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Office of the University Registrar

2009-10 Undergraduate Catalog

Course Descriptions



College of Journalism and Communications


Students who have not been admitted to the College of Journalism and Communications must have a 3.0 overall grade point average to enroll in any courses other than the RTV 2100, RTV 3234, RTV 3405 and RTV 4420.

Entry into the broadcast news sequence is limited to students in the Department of Telecommunication who have placed in a competitive entrance exam. Contact the department office to determine when the exam is given.

RTV 2100 Writing for Electronic Media
Credits: 3; Prereq: 6 hours of English composition, sophomore standing or above, ability to type 20 words per minute.

A preprofessional course designed to provide fundamental instruction and practice in writing for the electronic media.

RTV 3007 Introduction to Telecommunication
Credits: 3.

An introduction to the cultural, social, legal, business and career aspects of the electronic media.

RTV 3101 Advanced Writing for Electronic Media
Credits: 3; Prereq: a grade of C or better in RTV 2100 and RTV 3007; sophomore, junior or senior standing in JM/TEL.

Study and practice of electronic media writing, including commercials, corporate communication, documentaries, drama and adaptations. (WR)

RTV 3200 Fundamentals of Production
Credits: 3; Prereq: a grade of C or better in RTV 2100 and RTV 3007; junior standing in telecommunication, or instructor permission.

Basic principles and operations of radio and television equipment for utilization in industry and commercial and educational radio television stations. Students are required to purchase an IBM formatted 2.p disk.

RTV 3234 Performance in Telecommunication
Credits: 3.

Development of basic radio and television announcing skills.

RTV 3280 Writing and Reporting for Interactive Media
Credits: 3; Prereq: RTV 2100, RTV 3303.

Designed to teach skills necessary to plan and execute news online news projects. Course lecture, readings and discussion will focus on locating, evaluating and tracking internet sources, construction of multi-linear news content and the integration of internet technology into the news process.

RTV 3303 Electronic News Writing and Reporting 1
Credits: 3; Prereq: a grade of C or better in RTV 2100 and RTV 3007; sophomore, junior or senior standing in JM/TEL NWS and selection by Competitive News Sequence Entrance exam.

Basic writing, reporting and production of radio news stories and newscasts. Students must purchase approved recorder for class. Six hours to arrange.

RTV 3304 Advanced Radio Reporting
Credits: 3; Prereq: a grade of C in RTV 3303.

Advanced reporting, writing and production of radio news stories and newscasts against deadlines. Radio news lab is required.

RTV 3305 Investigative Reporting for Broadcast Journalists
Credits: 3; Prereq: a grade of C or better in RTV 2100, RTV 3007 and RTV 3303; junior or senior standing in JM/TEL NWS.

Principles of investigative reporting as applied to television and radio news.

RTV 3320 Electronic Field Production
Credits: 3; Prereq: RTV 3101, RTV 3200 and junior or senior standing in JM/TEL.

Advanced electronic field production and editing theory and practice.

RTV 3401 Electronic News Producing and Management
Credits: 3; Prereq: RTV 3303.

Designed to teach skills required to produce news content for television. Includes instruction in ap-enps software, field producing techniques and production of long-form programs, with considerable emphasis on the role of the producer as gatekeeper and newsroom manager.

RTV 3405 Television and American Society
Credits: 3.

Enables the non-telecommunication major to use television productively and to understand its structure and effects. Research findings concerning audience behavior and criteria for evaluating television programs will be discussed. (S)

RTV 3411 Race, Gender, Class and Media
Credits: 3.

Analysis of issues confronting the communications industries, professionals and media audiences in relation to the context of global and national diversity.

RTV 4283 Advanced Reporting for Interactive Media
Credits: 3; Prereq: RTV 3280.

Advanced course designed to teach skills necessary to produce online journalism content utilizing video, audio, photo essays and interactive graphics. Students will receive practical experience working in the college's converged newsroom.

RTV 4301 Electronic News and Reporting 2
Credits: 3; Prereq: RTV 3303 junior or senior standing in JM/TEL NWS.

Basic writing, reporting and production of television news stories and newscasts. Students must purchase two approved video cassettes for class.

RTV 4302 Advanced TV Reporting
Credits: 3; Prereq: a grade of C in RTV 4301.

News reporting, videography, writing and editing for television newscasts on deadline. One day-long lab in television newsroom required. Purchase of additional approved video cassettes may be required.

RTV 4307 Special News Project
Credits: 3; Prereq: RTV 4301, RTV 3305.

Advanced course designed to provide extensive instruction in the development of in-depth journalism projects for radio, television and interactive media.

RTV 4340 Special News Projects
Credits: 3; Prereq: RTV 3401.

Supervised assignment as line or field producer for radio, TV or online news program or series. Requires eight hours per week in newsroom.

RTV 4420 New Media Systems
Credits: 3; Prereq: a grade of C in RTV 2100, junior standing or instructor permission.

New electronic media systems of mass communication; cable television and satellite communication.

RTV 4500 Telecommunication Programming
Credits: 3; Prereq: grade of C in RTV 2100 and RTV 3007.

Audience, economic and placement considerations in scheduling programs for broadcast radio, television and cable television, and other electronic media of mass communication. This course must be completed before enrolling in RTV 4800.

RTV 4506 Telecommunication Research
Credits: 3.

Survey of various techniques in telecommunication research. Strategies of analysis of audience attitudes and characteristics, and ascertainment of community needs. Emphasis on survey research, sampling techniques and interpretation of market and ratings data.

RTV 4700 Telecommunication Law and Regulation
Credits: 3; Prereq: a grade of C in RTV 2100.

Legal structure and regulation of telecommunications industries. First Amendment and regulatory constructs of broadcast, cable satellite and the Internet. Defamation libel and copyright law.

RTV 4800 Telecommunication Planning and Operations
Credits: 3; Prereq: RTV 4500 and RTV 4506.

Organization and administration of the local telecommunication outlet. Personnel supervision, financial control, regulatory requirements, social responsibilities.

RTV 4905 Individual Projects in Telecommunication
Credits: 1 to 3; Prereq: at least 10 hours of junior- or senior-level telecommunication courses and permission of the department chair.

Projects must also have the approval of the Telecommunication faculty. The student and the instructor concerned will choose a problem or project which will give the student experience in telecommunication.

RTV 4929C Senior Advanced Workshop in Telecommunication Production
Credits: 1 to 3; Prereq: a grade of C in RTV 3101, RTV 3200 and RTV 3320 and instructor permission.

Requires three hours per week outside of class assignments for work in assigned production sites. Advanced telecommunication creative concepts. Sophisticated, complex uses of audio and video to design and construct programming and programming elements. Topics vary and may focus on (but are not limited to) areas such as concept development and script writing, computer-assisted program research, unit management, producing, directing, high-level video studio production, audio program creation, sports production, advanced single-camera techniques, documentary and long-form nonfiction production, non-broadcast video, educational and corporate television, audio/video production for the World Wide Web, post-production and editing graphics and special effects, CD ROM and multi-media production. Enrollment may be repeated as topics change and college curricular requirements allow.

RTV 4930 Special Study in Telecommunication
Credits: 1 to 3; can be repeated once for a total of 6 credits. Prereq: permission of the instructor.

Variable content, providing opportunity for study in areas of broadcasting such as television staging and lighting. Film criticism, communication theory and other fields.

RTV 4931 Ethics and Problems in Telecommunication
Credits: 3; Prereq: RTV 2100, RTV 3007, RTV 3405, Junior Standing.

Investigation and discussion of social problems, ethics and responsibilities in telecommunication.

RTV 4940 Telecommunication Internship
Credits: 1 to 4; Prereq: must have completed appropriate professional courses for the internship, achieved a 2.5 GPA and received department approval for credit.

Student and instructor will select an appropriate work area related to the field of broadcasting for on-the-job training. Student will work a minimum of 100 hours on the job for every hour of credit to be received. Progress reports and summary required. (S-U)

RTV 4946 Professional Development in Telecommunication
Credits: 1; Prereq: senior standing. Coreq: RTV 4931.

Evaluation of students' preparation to enter the job market. (S-U)



General Education Categories
Consult Schedule of Courses for specific information.

  • Biological Sciences (B)
  • Composition (C)
  • Diversity (D)*
  • Humanities (H)
  • International (N)*
  • Mathematics (M)
  • Physical Sciences (P)
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (S)

* Students who entered UF prior to Summer B 2007 and/or whose catalog year is not 2007-08: Current students who have not already completed six hours of "I" - international/diversity credits can do so now by taking "D" and "N" courses.

Symbols Used in Course Descriptions

  • (WR) indicates the course satisfies the writing requirement.
  • (MR) indicates the course satisfies the math requirement.
  • (S-U) indicates the course may be taken on a satisfactory-unsatisfactory basis.
  • Refer to the Schedule of Courses for specific information.