Integrated Communication (BS)

Designed to serve the broad interests of students interested in the study of communication. Instead of a carefully predefined set of course requirements common to most undergraduate degrees, Integrated Communication allows students to select from a range of course packages which best serve their personal, educational, and professional interests. 

Current Catalog Year
2022-2023
Degree
Bachelor of Science
Major / Total Credits
37 / 120
Locations
Mankato

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Program Requirements

Required General Education

Students in this course approach writing as a subject of study by investigating how writing works across a variety of contexts.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-1A

Major Common Core

Communication Literacy relates to how effectively we engage with other people across a range of communication types including oral, written, nonverbal, graphic, visual, melodic, and kinesthetic. Communication Literacy expands our understanding for the array of messages we receive and share with the world.

Prerequisites: none

Students synthesize research and learning and/or prepare portfolios and job application materials. Course must be taken in the last semester in the major.

Prerequisites: none

Major Restricted Electives

* Option 1: Select two 16-credit tracks and a minor is required.
* Option 2: Select three 16-credit tracks and a minor is not required.
* Note: Courses may not double count across tracks.

Health Communication Track (16 credits) - Provides writing and speaking skills for use in health and medical settings. The courses prepare students to create clear, ethical, and culturally competent messages in a variety of written, visual, and oral communication formats.

Required

Communication impacts every facet of our experience of health and well-being. This course introduces students to the subdiscipline of health communication, its key concepts, and important theories and research in the field.

Prerequisites: none

Special interest courses devoted to specific topics within health communication. Topics vary, and course may be retaken for credit under different topic headings.

Prerequisites: none

Introduction to learning the written and oral communication of technical information. Assignments include writing and presenting proposals, reports, and documentation. Emphasis on use of rhetorical analysis, computer applications, collaborative writing, and usability testing to complete technical communication tasks in the workplace.

Prerequisites: ENG 101 

Goal Areas: GE-02, GE-13

This course addresses the skills required for technical communication within the context of health and medicine. Students will discuss typical audiences, purposes, and genres of health and medical communication. Students will adapt complex health and medical information for audiences with varying levels of knowledge, demonstrating awareness of audience analysis, visual design, plain language, and ethics.

Prerequisites: none

Broadcasting Track (16 credits) - Preparation for careers in broadcast media.

Required

Basic techniques of gathering information and writing readable and accurate media stories.

Prerequisites: ENG 101, MASS 110

Creation of photo, audio, video, and written content for multi-platform distribution. Includes critical consideration and application of content creation tools, social media management tools, and legal and ethical issues.

Prerequisites: MASS 221W

Planning, writing and delivering of broadcast news.

Prerequisites: MASS 221W

Electives - Choose 4 Credit(s).

Hands-on production of interactive documentary content for online audiences. Special focus may include web series, docu games, interactive documentary, and virtual and augmented reality.

Prerequisites: none

Discussion and hands-on experience involving mass media activities. Topic varies.

Prerequisites: MASS 221W

Emerging Media Track (16 credits) - Preparation for careers in emerging media.

Required

Basic techniques of gathering information and writing readable and accurate media stories.

Prerequisites: ENG 101, MASS 110

Creation of photo, audio, video, and written content for multi-platform distribution. Includes critical consideration and application of content creation tools, social media management tools, and legal and ethical issues.

Prerequisites: MASS 221W

Hands-on production of interactive documentary content for online audiences. Special focus may include web series, docu games, interactive documentary, and virtual and augmented reality.

Prerequisites: none

Hands-on development, implementation, analysis, and evaluation of a digital advocacy campaign. Special focus on brandraising, network analysis, and social media analytics toward creating messages and determining campaign effectiveness.

Prerequisites: MASS 221W

Journalism Track (16 credits) - Preparation for a career in journalism.

Required

Basic techniques of gathering information and writing readable and accurate media stories.

Prerequisites: ENG 101, MASS 110

Discussion of and practice in reporting about public affairs and social issues, plus examination of copy editing and headline writing for traditional and new media.

Prerequisites: MASS 221W

Instruction in the fundamental concepts, terminology, techniques and applications of digital imaging in mass communication. Development of the basic skills necessary to design, create, manage and distribute photographic and video digital images in mass communication.

Prerequisites: none

Electives - Choose 4 Credit(s).

Marketing and writing of non-fiction articles for contemporary print and electronic magazines.

Prerequisites: MASS 221W

In this advanced nonfiction writing course, students will analyze examples of professional media writing and employ techniques to create a portfolio of persuasive, informative, and personal writing for a variety of media markets.

Prerequisites: MASS 221W

Discussion and hands-on experience involving mass media activities. Topic varies.

Prerequisites: MASS 221W

Visual Production Track (16 credits) - Preparation for practical work in visual media.

Required

This course provides analysis and training focused on concepts and practices of visual design as they relate to technical and professional communication.

Prerequisites: none

Electives 1 - Choose 3 - 4 Credit(s).

This graphic design course is an introduction to digital media technology as a creative tool for the development of visual expression. The course is taught using the Mac OS and explores vector and bitmap image making.

Prerequisites: none

Exploration of the basic principles of visual media design, stressing the significance of images in a mass media society. Special focus on contextualizing historial and technological changes affecting image production for mass media.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-06, GE-07

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Electives 2 - Choose 3 - 4 Credit(s).

This course explores the foundations of screen-based design. The course emphasizes the application of design sensibilities to both motion and web design production.

Prerequisites: ART 103, ART 202

Practicum in typography, design, layout and production processes, including job budgeting and estimating, for newspapers, magazines, newsletters, brochures, posters, annual reports, direct mail and related print materials used public relations and journalism. Emphasis on graphic design software.

Prerequisites: none

Electives 3 - Choose 0 - 4 Credit(s). Select a minimum of 6 credits between Electives 3 and 4

Overview of technical communication theory with emphasis on contemporary approaches. Hands-on workshop which implements the theories discussed.

Prerequisites: none

Discussion and hands-on experience involving mass media activities. Topic varies.

Prerequisites: MASS 221W

Electives 4 - Choose 0 - 6 Credit(s). Select a minimum of 6 credits between Electives 3 and 4

This course investigates the use of letterforms in the message making process. Topics include historical overview of letter development, type terminology, type and image relationships, and technical and aesthetic applications of type.

Prerequisites: ART 103, ART 202

This intermediate course builds on basic knowledge learned in ART 275. Topics covered include medium and large format film cameras and film development, film scanning, as well as digital editing, manipulation, and fine art digital print and darkroom print output. Additionally we will discuss lighting, composition, creative problem solving, and creating a cohesive series. In rotation with ART 377.

Prerequisites: ART 275

Visual Rhetoric Track (16 credits) - Preparation for critical analysis of visual media.

Required

Investigation of developments in sacred and secular art and architecture in various regions of the world, exploring themes such as nation-building, modernization vs. tradition, post colonialism among others, since the 19th century.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Elective Courses 1 - Choose 4 Credit(s).

This course provides analysis and training focused on concepts and practices of visual design as they relate to technical and professional communication.

Prerequisites: none

Discussion and hands-on experience involving mass media activities. Topic varies.

Prerequisites: MASS 221W

Electives 2 - Choose 0 - 5 Credit(s). Select a minimum of 5 credits between Electives 2 and 3

Introduction to art history from prehistoric and ancient cultures through the Middle Ages. Includes representative examples and styles of art and architecture of Western (Europe and the Near East) and non-Western cultures (China, India, Japan, Southeast Asia, Africa, Mesoamerica, South America, North America, Australia).

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-06, GE-08

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Advanced level pursuit of special projects of research on an independent basis. Requires contractual agreement in art office for registration.

Prerequisites: Consent 

Extensive reading and writing in an area for which the student has had basic preparation. May be repeated with change in topic.

Prerequisites: Consent 

Exploration of the basic principles of visual media design, stressing the significance of images in a mass media society. Special focus on contextualizing historial and technological changes affecting image production for mass media.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-06, GE-07

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Directed research on a mass media topic chosen by the student.

Prerequisites: MASS 221W

Electives 3 - Choose 0 - 5 Credit(s). Select a minimum of 5 credits between Electives 2 and 3

This course analyzes relationships between art and politics from ancient times through today, exploring uses of art from persuasion to overt propaganda in visual arts and architecture. It will deal with diverse cultures, covering material from a global perspective.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-06, GE-08

Advanced level pursuit of special projects of research on an independent basis. Requires contractual agreement in art office for registration.

Prerequisites: Consent 

Extensive reading and writing in an area for which the student has had basic preparation. May be repeated with change in topic.

Prerequisites: Consent 

Directed research on a mass media topic chosen by the student.

Prerequisites: MASS 221W

Cultural Discourses in Global Cinema Track (16 credits) - Students will have a critical understanding of cinema informed by culturally appropriate contexts. The courses will introduce elements of film appreciation, central philosophical issues in our thinking about cinema, as well as cultural and linguistic nuances, to film productions; students will explore cultures through cinema from different regions (German, French, Scandinavian, Hispanic, Lusophone, etc.).

Electives 1 - Choose 3 - 4 Credit(s).

Introduces students to film from a variety of world cultures. Designed to increase knowledge of world cultures and appreciation and understanding of cultural differences in representation. Emphasizes history of national cinemas, film analysis, and writing.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

This course investigates some of the central philosophical issues in our thinking about film, including questions about narrative, ontology, ethical criticism of film, the role of artistic intentions in interpretation, artistic medium, and the art/entertainment distinction.

Prerequisites: none

Electives 2 - Choose 12 Credit(s). * GER 460 and SCAN 460 may be repeated under topic areas.

The course explores 20th and 21st century German film in historical, social, cultural contexts and events. Topics may be a survey, or concentration on Weimar Cinema, New German Cinema, East German Cinema, transnational cinema. Topics vary. Course may be repeated.

Prerequisites: none

Revolving topics in Scandinavian Film. Students will explore issues of cultural and historical importance as presented through the medium of film. Written assignments and exams allow students to practice and display analytical and interpretive techniques. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites: none

Photography Track (16 credits) - Prepares students to capture and edit photographs and communicate with photographic imagery.

Required

Introduction to the techniques and expressive potential of both digital and darkroom photography. Topics include basic camera controls, lighting, composition, editing, and fine art printing in the digital lab and darkroom. A digital camera with manual controls of aperture and shutter speed is required for part of the semester (a film camera will be provided).

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-06

This intermediate course builds on basic knowledge learned in ART 275. Topics covered include medium and large format film cameras and film development, film scanning, as well as digital editing, manipulation, and fine art digital print and darkroom print output. Additionally we will discuss lighting, composition, creative problem solving, and creating a cohesive series. In rotation with ART 377.

Prerequisites: ART 275

This intermediate course builds on basic knowledge learned in ART 275. Topics covered include digital camera operations, digital editing, manipulation and layering of images, and fine art digital print output. Additionally we will discuss lighting, composition, creative problem solving, and creating a cohesive series. In rotation with ART 375. A digital SLR camera is required.

Prerequisites: ART 275

Electives - Choose 7 Credit(s).

Introduction to the techniques and expressive potential of digital video as an art medium. We will cover capturing video, editing using current software applications, and final output and display of video work. We will build formal and conceptual skills to explore the possibilities of digital video as art, and explore the history and contemporary examples of video in the art world. Access to a digital SLR camera with video/movie capabilities is required (most SLRs have this).

Prerequisites: none

Expanding technical knowledge and visual awareness while building a portfolio in selected areas. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: none

Introduces fundamentals of film production: writing, producing, directing, lighting, shooting, and editing, through lecture, critiquing the work of other filmmakers, and hands on production. By the end of this course students will be ready to puruse their own film projects.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-06, GE-11

Dual Language Communicator for Latin America and the US Track (16 credits) - Develop linguistic skills and knowledge of Latin American cultural practices, products, and perspectives. Requires minimum language proficiency set by the Department of World Languages and Cultures.

Electives 1 - Choose 4 Credit(s).

Includes basic communication exchanges, common vocabulary and experiences. Emphasis is on improving written expression through compositions related to socio-cultural topics of the countries in which Spanish is the primary language.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-08

Develop writing and reading skills for academic and professional settings for students with intermediate high oral language proficiency who would like to develop their critical reading skills and improve their writing for academic and professional purposes. Practice of orthography, stylistics, compositional elements characteristic of writing in Spanish for a variety of cultural settings, etc. and development of communicative competence for a Spanish-speaking audience based on multicultural readings.

Prerequisites: none

Electives 2 - Choose 4 Credit(s).

This course traces the history of Latin America from the late colonial period through the present as the various countries in the region attempted to transcend their colonial past and confront the pressures of modernization and globalization.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

The course is designed to help advanced Spanish students identify similarities and differences between Spanish and Portuguese and begin developing Portuguese productive language skills and cultural competency through comparative practice.

Prerequisites: SPAN 201W. Completion of one 300 level Spanish course or equivalent intermediate-midproficiency level of Spanish for admission to the course. See department for language proficiency evaluation information or instructor permission.

Electives 3 - Choose 8 - 9 Credit(s).

Minor

* Minor is required with Option 1 (two 16-credit tracks)
* Minor is not required with Option 2 (three 16-credit tracks)

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