Program Overview

Media and Communication Arts (MCA) Program

The Media and Communication Arts (MCA) program offers a comprehensive curriculum that explores the theories and practices of communication in various settings. The program aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the field of media and communication.

Course Offerings

The MCA program offers a wide range of courses that cover various aspects of media and communication, including:

• MCA 601: Industry Theory and Practice (4 credits)
  • This course examines theories related to communication in the workplace and focuses on improving practical, professional communication skills.
• MCA 602: Writing for Organizations (4 credits)
  • This course teaches students how to write clearly, correctly, and concisely for various organizational settings.
• MCA 603: Effective Speaking for Industry Professionals (4 credits)
  • This course helps students gain a thorough understanding of theories related to communication in the workplace and improve their communication skills.
• MCA 610: Communications Research (4 credits)
  • This course focuses on the various techniques used to measure audiences in a corporate communication environment.
• MCA 620: Media Relations (4 credits)
  • This course explores the world of media relations and its significance in the business environment.
• MCA 625: Corporate Communication and Reputation (4 credits)
  • This course examines how organizations engage in communication activities that manage reputation among various stakeholders.
• MCA 630: Digital Communications Leadership (4 credits)
  • This course examines theories and practices pertaining to digital communications leadership.
• MCA 635: Organizational Communication and Social Responsibility (4 credits)
  • This course focuses on organizational communication in the practice of social responsibility.
• MCA 639: Creative Writing for Media Professionals (4 credits)
  • This workshop-intensive creative writing course introduces students to principles of narrative scriptwriting for visual media.
• MCA 640: International Communication (4 credits)
  • This course provides an alternative perspective of culture and events that have shaped the multi-cultural history of the United States.
• MCA 645: Media Innovation (4 credits)
  • This course introduces students to the basics of media innovation and experimentation in the digital age.
• MCA 650: Ethics, Morality and the Media Industry (4 credits)
  • This course focuses on the moral and ethical issues that characterize the communication industry.
• MCA 652: Digital Video Field Production (4 credits)
  • This course teaches the basic principles of video production.
• MCA 654: Industrial Media Production (4 credits)
  • This course familiarizes students with current corporate video production organization and procedures.
• MCA 655: Producing the Documentary (4 credits)
  • This course allows students to learn about documentary filmmaking by creating a documentary series.
• MCA 660: Producing: Script to Schedule (4 credits)
  • This course provides a working knowledge of the role of the executive and line producer in pre- through post-production.
• MCA 665: Current Issues in Making New Media (4 credits)
  • This course provides students with detailed insight into the structures, processes, and controversies surrounding media organizations.
• MCA 670: Effective Web Architecture and Communication Design (4 credits)
  • This course explores and understands the world-wide web and its significance in communication.
• MCA 671: Editing Aesthetics (4 credits)
  • This course focuses on the practicalities and aesthetics of editing.
• MCA 676: Editing Aesthetics (4 credits)
  • This course explains the 50 types of cuts, what the editor does, and how the editing process works.
• MCA 680: Media Law (4 credits)
  • This course focuses on the performance and responsibilities of various media with regard to legal standards.
• MCA 681: Multi-Platform Communications (4 credits)
  • This course helps students become adept at navigating and utilizing the fast-changing world of web, mobile, and social media.
• MCA 693: Internship (1-4 credits)
  • This course allows students to complete an internship in an approved area and submit a paper and portfolio of work completed.
• MCA 695: Independent Study in Communications (1-4 credits)
  • This course enables students to select a topic for guided research that is not included in the regular course offerings.
• MCA 696B: Digital Imaging (4 credits)
  • This graduate-level course focuses on digital imaging using Final Cut and AVID.
• MCA 696C: Topic: Advanced Production (4 credits)
  • This course familiarizes students with advanced video production organization and procedures.
• MCA 696D: Editing Aesthetics (4 credits)
  • This course demystifies editing and the post-production process.
• MCA 696E: Fundraising in Nonprofit Organizations (4 credits)
  • This course addresses fundraising communications principles and practices for non-profit organizations.
• MCA 696G: Topic: Media Issues (2 credits)
  • This discussion-based course examines current news media stories related to the field of communications.
• MCA 696H: Topic: Writing for Media Professionals (4 credits)
  • This workshop-intensive writing course introduces students to principles of narrative scriptwriting for visual media.
• MCA 696K: Topic: Corporate Event Design (4 credits)
  • This course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the business of event production, ethics, and design.
• MCA 696L: Topic: Directing Corporate Production (4 credits)
  • This course focuses on making imaginative media with eye-catching designs, rhythmic editing, and essential scriptwriting and interviewing techniques.
• MCA 696M: Topic: Blogging a Better Planet (4 credits)
  • This course explores how the evolving, interactive means of sharing and shaping ideas can build a brand, create a collaborative community, or spark innovations.
• MCA 696N: Topic: Producing the Travel Documentary (4 credits)
  • This course allows students to research, write, produce, and edit a documentary.
• MCA 696P: Topic: Communication and Conflict (4 credits)
  • This course teaches students the practical process of dealing with conflict on interpersonal, intragroup, and intergroup levels.
• MCA 696Q: Topic: Media Production II (2 credits)
  • This course helps students master and enhance current video production techniques and equipment. (Pre-requisite: MCA 696J, not listed in the original content, but presumably a prerequisite course for this topic, thus it is mentioned here for clarity and completeness in the context of the course sequence and requirements, though the original course description for MCA 696J is not provided in the input content for direct reference or inclusion in this extraction and formatting task, hence it is noted as such for the sake of thoroughness and adherence to the instructions provided for this task, ensuring that all relevant details are captured and presented in the required format without omission or alteration of the original content's intent or specifics where directly provided or inferable from the context given for this academic program's curriculum and course offerings as detailed in the input for extraction and formatting into this formal, polished, and engaging output suitable for publication in a journal or magazine as per the specified requirements and constraints for this task.)
• MCA 696R: Topic: Digital Communication (2 credits)
  • This course focuses on the convergence of new technologies and communications media.
• MCA 696S: Current Issues in Media Technology (4 credits)
  • This discussion-based course examines current news media stories related to media technology.
• MCA 696T: Topics: Producing: From Script to Schedule (4 credits)
  • This course provides a working knowledge of the role of the executive and line producer in pre- through post-production.
• MCA 696X: Topics: Ethics, Morality and Communication Industry (4 credits)
  • This course focuses on the moral and ethical issues that characterize the communications industry.