism. (Formerly 235) Teaches the skills in creating and evaluating images for photojournalism purposes in both still image and video formats. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Fall Term)
MESA
MESA
COMM 2250 Masters of the American Cinema. (formerly 250) A historical study of representative fiction film makers from D.W. Griffith to Spike Lee. IAI F2908 3 semester credit hour/s.
Designation: Artistic and Creative (QCA)
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Periodically)
MESA
MESA
COMM 2251 History of Film. (Formerly 251) A cross-cultural study of the development of the cinema from its late 19th century origins to the present. IAI F2909 3 semester credit hour/s.
Designation: Artistic and Creative (QCA)
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Periodically)
MESA (Typically Offered: Periodically)
MESA (Typically Offered: Periodically)
COMM 2252 Technical Writing. A practical course designed to train students for various fields that require technical writing skills - engineering, computer science, industry, etc. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Campus: MESA (Typically Offered: Periodically)
COMM 2253 Public Relations Writing. (Formerly 253) Focuses on writing for public relations. Students prepare news releases, newsletters and feature stories. Prerequisite: WRIT 1102 or 103 or HNRS 1190 3 semester credit hour/s.
Designation: Writing Intensive
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Spring Term)
MESA
MESA
COMM 2254 Writing for the Electronic Media. (Formerly 254) A practical course designed to expose students to the various approaches, forms and techniques of writing for the electronic media. IAI MC917 3 semester credit hour/s.
Designation: Writing Intensive
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Fall Term)
MESA
MESA
COMM 2255 Television Production. (Formerly 255) Laboratory course introducing students to the technical and aesthetic principles utilized in preparing programming for television. Fee: $60. IAI MC916 3 semester credit hour/s.
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Fall Term)
MESA
MESA
COMM 2256 International Film. (Formerly 256) A study of the film form as seen in the most important films produced outside the United States. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Designation: Literary and Rhetorical (QLR); Global
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Periodically)
MESA
MESA
COMM 2259 Italian Cinema from 1945 to 1975. (Formerly 259) The course focuses on Italian cinema as a form of artistic expression and a critique of the existing social reality. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Designation: Artistic and Creative (QCA)
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Spring Term)
MESA
MESA
COMM 2263 Advertising Copywriting. (Formerly 263) Covers the fundamentals of writing copy and designing advertising for all forms of print and electronic media. Prerequisite: WRIT 1101. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Periodically)
MESA
MESA
COMM 2264 Sports Journalism. (Formerly 264) This course is designed for students to adapt skills learned in COMM 2209 toward a variety of sports environments and applications. The students will write press releases and do hard news reporting, and be informed of the inner workings of the sports communication environment. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Fall Term)
MESA (Typically Offered: Periodically)
MESA (Typically Offered: Periodically)
COMM 2265 Sports Broadcasting. (Formerly 265) This course provides a strong foundation into the field of sports broadcasting to gain a better understanding of the field. Students will participate in the production of sports broadcasting by learning how to write scripts and present them on camera. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Spring Term)
MESA (Typically Offered: Periodically)
MESA (Typically Offered: Periodically)
COMM 2267 Seminar in Writing. (Formerly 267) Using a digital-first strategy for writing, students in this class experiment with a variety of writing styles and approaches to include journalism writing, fiction writing, and essay writing. The writing pieces for this class are expected to be eventually submitted for publication in "DuPage Valley Review", a journal of the creative arts at Benedictine University. Prerequisites: COMM 2207 and COMM 2209. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Periodically)
MESA (Typically Offered: Periodically)
MESA (Typically Offered: Periodically)
COMM 2291 Topics. (Formerly 291) Study of aspects of communication on the intermediate level not listed as regular course offerings. Prerequisite: WRIT 1102. Course Repeatable. Maximum number of units allowed 12. 3 semester credit hour/s. Course Repeatable. Maximum number of units allowed: 12.
Designation: -
Campus: LISLE
MESA
MESA
COMM 2295 Independent Study. (Formerly 295) Designed for the student who wishes to explore aspects of communications not normally offered in the regular curriculum. 1-3 semester credit hour/s. Course Repeatable. Maximum number of units allowed: 12.
Campus: LISLE
MESA
MESA
COMM 3207 Editing for Publications. (Formerly 207) Introduction to the principles and practices of editing for books, magazines, and newspapers. Prerequisite: WRIT 1101 or HNRS 1190. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Fall and Spring Terms)
MESA
MESA
COMM 3297 Internship. (Formerly 297) Practical experience in public relations, electronic media, journalism, advertising or multimedia supervised by the Communication Arts department. Up to three internship hours may be applied toward the 42 hour major requirement. Up to 12 hours may apply toward the 120 hours for graduation. Prerequisite: Consent of department, and at least 2.50 GPA 2-6 semester credit hour/s. Course Repeatable. Maximum number of units allowed: 12.
Designation: Engaged Learning
Campus: LISLE
MESA
MESA
COMM 3301 Research Practicum. (Formerly 301) Students conduct original research and present their findings at a student conference. Prerequisite: completion of one COMM theory course at the 3000 level or higher (formerly 300 level) with a grade of "B" or better. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Periodically)
MESA
MESA
COMM 3302 Arts Practicum. (Formerly 302) Students create original communication arts works to present at student exhibitions. Prerequisite: completion of one COMM Arts applied course at the 3000 level or higher (formerly 300 level). 3 semester credit hour/s.
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Periodically)
MESA
MESA
COMM 3303 Media and Society. (Formerly 303) A critical investigation of the role of media in human societies 3 semester credit hour/s.
Designation: Individuals, Organizations, and Societies (QIO)
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Fall Term, Odd Years)
COMM 3304 Media and Environment. (Formerly 304) A critical investigation of the role of the media in the global discussion of environmental issues. 3 semester credits hours. Sustainability. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Designation: Sustainability; Global
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Periodically)
MESA (Typically Offered: Periodically)
MESA (Typically Offered: Periodically)
COMM 3305 Media Literacy: Fact, Fiction, and Fake News. (Formerly 305) In this course, students will be introduced to strategies and techniques for being informed and critical producers and consumers of media. Using a critical media studies approach, students will examine a wide variety of media texts on a weekly basis and engage in critical discussion about how those media texts are constructed and how they inform public discourse. This course mus be accompanied by a lab, after completion of the seminar/lab, the lab may be repeated for credit. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Campus: MESA (Typically Offered: Fall Term)
COMM 3306 Media Lab and Learning Community. (Formerly 306) In this Lab, students will apply skills learned in the seminar, COMM 3305. Particular attention will be given to current events and cultivating active responsible citizens. The lab will be an opportunity for students to create their own critical responses to current events. 1 semester credit hour/s. Course Repeatable. Maximum number of units allowed: 3.
Campus: MESA (Typically Offered: Fall and Spring Terms)
COMM 3309 Global Journalism. (Formerly 309) Students will gain the skills needed to cover news stories in a foreign country along with the ability to analyze global media content. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Periodically)
COMM 3310 Advanced Public Relations. A critical look at significant public relations campaigns. Students will also create their own public relations campaigns. Pre-requisite: COMM 2210 with a grade of C or better. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Spring Term)
COMM 3316 Advanced Television Production. (Formerly 316) Emphasis on development of directing and post-production skills, with focus on aesthetic and technical principles. Course fee - $60. Prerequisite: COMM 2254 and COMM 2255. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Designation: -
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Spring Term)
MESA
MESA
COMM 3320 Communications Research Methods: Grounded Theory Ethnography. In this course students will study the accepted research methods in the field of ethnography utilizing a grounded theory approach. This course will prepare students for graduate level work in the disciplines of Communication, Ethnography, or Cultural Anthropology. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Campus: MESA (Typically Offered: Spring Term)
COMM 3337 Advanced Journalism Writing. (Formerly 337) Advanced Journalism Writing. Students practice the major style of investigative journalism and learn how to dig for information using public documents and journalistic tools. The class culminates in an in-depth investigative story by each student. Prerequisite: COMM 2209. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Designation: Writing Intensive
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Fall Term)
MESA (Typically Offered: Periodically)
MESA (Typically Offered: Periodically)
COMM 3353 Advanced Seminar in Page Design for Publications. (Formerly 353) Students work as a design company to produce multiple publications that are sold on digital marketplaces like Amazon. Students will write, edit, illustrate and design books such as art magazines and children’s books. Pre-requisite: COMM 2208. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Designation: Writing Intensive
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Spring Term)
MESA (Typically Offered: Periodically)
MESA (Typically Offered: Periodically)
COMM 3381 Multimedia Production for the Web. (Formerly 381) Students experiment with a variety of web-based materials, explore different uses of social media and learn to build web pages in HTML and CSS. Course Fee: $60 3 semester credit hour/s.
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Spring Term)
MESA
MESA
COMM 3382 Digital Video Editing. (Formerly 382) Students learn and apply advanced computer editing skills in audio and video to produce a variety of video projects. Prerequisite: COMM 2255 or co-registration in COMM 2255. Course fee: $50. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Fall Term)
MESA
MESA
COMM 3384 Recording and Popular Music in America. (Formerly 384) An examination of American music over the past 125 years and its role in media and culture. There will also be a thorough examination of recording technology from Thomas Edison's first devices through the present day. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Periodically)
COMM 3385 Television and Society. (Formerly 385) An in-depth investigation of the television industry and its impact on American and world culture. Prerequisite: WRIT 1102. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Periodically)
MESA (Typically Offered: Periodically)
MESA (Typically Offered: Periodically)
COMM 3388 Studies in Film Theory and Criticism. (Formerly 388) Selected topics in film theory and criticism. 3 semester credit hour/s. Course Repeatable. Maximum number of units allowed: 9.
Designation: -
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Periodically)
MESA
MESA
COMM 3390 Images of Men and Women in Advertising. (Formerly 390) A critical investigation of how we are influenced in the way we think about gender and gender relationships. Prerequisite: WRIT 1102. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Designation: Writing Intensive
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Periodically)
COMM 3391 Topics. (Formerly 391) Study of aspects of communications on the advanced level not covered in the above course offerings. Prerequisite: COMM 3207, COMM 2208, WRIT 1102. 3 semester credit hour/s. Course Repeatable. Maximum number of units allowed: 12.
Campus: LISLE
MESA
MESA
COMM 3392 Senior Project. (Formerly 392) Advanced applications in a focused area of communications beyond other upper level courses. Senior Project does not count towards the 39 hours required for a degree in communication arts. Prerequisite: Senior standing, completion of or concurrent enrollment in communications courses totaling 39 hours, and approval of proposal prior to semester in which the student is enrolled. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Campus: LISLE
MESA
MESA
COMM 3395 Independent Study. (Formerly 395) Designed for the superior student who wishes to explore an aspect of communication beyond the scope of undergraduate course offerings through guided independent study. Prerequisite: COMM 2207 and GPA of 3.5 in major. 1-3 semester credit hour/s. Course Repeatable. Maximum number of units allowed: 12.
Campus: LISLE
MESA
MESA
COMM 4317 Mass Media Law and Ethics. (Formerly 317) Examines the many legal and ethical issues related to the mass media. Prerequisite: WRIT 1101 or HNRS 1190. 3 semester credit hour/s.
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Fall Term)
MESA
MESA
COMM 4393 Senior Portfolio. (Formerly 3393 and 393) Required of all Communication Arts and Writing and Publishing majors, this course is designed to help the student improve the appearance, content, and organization of their Senior Portfolio. The class also prepares students for the practical challenges they face as they transition from college.Prerequisite: Senior Standing 3 semester credit hour/s.
Designation: Engaged Learning
Campus: LISLE (Typically Offered: Spring Term)
MESA
MESA