Special Topics Classes

JOMC 391.001 | 3 credits Healthy Notions or Fakery Potions: Health Topics in the MediaTR 9:30-10:45 a.m.

Students should take this course to increase critical thinking skills regarding topics that affect people at different stages of their life. By developing critical thinking skills towards health topics, students would learn to be more aware of industry practices and how these practices influence the way audiences view themselves individually and within societal norms. Also, students would have the opportunity to discuss sensitive topics and learn how to communicate about these topics within a public forum.

SPMC 391.001 | 3 credits | In Person Sports Betting and the MediaTR 12:30-1:45 p.m.

This course will explore a myriad of approaches to the quickly spreading legalization of sports betting in the United States. Course topics include exploration of legal issues, foreign countries’ approaches to sports betting, ethical advertising and promotion of sports betting, media management’s relationship with sports books and professional sports leagues, review of past sports betting scandals, and critical observation of journalists’ current approaches to covering sports betting in the U.S.

BRDC 391.001 | 3 creditsBroadcasting Audience Research and AnalysisMWF 12:30-1:20 p.m.

Learn how the audience research industry works in this practical and conceptual foundation for conducting professional media research analysis. Analyze ratings and other metrics for radio and television news and entertainment, cable, streaming, podcast, and video gaming industries. Through a case study approach, learn to recognize, interpret and effectively communicate audience data from industry data sets, developing real-world media research analyst skills. Also understand the fundamentals of research design, methods, and sampling and be able to evaluate research vendors for strengths and weaknesses in their audience measurement. Work will be done with Excel spreadsheets; no advanced mathematical skills required.

JOUR 491.951 | 3 creditsGlobal EyewitnessMini Session: 10/28-12/20

Students in Global Eyewitness will be a part of the college's award-winning program during the 2024-2025 academic year. Through Global Eyewitness, you will have the opportunity to travel and develop compelling stories from all parts of the world by connecting problems with possibilities. You will embrace the ethical obligation to boldly tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience. *Over the 2025 winter break you will travel to Vietnam.

SPMC 291.001 | 3 creditsIntro to EsportsMWF 12:30-1:20 p.m.

Learn about all aspects of Esports as an industry and the many opportunities for participation in colleges and careers. Students will be immersed in experiences where they will develop skills used in the Esports industry. Students can explore the area of streaming content in the areas of broadcasting as reporters, casting live or recorded matches, live or recorded game analysis of a match, among other options determined by the students. Students will develop communication skills, understand Esports strategies and tactics, and implement production components for Esports events.

SPMC 391.002 | 3 creditsSports BroadcastingTR 9:30-10:45 a.m.

Sports Broadcasting examines many areas of electronic sports media including production of sportscasts, play-by-play broadcasts and documentaries, interviews, podcasting, show hosting and producing, sports media history, hardware and equipment, sports sales and careers (on the air and behind the scenes). This course is designed to help introduce you to the various components of a career covering sports in the electronic media. It also examines current issues in sportscasting, ethical considerations and inclusive opportunities in the field.

*This section is for ADPR/SPMC/JOUR majors only. BRDC majors should enroll in BRDC 375.001

**Prerequisites: JOMC 101, JOMC 130-134, JOUR 200A with a C or higher; ADPR 151, ADPR 221, ADPR 283 or BRDC 227, BRDC 269, BRDC 260 or SPMC 150, 250 or JOUR 200B with a C or higher

JOUR 491/891.001 | 3 creditsInvestigative Depth Reporting: NIL and the Sports PortalMW 1:30-3:20 p.m.

It takes hard work and determination to tell the big stories. In Fall 2024, the College of Journalism and Mass Communications' award-winning Depth Reporting program will investigate the stories of NIL and the sports portal. An energetic team of passionate writers, photographers and videographers will research, analyze and develop multimedia stories throughout the semester.