Multimedia Journalism Courses

JSC200 Media and Digital Literacy

[1–2, 3 cr.]

The course introduces students to digital and media literacy and the ability to critically access, analyze, evaluate and create media messages. It is designed for undergraduates from all majors, to teach them how to critically understand and use media for personal and communal empowerment and for civic engagement.

Prerequisite: ENG101 Academic English I, or concurrently.

JSC220 News Writing and Reporting

[1–2, 3 cr.]

This class covers the basic techniques in news writing and reporting, emphasizing news values, accuracy and concise presentation as well as proper sentence structure and story organization. It explores the structural and conceptual characteristics of journalism across the full spectrum of information platforms. The majority of course work is based on practical, hands-on writing assignments that help students to develop professional research, interviewing and reporting skills and teaches them how write/produce to deadline and story briefs.

Prerequisite(s): ENG101 Academic English I

JSC222 Digital Media Design

[1–2, 3 cr.]

This course introduces students to the basic principles of design theory and practice in the field of digital media. Emphasis is put on combining text, graphics, and images into layouts for print, web and other digital publications, in addition to providing students with hands-on experience in each step of the production cycle.

JSC224 Social Media

[1–2, 3 cr.]

The course focuses on how social media has changed the relationship between media professionals and their audiences. It explores how the new technologies shape journalism, politics, business/marketing, and civic engagement and teaches students how to research and verify user-generated content, conduct audience analysis, and promote their work.

Prerequisite(s): ENG101 Academic English I

JSC226 Multimedia Journalism Basics

[1–2, 3 cr.]

This course introduces students to the basic principles of multimedia reporting and provides hands-on training in interactive media production tools. Students learn how to combine sound, images, text and video into digital story formats and to create basic interactive information designs.

Prerequisite: ENG101 Academic English I

JSC228 Arabic News Writing and Reporting

[1–2, 3 cr.]

This class covers the principles and practices of news gathering and writing for the Arabic-language media. It introduces students to different styles of writing for news agencies, newspapers, magazines, radio, TV and the web.

Prerequisite(s): Arabic LAC Course.

JSC232 Photojournalism

[1–2, 3 cr.]

The course explores the history, practice, aesthetics, and ethics of photojournalism and examines the work of influential photojournalists and their impact on politics and society. It covers advanced photography and photo-editing skills for journalists, including various forms of photojournalism storytelling. Students produce several photojournalism projects for multimedia platforms.

Prerequisite(s): JSC226 Multimedia Journalism Basics

JSC236 Advanced News Writing and Reporting

[1–2, 3 cr.]

This class covers advanced techniques in news writing and reporting, expanding into feature and narrative journalism and specialized news genres. The majority of course work is based on practical work and assignments that help students to develop professional research, interviewing and reporting skills and teaches them how deliver on deadline.

Prerequisite(s): JSC220 News Writing and Reporting; ENG202 Advanced Academic English

JSC312 Media and Society

[1–2, 3 cr.]

This course studies forms of digital media and communication as elements and products of cultural, political, and economic processes. The approach is interdisciplinary, drawing on a variety of theories and methods of media studies and analysis.

Co-requisite(s): ENG102 Academic English II

JSC314 Data and Society

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course explores the social, cultural and political dimension of information in the digital cultural environment. It provides practical and conceptual skills in open data management for government and non-government institutions, including museums, archives and cultural heritage sites. Drawing on a series of case studies and class projects students will learn how to engage with sensitive data and archival records containing precious details of individual and collective lives. The course is open to students of journalism, filmmaking, communication / PR, social sciences, humanities, business and the performing arts.

Prerequisite(s): JSC312 Media and Society

JSC328 Advanced Arabic News Writing and Reporting

[1–2, 3 cr.]

This course focuses on the art and craft of writing and reporting for multimedia platforms. It is a convergence newsroom where students learn the techniques of news reporting and production, and conducting interviews, through frequent reporting exercises

Prerequisite(s):  JSC 228 Arabic News Writing and Reporting

JSC330 Arab and International Media

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course covers the past, present, and emerging developments of Arab and world news systems, highlighting important historic news junctures, technological shifts, business models, and future trends. Special emphasis is put on how media systems interact with the political, social, and cultural particularities of the Arab world.

Prerequisite(s):  JSC312 Media and Society

JSC332 Broadcast Journalism

[1–2, 3 cr.]

This course teaches students how to construct and produce audio and video stories for television and other digital platforms using professional production equipment and editing tools. Emphasis is on editorial decision making for television and video content.

Prerequisite(s): JSC220 News Writing and Reporting; JSC226 Multimedia Journalism Basics

JSC419 Media Law and Ethics

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course introduces students to principles and debates in media ethics and law by reviewing case studies from print, broadcasting, film, and digital online media.  Students will consider ethical challenges and legal decisions, and reflect on how to put these into practice in their professional lives.  The course provides some cross-cultural perspective, and puts Lebanese examples in context with international standards.

Prerequisite(s): JSC312 Media and Society 

JSC431 Investigative Journalism

[1–2, 3 cr.]

This course is an overview of the principles, skills and tools of investigative reporting for audiovisual, print and online media. Students learn the history of investigative reporting and its role in society, culture and politics, study various investigative techniques, become familiar with key online and offline sources and ultimately produce a multi-platform investigative story. They review and critique major investigative pieces.

Prerequisite(s): JSC220 News Writing and Reporting, JSC226 Multimedia Journalism Basics, and ENG202 Advanced Academic English

JSC432 Multimedia Feature

[1–2, 3 cr.]

This course teaches students how to combine video, animated graphics and real-time data into innovative new story forms for the web, social media and other digital platforms. Genres covered in this class include audio slideshows, interactive maps, location-sensitive multimedia narrative and other.

Prerequisite(s): JSC220 News Writing and Reporting, JSC226 Multimedia Journalism Basics, and ENG202 Advanced Academic English

JSC434 Data Journalism

[1–2, 3 cr.]

This course focuses on how to find stories in data and shape them in compelling ways. It introduces students to the basic principles of data mining, information design, data retrieval using search engines and analytical software to map emerging issues and measure the impact of topics across multiple domains.

Prerequisite(s): JSC236 Advanced News Writing and Reporting or JSC328 Advanced Arabic News Writing and Reporting

JSC436 Journalism Workshop

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This class is an intensive production course in multimedia journalism. It involves the production of an online, interactive student publication in a specialized field such as environmental or human rights journalism, data driven reporting, or participatory storytelling, in collaboration with local communities. Students receive hands-on, intensive training in specific techniques of online user-driven story production, including newsroom management, reporting, writing, and editing multimedia content, and producing interactive graphics and maps.

Prerequisite(s): JSC236 Advanced News Writing and Reporting; ENG202 Advanced Academic English

JSC451 Media Research Methods

[1–2, 3 cr.]

This course teaches students how to critically read, design, and implement scientific research and use quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods, as well as data analysis tools to address research questions and hypotheses in the field of media and communication studies. Students participate in practical research projects and apply various techniques of research design, data collection, statistical and qualitative data analysis, and interpretation.

Prerequisite(s): JSC312 Media and Society; ENG 202 Advanced Academic English

JSC480 Global Media Literacy

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course explores how distinctive global media shape views of politics, culture and society within nations, across regions and internationally. It analyzes information, values and underlying messages conveyed via various forms of media and prepares students for the afternoon course (JSC481/JSC781). Note: this course is part of a study abroad program. Students need to apply through the Office of International Services to enroll.

Co-requisite: JSC481/ JSC781.

JSC481 Global Change, Cooperation, and News

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course explores global problems of contemporary importance and their news framing. The class will be broken into cooperative teams that will apply analytic frameworks, research tools and concepts derived from the morning course (JSC480/JSC780) to examine a global event, issue or problem as it is represented regionally. Note: this course is part of a study abroad program. Students need to apply through the Office of International Services to enroll.

Co-requisite: JSC480/JSC780.

JSC488 Topics in Media Studies

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course presents diverse theoretical, and methodological, perspectives on selected topics in the field of media studies. The course may offer an in-depth analysis of the relevant topics related to one medium, or explore one relevant issue across several media. This class may be repeated if topics differ.

Prerequisite(s): ENG202 Advanced Academic English and Junior Standing

JSC498 Internship

[1–0, 1 cr.]

The Internship course provides students with the opportunity to gain professional experience in an off-campus setting. Students are required to complete at least two months of full-time work at a recognized institution.    

Prerequisite(s): Junior Standing.

JSC499 Capstone Project

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This capstone project focuses on creating an in-depth journalism project that is developed for and disseminated in one or more of a variety of media formats and genres depending on the career interests and skills of the student, including long-form journalism, multimedia, broadcast feature, data-driven and investigative reporting, and other forms. Students are expected to engage in extensive research and critical analysis and use advanced tools and methods for creating professional-grade journalistic content. Students pitch, research, report, write, produce and revise their work with the guidance of a journalism instructor and carry out a project from start to finish, implementing skills of self-editing, marketing, and entrepreneurship and addressing budgetary, copyright, legal and ethical implications of their final work.

Prerequisite(s):  JSC312 Media and Society and (JSC236 Advanced Reporting Skills or JSC328 Advanced Arabic News Writing and Reporting)

JSC601 Advanced News Writing & Reporting Lab

[0–3, 1 cr.]

This intensive lab covers advanced news writing and reporting techniques in English for multimedia platforms. Coursework is based on practical journalistic assignments and drills that help students develop professional news writing and reporting skills in a tight deadline environment. Students may substitute this course with an elective if they completed JSC 236 (Advanced News Writing and Reporting) or equivalent with a B+ grade or higher and/or can demonstrate extensive professional experience writing news in English.  

Prerequisite: None. 

JSC602 Advanced Arabic News Writing & Reporting Lab

[0–3, 1 cr.]

This intensive lab covers advanced news writing and reporting techniques in Arabic for multimedia platforms. Coursework is based on practical journalistic assignments and drills that help students develop professional news writing and reporting skills in a tight deadline environment. Students may substitute this course with an elective if they completed JSC 328 (Advanced Arabic News Writing and Reporting) or equivalent with a B+ grade or higher and/or can demonstrate extensive professional experience writing news in Arabic. 

Prerequisite: None.  

JSC603 Multimedia Journalism Lab

[0–3, 1 cr.]

This intensive lab covers advanced multimedia production skills. It teaches students how to combine video, audio, photos, text, and infographics into innovative news stories for various digital platforms. Students may substitute this course with an elective if they completed JSC 432 (Multimedia Feature) or equivalent with a B+ grade or higher and/or can demonstrate extensive professional experience producing multimedia news packages. 

Prerequisite: None. 

JSC604 Data Journalism Lab

[0–3, 1 cr.]

This intensive lab covers basic data-driven research, storytelling and reporting techniques. Students learn how to find stories in data, clean, organize, and represent them visually. It covers basics of data mining and information design. Students may substitute this course with an elective if they completed JSC 434 (Data Journalism) or equivalent with a B+ grade or higher and/or can demonstrate extensive professional experience in data-driven journalism production.

Prerequisite: None

JSC610 Media Research Methods

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course covers advanced scientific research methods and prepares students for their thesis/project. Students learn how to critically read and practically design and implement research projects using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodologies and data collection, sampling, analysis and interpretation techniques. Students engage in experiential research projects individually and collectively. 

Prerequisite: None. 

JSC611 Seminar in Media Theory and Digital Culture

[3 cr.]

This seminar introduces students to established and emerging theories in journalism, communication and media studies. The course explores the origins of media theories and their place within social theory, and examines how they are currently challenged and redefined by the new digital environment. Throughout the course, students assess key concepts and conceptualize their own theoretical frameworks for their thesis/project.

Prerequisite: None.

JSC612 Digital Innovation

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course covers how to approach journalistic story production through design thinking, using speculative scenarios to create innovative media forms. Students will gain theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience in developing prototypes that go beyond conventional forms of visual and narrative representation, envisioning possible futures for journalistic storytelling and design. Throughout the course students practice presenting new ideas and defending disruptive innovations of established media forms.

Prerequisite: None.

Note: Course is co-taught with Design.

JSC613 Media Education and Pedagogy

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course introduces students to the major theories and methods of learning and teaching within the context of journalism, communication, and media education. It covers the evolution of media education as an independent field and explores relevant guidelines of curriculum development and student assessment at the college level. The goal of the course is to equip students with both the understanding of the theoretical foundations of learning and the practical skills to help them design media courses and implement effective methods of knowledge sharing.

Prerequisite: None.

Note: Course is co-taught with Education.

JSC614 Digital Methods and Basic Programming

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course introduces students to the basics of computer programming and covers digital research methods, using tools and devices exclusive to the digital media environment. It draws on readily-available applications for data mining, network visualization and related software, and adapts them to serve specific research purposes. Students will acquire practical skills in data extraction and scraping, text mining and network analysis, issue mapping, data visualization and speculative analytics, using algorithms and other automated forms of inquiry into social and media phenomena.

Prerequisite: None

JSC620 Web development for Media Professionals

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course helps students master concepts and skills in web development, with emphasis on practical applications in journalism and communication professions. It covers databases, set up and management of websites on servers and Content Management Systems (CMS), integration of user tracking and web analytics, and basic editing of HTML, Javascript, and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).

Prerequisite: None.

Note: Course is co-taught with Computer Science.

JSC621 Advanced Programming for Media Professionals

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course helps students master concepts and skills in computer programming, with emphasis on practical applications in journalism and communication professions. It covers scripting and programming languages used in the profession, such as R and Python, and the development of online apps in a collaborative setting. 

Prerequisite: None.

Note: Course is co-taught with Computer Science.

JSC630 Arab and International Media

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course covers the past, present, and emerging developments of Arab and world news systems, highlighting important historic news junctures, technological shifts, business models, and future trends. Special emphasis is put on how media systems interact with the political, social, and cultural particularities of the Arab world. 

Prerequisite: None.

JSC677 Research Apprenticeship

[1 cr.]

This apprenticeship-based course allows students to practice their research skills in a real world setting and apply what they learned in “JSC610 Media Research Methods” under the supervision of an experienced researcher.  Students must spend at least two months (full-time) working on a real research project with the aim of publishing or presenting the work at an academic venue.

Prerequisite: JSC610 Media Research Methods.

JSC678 Professional Internship

[1 cr.]

This professional internship offers students the opportunity to apply what they learned in a professional environment. Students in the professional track must spend at least two months (full-time) working in a professional multimedia journalism environment. Prerequisite: JSC601 Advanced News Writing & Reporting Lab or JSC602 Advanced Arabic News Writing & Reporting Lab; JSC 603 Multimedia Journalism Lab

JSC679 Teaching Apprenticeship

[0–0, 0 cr.]

This apprenticeship-based course allows students to practice teaching theoretical and/or practical media content under the supervision of an experienced academic and apply what they learned in “JSC803 Media Education and Pedagogy”.  Students must spend at least 25 contact hours in this apprenticeship.

Prerequisite: JSC613 Media Education and Pedagogy.

JSC680 Global Media Literacy

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course explores how distinctive global media shape views of politics, culture and society within nations, across regions and internationally. It analyzes information, values and underlying messages conveyed via various forms of media and prepares students for the afternoon course (JSC681).

Note: this course is part of a study abroad program. Students need to apply through the Office of International Services to enroll.  

Co-requisite: JSC681 Global Change, Cooperation and News

JSC681 Global Change, Cooperation and News

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course explores global problems of contemporary importance and their news framing. The class will be broken into cooperative teams that will apply analytic frameworks, research tools and concepts derived from the morning course (JSC680) to examine a global event, issue or problem as it is represented regionally. Note: this course is part of a study abroad program. Students need to apply through the Office of International Services to enroll.

Co-requisite: JSC680 Global Media Literacy

JSC687 Digital Media Workshop

[3 cr.]

This course covers specialized professional aspects of media production that are not covered by other major or elective courses. The workshop offers intensive training in particular journalistic fields or genres, and may be given either in a short period or for a full semester. The course may be repeated for credit. 

Prerequisite: None

JSC688 Seminar in Media Studies

[3 cr.]

This seminar covers theoretical and conceptual aspects of journalism, media, film and communication and their relationship to Lebanese and Arab politics and society. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisite: None.

JSC698 Project

A culminating journalistic product that tackles a real-world problem critically, is grounded in theory and research, and uses innovative digital and data strategies and tools to offer solutions.

Prerequisite: JSC610 Media Research Methods; JSC611 Seminar in Media Theory and Digital Culture

JSC699 Thesis

[6 cr.]

An original and extensive research project under the supervision of an advisor, defended before a committee. 

Prerequisites: JSC610 Media Research Methods; JSC611 Seminar in Media Theory and Digital Culture

JSC780 Global Media Literacy

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course explores how distinctive global media shape views of politics, culture and society within nations, across regions and internationally. It analyzes information, values and underlying messages conveyed via various forms of media and prepares students for the afternoon course (JSC481/JSC781). Note: this course is part of a study abroad program. Students need to apply through the Office of International Services to enroll.

Co-requisite: JSC481/JSC781.

JSC781 Global Change, Cooperation and News

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course explores global problems of contemporary importance and their news framing. The class will be broken into cooperative teams that will apply analytic frameworks, research tools and concepts derived from the morning course (JSC480/JSC780) to examine a global event, issue or problem as it is represented regionally. Note: this course is part of a study abroad program. Students need to apply through the Office of International Services to enroll.

Co-requisite: JSC480/JSC780.