Page 205 - University Bulletin

ELM254 Visual Communication and Design
Credits: 3 (3, 0, 0) Prerequisites: ELM252
This course explores the principles of visual communication and design, focusing on how images,
typography, color, and layout contribute to effective messaging. Students will analyze the role of
visual media in storytelling, branding, and digital communication while gaining hands-on
experience with design tools and techniques. The course covers key topics such as visual
perception, composition, semiotics, and the psychology of design. Through practical projects and
case studies, students will develop their ability to create visually compelling content for various
media platforms.

ELM255 Approaches to Film Analysis
Credits: 3 (3, 0, 0) Prerequisites: ELM251
This course introduces students to key theories and methods for analyzing film as a form of
communication, storytelling, and cultural expression. It explores various critical approaches,
including formalist, structuralist, psychoanalytic, feminist, and ideological analyses of cinema.
Students will examine narrative structures, cinematography, editing, sound, and mise-en-scène to
understand how films construct meaning and influence audiences. Through the study of diverse
film genres and case studies, students will develop the skills to critically engage with and interpret
visual storytelling in global cinema.

ELM257 Media and Popular Culture
Credits: 3 (3, 0, 0) Prerequisites: None
Media and Popular Culture examines how media shapes and reflects cultural narratives, social
values, and identities. Students will analyze television, film, music, digital platforms, and
advertising to understand media’s role in creating, reinforcing, and challenging cultural norms.
The course covers key concepts like representation, audience analysis, media consumption, and
cultural production, along with topics such as fandom, celebrity culture, and commercialization.
Through critical analysis, students will explore media’s impact on both the local and global cultural
landscape.
ELM351 Script Writing and Digital Storytelling
Credits: 3 (3, 0, 0) Prerequisites: ELM255
This course combines the principles of scriptwriting with the practice of digital storytelling across
various media formats, including film, television, digital platforms, and interactive content.
Students will learn essential storytelling techniques, narrative structures, character development,
and dialogue writing, while also exploring how to adapt stories for digital platforms. The course
emphasizes the creative process, from initial concept to finished script, with a focus on crafting
engaging narratives that resonate with digital audiences. Through hands-on projects and analysis
of existing scripts and digital stories, students will gain the skills to create compelling scripts for
both traditional and new media.

ELM352 Media Research and Data Analytics
Credits: 3 (3, 0, 0) Prerequisites: ELM251
This course introduces students to key research methodologies in media and communication, with
a special focus on data analytics. It covers both qualitative and quantitative approaches, including
content analysis, surveys, interviews, discourse analysis, and ethnography, while integrating data-
driven methods such as social media analytics, audience measurement, and big data analysis.
Students will learn how to design studies, collect and analyze data using digital tools, and interpret
findings to understand media trends, audience behavior, and communication strategies. Ethical
considerations in media research and data analytics will also be explored.

193 PSU UNDERGRADUATE BULLETIN