Home About Classes Research Links Contact

Teaching

JOMC 130, Principles of Public Relations

Internal and external public relations concepts and practices for businesses and other organizations, with an emphasis on identification and analysis of their publics and design, execution and assessment of appropriate communication strategies.

JOMC 131, Case Studies in Public Relations

Analysis of public relations practices, including planning, communication, evaluation exercises and management responsibilities.

JOMC 132, Public Relations Writing

Education and practice in communication skills required of public relations practitioners. This is a service-learning course; students are paired with a local nonprofit to help meet their communication needs.

JOMC 134, Public Relations Campaigns

Capstone course that builds on concepts and skills from earlier courses. Students use formal and informal research methods to develop a strategic plan, including evaluation strategies, for a client.

JOMC 140, Current Issues in Mass Communication

Analysis of the interrelationships between U.S. mass media and the society they serve.

JOMC 179, Advertising and Public Relations Research

Critical understanding and application of quantitative and qualitative methods used in the strategic planning and evaluation of advertising and public relations campaigns.

JOMC 191, Special Topics in Mass Communication, International Public Relations

This course builds on basic public relations concepts and management aspects to examine the particular challenges inherent in international public relations campaigns. The course covers the expansion of theory and practice into a cross-cultural environment, examining public relations practice from both a regional and functional perspective. Students will critique case studies and compile the background necessary to launch a campaign in a specific country.

JOMC 201, Mass Communication Research Methods

This course presents a broad overview of the research philosophy, designs, and methods used in mass communication industry and academic research. Students learn about available resources, research ethics, and the inherently political nature of the research enterprise. Faculty and graduate students discuss their research interests and projects throughout the semester to acquaint students with the research going on within the School.

JOMC 245, Theories of Mass Communication

Course description coming soon.

JOMC 391, Special Topics in Mass Communication, Agenda-Building Theory

Course description coming soon.

JOMC 391, Special Topics in Mass Communication, Survey Construction

Course description coming soon.

Teaching Philosophy

I work to enable my students to meet the challenges they face in today's professional and intellectual climate by demonstrating that theory and practice, teaching and research, art and science are not dichotomous constructs but form a synergistic continuum that embraces the diverse heritage of the mass communication field. Good teaching and good research are mutually enhancing activities, not mutually exclusive ones. In sum, I prominently display three bumper stickers in my office that encompass my overall approach to teaching:

Question Authority
If It's Not Fun, Why Do It?
No Whining

I believe my role is to be a critical thinker, to convey my enthusiasm for the subject matter to my students, and to be responsible to my students. I work to teach them to do the same.