See what you can learn in SOJC required courses, and explore a few options for electives. See the UO Class Schedule to find out which courses are offered in the coming terms.
Platform Courses
JCOM 101 Media Professions 4 credits
Get an introduction to the SOJC majors and a range of dynamic media and communication professions, opportunities, and issues. The course has its own hashtag: #MPATUO. Check out what current students are saying.
JCOM 102 Story Craft Audio 2 credits
This course prepares majors for basic audio production classes, projects, and opportunities in their program of work. With this knowledge comes a respect for the resources and people of the School of Journalism Communications and Allen Hall. Emphasizes the basics of recording and using sound.
JCOM 103 Story Craft Visual 2 credits
This course introduces fundamentals of creating professional visual media and lays a foundation of technical knowledge and creative capacities that will be further developed in future classes. Successful students will demonstrate a basic understanding of and confidence in using production camera equipment, lighting equipment, production studios, editing software, and equipment checkout systems.
JCOM 201 Making Sense of Media 4 credits
This course explores the social, cultural, economic, and political implications of media consumption in an age of misinformation and disinformation. Over the course of the term, students will explore key transformations in the media landscape, paying close attention to the interplay of media and power.
JCOM 202 How Stories Work 4 credits
This class will ground students in the basics of story: the components, the structure, and the conceptual framework with consideration for how story is understood in SOJC majors and coursework. Throughout the term, students will explore how stories unfold for different audiences, in different channels, and with different purpose in mind.
JCOM 203 Writing as Practice 4 credits
This course is designed to help students develop a professional voice and identity through consistent writing and feedback. Practice is ritual and routine. The focus is strictly on improvement, so this class is Pass/No Pass, which means everyone will need to meet a basic minimum standard. Because of that, everyone will leave this class as a better writer.
Core Context Courses
JCOM 301 Gender, Media, and Diversity 4 credits
Students undertake a critical study of the media’s representation of gender, race, ethnicity, and other social divisions. The course explores ramifications and possible mechanisms of change. (Prerequisite: JCOM 201)
JCOM 302 Communication Law 4 credits
This course emphasizes legal aspects of the media: constitutional freedom of expression, news gathering, access to public records, libel, privacy, copyright, advertising, electronic media regulation, and antitrust. (Prerequisite: JCOM 201)
JCOM 303 Media Ethics 4 credits
This course focuses on ethical problems in the media: privacy, violence, pornography, truth-telling, objectivity, media codes, public interest, media accountability. (Prerequisite: JCOM 201)
JCOM 304 Business of Media 4 credits
This course emphasizes the changing landscape of media channels and systems, how they are adapting to transformational technology, and how innovation and entrepreneurship are requisites for successful careers. (Prerequisite: JCOM 201)
JCOM 305 Media History 4 credits
This course focuses on the changing structure and character of the media in the United States. (Prerequisite: JCOM 201)
JCOM 306 Global Communication 4 credits
This course addresses national and cultural differences in media, global news and information flows, implications of rapid technological change, and communication and information policies. (Prerequisite: JCOM 201)
Media Studies Sequence Courses
JCOM 220 Introduction to Documentary Production 4 credits
Get an introduction to the theory and practice of documentary production. Learn about aesthetics and the technology, research, and writing fundamentals of documentary making, covering preproduction, production, and postproduction. (Prerequisites: All SOJC platform courses)
JCOM 221 Media Studies Production 2 credits
Add critical and cultural theory to the understanding of production skills and practice. Gain deeper knowledge of how production practices impact cultural and society by examining the relationship between theory and practice. (Prerequisites: All SOJC platform courses)
JCOM 280 Introduction to Studying Games 4 credits
Get an introduction to the fundamentals of game studies, including the game industry, history, culture, and critical topics from industrial labor and globalization to identity representations.
JCOM 311 Intro to Media Studies 4 credits
This course presents a historical overview of the study of media, with in-depth discussion of primary theoretical approaches and their application to the current media environment. (Open to Media Studies majors only.)
JCOM 312 Media Studies Research Methods 4 credits
This course provides the core skills necessary to critically evaluate scientific and analytic studies and conduct research in the media studies tradition. Students learn basic principles of media studies research methods, such as experiments, surveys, naturalistic observations, and interviews. (Prerequisites: JCOM 102, 103, 201, 202, and 311)
JCOM 314 Understanding Disney 4 credits
The course will explore the Walt Disney Company and its products using a variety of approaches and methodologies. It will consider different versions of Disney's history, present a political economic analysis of the Disney empire, and present textual analyses of Disney products, as well as discuss a wide array of audience responses. (Prerequisite: JCOM 201)
JCOM 315 Indigenous Media 4 credits
In this course, students will explore diverse forms of communication adopted by indigenous societies, with a specific focus on the rich tapestry of non-Western cultures. These societies are characterized by profound cultural connections to their territories and a profound influence from non-Western traditions. (Prerequisite: JCOM 201)
JCOM 316 Black American Media 4 credits
This class surveys the history of Black Americans’ involvement in media production, representation, and reception since the late 19th century. Throughout the course, students will analyze media, including Black newspapers and magazines, films, television shows, music, etc. (Prerequisite: JCOM 201)
JCOM 317 Media and Religion 4 credits
Modernist views predict declining religious influence due to factors like rational-legal authority, science, technology, and modern institutions. This course challenges that "secularization theory" by examining how media tech promotes religion in today's world. To understand religion's role in politics and culture, we'll explore ideas from Durkheim and Weber, pioneers in religious studies. Discussions on religion, modernization, and secularization will follow, including an analysis of Bercovitch's "The Puritan Origins of the American Self" for insights into Christian roots in American culture. (Prerequisite: JCOM 201)
JCOM 318 Documenting International Human Rights 4 credits
This class, using close studies of the documentary films that have greatly influenced our understanding of human rights, will take up the advanced requirements of storytelling, tracing the parallel developments of an art that can reveal both horror and the progress toward real defenses against it—that can tell the truth but also distort it into lies. What are human rights and how can documentaries convey the realities of human experience—the worldwide crisis we are in—so that we can understand the situation of ourselves and others in our world? (Prerequisite: JCOM 201)
JCOM 319 Documenting Civil Rights 4 credits
JCOM 320 Survey of the Documentary 4 credits
JCOM 321 Documentary Filmmaking Aesthetics 4 credits
JCOM 322 Documentary Screening and Guests 4 credits
In this course, students will screen, discuss, and analyze the current Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscar) short-listed feature and short documentaries and other films of merit. When possible, we will provide a “free” link to view it. We will do close analysis of the films and discuss the visual style, editing approach, and the writing and producing, marketing, and distribution of the works. (Prerequisites: All SOJC platform courses and JCOM 311)
JCOM 323 Topics in Documentary: Master Directors 4 credits
JCOM 348 Media Entrepreneurship 4 credits
This class is designed to lay the foundational knowledge of media entrepreneurship, focusing on understanding and addressing audience needs, pinpointing market gaps, and crafting a compelling media startup proposal. Over the term, students will delve into case studies of successful media startups, gaining insights into how these ventures identify their niche in the market and develop strategies for long-term sustainability. Through this practical exploration, the course equips students with the essential tools and frameworks needed to conceptualize and propose viable media business solutions.
JCOM 380 The Games Industry 4 credits
Covers the shape and structure of the global games industry—its producers, value chains, sales, and industrial logics—and its key critical questions. (Prerequisites: JCOM 280 or JCOM 311)
JCOM 381 Theories of Play in Media and Communication 4 credits
Explore play and its relationship to culture and media. This course covers the role of play in history, psychology, game design, and modern media and internet cultures. (Prerequisites: JCOM 280 or JCOM 311)
JCOM 382 Game Design and Critique 4 credits
This course guides students through the elements, steps, and processes of creating a game to cultivate in-depth knowledge of design and game development. (Prerequisites: JCOM 280 or JCOM 311)
JCOM 383 Understanding E-Sports 4 credits
Explore and analyze esports (organized competitive video gaming) and address key issues around players and teams, business structures and management, diversity and inclusion, and media and communication.
JCOM 385 Science of Science Communication 4 credits
This class is designed to introduce students to the theoretical foundations of science communication as a discipline. The class will provide an overview of the theoretical landscape, with an understanding of how the discipline of science communication has largely moved from deficit to dialogue in the past 30 years. Students will spend the majority of their time in this course exploring the different models of science communication, when and why they work, and how we know they work.
JCOM 411M U.S. Film Industry 4 credits
This course traces the past and present of the U.S. film industry, examining key moments in the development of Hollywood, including the consolidation and restructuring of the major movie studios and the film industry’s relationship to TV and the Internet. (Prerequisite: JCOM 201)
JCOM 412 Internet Law and Regulation 4 credits
JCOM 413 Data/Media/Surveillance 4 credits
JCOM 414 Topic in Media Technologies and Structures 4 credits
JCOM 415 Topics in Culture, Power, and the Media 4 credits
JCOM 416 Black American Television 4 credits
JCOM 417 Cross Cultural Monster Narratives 4 credits
JCOM 418 Global Television 4 credits
JCOM 419 Reality Television 4 credits
This course focuses on a popular television genre—reality television—and uses it as a means to explore key issues in contemporary culture and society. (Prerequisite: JCOM 201)
JCOM 420 Documentary Pre-Production 4 credits
Learn to research, plan, budget for, and develop a documentary film idea. Gain experience shooting a sizzle reel and pitching projects to potential producers. Several documentary forms will be explored, including portraits, ethnographies, interviews, personal stories, processes and events, and re-enactments. (Prerequisite: JCOM 220)
JCOM 421 Documentary Production 4 credits
Get experience shooting a short documentary worthy of broadcast screening, film festival exhibition, or another venue. (Prerequisite: JCOM 420)
JCOM 422 Documentary Post-Production 4 credits
Learn how to edit and do post-production work on your documentary film projects. (Prerequisite: JCOM 421)
JCOM 423 Law and Business of Media 4 credits
JCOM 424 Latin American Cinema 4 credits
JCOM 426 Media Studies Capstone 4 credits
JCOM 427M Latino Roots I 4 credits
This course documents Latino history in the racial history of what is now Oregon since 1500 and teaches students to conduct oral history interviews.
JCOM 428M Latino Roots II 4 credits
Continuation of Latino Roots I, designed for producing a short documentary using oral history as the story. Covers basic theory and practice of digital film-video documentary production. (Prerequisite: JCOM 427M)
JCOM 480 Gamification and the Media 4 credits
Study gamification (the use of game elements in non-game contexts) to learn how to analyze, critique, and make use of game elements in your own media production. (Prerequisites: JCOM 280 or JCOM 311)
JCOM 481 Making the Virtual a Reality 4 credits
JCOM 482 Analog Games 4 credits
JCOM 483 Game Journalism and Newsgames 4 credits
JCOM 485 Science Communication and Decision Making 4 credits
This course explores the specific areas of research that inform strategic communication to the public about science, health, the environment, and the public's engagement with those fields. Building on readings in areas such as decision science, numeracy, and health and environmental communication, students will be asked to think carefully about decisions and judgments that they and others make, and how strategic communication can harness decision making so that complex science is useful in improving individual and societal well-being for a variety of audiences.
JCOM 486 Environmental Communication Strategies 4 credits
This course explores how public relations and advertising have played a role in the public understanding of major environmental issues. In addition, a portion of this course will be focused on interpersonal communication and developing approaches to constructive climate conversations.
Academic Support and Career Advising
Need some guidance? Our academic advisors are here for you. The SOJC’s Student Success Center is your one-stop shop for undergrad academic advice and career-building tips. All undergraduate SOJC students are welcome—even if you haven’t enrolled yet. Drop in to Room 134 on the ground floor of Allen Hall or make an appointment and get on track to meet your goals.