Course Syllabus

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Hello and welcome to PR Design at the University of Oklahoma!

Below is the formal syllabus explaining the course. This course is outcomes centric and thus you will learn by doing. While the first part of the course is focused on understanding design techniques and terminology and is a little more content-driven you will apply this foundational knowledge throughout the rest of the semester. Through your assignments, you’ll be creating tangible publication pieces you can use in your portfolio. You’ll then be putting these works onto your blog where you’ll be expected to provide advice as a PR practitioner and give a narrative for the creative process. In the end, you’ll have a robust portfolio which will be a collection of your final work that potential employers can see. In essence, you’ll be donning a potentially new hat of “Visual Designer” throughout this exploration. You’ll also be a “Digital Storyteller.” Terms like “digital,” “visual,” or “creative” can seem a little scary to some, but that’s okay right now. Most of you are coming in at the same level: novice. This means you all are your biggest allies. I want you to be successful in this course and to do this, you will see that the course is set up so you can lean on and learn from each other’s experiences throughout the semester.

Instructor

Sherry Kast, APR, Fellow PRSA

Gaylord College

Phone: (423) 304-2317

E-mail: sherry.kast@ou.edu

Twitter: @sherrykast

Course Description

Institutional and industrial publications as an important means of internal and external communications with special emphasis on design, layout and content. Laboratory.

Prerequisites: JMC 1013, 2033, 3413, and 3423

Course Objectives

Think critically, creatively and independently.

Understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information.

Critically evaluate your own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness.

Apply tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work.

Recognize how public relations publications differ from other publications in purpose, publics, funding and design.

Conduct research, evaluate information and use that knowledge to select appropriate communication channel.

Design for a target audience.

Distinguish and demonstrate the use a variety of publication production techniques and options.

Course Outcomes

Students will launch and maintain a blog as well as comment on the blogs of their peers.

Students will build a foundational knowledge of the landscape of visual communication technologies.

Students will design a business card, letterhead and envelope for a brand.

Students will design a promotional handout for multiple, specific publics.

Students will design a newsletter for an entity.

Students will develop a personal portfolio website.

Course Rationale

This course strives to train students to recognize and apply good publication design techniques in a public relations setting. In addition, students will learn the importance of structuring visual communications for the web. The major goal of the course is to give students the ability to translate a concept of visual communication into an actual publication. Other goals include practice with computer graphics, knowledge of publication techniques and options in print and online, publication production skills and a knowledge of how to work with designers, graphic artists, publication specialists, photographers and commercial printers and web developers to convey their messages to target audiences.

Book

Only one book is required for this course. Other reading and video content will be made available to you as reference material through the semester. For this book, you’ll be doing a blog post per chapter. 

Walter, A (2011). Designing for Emotion. A Book Part. ISBN: 9781937557003. Buy here. (Ebook: $14; Paperback: $24)

Grade Mix

Weekly Assignments
14 x 10 points each = 140 points

Design Projects (50% of final grade)

Business Card, Letterhead and Envelope Project – 35 points

Handout – 35 points

Social Media – 35 points

Newsletter –35 points

Summary of Learning – 35 points

Total - 140

TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE: 500

Grading Scale

A: 450 – 500 points

B: 400 – 449 points

C: 350 – 399 points

D: 300 – 349 points

F: 0 – 200 points

Toolbox

  • Blog – As mentioned earlier, one of your assignments will be building and maintaining a personal blog with a platform called WordPress. This will require you to get a web domain and server space. There’s more information about how to technically set this up in Week 1.
  • Course Website – If you are reading this, you’re on the course website! Here is where you’ll find the majority of course content. A corresponding module will tell you what you are expected to do that week. That may include watching videos, reading material or working on a project.
  • Course Hub – These is where you’ll be able to see the different blog posts from your peers. This will be helpful in seeing what everyone else is up to. You’ll be asked periodically throughout the summer semester to comment on various posts from other students.
  • Software – This course relies heavily on two specific programs for most of the design work you will be doing: Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign. These apps (plus tons of other nice products from Adobe) are currently available for $19.99 a month as a product called Creative Cloud All Apps. My suggestion is that use this service for the semester. It’s small price to pay have resume line items such as “Adobe Photoshop.” That said, I understand that may be out of reach for some. For those close to campus, one option is to utilize the computers in the Gaylord computer labs as they have fully up-to-date versions of both these programs (Note: If you are going to use the computer lab, remember that the computer wipes your files every time you log out. Make sure you always carry a flash drive or external hard drive with you!). For others who don’t have the luxury of visiting campus and still don’t want to splurge on Adobe Photoshop, graphic design concepts are completely transferable to other (sometimes free) applications. There are even some great options now that are web or tablet based. I’ve created a page for free alternatives to both of these programs. You can use these, but please proceed with caution knowing that my knowledge is significantly limited to what these programs offer.

Lab Hours

GYLD 2150

The lab hours are listed online.

Special Needs

Students who need special accommodations or have special needs are invited to share these concerns or requests as soon as possible. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be addressed to the Disability Resource Center, Goddard Health Center, 620 Elm Avenue, Suite 166, (405) 325-3852, TDD (405) 325-4173, Fax (405) 325-4491 or ods@ou.edu.

Mask Policy

Mandatory screening policy for faculty, staff, students and visitors. You must do this screening before returning to campus. 

 OU Faculty, Staff, and Students – You must complete the COVID-19 Screening and Reporting Tool each time any of the following applies:
  1. Absence from Campus – Employees and students who have been away from campus for any reason for 7 consecutive calendar days or more must complete the COVID-19 Screening and Reporting Tool.
  2. Travel – Employees and students who have traveled domestically or internationally must complete the COVID-19 Screening and Reporting Tool unless the traveler qualifies for the Commuter Process.[2] Domestic travel is defined as travel outside the State of Oklahoma.
  3. Events and Gatherings – Employees and students who attend an event, go to an entertainment venue, or participate in a group gathering of 10 or more people AND do not wear a mask and practice social distancing must complete the COVID-19 Screening and Reporting Tool. (Household members do not count toward the number of 10 or more.)
  4. Close Contact – Employees and students who have had close contact with an individual diagnosed with COVID-19 or who has had symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 14 days must complete the COVID-19 Screening and Reporting Tool.
  5. Experiencing Symptoms – Employees and students experiencing symptoms that could be consistent with COVID-19, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, recent loss of taste or smell, and/or extreme fatigue, must complete the COVID-19 Screening and Reporting Tool. They should also contact their health care provider regarding specific symptoms.
  6. Positive Test – Employees and students who test positive for COVID-19 may not return to campus until they have been cleared by Goddard Health Center to return.
  7. Positive Household Member – Employees and students with a household member who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days must complete the COVID-19 Screening and Reporting Tool.
  8. The Tool must be submitted before returning to work or academic responsibilities on campus or attending University-related functions. Employees and students will be notified via email of their screening results. This email must be forwarded to the employee’s direct supervisor or appropriate Student Affairs office upon receipt.

Attendance Policy

A temporary university policy has been established to protect the OU community by ensuring that students who are ill or required to isolate feel encouraged to remain at home. Missing a class session or other class activity due to illness or isolation will not result in a penalty for the absence, and the student will not be asked to provide formal documentation from a healthcare provider to excuse the absence. This policy is based on all students and faculty adhering to the principles of integrity, honesty, and concern for others.

Students who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, including cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle pain, headache, chills, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea or who have been in close contact with others who have symptoms should:
  • Remain at home to protect others
  • Ensure that any needed screening has been conducted (COVID-19 Screening and Reporting Tool) and any needed treatment obtained
  • Contact the instructor prior to absence or inability to participate, if possible, and provide an honest report of the reason for which you cannot attend class or complete a course activity
  • Continue to complete coursework to the extent possible, using Canvas, zoom, and other online tools
  • Submit assignments electronically to the extent possible and as directed by the instructor
  • Communicate with the instructor to arrange modifications to deadlines or work requirements or reschedule exams or other important course activities, when it is necessary

Course Summary:

Course Summary
Date Details Due