2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog

Major in Telecommunications (BA)

Telecommunications majors at Ball State learn how to use video, audio, film, and multimedia to develop, design, write, and create stories for a wide range of audiences. Choose from several concentrations, including production, film and media, news, or media promotion and management

45-53 credits

Production concentration, 46-50 credits

In the production concentration, you'll examine the theory behind technology and its use in storytelling, master the art of content creation for traditional and emerging media, and learn how to create interactive products for today's media environment. Students in the production concentration will choose one area of focus: Audio, Video, Multimedia, Sports (SportsLink or Esport Production).

TCOM 101Foundations of Telecommunications

3

TCOM 204Media Analysis and Criticism

3

TCOM 206Writing for Electronic Media: Scriptwriting

1

TCOM 207Writing for Electronic Media: Copywriting

1

TCOM 284Practical Aspects of Media Law

1

TCOM 231Media Aesthetics

1

TCOM 330Beginning Audio Production

3

TCOM 332Beginning Video Production

3

TCOM 335Beginning Multimedia Production

3

TCOM 384Electronic Media Law

3

TCOM 408Media Ethics and Social Responsibility

3

Audio Production

Stunning sound remains more crucial than ever. A concentration in audio production will lay the foundation for a career in creating and distributing audio content for mobile media, podcasts, websites, television, radio, film, and more.

TCOM 333Advanced Audio Production

3

TCOM 433Seminar in Audio Production

3-9

3 credits from
TCOM 334Advanced Video Production

3

TCOM 350Motion Graphics and Design

3

TCOM 351Web Development

3

TCOM 444Management of Telecommunications

3

TCOM 450Seminar in Multimedia Production

3

TCOM 487Seminar in Video Production

3-6

Sports Production

Combines a passion for media creativity with a love of sports. A concentration in sports production empowers the use of innovative technology to create sports content for distribution across multiple platforms. Students receive special instruction in live-event production and storytelling for leading national sports networks and platforms, as well as esport platforms.  Students should choose either Sports Link or Esports Production.

Sports Link
The Sports Link sub-concentration focuses on traditional live event production and sports storytelling with delivery across multiple media platforms.
NEWS 105Journalistic Storytelling: Introduction

3

NEWS 120Newsgathering: Sourcing

2

TCOM 288Special Topics in Telecommunications

1-3

TCOM 334Advanced Video Production

3

TCOM 381Sports and Electronic Media

3

TCOM 383Digital Sports Seminar

3-6

TCOM 487Seminar in Video Production

3-6

6 credits from
NEWS 221Journalistic Storytelling: Covering Issues

3

ENT 241The Entrepreneurial Experience

3

SPTA 290Revenue Generation in Sport

3

SPTA 345Sport Communication

3

SPTA 402Event and Facility Management in Sport

3

Esports Production
The Esports sub-concentration explores the world of esports, focusing on live esports event production and storytelling with delivery across multiple platforms.
NEWS 105Journalistic Storytelling: Introduction

3

TCOM 288Special Topics in Telecommunications

1-3

TCOM 334Advanced Video Production

3

TCOM 370Video Gaming and Esports

3

TCOM 381Sports and Electronic Media

3

TCOM 383Digital Sports Seminar

3-6

TCOM 487Seminar in Video Production

3-6

6 credits from
HIST 205Introduction to Sport in American Life

3

SPST 250Special Topics in Sports Studies

3

SOC 312Leisure

3

ENT 241The Entrepreneurial Experience

3

MKG 300Principles of Marketing

3

Video Production

Nothing communicates quite like an amazing video. The rapid increase in delivery platforms gives rise to an ever-expanding need for fresh visual content which in turn has increased the demand for creative, visual storytellers. A concentration in video production will equip students for a fun, challenging career creating and distributing video content for mobile media, tablets, podcasts, websites, television, film, and more.

TCOM 334Advanced Video Production

3

TCOM 487Seminar in Video Production

3-6

3 credits from
TCOM 333Advanced Audio Production

3

TCOM 350Motion Graphics and Design

3

TCOM 351Web Development

3

TCOM 444Management of Telecommunications

3

TCOM 450Seminar in Multimedia Production

3

Multimedia Production

Be on the cusp of the latest technological advances in the world of media. Pick a concentration in multimedia production and learn skills and applications in the newest video and audio approaches across multiple platforms, including mobile media, podcasts, websites, television, radio, film, and more.

TCOM 350Motion Graphics and Design

3

TCOM 351Web Development

3

TCOM 450Seminar in Multimedia Production

3

Audio Production, Video Production, Multimedia Production concentrations are also required to take 6 credits from both of the following two groupings
6 credits from
ENG 213Introduction to Digital Literacies

3

ENG 285Introduction to Creative Writing

3

ENG 306Creative Nonfiction Writing

3

ENG 307Fiction Writing

3

ENG 310Screenwriting

3

ENG 410Advanced Screenwriting

3

ENG 425Film Studies

3

ENG 306, ENG 307, and ENG 310 require ENG 285 as a prerequisite.

ENG 410 requires ENG 310 as a prerequisite.

6 credits from
ACC 201Principles of Accounting 1

3

ACC 202Principles of Accounting 2

3

BUSA 101Introduction to Business

3

COMM 251Business and Professional Communication

3

COMM 290Intercultural Communication

3

COMM 310Communication and Democracy

3

COMM 320Persuasion

3

COMM 322Communication and Popular Culture

3

COMM 330Small Group Communication

3

COMM 375Presentational Communication

3

ECON 201Elementary Microeconomics

3

ECON 202Elementary Macroeconomics

3

FIN 110Personal Finance

3

GCM 286Graphics: Fundamentals of Photography

3

GCM 387Graphics: Applications of Commercial Photography

3

MGT 300Managing Behavior in Organizations

3

MKG 300Principles of Marketing

3

MMP 100Survey of the Music Industry

3

THEA 103Aesthetics of Theatre 1

3

THEA 220Stagecraft

3

THEA 232Acting 1

3

THEA 233Acting 2

3

THEA 250Directing 1

3

THEA 280Theatre and Dance Practicum

0 TO 1

THEA 326Lighting Design and Technology 1

3

ACC 202 requires ACC 201 with a minimum grade of C as a prerequisite. ECON 202 requires ECON 201 with a minimum grade of C as a prerequisite. THEA 233 requires THEA 232 as a prerequisite. THEA 250 requires THEA 103, and permission of the instructor as prerequisites.

Film and media studies concentration, 45 credits

The relationship between film and society has always been complex, and that relationship in our technologically advanced world has become even more compelling. A challenging blend of scholarly study and hands-on learning, our concentration in film and media studies takes students through an in-depth examination of film, television, and other forms of media that people experience every day. This concentration is an excellent precursor to graduate studies or a career in media law.

TCOM 101Foundations of Telecommunications

3

TCOM 204Media Analysis and Criticism

3

TCOM 206Writing for Electronic Media: Scriptwriting

1

TCOM 207Writing for Electronic Media: Copywriting

1

TCOM 284Practical Aspects of Media Law

1

TCOM 301Emerging Media and Culture

3

TCOM 307Television Studies

3

TCOM 360World Film History 1

3

TCOM 363Film Genres

3

TCOM 365History of Documentary Film

3

TCOM 384Electronic Media Law

3

TCOM 408Media Ethics and Social Responsibility

3

TCOM 465Seminar in Film Theory

3

12 credits from

COMM 322Communication and Popular Culture

3

ENG 285Introduction to Creative Writing

3

ENG 310Screenwriting

3

ENG 410Advanced Screenwriting

3

ENG 425Film Studies

3

HIST 235Historical Topics in Film

3

TCOM 357Special Topics in Film and Media Studies

3-6

TCOM 361World Film History 2

3

TCOM 464Controversy and Media Studies

3

ENG 310 requires ENG 285 as a prerequisite. ENG 410 requires ENG 310 as a prerequisite.

Media Promotion and Management, 45 credits

Offers courses in the theory and practice of managing, promoting and delivering media time and content. Prepares students for careers in promotion, and management, and media sales.

TCOM 101Foundations of Telecommunications

3

TCOM 204Media Analysis and Criticism

3

TCOM 206Writing for Electronic Media: Scriptwriting

1

TCOM 207Writing for Electronic Media: Copywriting

1

TCOM 284Practical Aspects of Media Law

1

TCOM 306Audiences and Analytics

3

TCOM 308Exhibition and Distribution

3

TCOM 340Media Client Management

3

TCOM 344Media Promotion

3

TCOM 345Advanced Media Promotion

3

TCOM 346Media Campaigns and Promotion Writing

3

TCOM 384Electronic Media Law

3

TCOM 408Media Ethics and Social Responsibility

3

TCOM 445Media Management

3

3 credits from

COMM 251Business and Professional Communication

3

COMM 320Persuasion

3

COMM 322Communication and Popular Culture

3

COMM 330Small Group Communication

3

COMM 375Presentational Communication

3

6 credits from

ECON 116Survey of Economic Ideas

3

ECON 201Elementary Microeconomics

3

ENG 231Introduction to Professional Writing

3

HOSP 376Introduction to Event Management

3

HOSP 477Advanced Event Management

3

JOUR 250Introduction to Advertising

3

JOUR 261Principles of Public Relations

3

JOUR 348Social Media Management and Practice

3

JOUR 352Media Planning 1

3

JOUR 355Branding for Advertising

3

MKG 300Principles of Marketing

3

MKG 310Consumer Behavior

3

MKG 320Advertising Management

3

MKG 325Professional Selling

3

MKG 420Integrated Marketing Communications

3

TCOM 347Special Topics in Media Promotion and Management

3

HOSP 477 requires HOSP 376 as a prerequisite. MKG 300 requires sophomore standing and a minimum of C in ECON 116 or ECON 201MKG 310, 320, requires MKG 300 as a prerequisite. MKG 420 requires MKG 300 as a prerequisite. 

 

News concentration, 33 credits

Required Courses

Students pursuing a telecommunications news concentration must also complete a journalism news concentration.

The second major in Journalism: News will require an additional 20 credits.  

JOUR 101Media and Society

3

JOUR 302Diversity and Media

3

NEWS 233Specialized Story Form Strategy

3

NEWS 105Journalistic Storytelling: Introduction

3

TCOM 284Practical Aspects of Media Law

1

NEWS 132Multimedia: Audio

1

NEWS 133Multimedia: Video

1

NEWS 221Journalistic Storytelling: Covering Issues

3

TCOM 324Video Storytelling

3

NEWS 449Legal and Ethical Issues

3

3 credits from
NEWS 397Immersion: Special Topics

3

TCOM 497Immersion: Internal Projects

1-6

3 credits from
JOUR 182Media Analytics and Content Strategy

3

JOUR 282Media Analytics Metrics

3

JOUR 482Media Analytics in Practice

3

3 credits from
JOUR 413Advanced Writing and Reporting

3

TCOM 422Advanced Video and Audio Reporting

3