Think of the summer as a time to explore! Check out all the different course offerings ComArtSci has that will feed your curiosity in areas such as digital storytelling, game design and more.
Courses to help you expand your horizons
ADV 205: Principles of Advertising
3 credits
Have you ever wondered how Superbowl ads get made? Or how that Instagram ad gets you to click? In ADV 205 you’ll go behind the scenes to explore what a career in advertising could be.
ADV 334: International Advertising
3 credits
This course informs students about the complexity and nuances of marketing communications in the global marketplace. Whether you work for a company in the US or abroad, the knowledge and skills gained from the course are essential to work in today’s advertising and media business.
ADV 375: Consumer Behavior
3 credits
Theories of consumer behavior and their applications to promotions disciplines. Using theories to solve problems and make managerial decisions faced by practitioners in advertising agencies, suppliers, and client side marketing functions.
ADV 475: Advertising and Society
3 credits
Has an advertisement ever made you think differently? In ADV 475, you’ll analyze representations, gauge group assumptions, perspectives, and dynamics, and make persuasive arguments about the impacts advertisements have on societies, cultures, and economies.
CAS 110: Creative Thinking
3 credits
Master creative problem solving with CAS 110. Learn the theories of critical thinking and practice solving complex problems to create impactful media content. Plus, learn how critical and analytical thinking support innovation.
CAS 111: Design and Layout
3 credits
For anyone looking to learn the important skills of design, this is the class for you! Explore the foundational concepts of print design and graphics while learning the fundamentals of Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator.
If you are unable to enroll in this class, please submit a course request at https://override.cas.msu.edu or email hagopia9@msu.edu.
CAS 112: Story, Sound and Motion
3 credits
Level up your storytelling skills by understanding the role of sound and editing in media communications.
CAS 114: Creativity and Innovative Entrepreneurship
3 credits
In this course, explore creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship! You'll discover the habits and actions of innovative thinkers, the work of successful entrepreneurs and situate creativity specifically by focusing on inquiry, observation, experimentation, and other creative processes.
CAS 116 : Media Sketching and Graphics
3 credits
In CAS 116, learn how to visualize your ideas from sketching to final application in real and conceptual imagery using both traditional and digital methods.
CAS 117: Games and Interactivity
3 credits
Communicate through games in CAS 117! Develop responsive media and interactive designs through physical games and modern interactive software.
COM 100: Human Communication
3 credits
Looking to brush up on your interviewing or public speaking skills? Enter COM 100 where you’ll dive into the ins and outs of human communication. Learn how to best communicate your skills and professional experience to future employers. An added bonus? Say goodbye to communication apprehension and public speaking anxiety.
COM 225: An Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
3 credits
Interpersonal communication is how we communicate with others. In COM 225, you’ll learn about different communication methods – verbal, nonverbal, conflict, computer-mediated and cultural communication, among others. These skills will help you best maneuver social connections personally and professionally.
COM 240: Introduction to Organizational Communication
4 credits
Communicating to and for an organization – big or small – is no easy task, So, how do places like the local coffee shop or Google do it? Step into COM 240 and gather tips on how to effectively create a communication structure within an organization.
COM 275: Effects of Mass Communication
3 credits
Mass media plays a central role in our lives, from shaping attitudes to influencing behavior and decision- making processes. This course is an exploration of the various influences – intentional or not – that mass media has on those who consume it. Things like entertainment media, political media, video games and more, will take center stage in this class
COM 300: Methods of Communication Inquiry
4 credits
Let’s take a look at the science side of communication! Whether it’s a case study or other research materials, you’ll learn how communication is studied within these contexts. This course is a great primer to learn how to set up surveys and studies; interpret research and analyze data.
COM 320: Diversity and Communication
3 credits
How do we best communicate with people who are different than us? Learn about the different types of communication processes as they play out in race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation and gender.
COM 340: Leadership and Group Communication
3 credits
Learn to become an effective leader in a small group by understanding what makes a group tick. Dive into what makes communication in a group effective and what doesn’t, and the important role that communication takes on. Then, take these skills to your next group project or work meeting and reap the benefits.
COM 375: Audience Response to Media Entertainment
3 credits
Think about the first time you watched one of your favorite movies-- how engaged you were with the story; how close you felt to the hero and how you despised the hero’s enemy; how you got caught up in the hero’s journey to save the world or find true love or set right what is wrong. It is truly a magical experience of being transported to another place and time. That is what this course is about; how your brain processes media entertainment.
JRN 108: The World of Media
3 credits
Let’s talk media! That feels like a big word, doesn’t it? JRN 108 will take you on a media journey that highlights journalism and media industries of the U.S., while breaking down how these industries formed, how information gets disseminated and how these industries are structured. You’ll get a broad overview of journalistic and media practices, and their roles in our larger communication landscape.
JRN 200: Writing and Reporting News
3 credits
What does a journalist do? How is a story formed? Dive right in with JRN 200 and learn the ins and outs of what it takes to be a journalist. You’ll learn reporting and writing skills; ethics and AP style. Plus, you’ll actually report on and write articles.
JRN 203: Visual Storytelling
3 credits
Storytelling isn’t just words. We know that so much more than that can create good stories. In JRN 203, you’ll learn how to tell stories through visuals! Whether it’s photos, an infographic or a reel, practice what makes an effective visual story.
JRN 206: Video Storytelling with Phones
3 credits
Fundamentals of video storytelling using phone cameras. Basics of shooting and editing video. Video aesthetics. Natural sound. Audio and microphones. Interviewing. Journalism news gathering and ethics.
JRN 218: Sports in Contemporary Media
3 credits
The best thing about sports is not the games that get played. It has been the ability of athletes, teams and sports events to change the world in unimaginable ways. The class will analyze how sports have and can change the world – and how those stories were told by amazing journalists, photographers, filmmakers, videographers and social media experts. Are you the next amazing journalist to tell sports stories?
JRN 312: Stop Motion Animation Storytelling
3 credits
Have you ever wondered what stop motion animation is? Look no further than JRN 312. Practice storyboarding, plot and sequence development and be well on your to telling an engaging story sequence that captivates audiences. It takes some effort, but trust us -- it’s worth it.
JRN 325: Journalism History
3 credits
For those who love history! How did journalism become what it is? Step back in time to see how it has evolved throughout the years. Learn about significant people, events and issues influencing the development of news media, and how media reported these events and issues.
JRN 345: Images and Messages
3 credits
Learn to extract meaning through images in JRN 345. Every image has a story, and in this course, you’ll practice how to take a critical look at visuals. You will train your eyes and minds to engage in a dialogue with images to become visually literate observers and responsible, compelling, and influential storytellers.
JRN 402: Public Relations Topics in Journalism
1 credit
Don't just brand your work, brand yourself. You'll learn branding principles to create and develop your own brand(s) to launch or further your own career as an entrepreneur, freelancer or other creative professional. This experience will set you up and teach you strategies for branding companies, projects and products.
If you are unable to enroll in this class, please submit a course request at https://override.cas.msu.edu or email hagopia9@msu.edu.
JRN 412: Scoring for Moving Pictures
3 credits
When you hear John Williams, do you think of Jurassic Park? Star Wars? Jaws? Immediately, you know the iconic scores attached to each of those movies, don’t you? Well, you can create your very own score for a movie, trailer or TV in JRN 412.
JRN 472: Environmental, Science and Health Reporting
3 credits
Let’s talk about the environment. In this course, you’ll learn about the coverage of the environment. You’ll also have the chance to publish stories on Great Lakes Echo, the award-winning nonprofit, professional-caliber environmental news service that provides stories, photos, graphics and podcasts by students, faculty members and professional journalists.
JRN 492: Special Topics (section 731)
1 credit
Topic: Reporting Crisis and Disasters.
If you are unable to enroll in this class, please submit a course request at https://override.cas.msu.edu or email hagopia9@msu.edu.
JRN 492: Special Topics (section 730)
1 credit
Don't just brand your work — brand yourself. Learn branding principles to create and develop your own brand to launch or further your own career as an entrepreneur, freelancer or other creative professional.
If you are unable to enroll in this class, please submit a course request at https://override.cas.msu.edu or email hagopia9@msu.edu.
JRN 492: Special Topics (section 733)
3 credits
Topic: Careers in Sports Media and Professional Sports Organizations. Do you love sports and know you want to work in that world but aren't sure of what you could do? This class will explore the worlds of sports media and jobs within professional sports organizations. Prof. L.A. Dickerson will interview industry professionals on site and by Zoom. Goal will be to provide insight into a myriad of potential sports-related occupations. Discussions will include skills required, job responsibilities, job hunting tips, possibility of internships, career advice and what working in that world looks like. Students will submit weekly writing assignments and there will be a final paper in lieu of a final exam. There will be assigned readings but no textbook. There also may be optional Zoom networking opportunities.
If you are unable to enroll in this class, please submit a course request at https://override.cas.msu.edu or email hagopia9@msu.edu.
MI 101: Understanding Media and Information
3 credits
This course provides an introduction to, and overview of, the history and significance of mediated communication in our recent past. The course addresses print, radio, film, TV, phones, the Internet, social media and video games. And learn about the history, policy and ethics surrounding these media.
MI 201: Introduction to Information Science
3 credits
This course is intended to help students cultivate an appreciation of the role of information in the evolution of society, to become critical consumers of information and information products and services, and to provide a foundation upon which to build careers in such areas as media, information technologies, information management, and the design of information systems.
MI 220: Methods for Understanding Users
3 credits
How do you understand digital users? In this class, take a look at methods for collecting data about people’s experiences, beliefs and practices related to the technologies they currently use. Then, learn how to interpret and utilize that data. Plus, dive into the careers related to this type of work.
MI 230: Game Design
3 credits
Blend fun and critical thinking in MI 230. This game design course will give you a better understanding of the ins and outs of game design and development. Plus, learn more about the game design industry and game design technologies.
MI 239: Digital Footprints: Privacy and Online Behavior
3 credits
What is a digital footprint and digital privacy? This course will provide a high-level overview of different kinds of technologies involved in capturing this information, who owns it and controls it, and how it is used to both make our lives easier and at the same time more publicly visible.
MI 301: Bringing Media to Market
3 credits
Explore the business side of media in MI 301. Given the increasing role of new media and digital communications, this course will explore how web, mobile, and social media may be utilized to reach target audiences and evoke desired outcomes.
MI 401: Topics in Information Science
3 credits
This course covers the latest and greatest psychological research on avatars and is relevant to current and future designers of any medium that includes user self-representations (e.g., video games, virtual worlds, robots, automobiles, social media, etc.).
MI 491: Special Topics
3 credits
MI 491: Special Topics - Anatomy for Artists: A Structural Analysis (Section 732)
3 credits
Online section. This class will delve deeply into the structure and mechanics of the human body, carefully analyzing section by section. An understanding of volumes of the muscles as well as how to depict their basic shapes will provide a solid foundation for students willing to have the human figure as the basis of their work.
PR 260: Principles of Public Relations
3 credits
Explore the role and function of public relations in society and history, and understand the unique professional areas within the field of PR.