Special Topics

Check back each semester for new Special Topic courses.

Summer 2026

Cinematic Arts

Summer A: CCA 494 section A11

This course focuses on the analysis and practice of mixing and mastering techniques. While the content primarily focuses on music production, the concepts discussed are relevant to post-production sound and other audio disciplines. The mixing techniques that are explored during live sessions are applicable across all Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs).

Fall 2026

Cinematic Arts

CCA 494/795 + COM 609 section 6R

Miami’s position as the north of the global south and the paradisiacal elsewhere of the United States makes it a unique cinematic setting to study. Meanwhile Afro-Miami’s multinational, multilingual identities challenge and expand upon dominant anglophone US-centric constructions of Black belonging. Through a survey of Black Miami’s motion picture history and present, this course critically investigates such dynamics as well as topics of climate, immigration, gentrification, labor, leisure, and public health at the crossroads of the United States, the US South, and the Global South. The social-cultural, aesthetic, political and historical forces shape Black Miami and provide the context for the films studied in the course. This course surveys a range of filmmakers who have taken up the question of Black Miami through avant-garde, fiction, and nonfiction modes. Students will learn methods of close analysis, research, and oral history through biweekly written assignments, quizzes, a class presentation, and a final project.

CCA 465/795 section 1P

Students will discover what their creative voice is as a producer; sharpen their communication skills (networking, pitching, coverage & notes); and will learn the nuts and bolts of what a producer does.

CCA 494/795 section 5R

The purpose of this course is to develop the student’s understanding and appreciation of film sound aesthetics. The course explores the tools/practices that are necessary to develop a filmmaker’s sonic identity and style.

CCA 494/795 + JMM 356/656 section GH

Podcast Storytelling affords students the opportunity to develop a new wave of audio content, create virtual gathering spaces and has the potential to create new audiences. Students will produce projects as either stand-alone or episodic and will publish their projects on a hosting site.

Communication

COM 406 section P

Journalism & Media Management

JMM 306/692 section O

JMM 592/692 + COM 609 section GH

Covering injustice and historically marginalized groups requires advanced knowledge and courage. This course is designed for you to hone the skills needed to cover the most ethically and professionally complex stories in journalism, such as gentrification, food insecurity, and immigration. Furthermore, the class will help you develop your ability to build sustainable relationships with communities that have been disproportionately impacted by these issues and often ignored in traditional journalistic practice. If you have ever felt inadequate pitching or covering stories that impact people who don’t look like you, this class is for you. If you have ever wondered how to tap into your own life experience or background to report fairly, this class is also for you. Finally, if you’re tired of problem-focused journalism and wish to report on solutions, this class is definitely for you. By the end of this class, students feel more confident in their ability to cover complex issues and under-reported communities. Students also walk away with more sophisticated understandings of the social impact of journalism and the power they can have as reporters to change the world for the better.

Strategic Communication

STC 305/691 section 5R

This course explores essential public relations practices in the fast-paced fashion industry, equipping students with tools for trend forecasting, crisis management, media relations, event execution and brand storytelling. Students will gain hands-on experience with developing networking skills through intentional fashion career-building opportunities, including meetups with industry media and influencers. Special emphasis is placed on the PR strategies that drive fashion event production and management.

STC 494/691 section 1T

This course explores how entertainment industries such as K-pop, Bollywood, and Hollywood shape global audiences and cultural trends. Students will learn how public relations and strategic communication are used to build, promote, and sustain these cultural phenomena across diverse regions.