Communicating Arts
- Mission Statement
- Faculty and Staff
- Majors
- Minors
- Course Descriptions
- Communicating Arts Department Contact Information
Mission Statement 
The Communicating Arts Department offers a balance of theory and practice in our curriculum. Communicating Arts and Theatre majors choose concentrations that prepare them for careers in television, video production, radio, journalism, event planning, politics, management, sales, human resources, professional development and training, acting, directing, technical design, and graduate study. Senior capstone projects and internships provide students with strong academic credentials and professional portfolios to match.
Faculty and Staff
Beth Austin - Senior Lecturer, Distance Learning: Media
Martha Einerson - Professor, Communication
Cathy Fank - Professor, Theatre
Ephraim Nikoi - Associate Professor, On Campus and Distance Learning: Communication
Brent Notbohm - Professor, Media
Thomas Notton - Senior Lecturer, Media
Kim Rawson - Senior Lecturer, Distance Learning: Communication
Scott Smith - Senior Lecturer, Distance Learning: Communication
Chad Vollrath - Assistant Professor-Communication
Sue Wedan - Senior Lecturer, Theatre
Alison Wielgus, Assistant Professor, Media
Majors
- Communicating Arts Major - Communication Concentration Requirements
- Communicating Arts Major - Media Concentration Requirements
- Media Studies Track Requirements-Suspended
- Journalism Track Requirements-Suspended
- Digital Cinema Track Requirements
- Interactive Media Track Requirements
- Theatre Major Requirements - Suspended
Minors
- Communication Minor Requirements
- Media Minor Requirements-Suspended
- Journalism Minor Requirements-Suspended
- Theatre Minor Requirements
Course Descriptions
| COMM - Communicating Arts | ||
| Catalog Nbr. | Course Title/Course Topics | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 104 | Film and Culture | 3.00 |
| Students will learn to analyze films from aesthetic and cultural perspectives in a survey of motion pictures from their beginning to the present day. A variety of American and/or international films showing significant artistic development will be screened. The on campus course meets for an additional hour per week to accommodate these in class screenings. | ||
University Studies Requirements: Fine Arts - Appreciation | ||
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer Terms | ||
| COMM 110 | Introduction to Communication | 3.00 |
| Introduction to concepts and theories of communication and the application of those theories to interpersonal interactions, small group processes, and public address. | ||
University Studies Requirements: Communicating Arts | ||
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer Terms | ||
| COMM 122 | Theatre Appreciation | 3.00 |
| An introduction to live performance through the study of artistic components involved in the theatrical process. | ||
University Studies Requirements: Fine Arts - Appreciation | ||
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer Terms | ||
| COMM 125 | Beginning Acting for Theatre | 3.00 |
| Introduction to the principles of acting for the stage. Students are guided through exercises, concepts and practical acting experience as they unlock their creative potential. | ||
University Studies Requirements: Fine Arts - Aesthetic | ||
Typically Offered: Fall and Spring Terms | ||
| COMM 134 | Digital Audio Production | 3.00 |
| Introduction to the theory and practice of digital audio production for a variety of applications including radio, video, multimedia, and theatre. Demonstrated computer literacy is highly recommended. | ||
Typically Offered: Spring Term Every Other Year | ||
| COMM 167 | Introduction to Intercultural Communication | 3.00 |
| This course focuses on the importance of culture in our everyday lives, and the ways in which culture interrelates with and effects communication processes. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall Term Only | ||
| COMM 170 | Media and Society | 3.00 |
| Survey course charts the most significant developments (technological, cultural, regulatory/political, and economic) in the evolution of several media industries. Students examine key aspects of the changing media landscape-fragmented audiences and multiple channels, increasingly concentrated patterns of ownership, changes in representation of gender, sexuality, and ethnicity, globalization, and fewer sources of, or need for, traditional news-and consider the implications these changes have for individuals, social groups, the economy, culture, and politics. Emphasizes the building of skills in critical media literacy and analysis. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall and Spring Terms | ||
| COMM 180 | Introduction To Technical Theatre | 3.00 |
| A hands-on approach to the art of stagecraft. Students will learn and apply techniques in set construction, lighting and sound, scenic painting and stage properties for theatre productions. | ||
University Studies Requirements: Fine Arts - Aesthetic | ||
Typically Offered: Fall and Spring Terms | ||
| COMM 185 | Script Analysis for Theatre | 3.00 |
| Exploration of dramatic literature and how it relates to staging a production. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall Term Every Other Year | ||
| COMM 189 | Comm Arts Elective | 1.00 - 99.00 |
| Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-Superior course. | ||
| COMM 191 | Practicum | 1.00 - 3.00 |
| Extensive individual or group study in the theory and practice of Communication, Theatre, Radio, Video Production, or Journalism. Different sections allow the student to concentrate in his or her area of specialization with the instructor in charge of the section in which the student enrolls. Minimum 45 hours per credit. Repeatable. Prerequisite: Instructor consent required. Contract from instructor prior to enrolling, and/or an audition. Consult program catalog for maximum number of credits allowed in major or minor. Arranged. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer Terms | ||
| COMM 200 | Theatre Fine Arts Practicum | 1.00 - 3.00 |
| Students experience an artistic and/or aesthetic activity in conjunction with University Theatre. A contract from the instructor is required prior to enrolling in this course. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer Terms | ||
| COMM 203 | News Gathering and Reporting | 3.00 |
| A basic journalism course in which students practice interviewing, covering events; and writing leads, briefs and shorter news stories, on deadline. The course offers an introduction to the history of journalism, ethical standards, and libel law. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall and Spring Terms | ||
| COMM 211 | Interpersonal Communication | 3.00 |
| In-depth examination and analysis of communication in relationships across a range of contexts. Includes theoretical perspectives and applied frameworks. | ||
Prerequisites: Prerequisite for taking this course is having completed COMM 110. | ||
Typically Offered: Spring Term Only | ||
| COMM 220 | Theatre Portfolio Review | 0.00 |
| All theatre majors and minors are required to register for and complete a portfolio review process once a year. Each portfolio must contain a professional resume and performance materials appropriate to their area of specialization. | ||
Typically Offered: Spring Term Only | ||
| COMM 224 | Advanced Acting | 3.00 |
| An extension of COMM 125 furthering the student's exposure to building a character. | ||
Prerequisites: Prerequisite for taking this course is completion of COMM 125. | ||
Typically Offered: Spring Term Every Other Year | ||
| COMM 226 | Professional Preparation for Theatre | 1.00 |
| Job market information, resume, and portfolio development as applicable. Field trip may be required. Open to Theatre majors only. | ||
Prerequisites: Prerequisite for taking this course is successful completion of COMM 125 and COMM 180 | ||
Typically Offered: Fall Term Every Other Year | ||
| COMM 254 | Communication Inquiry | 3.00 |
| Exploration of communication theories, everyday ways of theorizing communication, and research methods that help us understand the complex ways communication shapes our lives. Emphasis includes theory development, interpretation and analysis, research methodologies, and research design. Students examine the interconnected relationship between theory and method. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall Term Only | ||
| COMM 261 | Digital Video Production | 3.00 |
| Introduction to basic videography with an extensive hands-on investigation of professional non-linear editing theory and technique. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer Terms | ||
| COMM 263 | Digital Graphics and Effects | 3.00 |
| In-depth exploration of electronic graphic design for multimedia applications including video and DVD. Topics range from basic graphic design creation to animation. | ||
Prerequisites: Prerequisite for taking this course is having completed COMM 261. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall Term Every Other Year | ||
| COMM 268 | Television and American Culture | 3.00 |
| Television and American Culture will give students an overview of American television history. Students will study the technological, industrial, and cultural development of television from the 1920s to the present day. In exploring these issues, students will develop research and writing skills. | ||
Prerequisites: COMM 170 or Instructor Consent | ||
Typically Offered: Spring Term Every Other Year | ||
| COMM 273 | Oral Interpretation | 3.00 |
| Introduction to the process of lifting words from the page and giving them dimension in a reader’s voice and body. | ||
University Studies Requirements: Fine Arts - Aesthetic | ||
Typically Offered: Fall and Spring Terms | ||
| COMM 275 | Internship | 1.00 - 4.00 |
| Supervised work in professional organizations at an entry level. Major or minor area of study in the area of the internship; must have a signed Affiliation Agreement with organization with which you are interning on file in Communication Arts Office, contract prior to registration and consent of the Communicating Arts Department chair. The application for internship including written consent from the external agency (Affiliation Agreement) must be submitted to the department chair 30 days prior to enrollment. Minimum 45 hours per credit. Consent of instructor. Arranged. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer Terms | ||
| COMM 285 | History of Theatre | 3.00 |
| A discussion of theatre as a cultural institution. Emphasis on staging practices, genres and acting styles throughout the world from Ancient to Realism. Offered Fall Term Every Other Year and Summer. | ||
University Studies Requirements: Fine Arts - Appreciation | ||
Typically Offered: Fall Term Every Other Year | ||
| COMM 289 | Comm Arts Elective | 1.00 - 99.00 |
| Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-Superior course. | ||
| COMM 301 | Selected Topics in Film and Television | 3.00 |
| Examination of one of the major cycles, movements, nationalities, eras, or genres of motion picture and/or television production. Several feature films and/or television programs exemplifying historically and critically important aspects of the topic will be shown. The on campus course meets for an additional hour per week to accommodate these in class screenings. Different topics are repeatable. | ||
Prerequisites: Completed COMM 104 or COMM 170 or consent of the instructor. | ||
Typically Offered: Spring Term Every Other Year | ||
| COMM 330 | Advanced News Gathering and Reporting | 3.00 |
| This course expands the student's understanding of journalism; its function in a democracy, techniques of investigation, documentary and series reporting; and transition into the electronics and entrepreneurial delivery of news. Students develop their own news blogs and cover local issues through them, and work in groups to create a final feature project (radio, video, print or online). | ||
Prerequisites: Prerequisite for taking this course is having completed COMM 203 or Instructor consent. | ||
Typically Offered: Spring Term Only | ||
| COMM 332 | Communication in Conflict | 3.00 |
| Theoretical and applied exploration and analysis of communication in diverse conflict contexts. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall Term Only | ||
| COMM 348 | Screenwriting | 3.00 |
| Theory and extensive practice in narrative writing for television and film. Includes study and application of relevant media writing formats. | ||
Prerequisites: Prerequisite for taking this course is completion of ENGL 102 or WRIT 102 or consent of instructor. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall Term Every Other Year | ||
| COMM 353 | Persuasion | 3.00 |
| Cultural and critical principles and dimensions of persuasion, including the style and structures of persuasion in diverse modes of communicating. | ||
Prerequisites: Prerequisite for taking this course is having completed COMM 110. | ||
Typically Offered: Spring Term Only | ||
| COMM 356 | Community Engagement in Ghana-Study Abroad | 1.00 - 6.00 |
| Communication is an essential part of community engagement. This course is an experiential course designed to enhance the intercultural communication competence of students as well as to expose them to the challenges and rewards of community development in a developing country. Travel to Ghana occurs over J-Term. Students register for partial credit in both Fall and Spring semesters. | ||
Typically Offered: Other, Refer to Catalog | ||
| COMM 358 | Broadcast Journalism | 3.00 |
| Review of the methods and philosophies of news gathering, writing, and reporting for the electronic media. Frequent practical exercises to sharpen the student's writing and reporting abilities. | ||
Prerequisites: Prerequisites for taking this course is having completed COMM 203. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall Term Only | ||
| COMM 361 | Narrative Video Production | 3.00 |
| Project-intensive course in which students produce, direct, and edit fictional narrative videos. A variety of theories, techniques, and methods will be studied and applied to the student productions. | ||
Prerequisites: Prerequisite for taking this course is having completed COMM 261. | ||
Typically Offered: Spring Term Every Other Year | ||
| COMM 362 | Documentary Video Production | 3.00 |
| Project intensive course in which students produce, direct, and edit documentary videos. A variety of theories, techniques, and methods will be studied and applied to the student productions. | ||
Prerequisites: Prerequisite for taking this course is having completed COMM 261. | ||
Typically Offered: Spring Term Every Other Year | ||
| COMM 364 | Interactive Media Production | 3.00 |
| This course investigates the process of creating Interactive Media environments for audio, video, image, text and document material. Students will learn the essential functions of Adobe Encore (DVD Authoring) and Adobe Muse (Web Page Authoring) as two methods of bringing multimedia content together into an environment that is logically organized and user-friendly in its design. Students will explore basic design theory, and understand the similarities shared by DVD and Web as interactive media environments. | ||
Prerequisites: Prerequisite for taking this course is COMM 261 and 263 or consent of instructor. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall Term Every Other Year | ||
| COMM 365 | Theatre Direction | 3.00 |
| Theory and practice of a play production from the viewpoint of the director. Emphasis on directorial choices. Laboratory scene work required. | ||
Prerequisites: Prerequisites for taking this course is having completed COMM 125, 180 and 185. | ||
Typically Offered: Spring Term Every Other Year | ||
| COMM 368 | Film Theory and Criticism | 3.00 |
| Advanced study of seminal aesthetic and critical theories for the cinema. Students learn and apply critical frameworks in the analysis of film. | ||
Prerequisites: Completed COMM 104 or consent of the instructor. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall Term Only | ||
| COMM 375 | Theatrical Stage Management | 3.00 |
| An examination of the role of the stage manager in play production. | ||
Prerequisites: Requisite for taking this course is having completed COMM 180 | ||
Typically Offered: Fall Term Only | ||
| COMM 376 | Group Communication Processes | 3.00 |
| Exploration of communication processes within the context of the small group with emphasis on interpersonal relations, group dynamics, leadership and participant functions. An experiential/theoretical course. | ||
Typically Offered: Spring Term Only | ||
| COMM 377 | Special Topics in Theatre | 3.00 |
| Examination of special topics in the areas of theatre. Topics vary depending on current student interest and needs to the current season. Repeatable with different sections. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer Terms | ||
| COMM 388 | The Design Process | 3.00 |
| Exploration of the techniques and skill sets needed to design effectively and creatively. | ||
Prerequisites: Prerequisite for taking this course is having completed COMM 180 or COMM 185. | ||
Typically Offered: Spring Term Every Other Year | ||
| COMM 389 | Comm Arts Elective | 1.00 - 12.00 |
| Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-Superior course. | ||
| COMM 391 | Advanced Practicum | 1.00 - 3.00 |
| Specialized intensive study and/or practice in communication, theatre, radio, video production, or journalism activities. Different sections allow the student to increase his or her ability to perform in specific Communicating Arts functions. Projects must be designed in consultation with the instructor in charge of the section in which the student enrolls. Minimum 45 hours per credit. Instructor consent required. Repeatable. Contract from the instructor prior to enrolling. Consult program catalog for maximum number of credits allowed in major or minor. Arranged. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer Terms | ||
| COMM 392 | Leadership Training for Theatre | 2.00 |
| Practical experience in serving in leadership positions in Theatre. Consult with the proposed instructor for contract prior to enrolling. | ||
Prerequisites: Prerequisites for taking this course is having completed COMM 191 and/or COMM 391. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer Terms | ||
| COMM 425 | Communicating Gender | 3.00 |
| Analysis of gender and its relationship to communication. Emphasis includes the diverse ways gender shapes lived experience, and how communicators' understanding of gender and ourselves as gendered persons get formed in communication. Students will come to understand the range of consequences for our ways of communicating gender, at the personal, cultural, national and global levels. | ||
Typically Offered: Spring Term Only | ||
| COMM 455 | Theorizing Media Culture | 3.00 |
| Traces the historical development of theoretical frameworks for understanding media throughout the 20th and into the 21st century. The course is reading-intensive and emphasizes the development skills for analyzing, critiquing, and theorizing contemporary media. | ||
Prerequisites: Prerequisite for taking this course is having completed COMM 170 and Junior standing or consent of Instructor. | ||
Typically Offered: Spring Term Only | ||
| COMM 467 | Advanced Intercultural Communication | 3.00 |
| Advanced analysis of the communication dimensions involved in enhancing intercultural interactions. Focus is on identity and communication and their relationship to each other in a diverse world. | ||
University Studies Requirements: Diversity | ||
Typically Offered: Fall Term Only | ||
| COMM 475 | Advanced Internship | 3.00 - 12.00 |
| Supervised work in professional communications industries and settings. Junior or senior standing, major emphasis in the area of the internship, must have a signed Affiliation Agreement with organization with which you are interning on file in Communicating Arts Office, contract prior to registration and consent of the Communicating Arts Department chair. Minimum 45 hours per credit. The application for internship including written consent from the external agency (Affiliation Agreement) must be submitted to the department chair 30 days prior to enrollment. Arranged. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer Terms | ||
| COMM 477 | Media Law | 3.00 |
| Examines the development over the past two centuries of key concepts, principles, and legal precedents affecting media in the United States. Students also scrutinize the changes wrought by newer communication technologies and shifting sociocultural practices. Emphasizes critical media literacy and the building of research skills. | ||
Prerequisites: Prerequisite for taking this course is having completed COMM 170 and Junior standing or consent of Instructor. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall Term Only | ||
| COMM 489 | Comm Arts Elective | 1.00 - 12.00 |
| Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-Superior course. | ||
| COMM 491 | Senior Capstone | 0.00 |
| Required culminating senior year project which integrates and synthesizes the student's coursework (theories, concepts, skill competencies) into a formal project and experience, negotiated with the student's major advisor and instructor for final consent and approval. Senior capstone is paired with another course in the major. See Communicating Arts major descriptions for paired courses in specific program areas (Media, Communication, Theatre). Pass-Fail. Arranged. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer Terms | ||
| COMM 495 | Special Topics Seminar | 3.00 |
| Specially designed seminar on any number of diverse topics within Communicating Arts. Repeatable up to twelve credits. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall or Spring Terms | ||
| COMM 498 | Independent Study | 1.00 - 6.00 |
| Individual investigation, project, and/or production by advanced students in Communication, Media, or Theatre. Designed in consultation with instructor and should include a study of related literature and/or production techniques. Prerequisites: Instructor consent and contract prior to enrollment. Repeatable up to six credits. Arranged. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer Terms | ||
| COMM 499 | Intern Teaching in Communication | 3.00 |
| Working with and assisting a faculty member in teaching a lower-division Communicating Arts course. Includes applied work in preparing and teaching the content of one or more selected units of a course under the supervision of the instructor of record. Open to Communicating Arts majors only. Both faculty and Department Chair consent are required to enroll in this course. | ||
Typically Offered: Fall and Spring Terms | ||
Communicating Arts Department Contact Information
Communicating Arts Department
University of Wisconsin - Superior
Holden Fine and Applied Arts Center 2100
Belknap and Catlin Ave.
P.O. Box 2000
Superior, WI 54880
Phone: 715-394-8369
Email: commarts@uwsuper.edu