MASS COMMUNICATION, NEW COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES, INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION

Prerequisites for upper division courses in this track

• RTF 305
• upper division standing
• 3 additional lower
• consent of instructor
• division RTF courses
• passing score on the GSP test

RTF 330K - Introduction to Research Methods

Introduction to applied media research & research criticism; fundamentals of audience analysis, survey, design, experimental & field research, content analysis.

RTF 331M - Cable TV and New Video Technologies

Survey of history; analysis of regulation, policy, economics, and programming of cable television and/or other new video technologies.

RTF 331N - New Information Technology & Society

Introduction to information technologies and their relation to existing media; includes history, policy, economics, and social impact.

RTF 331P - Application of New Comm.

Technologies applications and potential effects of new telecommunication and information technologies in the home and the workplace, and for education and social services.

RTF 334 - Broadcast Program. & Audience Effects

Study of broadcast programming and its cognitive and behavioral impact on audiences.

RTF 336 - Special Projects in Radio-TV-Film

Prerequisite: consent of department Chair.
Comprehensive research or creative projects in areas of special interest developed and executed by the student under faculty supervision.

RTF 347C - Principles of Media Management

Survey of business practices in film, television, and music industries; development, production, distribution, and exhibition.

RTF 348 - Stds. in Film & Elect. Media Indust.

Examination of the economics and the production, research, management, and distribution practices of the film and electronic media industries.

RTF 365 - Topic Stds. in Mass Communication

Advanced problems in interntl. communication, mass communication studies, and communication technologies.

RTF 365M - Brdcst Prog. Theory & Research

Examination of the theory and practice of broadcast programming, with emphasis on social applications, current trends, philosophies, and audience research.

RTF 330K - Introduction to Research Methods

This course provides students with a critical framework for evaluating mass media research and some first-hand experience in the research process; a research methodology course for those with little or no previous experience in audience analysis, survey design, experimental and field research, and content analysis.

RTF 331M - Cable Television and New Video Technologies

Surveys the technology, programming, regulatory environment, marketing and business strategies in the cable television industry, as well as the competitive video market in which it is located. While not a prerequisite, the instructor suggests that students take RTF or Com 309 prior to enrolling in this course.

RTF 331N - New Information Technology and Society

This course investigates the relationship between society and information technologies. By thinking of information technology - including conventional communication media such as newspapers, movies, television, and telephones - as a subset of all technology, we place the history and evolution of communication systems within the general technological trends we know have revolutionized society at different historical junctures. This course seeks to examine the underpinnings of the popularly-termed "Information Society" and to critically scrutinize what is is about information that causes critics to proclaim it a revolutionary force. Several specific information technologies will be examined in detail, with a view toward investigating their macro-level social effects and their interactions with contemporaneous political and social forces. The last portion of the course will consider various policy issues related to the increasing importance of information flows and information technologies capabilities.

RTF 331P - Applications of Communication Technology: TV Technology

The course is designed for both production and technologies majors, offering an introduction to the various technologies used in television production. The course begins by exploring the process of making and distributing video and audio signals, followed by discussions of each piece of video equipment used in the broadcast facility. These two areas are then integrated in a section discussing the setup and wiring of a television studio. Special units of the course will cover emerging television technologies (HDTV, digital audio and video, digital effects, fiber optics, etc.) and technical aspects of remote production (specifically live sports).

RTF 331P - Interactive Media

Full description pending. Involved in making a lot of what you see here.

RTF 347C - The Business of Film and TV

This course is a version of RTF 367K designed primarily for non-production RTF majors. Focuses on the exploration of the art and craft of the film business through lectures, case studies, special guests and the viewing of relevant films. The student in this course will cover: (1) the practical and legal aspects of the development of the screenplay/property; (2) the financing, marketing and distribution of film productions; and (3) the basic elements of production management including scheduling and budgeting.

RTF 348 - Management of Electronic Media

This course provides an introduction to theories and practices of electronic media management. The course is writing-intensive and project-intensive to ensure mastery of the fundamental principles and practices of electronic media management.

RTF 365 - Media Institutions

Analysis of the role of mass media as social institutions and the industrial and organizational processes that shape mass media materials.

RTF 365 - Communication, Culture and Society

This course surveys several communication technologies, including the development of speech, writing, printing, photography, and 20th century electronic media such as radio, TV and cable TV. It explores the cultural and social implications of them as systems interacting within specific historical contexts. There will be one textbook plus a reading packet. Course requirements include a midterm and final exam, plus some short writing assignments.

RTF 365M - Broadcast Programming Theory & Research

The course is a comprehensive overview of broadcast programming practices and theory. All broadcast media will be covered (radio, commercial TV, public TV, cable TV, etc.). The course begins with an overview of programming and audience ratings to set the foundation for the discussion of individual broadcast outlets. Students will be introduced to principles of audience behavior in the new media environment and allowed to apply these theories to a variety of situations, including a final project of their choice. The course covers scheduling, audience analysis (ratings and other methods), competitive strategies, and applications to program producers, advertisers and affiliate stations.

RTF 342 - Issues in the Third World

This course examines major issues in international communication, especially as they pertain to the third world. Topics covered include flow of information across national boundaries, unequal distribution and access to information worldwide, varying points of view concerning the new world information order, and new paradigms being developed to explain and predict development of media in third world and under developed societies. Major concerns of the course will be to understand how communication and media operate in the international context and to evaluate some agreements and notions concerning future global options.