We are committed to infusing the curriculum with the latest trending topics and emerging media. By incorporating insights from industry experts, we ensure our students are prepared for the ever-evolving landscape of journalism and mass communications—check out our latest special topics and pop-up courses.
Pre-Session
ADPR 151.P01 | 3 credits
Introduction to Advertising and Public Relations
online | 1/2-1/17
Fundamental concepts and processes underlying integrated marketing communications in a global marketplace. The discipline's historical roots and current role of professionals.
Faculty: Brian Hubbard
JOMC 392.P01 | 1 credit | P/NP
The "Reel" Deal: Instagram for Storytelling
online | 1/2-1/17
1 billion people use Instagram across the globe each and every month, spending an average of 30 minutes per day. In this course, students will take a deep dive into the Instagram platform researching best practices, ethics and learning the ins and out of how to create and measure content. You will learn and create content for the grid, stories, IGTV, reels, Instagram live and eCommerce to best leverage the platform to accomplish strategic communication goals.
Faculty: Tyler Thomas
JOMC 292.P01 | 1 credit | p/np
How To Get Your Drone License
online | 1/2-1/17
This is a pop up course where students learn how to prepare for the FAA test to receive credentials to operate a drone license. This new, unique skill has helped students get hired because they had a drone license where other applicants didn't. The course will give students the knowledge and skills needed to conquer the hardest parts of the Federal Aviation Administration’s drone license examination.
Drones are becoming a very useful tool in newsrooms to report on stories large and small. They're becoming a common element in video production environments, agriculture, construction, law enforcement and search and rescue, among others. But if you want to fly a drone for your job, you've got to get an FAA license first. While it isn't hard, it does require work on your part. It takes knowing the materials, which aren't the most straightforward you'll find. It helps to have a guide. That's what this class is all about.
Faculty: Matt Waite
JOMC 492/892.P01 | 1 credit
Branding Yourself in Today’s Market
online | 1/2-1/17
This online asynchronous pop-up course will explore strategies in better understanding how to brand yourself in today's ever-changing market. One of the best ways to articulate your skills, experience, knowledge, and overall worth in today’s competitive job market is to create a personal brand that helps you stand out in the crowd. Learn how to formulate your own value proposition and convey your knowledge, skills, and abilities to prospective employers. This course will leverage relevant social media platforms and other online portfolio tools to help you reframe how you approach your personal brand.
Faculty: Frauke Hachtmann
JOMC 292.P02 | 1 credit | p/np
Travel Writing
online | 1/2-1/17
Have you ever wanted to travel for a living? What if you could do it for free? Learn how to pitch, write and publish travel stories to print and online publications, plus the ins and outs of working with tourism bureaus and PR companies to schedule FAM trips. Course will include instruction on both writing and networking within the industry.
Faculty: Nora Tarte
JOMC 392.P02 | 1 credit | p/np
Player Branding for Esports Content Creators
online | 1/2-1/17
Learn the process of developing an engaging videogame live-stream brand and the approaches to audience engagement and personal branding by building one of your own. Discuss and employ strategies, theories, and approaches to effective audience engagement in the weird-wild-web of the internet.
Faculty: Ryan Tan
Spring 2025
Pop-up Classes
Pop-up classes are short, one-credit-hour courses designed to allow students to dive into emerging industry trends and gain skills to prepare them for future careers. Pop-up classes are open to all UNL students and are Pass/No Pass.
JOMC 292.791 | 1 CREDIT | P/NP
The Super Bowl of Advertising
ONLINE | 1/21-2/16
The Super Bowl is the most viewed, most anticipated, most expensive and most influential venue in the world for advertisers. Many people watch it just for the ads. Since Super Bowl I in 1967, the cost of a 30-second spot increased from $40,000 to $7 million in 2024. It is the place for advertisers to showcase their best work to 800+ million viewers around the world and continues to be of unrelenting interest to advertising, marketing, and branding professionals everywhere.
In this class, we will take a look at the history of Super Bowl advertising, examine the game-changing ads that became part of the cultural zeitgeist, and discuss many of the hits, misses and buzz-generating campaigns throughout the years. And because the class takes place during Super Bowl LIX, we’ll stay on top of the industry hype leading up to the game, do a post-game analysis of the winners and losers, and try to answer the question, “Is it really worth $7 million for just 30-seconds or is it nothing more than a flex on the part of clients and agencies with big budgets and even bigger egos?”
Faculty: Brian Hubbard
JOMC 392.952 | 1 CREDIT | P/NP
A Freelance Guide For Photographers/Videographers and other Visual Content Creators
IN PERSON | 3/25-4/22 | T 5:30-8:20 pm
The Business of Photography-In the ever-changing landscape of the visual market, student photographers, videographers and content creators need to be able to compete for clients even before you get your diploma. Student creators must equip themselves with not only technical skills but also the business acumen to thrive. In this class, students will learn about the types of freelancing, how to price your services, how to build a business plan and how to create a brand, among other things. This is a hands-on class to build your business.
Faculty: Shoun Hill
JOMC 392.791 | 1 CREDIT | P/NP
The "Reel" Deal-Instagram for Storytelling
ONLINE | 3/24-4/25
1 billion people use Instagram across the globe each and every month, spending an average of 30 minutes per day. In this course, students will take a deep dive into the Instagram platform researching best practices, ethics and learning the ins and out of how to create and measure content. You will learn and create content for the grid, stories, IGTV, reels, Instagram live and eCommerce to best leverage the platform to accomplish strategic communication goals.
Faculty: Tyler Thomas
JOMC 492.791 | 1 CREDIT | P/NP
Branding Yourself in Today's Market
ONLINE | 2/10-3/14
This online asynchronous pop-up course will explore strategies in better understanding how to brand yourself in today's ever-changing market. One of the best ways to articulate your skills, experience, knowledge, and overall worth in today’s competitive job market is to create a personal brand that helps you stand out in the crowd. Learn how to formulate your own value proposition and convey your knowledge, skills, and abilities to prospective employers. This course will leverage relevant social media platforms and other online portfolio tools to help you reframe how you approach your personal brand.
Faculty: Jemalyn Griffin
JOMC 392.951 | 1 CREDIT | P/NP
Advertising and Marketing in Healthcare
Web Conferencing | 1/28-2/27 | T/Th 5:30-7:00 pm
What's the difference between advertising and marketing? Learn how to differentiate between these similar fields and their important impacts on the healthcare field in this online synchronous pop-up course. This session will analyze various healthcare communications case studies to learn how different areas of the medical field approach advertising and marketing and study how to effectively communicate and connect with patients. The course will wrap up with students creating and presenting healthcare advertising or marketing campaigns focused on a medical topic of their choice.
Faculty: Abby Meyer
JOMC 492/892.951 | 1 CREDIT | P/NP
Military Public Affairs in Global Governments
TRAVEL DATES: 3/15-3/22
The Military Public Affairs in Global Governments study abroad course offers students firsthand experience in public relations within international governance. Based in Brussels, Belgium, the course immerses students in an environment where they engage with public affairs professionals and journalists navigating global governments.
Faculty: Shari Veil
Special Topics Classes
Special topic classes are new or emerging classes offered for three credit hours during a regular academic session - fall, spring or summer semesters.
ADPR 491/891.001 | 3 credits
Digital Motion Graphics
in person | R 5:30-8:20 pm
Creating digital motion graphics and animation using compositing and animation software. Covers project creation, techniques, workflow management, and related post-production work.
Faculty: Kristian Anderson
SPMC 291.700 | 3 CREDITS
Intro to Esports
ONLINE
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.
Faculty: Ryan Tan
JOMC 491/891.001 | 3 credits
AI + CoJMC = ?
IN PERSON | TR 12:30-1:45 pm
AI went from science fiction to current fact with breathtaking speed. Soon, you'll have AI plugged into every tool you use, from the software you use every day to the phone in your pocket. Journalism and communications are only starting to grapple with this. This class, the first of its kind at CoJMC, will explore three areas:
- What is AI, how does it work, what is it good and bad at?
- How can you use current public AI tools to be a better writer, reporter and human?
- How can you use AI to solve real problems that actual news organizations have?
Faculty: Matt Waite
SPMC 391.001 | 3 CREDITS
Television Sports Reporting
in person | TR 9:30-10:45 A.M.
Producing sports stories and information through a variety of sources, including television, social media and on the web.
Faculty: Bill Doleman
Suggested prerequisites: JOMC 131-134, all core courses required within your CoJMC major(s)
JOUR 491/891.001 | 3 credits
Investigative Depth Reporting
in person | TR 11:00 am-12:15 pm
In Spring 2025, the College of Journalism and Mass Communications' award-winning Depth Reporting program will focus on the mass incarceration issue that plagues most states, including Nebraska. An energetic team of passionate writers, photographers and videographers will research, analyze and dig into this topic and report on stories about those affected by this issue to elevate their stories, hold public officials accountable and explain the crisis.
Faculty: Chris Graves and Linda White
2025 application has closed
ADPR 491/891.791 | 3 credits
Crisis Response Advertising
online | 3/24-5/16
Advertising and consumer brands have long played important societal roles during complex crises, navigating a marketplace complicated by economic pressures, social unrest, and political polarization. New research suggests that complex crises often create a new marketplace in which highly engaged and mission-driven consumer brands can not only survive but thrive.
Faculty: Frauke Hachtmann
Fall 2024
Pop-up Classes
Pop-up classes are short, one-credit-hour courses designed to allow students to dive into emerging industry trends and gain skills to prepare them for future careers. Pop-up classes are open to all UNL students and are Pass/No Pass.
JOMC 492/892.791 | 1 CREDIT | P/NP
Branding Yourself in Today's Market
ONLINE 8/26-9/13
This online asynchronous pop-up course will explore strategies in better understanding how to brand yourself in today's ever-changing market. One of the best ways to articulate your skills, experience, knowledge, and overall worth in today’s competitive job market is to create a personal brand that helps you stand out in the crowd. Learn how to formulate your own value proposition and convey your knowledge, skills, and abilities to prospective employers. This course will leverage relevant social media platforms and other online portfolio tools to help you reframe how you approach your personal brand.
Faculty: Frauke Hachtmann
JOMC 292.951 | 1 CREDIT | P/NP
Media Sales & Account Management
IN PERSON | 11/9-11/10 | 10 A.M.-6 P.M.
The pop-up will explore the world of media sales and account management. The fast-paced session will touch on everything from the skill set needed to succeed in the world of media sales and account management to developing and presenting a multimedia plan for a local business.
Faculty: David Thiemann
JOMC 392.791 | 1 CREDIT | P/NP
The "Reel" Deal-Instagram for Storytelling
ONLINE 10/7-11/8
1 billion people use Instagram across the globe each and every month, spending an average of 30 minutes per day. 500 million people use Instagram stories every day and nearly 50% of people have visited a website to make a purchase after seeing a product or service. In the U.S., 26% of people aged 18 to 24 have recently used Instagram specifically to access coronavirus news. The platform provides countless opportunities for brands, businesses and organizations, from non-profits and for profits to large news organizations to tell stories and connect a message with a consumer. In this course, students will take a deep dive into the Instagram platform researching best practices, ethics and learning the ins and out of how to create and measure content. Students will learn and create content for the grid, stories, IGTV, reels, Instagram live and eCommerce to best leverage the platform to accomplish strategic communication goals.
Faculty: Tyler Thomas
JOMC 192.951 | 1 CREDIT | P/NP
NYC Media Tour
TRAVEL DATES: 10/21-10/22 | CLASS MEETINGS: 10/3, 10/24 5-6 P.M.
Sign up to go on the 2024 NYC Media Tour by Friday, Sept. 27! Explore the city, network with industry professionals and alumni over fall break! This year we are offering this NYC Media Tour experience as a pop-up class with the option of taking the class for credit. You do not need to take the class for credit to participate, but you must sign up through the form below to go on the trip. Leading up to the NYC Media Tour students will be expected to complete pre-trip assignments and attend a meeting to prepare for the trip. It is important to note that students will be responsible for their own travel and lodging costs/arrangements.
Faculty: Natalie Becerra
ADPR 483/883.951 | 1 CREDIT | P/NP
Portfolio Development
IN PERSON | R 10/10-11/7 | 5:30-8:20 P.M.
Need to dial in your portfolio? In this course you will learn how to improve your work and execute a variety of pieces that demonstrate experience in the form of a portfolio. Explore strategies to brand yourself using a portfolio to showcase the very best of your skills. You'll leverage relevant digital tools and media platforms to present your work to potential employers and clients.
Faculty: Mitch Benes
Prerequisites: JOMC 101, JOMC 130-134, ADPR 151, ADPR 221, and ADPR 283
JOMC 492/892.951 | 1 CREDIT | P/NP
FISU World University Games Media Communication
ONLINE | R 8-9:15 A.M. | 9/26-12/12
Get real-world sports media experience by learning from sport industry experts and leading academics from around the globe about current issues related to global sports media events. The course meets weekly in live Zoom sessions with opportunities to interact and network with speakers representing diverse countries. The college has been invited to be the exclusive North American partner to the FISU World University Games held in Germany in July 2025. Students will have the opportunity to apply to work at the Games in one of three roles: reporter, photographer, or commentator. The selected student will receive training from mentors and join the ranks of the world's media covering the Games next summer. FISU will pay for this student's travel and accommodations.
Faculty: Frauke Hachtmann
Special Topics Classes
Special topic classes are new or emerging classes offered for three credit hours during a regular academic session - fall, spring or summer semesters.
JOMC 391.001 | 3 CREDITS
Healthy Notions or Fakery Potions: Health Topics in the Media
TR 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.
Faculty: Sharon Baldinelli
SPMC 291.700 | 3 CREDITS
Intro to Esports
ONLINE
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.
Faculty: Ahman Green
SPMC 391.001 | 3 CREDITS | IN PERSON
Sports Betting and the Media
TR 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.
Faculty: Brian Petrotta
SPMC 391.002 | 3 CREDITS
Sports Broadcasting
TR 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.
Faculty: Bill Doleman
This section is for ADPR/SPMC/JOUR majors only. BRDC majors should enroll in BRDC 375.001
JOUR 491.951 | 1 CREDIT
Global Eyewitness
MINI 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.
Faculty: Chris Graves and Shoun Hill
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