Communication and Theatre Arts

(School of Arts and Letters)

CTA 1100 Public Speaking
2 cr.
Clarification of purpose, audience analysis, choice of supportingmaterial,organization and delivery behaviors. Extemporaneous classroom speeches to inform and persuade.

CTA 1101 Interpersonal Communication
2 cr.
Text, lecture, discussion and laboratory exercises emphasizing relationships, the self, perception, verbal communication,assertiveness and listening skills,nonverbal communication and conflict management.

CTA 1102 Human Communication
4 cr.
Combines the areas of interpersonal communication and public speaking.Text lecture,discussion and laboratory exercises teach and reinforce effective interpersonal communication. Using interpersonal skills as a base, studentswill be introduced tomore formal styles of presenting themselves and their ideas to larger public groups. Emphasis will be placed on clarifying purpose, audience analysis, and choice of supporting material, organization and delivery behaviors. Rhetorical skills will be developed through extemporaneous classroom experiences designed to inform or persuade.

CTA/ART 1107 Photography I (VIII)
4 cr.
Introduction to black and white photography: basic camera operation, film and print development, exposure and photo history and aesthetics. Students will also learn about photojournalism and digital photography. A 35 mm manual camera is required. Film and paper must be purchased by the student.

CTA 1114 Mass Communication (II)
4 cr.
Analyzes the relationship between media and society through the interaction of technology, business, audiences, culture and government. Through lecture, discussion, field trips and other in-class activities, the course reviews the history and theories of mass communication as they relate to specific media.

CTA 1150 Introduction to Theatre (VIII)
4 cr.
Designed for the studentwho has a beginning interest but no formal background in theatre. The course is divided into two parts: a focus on the appreciation of live productions, followed by a basic history of the "lively art" form.

CTA/CIS/ART 2041 Computer Graphic Design (VIII)
4 cr.
Focuses on use of software to create original artwork and manipulate digitized photographic images. Software tools and techniques are demonstrated. Principles of design are illustrated. Evaluation is based on originality, aesthetics,mastery of technique and overall effectiveness. No prerequisite;ART 1124 and/or ART 1107 recommended CTA 2100

Theatre Practicum(VIII)
0-4 cr.
Offers 0 to 4 credits for performance in or work on a play.Studentsmust be cast in a play or obtain the permission of the director or technical director to enroll for the course.One credit requires thirty hours ofwork on the production.

CTA 2150 Acting for the Stage (VIII)
4 cr.
Acting actually has very little to do with"acting."Modern approaches to acting are based on an individual's responding realistically to imaginary situations.Much of this beginning course will focus on relaxation and concentration exercises as well on as exercises which tap the imagination and help to release the emotional reactions appropriate for a scene. Students will perform monologues and scenes as well as improvisations.

CTA/ART 2201 TheMoving Image (VIII)
4 cr.
Traces the evolution of nonfiction (documentary) and fiction film forms from 1895 to the present; summarizes research describing persuasive effects by means of lectures, screenings,assigned readings and oral presentations.

CTA 2202 Voice and Diction
2 cr.
Vocal mechanism and articulators studied and practiced in lecture and lab exercises.Vocal quality is analyzed and exercises recommended;articulated sounds of Standard American English are analyzed and exercises are applied to professional communication performance as a speaker or media talent.

CTA 2205 Performing Culture (I, IV)
4 cr.
Focuses on vocal and physical expressiveness as students interpret culturally specific literature. Solo and group performances, including storytelling, fiction, poetry and theatre.

CTA/ART 2207 Photography II
4 cr.
Exploration of the zone system for 35mm and various black and white print and film processes including infrared and kodalith stocks, print toning and other special effects. Students will also work with studio lighting, view cameras and become familiar with both fine art and commercial studio photography aesthetics and practices. Prerequisite: CTA 1107.

CTA 2210 Mock Trial and/or Policy Debate
4 cr.
Topics may be taken one at a time for 2 credits each over two years or may be taken simultaneously for 4 credits. Students will begin by developing cases for a policy resolution to be debated with Russian university students (here or there), and then by developing briefs and arguing the Midwest Mock Trial case leading to regional tournament competition.

CTA 2214 Newswriting and Reporting
4 cr.
Rewriting wire copy and writing original material under deadline for print and electronic media. Students use computer word processing to develop skills in language usage, style and structure of the news story. Students will also gather and organize information and conduct interviews, as well as write and edit original news material for print or broadcast. Reporting assignments concentrate on extended news stories, features, and interviews.

CTA 2220 Film Genres (VIII)
2 cr.
A genre is a category. To define a genre is to identify a constellation of elements when brought together in a certain way create a unique entity. This course will examine a specific filmgenre to identify its organizing principle.

CTA 2240 Intercultural Communication (I)
4 cr.
Employs lectures, documentaries, assigned readings, role playing and research to understand the cultural forces that determine communication behaviors. The course prepares the student to enter another specific culture and communicate more effectively.

CTA 2250 Stage Craft (VIII)
4 cr.
Designed to introduce modern set-building used in theatre technology. Students develop knowledge of sound and lighting equipment properties,power tools, drafting skills, production budgets and material used to produce a realized production.

CTA 2525 The Media, Race, and Gender (I)
4 cr.
This course introduces students tomass-mediated representations of race, class, gender, and sexuality. We survey historically and/or culturally significant artifacts in this course in order to interpret evolving representations.

CTA 2777 Topics in Communication
1-4 cr.
Special topicswill be addressed as student interest and faculty expertise warrant.

CTA 2850 Media Theory and Research
4 cr.
This course introduces students to media theory and research. The course engages students in the processes of thinking theoretically and researching effectively. The course introduces research tools associated with both the humanities and social sciences.

CTA 3041 Publication Design
4 cr.
Principles of design for printmaterials include the use of space in layout, type selection, copy fitting and familiarity with printing processes. Use of the computer and desktop publishing, as tools in the design process,will be investigated. Prerequisite: CTA/CIS/ART 2041.

CTA/LIS 3202 Culture Through Film (I, VIII)
2 cr.
An exploration of film as cultural expression and as a mediumthroughwhich the viewermay explore crosscultural issues.

CTA 3525 Feminist Criticism of Media Texts
4 cr.
This course develops the student's analytical skills by examining the construction of race, class, gender, and sexuality in mass mediated texts. Students practice writing critiques developed from a variety of feminist theories.

CTA/ART 3327 Color and Landscape Photography
4 cr.
Color aesthetics and composition are studied, as well as film exposure, processing and print development. This course deals primarily with making color prints fromtransparencies (slides), and the practice and aesthetics of landscape photography. Prerequisite: CTA 1107.

CTA/ENG 3330 Theatre:Greek-Elizabethan (IV, VIII)
4 cr.
Surveysmajor historical developments in theatre from the birth of theatre performance in ancient Greece, through Roman theatre to medieval liturgical drama. The course concludes with Elizabethan theatre and includes study of technical developments as well as historical contexts.Classes focus on production aswell as the literary interpretation.

CTA/ENG 3331 Theatre: Restoration- Twentieth Century (IV, VIII)
4 cr.
Survey of major historical developments in theatre from the Restoration through the 20th century. The readings focus on the change in realismwith the influence of psychoanalysis,absurdism, surrealismand ethnic theatre. Literary and historical components of the plays are addressed. Classes focus on production as well as the literary perspective.

CTA 3341 Media Production
4 cr.
Research, writing and production of video and audio news stories, mini-documentaries, commercials and features. Lab assignments include location recording of actual events and studio production experiences for both video and audio. An introduction to video and audio editing. Prerequisite: CTA 2214 or consent of instructor.

CTA 3445 Argumentation (V)
4 cr.
Examines the elements of persuasive speaking and argumentation. Begins with persuasive presentations and progresses to the formal study of argumentation framed by the Toulmin model of reasoning.Using this model, students will study the four primary types of warrants and the four primary types of argumentative claims.The class concludeswith the argument of cases.

CTA/CIS 4041: Web Design
4 cr.
Explore the design principles that characterize successful Web sites and use modern tools for creating Web sites. Design issues will include the differences between print and electronic media, working within the limits of the technology, and how the user's contexts and goals affectWeb design. Web siteswill be critiqued from both an aesthetic and functional standpoint and studentswill be required to design and build fully functional Web sites. No prerequisites; CTA/CIS 2041 recommended.

CTA 4150 Directing
4 cr.
Basic stages of the directing process.Fromscript analysis to coaching actors, studentswill plan their own oneact play production. Under the supervision of the instructor, the studentswill hold productionmeetings, audition and cast a play, block and rehearse the selection, coordinate light and sound cues,and oversee the technical rehearsals and the performance.

CTA 4214 FeatureWriting
4 cr.
Teaches students how to develop comprehensive newspaper features and magazine articles on current issues. Studentswill learn investigative reporting techniques, news judgment and news gathering skills for feature writing in print media. The course includes researching stories, interviewing, developing multisource stories and making editorial decisions. It emphasizes writing excellence through weekly critiques of student work.

CTA 4220 Film Auteurs (VIII)
4 cr.
This course studies the life, significant work, and unique artistic choices made by different historically significant filmdirectors. The directors studied can be considered auteurs insofar as they establish consistent artistic signatures as authors of filmswhile successfully working within the restrictions of the film industry.

CTA 4250 Introduction to Design
4 cr.
Designed to introduce students to three types of theatre genres:Greek, Elizabethan and Modern. Students will be introduced to the three types of design disciplines: scenes,costumes and lights.Studentswill learn how to analyze and convert literature into visual images through metaphors, symbolism and realism. Prerequisite: CTA 2250.

CTA 4400 Advertising
4 cr.
The study of creative strategy and audience analysis form the basis for writing advertising copy for print, broadcast media, Internet, direct mail and outdoor media. Development of a fully integrated advertising campaign for a"realworld"client prepares the student for professional work.

CTA 4404 Public Relations
4 cr.
The course covers theory,history, and practice of public relations; the process of influencing public opinion, ethics of public relations practice. Students will write news releases, fact sheets, newsletters, company periodicals, brochures. Public relations case studies; application of public relations techniques to representative problems;communicationsmaterials for variousmedia are planned and prepared. Students will develop and present a full public relations campaign for a selected organization.

CTA 4417 MassMedia Law and Ethics (WI)
4 cr.
First Amendment rights, government regulation, Supreme Court decisions and ethical standards and conflicts are analyzed. Case studies address libel, privacy, regulation, and ethical issues.

CTA/ENG 4420 Film and Literature (IV, VIII)
4 cr.
Compareswritten and cinematic texts. A variety of film theories will be discussed in conjunction with image creation. Narrative issues - theme, style and characterization - will also be covered.

CTA/ART 4427 Alternative PhotoMethods
4 cr.
Explores late 19th and early 20th century printing techniques as alternatives tomodern photomethods. Students use the sun as a light source to print cyanotypes (blue prints), van dyke (brown prints) and gum bichromate images. Modern techniques such as infrared photography are also included.

CTA 4445 Persuasion
4 cr.
Studies persuasion from its early Greek roots through contemporary social scientific studies. Various theories of attitude change will be addressed. Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Communication or Advertising/ Public Relations major or minor; exception made by department approval.

CTA 4555 Internship
4, 8, 12, 16 cr.
Done in a professional business setting or other appropriate setting related to the student's field of interest. The student is supervised by a site supervisor. Evaluation of performance will be completed by the site supervisor, internship advisor and student. Students may obtain additional information about internships fromthe CTA chair. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.

CTA 4777 Topics In Communication
1-4 cr.
Special topics are addressed as student and faculty involvement warrant. CTA 4999 Independent Study 1-4 cr. Individual research or production projects are chosen by the student and approved by instructor. May be taken twice for credit,each time in a different area.Prerequisite: At least one academic or production course in chosen area.