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Approved Courses Each Semester

Academic Catalog Year Definition

An enrolled student's academic catalog year is defined by the academic year in which the student first enrolls at American University. It aligns with the program requirements published in that year's University Catalog. The academic catalog year remains the same during the student's continuous enrollment at AU, and is only changed under specific circumstances within the span of that continuous enrollment.

The University reserves the right to revise the program requirements and to correct errors in the University Catalog at any time.

Fall 2025

*For Catalog Year 2018-2019 through 2023-2024

Skills

  • COMM-105 Visual Literacy
  • COMM-260 Quantitative Methods for Journalists
  • COMM-282 Writing for Visual Media
  • COMM-330 Principles of Photography
  • COMM-389 Storytelling for Changemakers (SOC3)
  • COMM-491 Professional Communication Career Internship (1-6 credits)

Media Studies

  • COMM-209 Communication and Society
  • COMM-321 Identity, Power and Misrepresentation
  • COMM-439 Political Communication (see your advisor for Registration Action)
  • COMM-467 Communication, Copyright and Culture
  • COMM-480 Pop Culture and Communication (Available to substitute for COMM-359 if not used for Media Studies)

*For Catalog Year 2024-2025 and later

Skills

  • COMM-105 Visual Literacy
  • COMM-260 Quantitative Methods for Journalists
  • COMM-282 Writing for Visual Media
  • COMM-330 Principles of Photography
  • COMM-389 Storytelling for Changemakers (SOC3)
  • COMM-491 Professional Communication Career Internship (1-6 credits)

Media Studies

  • COMM-209 Communication and Society
  • COMM-321 Identity, Power and Misrepresentation
  • COMM-439 Political Communication (see your advisor for Registration Action)
  • COMM-467 Communication, Copyright and Culture

*For Catalog Year 2018-2019 through 2023-2024

Media Studies

  • COMM-270 How the News Media Shape History
  • COMM-401 Communication Law
  • COMM-420-001 Investigative Broadcast Journalism
  • COMM-420-002 Battleground Virginia
  • COMM-420-003 Comedy for Social Change
  • COMM-420-004 Communication of Public Policy: Business Leaders or Elected Officials
  • COMM-467 Communication, Copyright and Culture
  • COMM-509 Politics and the Media

*For Catalog Year 2024-2025 and later

Media Studies

  • COMM-209 Communication and Society
  • COMM-270 How the News Media Shape History
  • COMM-296 Brand You
  • COMM-409 Journalism Ethics
  • COMM-420-003 Comedy and Social Change
  • COMM-467 Communication, Copyright and Culture
  • COMM-480 Pop Culture and Communication
  • COMM-509 Politics and the Media

Skills

  • COMM-105 Visual Literacy
  • COMM-301 Public Relations
  • COMM-305 Digital Skills
  • COMM-310 Public Speaking
  • COMM-320 Reporting
  • COMM-331 Film and Video Production I
  • COMM-378 Introduction to Communication Research Methods

*For Catalog Year 2023-2024 and earlier

HISTORY OR MEDIA STUDIES

*if not taken to fulfill Production Skills

  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture

PRODUCTION SKILLS

*if not taken to fulfill History or Media Studies

  • COMM-389 Storytelling for Changemakers
  • COMM-436 Advanced Directing
  • COMM-476 Photojournalism and Social Documentary
  • COMM-491 Professional Communication Career Internship (1-6 credits)
  • COMM-568 Environmental Filmmaking for Public Television

WRITING

  • COMM-466 Writing the Feature Film
  • COMM-483 Writing the Documentary Film

CAPSTONE

  • COMM-402 Advanced Portfolio: Visual Media

*For Catalog Year 2024-2025 and later

PRODUCING/WRITING/DIRECTING

  • COMM-250 Introduction to Video Graphics (previously Digital Imaging)
  • COMM-413/613 Producing Film & Video
  • COMM-436 Advanced Directing
  • COMM-466 Writing the Feature Film
  • COMM-483 Writing the Documentary Film
  • COMM-506 Writing the Short Film

PRODUCTION SKILLS

  • COMM-389 Storytelling for Changemakers
  • COMM-476 Photojournalism and Social Documentary
  • COMM-491 Professional Communication Career Internship (1-6 credits)
  • COMM-568 Environmental Filmmaking for Public Television

FILM STUDIES

  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture

CAPSTONE

  • COMM-402 Advanced Portfolio: Visual Media

*For Catalog Year 2020-2021 and later

MEDIA STUDIES ELECTIVE

  • COMM-270 How the News Media Shape History
  • COMM-321 Identity, Power, and Misrepresentation
  • COMM-323 Raking the Muck
  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture
  • COMM-509 Politics and the Media

COMMUNICATION ELECTIVE

*if not taken to fulfill another requirement of this program*

  • COMM-105 Visual Literacy
  • COMM-270 How the News Media Shape History
  • COMM-323 Raking the Muck
  • COMM-330 Principles of Photography
  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture
  • COMM-385 Digital Audio and Podcast Production (for Journalism track)
  • COMM-389 Storytelling for Changemakers
  • COMM-419 In-Depth Journalism
  • COMM-420-001 Investigative Broadcast Journalism
  • COMM-425 Advanced Reporting (for Broadcast track)
  • COMM-426 Sports Writing and Reporting
  • COMM-432 Backpack Video Journalism
  • COMM-491 Professional Communication Career Internship (1-6 credits)
  • COMM-509 Politics and the Media
  • COMM-521 Opinion Writing

PROFESSIONAL TRACK: JOURNALISM ELECTIVE

*if not taken to fulfill another requirement of this program*

  • COMM-426 Sports Writing and Reporting
  • COMM-521 Opinion Writing

*For Catalog Year 2020-2021 and later

Introductory

  • ARTS-205 The Artist’s Perspective: Drawing 

  • COMM-105 Visual Literacy

Foundation

  • ARTS-235 The Artist’s Perspective: Video Art 

  • ARTS-245 The Artist’s Perspective: Digital Photography 

  • COMM-330 Principles of Photography 

HISTORY AND CULTURAL STUDIES

  • ARTH-210 How Art Became Modern

  • COMM-416-002 Design Immersive Experiences

INTERMEDIATE

*if not taken to fulfill another requirement

  • ARTS-205 The Artist’s Perspective: Drawing 

  • ARTS-235 The Artist’s Perspective: Video Art 

  • ARTS-245 The Artist’s Perspective: Digital Photography 

  • ARTS-470 Expanded Media Studio: Video and Photography 

  • COMM-330 Principles of Photography 

  • COMM-479 Fine Art Photography

PORTFOLIO BUILDING

  • ARTS-470 Expanded Media Studio: Video and Photography 

  • COMM-331 Film and Video Production I 

  • COMM-416-002 Design Immersive Experiences 

  • COMM-491 Senior Professional Internship 

*For Catalog Year 2018-2019 or later

Topics and Skills

  • COMM-310 Public Speaking
  • COMM-321 Identity, Power and Misrepresentation
  • COMM 387 Strategic Communication & Event Management
  • COMM-388 Collaboration and Team Communication
  • COMM-389 Storytelling for Changemakers
  • COMM-408 Social Media Strategies and Tactics
  • COMM-420-001 Investigative Broadcast Journalism
  • COMM-420-002 Battleground Virginia
  • COMM-420-003 Comedy and Social Change
  • COMM-420-004 Communication of Public Policy: Business Leaders or Elected Officials
  • COMM-439 Political Communication
  • COMM-441 Crisis Communication
  • COMM-485 Strategic Communication and Content Creation
  • COMM-542 Media Relations

Electives

  • COMM-105 Visual Literacy
  • COMM-296-001 Brand You
  • COMM-310 Public Speaking
  • COMM-321 Identity, Power and Misrepresentation
  • COMM-330 Principles of Photography
  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture
  • COMM 387 Strategic Communication & Event Management
  • COMM-388 Collaboration and Team Communication
  • COMM-389 Storytelling for Changemakers
  • COMM-408 Social Media Strategies and Tactics
  • COMM-420-001 Investigative Broadcast Journalism
  • COMM-420-002 Battleground Virginia
  • COMM-420-003 Comedy and Social Change
  • COMM-420-004 Communication of Public Policy: Business Leaders or Elected Officials
  • COMM-439 Political Communication
  • COMM-441 Crisis Communication
  • COMM-485 Strategic Communication and Content Creation
  • COMM-491 Professional Communication Career Internship (1-6 credits)
  • COMM-509 Politics and the Media
  • COMM-521 Opinion Writing
  • COMM-542 Media Relations

Spring 2025

*For Catalog Year 2020-2021 and later

MEDIA STUDIES ELECTIVE

  • COMM-270 How the News Media Shape History
  • COMM-326 Sports Journalism
  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture
  • COMM-396-002 Introduction to Game Studies
  • COMM-417 Fundamentals of News Design
  • COMM-420-007 Superhero Comics in Hollywood: Covering it in Media (1)
  • COMM-420-008 Getting Strangers to Talk to You (1)
  • COMM-420-009 Was this Content Generated Using AI (1)
  • COMM-509 Politics and the Media

COMMUNICATION ELECTIVE

*if not taken to fulfill another requirement of this program*

  • COMM-105 Visual Literacy
  • COMM-270 How the News Media Shape History
  • COMM-320 Reporting
  • COMM-325 Feature Article Writing
  • COMM-326 Sports Journalism
  • COMM-330 Principles of Photography
  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture
  • COMM-389 Storytelling for Changemakers Experience
  • COMM-411 History of Documentary
  • COMM-417 Fundamentals of News Design
  • COMM-418 Data-Driven Journalism
  • COMM-420-001 Podcasting Tools and Techniques
  • COMM-420-007 Superhero Comics in Hollywood: Covering it in Media (1)
  • COMM-420-008 Getting Strangers to Talk to You (1)
  • COMM-420-009 Was this Content Generated Using AI (1)
  • COMM-425 Advanced Reporting
  • COMM-487 Advanced Broadcast Production
  • COMM-509 Politics and the Media
  • COMM-588 Race, Ethnic, and Community Reporting

PROFESSIONAL TRACK: JOURNALISM ELECTIVE

*if not taken to fulfill another requirement of this program*

  • COMM-325 Feature Article Writing
  • COMM-417 Fundamentals of News Design (can be used for the professional track in Spring 2025 only)
  • COMM-418 Data-Driven Journalism (can be used for the professional track in Spring 2025 only)
  • COMM-420-001 Podcasting Tools and Techniques (can be used for the professional track in Spring 2025 only)
  • COMM-588 Race, Ethnic, and Community Reporting

*For Catalog Year 2023-2024 and earlier 

HISTORY OR MEDIA STUDIES

*if not taken to fulfill Production Skills*

  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture
  • COMM 396-002: Introduction to Game Studies
  • COMM-411 History of Documentary
  • COMM-416-001 Environmental Media

PRODUCTION SKILLS

*if not taken to fulfill History or Media Studies*

  • COMM-438-001 Advanced Post Production
  • COMM-438-002 Cinematography and Lighting
  • COMM-464 Directing Actors for the Camera
  • COMM-486 Directing the Documentary

WRITING

  • COMM-466 Writing the Feature Film

CAPSTONE

  • COMM-402 Advanced Portfolio: Visual Media

  • COMM-478 Advanced Portfolio: Large Format and Commercial Photography

*For Catalog Year 2024-2025 and later

PRODUCING/WRITING/DIRECTING

  • COMM-250 Digital Imaging
  • COMM-413 Producing/Writing/Directing
  • COMM-464 Directing Actors for the Camera
  • COMM-466 Writing the Feature Film
  • COMM-486 Directing the Documentary
  • COMM-506 Writing the Short Film

PRODUCTION SKILLS

  • COMM-389 Storytelling for Changemakers Experience
  • COMM-438-001 Advanced Post Production
  • COMM-438-002 Cinematography and Lighting

FILM STUDIES

  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture
  • COMM 396-002: Introduction to Game Studies
  • COMM-416-001 Environmental Media

FILM HISTORY

*if not taken to fulfill Film Studies*

  • COMM-201 Survey of International Cinema
  • COMM-411 History of Documentary
  • COMM-416-001 Environmental Media

*For Catalog Year 2020-2021 and later

Introductory

  • COMM-105 Visual Literacy
  • ARTS-235 The Artist's Perspective: Video Art

Foundation (if not taken to fulfill another requirement)

  • ARTS-235 The Artist's Perspective: Video Art
  • ARTS-245 The Artist's Perspective: Digital Photography

History and Cultural Studies

  • ARTH-210 How Art Became Modern
  • COMM-416-001 Environmental Media

Intermediate (if not taken to fulfill another requirement)

  • ARTS-205 The Artist's Perspective: Drawing
  • ARTS-235 The Artist's Perspective: Video Art
  • ARTS-245 The Artist's Perspective: Digital Photography
  • ARTS-475 Expanded Photography Studio
  • COMM-330 Principles of Photography

Portfolio Building (if not taken to fulfill another requirement)

  • ARTS-464 Printmaking Studio: Screenprint
  • ARTS-475 Expanded Photography Studio
  • COMM-331 Film and Video Production I
  • COMM-416-001 Environmental Media

*For Catalog year 2018-2019 and later

Topics and Skills

  • COMM-310 Public Speaking
  • COMM-389 Storytelling for Changemakers (SOC3)
  • COMM-420-001 Podcasting Tools & Techniques
  • COMM-420-002 The Sixties in America
  • COMM-420-003 Strategic Communication Leadership and Management
  • COMM-420-006 Digital Analytics, AI Integration, and Digital Tools for Communications Professionals
  • COMM-439 Political Communication
  • COMM-441 Crisis Communication
  • COMM-447 Multicultural Strategic Communication Campaigns
  • COMM-457 Strategic Communication in Advertising
  • COMM-481 Entertainment Communication
  • COMM-490 Independent Study
  • COMM-543 Speechwriting
  • COMM-573 Visual Design in Strategic Communication

Electives

  • COMM-105 Visual Literacy
  • COMM-296-001 Brand You (For first and second years only)
  • COMM-310 Public Speaking
  • COMM-330 Principles of Photography
  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture
  • COMM-389 Storytelling for Changemakers (SOC3)
  • COMM-396-002 Introduction to Game Studies
  • COMM-420-002 The Sixties in America
  • COMM-420-003 Strategic Communication Leadership and Management
  • COMM-439 Political Communication
  • COMM-441 Crisis Communication
  • COMM-447 Multicultural Strategic Communication Campaigns
  • COMM-457 Strategic Communication in Advertising
  • COMM-481 Entertainment Communication
  • COMM-490 Independent Study
  • COMM-491 Senior Professional Internship (1-6 credits)
  • COMM-509 Politics and the Media
  • COMM-543 Speechwriting
  • COMM-573 Visual Design in Strategic Communication

*For Catalog Year 2024-2025 and later

Skills

  • COMM-105 Visual Literacy
  • COMM-260 Quantitative Methods for Journalists
  • COMM-282 Writing for Visual Media
  • COMM-330 Principles of Photography
  • COMM-420-001 Podcasting Tools & Techniques
  • COMM-447 Multicultural Strategic Communication Campaigns
  • COMM-491 Senior Professional Internship (1-6 credits)

Media Studies

  • COMM-201 Survey of International Cinema

  • COMM-209 Communication and Society

  • COMM-389 Storytelling for Changemakers 

  • COMM-396-002 Introduction to Game Studies

  • COMM-411 History of Documentary

  • COMM-490 Independent Study

*For Catalog Year 2018-2019 through 2023-2024

Skills

  • COMM-105 Visual Literacy
  • COMM-260 Quantitative Methods for Journalists
  • COMM-282 Writing for Visual Media
  • COMM-330 Principles of Photography
  • COMM-420-001 Podcasting Tools & Techniques
  • COMM-447 Multicultural Strategic Communication Campaigns
  • COMM-491 Senior Professional Internship (1-6 credits)

Media Studies

  • COMM-201 Survey of International Cinema

  • COMM-209 Communication and Society

  • COMM-389 Storytelling for Changemakers 

  • COMM-396-002 Introduction to Game Studies

  • COMM-411 History of Documentary

  • COMM-480 Pop Culture and Communication (Can count as alternative for COMM-359)
  • COMM-490 Independent Study

*For Catalog Year 2018-2019 through 2023-2024

Media Studies

  • COMM-209 Communication and Society
  • COMM-270 How the News Media Shape History
  • COMM-396-002 Introduction to Game Studies
  • COMM-401 Communication Law
  • COMM-409 Journalism Ethics
  • COMM-411 History of Documentary
  • COMM-439 Political Communication
  • COMM-447 Multicultural Strategic Communication Campaigns
  • COMM-480 Pop Culture & Communication
  • COMM-509 Politics and the Media

*For Catalog Year 2024-2025 and later

Media Studies

  • COMM-209 Communication and Society
  • COMM-270 How the News Media Shape History
  • COMM-396-002 Introduction to Game Studies
  • COMM-409 Journalism Ethics
  • COMM-411 History of Documentary
  • COMM-439 Political Communication
  • COMM-447 Multicultural Strategic Communication Campaigns
  • COMM-480 Pop Culture & Communication
  • COMM-509 Politics and the Media

Skills

  • COMM-105 Visual Literacy
  • COMM-301 Public Relations
  • COMM-305 Digital Skills
  • COMM-310 Public Speaking
  • COMM-331 Film and Video Production I
  • COMM-378 Introduction to Communication Research Methods

Summer 2025

*For Catalog Year 2020-2021 and later

MEDIA STUDIES ELECTIVE

*if not taken to fulfill another requirement

  • COMM-420-001 Podcasting Tools & Techniques
  • COMM-439 Political Communication
  • COMM-485 Strategic Communication & Content Creation

COMMUNICATION ELECTIVE

*if not taken to fulfill another requirement

  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture
  • COMM-420-001 Podcasting Tools & Techniques
  • COMM-491 Professional Communication Career Internship

*For Catalog Year 2023-2024 and earlier

HISTORY OR MEDIA STUDIES

*if not taken to fulfill Production Skills*

  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture

PRODUCTION SKILLS

*if not taken to fulfill History or Media Studies*

  • COMM-420-001 Podcasting Tools and Techniques
  • COMM-491 Senior Professional Internship

*For Catalog Year 2024-2025 and later

FILM STUDIES

  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture

PRODUCTION SKILLS

  • COMM-420-001 Podcasting Tools and Techniques
  • COMM-491 Senior Professional Internship

*For Catalog Year 2018-2019 and later

Topics and Skills

  • COMM-408 Social Media Strategies and Tactics
  • COMM-420-001 Podcasting Tools and Techniques
  • COMM-439 Political Communication
  • COMM-485 Strategic Communication and Content Creation

Electives

  • COMM-365 Digital Media and Culture
  • COMM-408 Social Media Strategies and Tactics
  • COMM-420-001 Podcasting Tools and Techniques
  • COMM-439 Political Communication
  • COMM-485 Strategic Communication and Content Creation
  • COMM-491 Professional Communication Career Internship

*For Catalog Year 2018-2019 and later

Skills

  • COMM-408 Social Media Strategies and Tactics
  • COMM-420-001 Podcasting Tools and Techniques
  • COMM-485 Strategic Communication and Content Creation
  • COMM-491 Professional Communication Career Internship

Media Studies

  • COMM-439 Political Communication

*For Catalog Year 2018-2019 and later

Media Studies

  • COMM-439 Political Communication

View a list of SOC courses that provide experiential learning opportunities. 

Hours Outside of SOC

Journalism and Public Relations and Strategic Communication majors are required to complete 72 credit hours of course work outside the School of Communication. Anything that does not have the COMM prefix will count.

All SOC majors except Foreign Language and Communication Media majors are required to take one U.S. History course from the following list:

  • HIST-100 History, Memory, and the Changeable Past
  • HIST-130 History of American Popular Culture
  • HIST-205 American Encounters: 1492-1865 (FA2)
  • HIST-206 U.S. History since 1865
  • HIST-208 African-American History: to 1877
  • HIST-209 African-American History: 1877 to Present
  • HIST-210 Ethnicity in America (FA4)
  • HIST-215 Social Forces That Shaped America (FA2)
  • HIST-219 Women in America to 1850
  • HIST-220 Women in America since 1850 (FA4)
  • HIST-235 West in Crisis, 1900-1945 (FA2)
  • HIST-288 Oliver Stone's America

All Journalism majors are required to take one Economics course. Journalism majors can choose from:

  • ECON-100
  • ECON-110
  • ECON-200

All Public Relations and Strategic Communication, Film and Media Arts, and Communication Studies majors are required to take either one economics course or MKTG-250. Students in these majors can choose from:

  • ECON-100
  • ECON-110
  • ECON-200
  • MKTG-250

For majors in Communication Studies, Film and Media Arts, Journalism, and Public Relations and Strategic Communication, a minor or second major outside the School of Communication is required. Students should discuss with their SOC academic advisor how much room they have in their graduation plan in order to assist in their decision whether to pursue a minor or second major. See the minors offered at AU.