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Courses

A summary of each course to help with your selection.

Academic Year

Programs

Course ID

Course ID	Course
MCOM 422	MCOM 422 Digital Film Directing Course Credits: 3 This course introduces students to the history, theory, and craft of digital film directing. As a workshop, it involves critical, and applied components. Topics include the multiple roles of the director, scene, and script analysis, creating potent production concepts, creative cinematics and techniques, auditioning, and working with actors. Key components of the course include shooting monologues, scenes, and making a short film. Prerequisite(s): MCOM 221 or instructor's consent NB: Not offered every year.
MCOM 451	MCOM 451 Public Relations Writing Course Credits: 3 An advanced course that focuses on the style and technique of writing for public relations and corporate communication. Students discover the dynamics of strategic and persuasive writing while creating key pieces such as brochures, ads, newsletters, and press releases. Opportunity is given to create a communications package for a public relations client. Prerequisite(s): MCOM 252 or 261; or instructor's consent NB: Course fee
MCOM 452	MCOM 452 Feature Writing for Newspapers & Magazines Course Credits: 3 Building on skills developed in MCOM 251 or 261, students study the best in magazine and newspaper feature writing and produce several pieces of their own with the intent of publishing their work. Prerequisite(s): MCOM 251 or 261; ENGL 103, 104, and third- or fourth-year standing NB: Fulfils theory and criticism requirement for Media + Communication majors.
MCOM 453	MCOM 453 Editing for Newspapers & Magazines Course Credits: 3 Building on skills introduced in MCOM 251, 261, or 452, students learn the art of editing for magazines and newspapers. Students study examples of published magazines and newspapers (both print and online), write and edit a piece of their own with the intent to publish their work, and apply their knowledge to pieces submitted for publication in a student publication to be created around this course. Prerequisite(s): MCOM 251 or 261 or 452; or ENGL 103 and 104; or ENGL 207 or 208; or instructor's consent (writing samples may be required) NB: Course fee
MCOM 460	MCOM 460 Public Relations Strategy Capstone Course Credits: 3 Brings together the public relations and strategic communication curriculum in a client-based campaign project. Working in teams that simulate a professional agency setting, students research a real organization’s communication challenge, identify key audience groups, develop clearly defined and measurable objectives, and create an integrated communication strategy that supports the organization’s goals. The course emphasizes evidence-informed planning, including formative research, audience and message analysis, channel selection across paid, earned, shared, and owned media, as well as ethical and legal considerations, budget development, timelines, and evaluation methods. Prerequisite(s): MCOM 252 and third-year standing.
MCOM 461	MCOM 461 On the Road: Travel & Adventure Journalism Course Credits: 3 Explore the world of travel journalism and adventure writing. In this senior workshop course, students will critique each other’s work and read, discuss, and analyze travel literature to understand its roots and conventions. Students need not be world travelers to write their own travel-based essays: their unique observations, voice, and writing ability all contribute to make a good story, even in their own backyards. Builds on storytelling techniques, critical theory, and application of aesthetic principles acquired in introductory and intermediate courses in narrative nonfiction. Prerequisite(s): MCOM 251 or 261; or instructor's consent
MCOM 469	MCOM 469 Professional Writing Capstone Course Credits: 3 Serves as opportunity for students to bring diverse learning and skills from across their program in order to research, write and/or carry out a senior creative thesis, portfolio, or publishing project in literary journalism or narrative nonfiction. Students gain skills in curation, editing, project management, aesthetic research methodology, and integrative and performative thinking. Students will gain deeper scholarly and professional understanding of aesthetic research methodology, and integrative and performative thinking. Students will gain deeper scholarly and professional understanding of aesthetic considerations in communication, forge professional and academic contacts, and demonstrate mastery of relevant theory, principles, and writing strategies. The course concludes with a public performance to peers, faculty, and professional leaders. Prerequisite(s): Students must be majoring in Media + Communication (Professional Writing Stream) and have third- or fourth-year standing NB: Course fee. Required of students majoring in the Professional Writing stream or minor. May be taken by other students with instructor's consent (sample writing may be required).
MCOM 471	MCOM 471 Persuasive Communication Course Credits: 3 This course investigates the art, science, and practice of persuasive communication in its many forms and contexts. It examines theories and research in human influence and how language, images, and non-verbal cues can mold people's attitudes and actions. There is opportunity to carry out a social science project in interpersonal or mediated persuasion, and to seriously consider the ethical implications of one's persuasive efforts. Prerequisite(s): MCOM 171, or instructor's consent, and at least third-year standing NB: Fulfils theory and criticism requirement for Media + Communication majors.
MCOM 472	MCOM 472 Leadership Communication in Multi-Cultural Contexts Course Credits: 3 Students explore the complexities of leadership communication in multi-cultural, non-western contexts through topics such as gender and social structures, motivation, decision-making, negotiating conflict, and managing projects and change. The course draws on leadership theories, metaphors, and global leadership research to define culturally preferred leadership attributes and behaviours, and effective cross-cultural communication in comparative global settings. Prerequisite(s): MCOM 372 NB: Fulfils theory and criticism requirement for Media + Communication majors.

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