Courses

Communication Seminar

This ten hour seminar is required of all Communication majors. This seminar introduces students to the unique benefits and responsibilities of producing messages for the public sphere while still remaining grounded in a Christian world view. This course will help students wrestle with the unique relationship between the mass media and the church. It will also provide them with some of the tools they can use to continue to remain grounded in their faith as they enter a largely secular work environment that is, at times, hostile to Christian perspectives.

At the conclusion of the course the student will be able to:

Articulate a biblical foundation for the field of communication.
Describe the process for beginning or improving their skills in the spiritual, emotional, and professional lives.
Identify a support structure within the department that will assist them in completing their college career.
Define the roles of Communication faculty and staff in assisting them in their college career.
Articulate a personal growth plan for identified areas of personal challenge.

Introduction to Communication

This course will introduce students to the field of communication. Students will be exposed to the landmarks in communication history and be introduced to the basics of communication theory. Additionally, students will explore a range of career options within the field.

At the conclusion of the course the student will be able to:

Develop a shared vocabulary of communication terminology.
Articulate how landmark events in communication history have developed in response to the advancing of communication technology and the needs of an ever-growing global society.
Become more effective communicators through applying communication theories and practices.
Apply a biblical worldview to rhetoric for use in evangelism and ministry.
Identify potential career paths within the field of communication that match well with their personal skill set and interests.

Message Design

Students will engage in the pre-production of message design. Theories of rhetoric and persuasion will be applied toward analyzing and developing messages. Students will be introduced to the communication research process for the purpose of conducting audience analysis. Finally, students will submit a proposal for the production of a message.

At the conclusion of the course the student will be able to:

Develop rhetorical methods for the purpose of creating a persuasive message.
Develop communication research skills for the purpose of audience analysis to assist in the shaping of a message.
Analyze a variety of messages to discern story elements including (but not limited to) character, setting, plot, theme, and genre.
Apply their knowledge of story elements and design to the development of a message proposal.

Communication Ethics

This course will explore the process of ethical decision making. A variety of ethical typologies will be explored for the purpose of describing motivating factors from both a Christian and secular worldview. A variety of ethical issues inherent in communication will be discussed. Finally, professional codes of ethics and communication law will be surveyed.

At the conclusion of the course the student will be able to:

Define the role of ethics in decision making.
Compare and contrast various ethical typologies with Christian ethics.
Distinguish between personal values, ethical standards, and ethical choices and evaluate the relationships among them.
Research and debate opposing positions on a variety of topics typical to the communication field.
Describe the difficulties associated with arriving at ethical conclusions without compromising one’s own beliefs.
Evaluate the impact of professional codes of ethics on communication fields.
Uncover the impact of federal, state, and municipal laws on the practice of communication.

Principles and Practices

This course will provide students with techniques for criticism, analysis, and interpretation of communication messages. Also, the elements of a specific communication emphasis, regarding its history, appreciation and impact, will be investigated. This course will address the relationship between the impact of a biblical worldview and the development of a communication field. Finally, students will be introduced to standard industry practices of their field.

At the conclusion of the course the student will be able to:

Develop and apply techniques of criticism to messages from within their communication field.
Use critical analysis to interpret and critique a communication artifact.
Analyze the relationship between a biblical worldview and the development of their field by exploring how Christian thought has impacted their communication field and how that field has, in turn, impacted the development of a biblical worldview.
Articulate how landmark events, in the history of the emphasis, have shaped the development of communication.
Be exposed to the standard industry practices of their emphasis.

Live Sound I

This course introduces the student to a biblically-based and theoretically-effective use of live sound reinforcement based on broad technical skills within the context of professional ministry. The fundamentals of sound, acoustics and live audio production, with particular focus on ministry applications, are taught with a hands-on approach. Instruction includes experience in analog and digital hardware and related software.

At the conclusion of the course the student will be able to:

Articulate a biblical philosophy of ministry for the use of live sound;
Identify and demonstrate the correction of basic aural and acoustical issues related to live sound;
Display and modify the fundamentals of frequency response, decibels, feedback, and signal chain;
Define vocabulary uniquely related to live sound;
Assemble and use the technological elements necessary for the effective functioning of live sound reinforcement.

Live Sound II

At the conclusion of this course the student will be able to:

Apply a biblical philosophy of ministry to a specific live sound environment;
Identify and demonstrate the correction of advanced aural and acoustical issues related to live sound;
Organize and implement a sound design for a major live sound event;
Demonstrate a teaching plan for the instruction of live sound to novices;
Describe the technological elements necessary for the effective functioning of live sound reinforcement in a professional setting.
Record and produce a digital master of a live sound event.

Staging and Illumination

An introduction to the art of staging and illumination: the course will teach the fundamentals of stage lighting, including the history of lighting, illumination, lighting equipment, projection principles, color, elementary electricity, and lighting controls (digital and analog). Basic stage design will then be taught and related to the concepts of proper illumination.

At the conclusion of this course the student will be able to:

Identify the basic skills of, and issues encountered by, a theatrical electrician;
List and define the specific vocabulary of lighting and stage design;
Demonstrate proficiency in operating the hardware and software related to lighting design;
Describe the administrative process associated with stage and lighting design;
Analyze a script to create a stage and lighting design that reinforces the script’s themes, fits within the stated goals of the design team, and allows for an artistic statement by the designer;
Articulate a biblical philosophy for the use of staging and illumination techniques.

Electronic Media Devices

This course examines the fundamentals of the installation and use of electronic media devices related to ministry applications of live performance. The student will learn the principles of resistance, capacitance, and inductance in direct current circuits; be introduced to digital electronics; be taught standard electronic/electrical practices as they relate to e-media applications. In addition, the student will gain knowledge and experience in component testing, troubleshooting skills and the application of laboratory test equipment to live situations. Finally, the student is introduced to software and digital hardware related to electronic media.

At the conclusion of this course student will be able to:

Illustrate the proper installation of the electronic media devices (hardware and software) needed for specific live performance applications;
Design and analyze a system using electronic media devices (hardware and software) necessary for effective corporate worship in a specific ministry context.
Define basic terminology associated with electronic media devices;
Identify the common sources of electronic device failure in live performance applications;
Articulate the fundamentals of digital electronics as related to worship arts settings;
Describe the legal and professional standards and codes involved in the proper installation and use of electronic media devices.

Live Video

This course covers video fundamentals including analog and digital technology, video signal analysis, HDTV, and evolution of the technology. Students will learn digital camera operation, basic shooting and lighting techniques, and basic editing and exporting. An introduction to video editing by working with audio, transitions, titling, and motion graphics in their productions is included.

At the conclusion of this course student will be able to:

Identify & describe the various video signal types and video recording formats;
Compare analog video & digital video;
Display basic digital camera operation with appropriate shooting and lighting techniques;
Demonstrate basic digital video importing, editing, and exporting techniques;
Design, script and construct a digital video production from concept to final product;
Articulate a biblical worldview for the use of video in ministry applications.

Audio Engineering

Having already covered the fundamentals of sound, acoustics, and related equipment in pre-requisite courses, this course will be an in-depth study of the operating procedures of modern audio recording.

At the conclusion of this course student will be able to:

Identify equipment needed in a recording studio, developing a rational and strategy for equipping a professional recording studio;
Illustrate a working knowledge of sound, signals, and studio acoustics;
Identify the principles of control room monitoring;
Articulate the concepts necessary to analyze and reinforce or adjust sound quality;
Describe microphone and recording techniques for vocal, instrumental, and experimental sound production;
Demonstrate the use of equipment in a professional recording environment;
Demonstrate an understanding of popular digital recording formats and editing information;
Evaluate session procedures, assembly and mastering.

Video Post-Production

This course will focus on video post-production including the basics of editing, compositing and motion graphics. Concepts and techniques of non-linear editing, compositing layers of computer generated imagery and live action video, special effects, camera movements and cinematic points of view, and design of titling and motion graphics will be addressed. The development of portfolio materials will demonstrate the student’s ability to design and communicate effective messages.

At the conclusion of this course student will be able to:

Demonstrate the comprehension of camera angles, basic cinematography, and P.O.Vs (point-of-view) in video.
Illustrate cuts-only editing, transitions, and assembling video with video editing software.
Articulate the concepts and importance of the relationship between video and sound design.
Display the mastery of techniques of compositing, layering, use of alpha channels, and manipulation of computer generated sequences of animation.
Describe a biblical worldview as it relates to the aesthetic and conceptual development of video as an art form and communicator of messages.

Internship

This Pass/Fail course immerses students in pre-professional experiences that allow them to practice and further develop the skills taught in their particular emphasis. Students, under the supervision of both a qualified professional (onsite supervisor) and the internship professor, will complete, track, and reflect on 120 hours of communication field-specific work.

At the conclusion of the course the student will be able to:

Apply skills developed in their emphasis within real world pre-professional experiences.
Gain knowledge of the career field through hands on training and completion of contract goals.
Demonstrate appropriate professional and ethical behavior.
Operate with a biblical worldview in their interaction with communication professionals.

Senior Project

This course will require students to produce work or oversee an aspect of an event related to the student’s emphasis. The course requires students to apply communication skills, theory and best practices in the development of the work or event. The senior project is expected to reflect a biblical worldview by demonstrating how a Christian communication professional can potentially impact their culture for Christ.

At the conclusion of the course the student will be able to:

Produce a work or oversee an aspect of an event that demonstrates proficiency in their communication emphasis.
Expose an audience to a biblical worldview integrated through their work or event.
As an independent communication leader function professionally, ethically and morally, from a biblical worldview reflection of LBC's core values.
Reflect on how the project's design and delivery has the potential to impact culture for Christ.