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Approved Courses Each Semester

Academic Catalog Year Definition

An enrolled student's academic catalog year is defined by the academic year in which the student first enrolls at American University. It aligns with the program requirements published in that year's University Catalog. The academic catalog year remains the same during the student's continuous enrollment at AU, and is only changed under specific circumstances within the span of that continuous enrollment.

The University reserves the right to revise the program requirements and to correct errors in the University Catalog at any time.

Fall 2024

*For Catalog Year 2018-2019Ìýor later

Skills

  • COMM-105 Visual Literacy
  • COMM-260 Quantitative Methods for Journalists
  • COMM-282 Writing for Visual Media
  • COMM-305 Digital Skills
  • COMM-330 Principles of Photography
  • COMM-420-005 Storytelling for Changemakers
  • COMM-491 Senior Professional Internship (3 credits)

Media Studies

  • COMM-201 Survey of International Cinema
  • COMM-209 Communication and Society
  • COMM-321ÌýIdentity, Power and Misrepresentation
  • COMM-414 History of Cross-Cultural Cinema
  • COMM-420-004 Pop Culture and CommunicationÌý(Available to substitute for COMM-359 if not used for Media Studies)
  • COMM-439 Political CommunicationÌý(see your advisor for Registration Action)
  • COMMÌý445: Global Journalism in the 21stÌý°ä±ð²Ô³Ù³Ü°ù²â
  • COMM-468 Musical Cultures and Industries

*For Catalog Year 2018-2019 through 2023-2024

Media Studies

  • COMM-270 How the News Media Shaped History
  • COMM-323 Raking the Muck
  • COMM-396 Identity, Power, and Misrepresentation
  • COMM-401 Communication Law
  • COMM-412 Social Documentary
  • COMM-413 Producing Film and Video
  • COMM-414 History of Cross-Cultural Cinema
  • COMM-445 Global Journalism in the 21st CenturyÌý
  • COMM-468 Musical Cultures and Industries
  • COMM-509 Politics and the Media

*For Catalog Year 2024-2025 and later

Media Studies

  • COMM-201 Survey of International Cinema
  • COMM-270 How the News Media Shape History
  • COMM-409 Journalism Ethics
  • COMM-414 History of Cross-Cultural Cinema
  • COMM-420-004 Pop Culture and Communication
  • COMM-439 Political Communication
  • COMM-447 Multicultural Strategic Communication Campaigns
  • COMM-468 Musical Cultures and Industries
  • COMM-509 Politics and the Media
  • COMM-567 Communication and Social Change

Skills

  • COMM-105 Visual Literacy
  • COMM-301 Public Relations
  • COMM-305 Digital Skills
  • COMM-310 Public Speaking
  • COMM-320 Reporting
  • COMM-331 Film and Video Production I
  • COMM-378 Introduction to Communication Research Methods

* For Catalog Year 2018-2019 and later

HISTORY OR MEDIA STUDIES

  • COMM-365 Digital Media andÌýCulture
  • COMM-412 Social Documentary

PRODUCTION ÌýÌý

  • COMM-416-002 Designing Immersive Experiences
  • COMM-420-005 Storytelling for Changemakers
  • COMM-436 Advanced Directing
  • COMM-438-001 Archival Storytelling with Nat Geo
  • COMM 464 Directing the Actors for Camera
  • COMM-474 The Business of Television
  • COMM-479 Fine Art Photography

WRITING

  • COMM-466 Writing the Feature Film
  • COMM-483ÌýWriting the Documentary Film
  • COMM-484 Writing Episodic Series

*For Catalog Year 2020-2021 and later

MEDIA STUDIES ELECTIVES

  • COMM-270 How the News Media Shaped History
  • COMM-321ÌýIdentity, Power and Misrepresentation
  • COMM-326 Sports Journalism
  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture
  • COMM-420-002ÌýFood Reporting: Words to Eat By (1 credit)
  • COMM-420-007 Covering the Election on TikTok (1 credit)
  • COMM-420-009ÌýCovering a New Presidency and the White House (1 credit)
  • COMM-445 Global Journalism: Issues and Trends in the Twenty-First Century
  • COMM-509 Politics and the Media

COMMUNICATION ELECTIVES

*if not taken to fulfill another requirement of this program*

  • COMM-105 Visual Literacy
  • COMM-326 Sports Journalism
  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture
  • COMM-385 Digital Audio and Podcast Production (for Journalism track)
  • COMM-419ÌýIn-Depth Journalism
  • COMM-420-001 Investigative Broadcast Journalism
  • COMM-420-002ÌýFood Reporting: Words to Eat By (1 credit)
  • COMM-420-005 Storytelling for Changemakers
  • COMM-420-007 Covering the Election on TikTok (1 credit)
  • COMM-420-009ÌýCovering a New Presidency and the White House (1 credit)
  • COMM-425 Advanced Reporting (for Broadcast track)
  • COMM-426 Sports Writing and Reporting
  • COMM-432 Backpack Video Journalism
  • COMM-445 Global Journalism: Issues and Trends in the Twenty-First Century
  • COMM-491 Senior Professional Internship
  • COMM-509 Politics and the Media

*For Catalog Year 2020-2021 and later

INTRODUCTORY

  • ARTS-205 The Artist’s Perspective: DrawingÌý

  • COMM-105 Visual Literacy

FOUNDATION

  • ARTS-235 The Artist’s Perspective: Video ArtÌý

  • ARTS-245 The Artist’s Perspective: Digital PhotographyÌý

  • COMM-330 Principles of PhotographyÌý

HISTORY AND CULTURAL STUDIES

  • ARTH-210 How Art Became Modern

  • COMM-416-002 Design Immersive Experiences

INTERMEDIATE

*if not taken to fulfill another requirement

  • ARTS-205 The Artist’s Perspective: DrawingÌý

  • ARTS-235 The Artist’s Perspective: Video ArtÌý

  • ARTS-245 The Artist’s Perspective: Digital PhotographyÌý

  • ARTS-470 Expanded Media Studio: Video and PhotographyÌý

  • COMM-330 Principles of PhotographyÌý

  • COMM-479 Fine Art Photography

PORTFOLIO BUILDING

  • ARTS-470 Expanded Media Studio: Video and PhotographyÌý

  • COMM-331 Film and Video Production IÌý

  • COMM-416-002 Design Immersive ExperiencesÌý

  • COMM-491 Senior Professional InternshipÌý

*For Catalog Year 2018-2019 or later

Topics and Skills

  • COMM-310 Public Speaking
  • COMM-321ÌýIdentity, Power and Misrepresentation
  • COMM-327 The PR Presidency
  • COMM 387ÌýStrategic Communication & Event Management
  • COMM-388 Collaboration and Team Communication
  • COMM-408 Social Media Strategies and Tactics
  • COMM-420-005 Storytelling for Changemakers
  • COMM-420-006ÌýCommunication of Public Policy: Business Leaders or Elected Officials
  • COMM-439 Political Communication
  • COMM-441 Crisis Communication
  • COMM-485 Strategic Communication and Content Creation
  • COMM-542 Media Relations

Electives

  • COMM-105 Visual Literacy
  • COMM-310 Public Speaking
  • COMM-321ÌýIdentity, Power and Misrepresentation
  • COMM-327 The PR Presidency
  • COMM-330 Principles of Photography
  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture
  • COMM 387 Strategic Communication & Event Management
  • COMM-388 Collaboration and Team Communication
  • COMM-408 Social Media Strategies and Tactics
  • COMM-420-005ÌýStorytelling for Changemakers
  • COMM 420-006: Communication of Public Policy: Business Leaders or Elected Officials
  • COMM-439 Political Communication
  • COMM-441 Crisis Communication
  • COMM-485 Strategic Communication and Content Creation
  • COMM-491 Senior Professional Internship
  • COMM-509ÌýÌýPolitics and the Media
  • COMM-542 Media Relations

Spring 2024

*For Catalog Year 2019-2020 and earlier ÌýÌýÌý

Skills

  • COMM-105 Visual Literacy
  • COMM-291 Communication Field Experience (1 credit)
  • COMM-325 Feature Article Writing
  • COMM-330 Principles of Photography
  • COMM-385 Digital Audio & Podcast Production
  • COMM-391 Communication Career Internship (2 credits)
  • COMM-417 The Fundamentals of News Design (if not utilized for requirement below)
  • COMM-420 Freelance and Contracts: Be Your Own Boss (1 credit)
  • COMM-420 Police, Courts, and Community (1 credit)
  • COMM-420 Covering the White House in an Election Year (1 credit)
  • COMM-420 Podcasting Tools & Techniques (if not utilized for requirement below)
  • COMM 420 The Presidential Primaries
  • COMM-432 Backpack Video Journalism
  • COMM-487 Advanced Broadcast Production***
  • COMM-491 Senior Professional Internship (3 credits)
  • COMM-496 Storytelling for Changemakers
  • COMM-588 Race, Ethnic, and Community Reporting

***COMM-428 Advanced TV/Video Production is now COMM-487 Advanced Broadcast Production

Media Studies

  • COMM-270 How News Media Shape History
  • COMM-326 Sports Journalism
  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture
  • COMM-417 The Fundamentals of News Design (if not utilized for requirement above)
  • COMM-420 Podcasting Tools & Techniques (if not utilized for above requirement)
  • COMM-490 Independent Study
  • COMM-509 Politics and the Media

*For Catalog Year 2020-2021 and later

Media Studies Electives

  • COMM-270 How News Media Shape History
  • COMM-326 Sports Journalism
  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture
  • COMM-417 The Fundamentals of News Design
  • COMM-509 Politics and the Media

Communication Electives

*if not taken to fulfill another requirement of this program*

  • COMM-105 Visual Literacy
  • COMM-291 Communication Field Experience (1 credit)
  • COMM-325 Feature Article Writing
  • COMM-326 Sports Journalism
  • COMM-330 Principles of Photography
  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture
  • COMM-385 Digital Audio and Podcast Production
  • COMM-391 Communication Careers Internship (2 credits)
  • COMM-417 The Fundamentals of News Design
  • COMM-420 Freelance and Contracts: Be Your Own Boss (1 credit)
  • COMM-420 Police, Courts, and Community (1 credit)
  • COMM-420 Covering the White House in an Election Year (1 credit)
  • COMM-420 Podcasting Tools & Techniques
  • COMM-420 The Presidential Primaries
  • COMM-420 Storytelling for Changemakers (SOC3)Ìý
  • COMM-425 Advanced Reporting
  • COMM-432 Backpack Video Journalism
  • COMM-487ÌýAdvanced Broadcast Production
  • COMM-490 Independent Study
  • COMM-491 Senior Professional Internship
  • COMM-496 Storytelling for Changemakers
  • COMM-509 Politics and the Media
  • COMM-544 Foreign Correspondence
  • COMM-560 Backpack Documentary
  • COMM-588 Race, Ethnic, and Community Reporting

*For Catalog Year 2018-2019 and later

History or Media Studies

  • COMM-365 Digital Media & Culture
  • COMM-400 Community Documentary
  • COMM-420 Storytelling for Changemakers (SOC3)
  • COMM-477 History of Photography
  • COMM-544 Foreign Correspondence
  • COMM-558 Survey of American Cinema

Production Ìý

  • COMM-291 Communication Field Experience (1 credit)
  • COMM-391 Communication Careers Internship (2 credits)
  • COMM-400 Community Documentary
  • COMM-416 Environmental Media
  • COMM-420 Freelance and Contracts: Be Your Own Boss (1 credit)
  • COMM-420 Police, Courts, and Community (1 credit)
  • COMM-420 Storytelling for Changemakers (SOC3)Ìý
  • COMM-438 Cinematography and Lighting
  • COMM-456 Dramatic Production
  • COMM-464 Directing Actors for the Camera
  • COMM-478 Adv Portfolio: Large Format Photography
  • COMM-486 Documentary Production
  • COMM-490 Independent Study
  • COMM-491 Senior Professional Internship
  • COMM-496 Storytelling for Changemakers
  • COMM-524 Producing Environmental and Wildlife Films
  • COMM-560 Backpack Documentary
  • COMM-587 Playful Cities

Writing

  • COMM-483 Writing the Documentary Film
  • COMM-466 Writing the Feature Film

*For Catalog Year 2019-2020

HISTORY AND CULTURAL STUDIES

  • ARTH-210 How Art Became Modern
  • COMM-477 History of Photography

INTERMEDIATE

  • ARTS-205 The Artist’s Perspective: Drawing
  • ARTS-470 Expanded Media Studio: Video and Photography (if not taken to meet requirement below)

PORTFOLIO BUILDING

Ìý

*For Catalog Year 2020-2021 and later

HISTORY AND CULTURAL STUDIES

  • ARTH-210 How Art Became Modern
  • COMM-477 History of Photography

INTERMEDIATE (if not taken to fulfill another requirement)

  • ARTS-205 The Artist’s Perspective: Drawing
  • ARTS-235 The Artist’s Perspective: Video Art
  • ARTS-245 The Artist’s Perspective: Digital Photography
  • ARTS-470 Expanded Media Studio: Video and Photo
  • COMM-330 Principles of Photography

PORTFOLIO BUILDING (if not taken to fulfill another requirement)

  • ARTS-470 Expanded Media Studio: Video and Photo

  • COMM-331 Film and Video Production I
  • COMM-491 Senior Professional Internship
  • GDES-320 Visual Concepts and Image Making for Design

*For Catalog Year 2017-2018 and earlier

Please contact your advisor for course options.

*For Catalog year 2018-2019 and later

Topics and Skills

  • COMM-310 Public Speaking
  • COMM-420-001ÌýPodcasting Tools & Techniques
  • COMM-420-002 Strategic Communication Leadership and Management
  • COMM-420-005 Storytelling for Changemakers (SOC3)
  • COMM-420 Presidential Primaries
  • COMM-441 Crisis Communication
  • COMM-447 Multicultural Strategic Communication
  • COMM-457 Strategic Communication in Advertising
  • COMM-469 Digital Communication Analytics and Certifications
  • COMM-481 Entertainment Communication
  • COMM-490 Independent Study
  • COMM-420-005ÌýStorytelling for Changemakers
  • COMM-542 Media Relations
  • COMM-543 Speechwriting
  • COMM-573 Visual Design in Strat Comm

Electives

  • COMM-105 Visual Literacy
  • COMM-291 Communication Field Experience (1 Credit)Ìý
  • COMM-310 Public Speaking
  • COMM-330 Principles of Photography
  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture
  • COMM-391 Communication Careers Internship (2 Credits)Ìý
  • COMM-420-002 Strategic Communication Leadership and Management
  • COMM-420-005 Storytelling for Changemakers (SOC3)Ìý
  • COMM-420-003 The SixtiesÌýin America
  • COMM-441 Crisis Communication
  • COMM-447ÌýMulticultural Strategic Communication
  • COMM-457 Strategic Communication in Advertising
  • COMM-469 Digital Communication Analytics and Certifications
  • COMM-481 Entertainment Communication
  • COMM-490 Independent Study
  • COMM-491 Senior Professional Internship
  • COMM-509 Politics and the Media
  • COMM-542 Media Relations
  • COMM-543 Speechwriting
  • COMM-573 Visual Design in Strat Comm

Ìý

*For Catalog Year 2017-2018 and earlier

Please contact your advisor for course options.

*For Catalog Year 2018-2019 and later

Skills

  • COMM-105 Visual Literacy
  • COMM-260 Quantitative Methods for Journalists
  • COMM-282 Writing for Visual Media
  • COMM-291 Communication Field Experience (1 credit)
  • COMM-330 Principles of Photography
  • COMM-391 Communication Careers Internship (2 credits
  • COMM-420-001ÌýPodcasting Tools & Techniques
  • COMM-447 Multicultural Strategic Communication Campaigns
  • COMM-491 Senior Professional Internship (3 credits)

Media Studies

  • COMM-201 Survey of International Cinema

  • COMM-209 Communication and Society

  • COMM-420-005 Storytelling for Changemakers (SOC3)

  • COMM-420-009ÌýPop Culture and Communication (Can count as alternative for COMM-359)
  • COMM-468 Musical Cultures and Industries
  • COMM-477 History of Photography
  • COMM-420-005ÌýStorytelling for ChangemakersÌý
  • COMM-490 Independent Study

*For Catalog Years 2017-2018 and before

Please contactÌýyour advisor for course options.

*For Catalog year 2018-2019 and after

Media Studies

  • COMM-270 How the News Media Shape History
  • COMM-326 Sports Journalism
  • COMM-401 Communication Law
  • COMM-416/616-001 Environmental Media
  • COMM-417 Fundamentals of News Design
  • COMM-420/620-003 The Sixties in America
  • COMM-420/642-001 Strat Comm Leadership & Management
  • COMM-447/647 Multicultural Strategic Comm Campaigns
  • COMM-457/657-001 Strategic Communication in Advertising
  • COMM-477 History of Photography
  • COMM-509 Politics and the Media
  • COMM-558 Survey of American Cinema

Summer 2024

*For Catalog Year 2020-2021 and later

MEDIA ELECTIVES

*if not taken to fulfill another requirement

  • COMM-420-001 Podcasting Tools & Techniques
  • COMM-439 Political Communication
  • COMM-485 Strategic Communication and Content Creation

COMMUNICATION ELECTIVES

*if not taken to fulfill another requirement

  • COMM-291 Communication Field Experience (1 credit)
  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture
  • COMM-391 Communication Careers Internship (2 credits)
  • COMM-420-001 Podcasting Tools & Techniques
  • COMM-491 Senior Professional Internship

*For Catalog Year 2018-2019 and later

HISTORY OR MEDIA STUDIES

  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture

PRODUCTION

*For Catalog Year 2018-2019 and later

Topics and Skills

  • COMM-408 Social Media Strategies and Tactics
  • COMM-420-001ÌýPodcasting Tools and Techniques
  • COMM-439 Political Communication
  • COMM-485 Strategic Communication and Content Creation

Electives

  • COMM-291 Communication Field Experience (1 credit)
  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture
  • COMM-391 Communication Careers Internship (2 credits)
  • COMM-408 Social Media Strategies and Tactics
  • COMM-420-001ÌýPodcasting Tools and Techniques
  • COMM-439 Political Communication
  • COMM-485 Strategic Communication and Content Creation
  • COMM-491 Senior Professional Internship

*For Catalog Year 2018-2019 and later

Skills

  • COMM-291 Communication Field Experience (1 credit)
  • COMM-391 Communication Careers Internship (2 credits)
  • COMM-420-001ÌýPodcasting Tools and Techniques
  • COMM-485 Strategic Communication and Content Creation
  • COMM-491 Senior Professional Internship

Media Studies

  • COMM-420-001ÌýPodcasting Tools and Techniques
  • COMM-439 Political Communication

*For Catalog Year 2018-2019 and later

Media Studies

  • COMM-439 Political Communication

View a list of SOC courses that provide experiential learning opportunities.Ìý

Hours Outside of SOC

Journalism and Public Relations and Strategic Communication majors are required to complete 72 credit hours of course work outside the School of Communication. Anything that does not have the COMM prefix will count.

All SOC majors except Foreign Language and Communication Media majors are required to take one U.S. History course from the following list:

  • HIST-100 History, Memory, and the Changeable Past
  • HIST-130 History of American Popular Culture
  • HIST-205 American Encounters: 1492-1865 (FA2)
  • HIST-206 U.S. History since 1865
  • HIST-208 African-American History: to 1877
  • HIST-209 African-American History: 1877 to Present
  • HIST-210 Ethnicity in America (FA4)
  • HIST-215 Social Forces That Shaped America (FA2)
  • HIST-219 Women in America to 1850
  • HIST-220 Women in America since 1850 (FA4)
  • HIST-235 West in Crisis, 1900-1945 (FA2)
  • HIST-288 Oliver Stone's America

All Journalism majors are required to take one Economics course. Journalism majors can choose from:

  • ECON-100
  • ECON-110
  • ECON-200

All Public Relations and Strategic Communication, Film and Media Arts, and Communication Studies majors are required to take either one economics course or MKTG-250. Students in these majors can choose from:

  • ECON-100
  • ECON-110
  • ECON-200
  • MKTG-250

For majors in Communication Studies, Film and Media Arts, Journalism, and Public Relations and Strategic Communication, a minor or second major outside the School of Communication is required. Students should discuss with their SOC academic advisor how much room they have in their graduation plan in order to assist in their decision whether to pursue a minor or second major. .