Short Course Intensives

Short Course Intensives

Short Course Intensives (ADVRT/JLMC/PR 391) are short-term courses exploring specific and advanced skills that enrich what is offered in the Greenlee School’s core classes. They are 1-credit, satisfactory/fail courses with no pre-requisites. Many will be co-taught by industry professionals.

The meeting days and times will vary for each short course based on the skill taught – one course might meet over two long weekends, one course might meet over a few evenings in the semester or one might meet once a week for the entire semester. The topics will change every semester, so sign up quickly during registration if you see something that can help you build skills toward your future professional goals!

If you’re not currently enrolled at Iowa State University, you can apply for admission to take a short course as a nondegree student.

Fall 2023 Offerings

ADVRT/P R/JL MC 391Q—Launching a Media Brand

1st half course, 08/21 – 10/13, 1 credit Wed 4:25 – 6:25 p.m. Students will learn techniques to develop projects and businesses that take advantage of the evolutionary environment in digital media. Students will leave the course with a business plan, an editorial mission statement, research about their target audience, the beginnings of a prototype and the know-how to launch the product as a team if they choose. Karman Hotchkiss will serve as the industry guest lecturer. In her almost 30-year career at Dotdash Meredith (formerly Meredith Corp.), Hotchkiss helped create many media brands and products, including digital initiatives and special interest publications sold on newsstands. Most recently, she served as the editorial director for DailyPaws.com, a pet-focused website that launched in 2020. She also was the launch editor for Magnolia Journal, working with Chip and Joanna Gaines to create a print magazine brand extension. She owns a career coaching and mentoring business called Level Up with Karman. Hotchkiss will share insights and knowledge from her personal experience innovating and launching new media brands for one of the nation’s largest media companies.

ADVRT/JL MC/P R 497K — Sports and the Media in a Digital 24/7 World

Prerequisite:  Junior classification Tue/Thurs 2:10 – 3:25 p.m.

This discussion-based course will explore the ever-changing role of advertising, journalism and public relations in collegiate and professional sports in a digital 24/7 world. Media rights fees for live sports are projected to pass the $60 billion mark globally by 2024.

  • How do media rights affect marketing, licensing and sponsorships of collegiate and professional sports?
  • How are sports teams and leagues using social media and livestreaming to increase engagement with fans?
  • How do sports stakeholders use their media platforms as change agents to lead activism and social initiatives?

We’ll explore these topics and more throughout the fall 2024 semester.

Learn more about these courses in the Iowa State University Schedule of Classes.

Find all Fall 2023 offerings here

Previous Offerings

The following short course intensives were offered in past semesters.

ADVRT/P R/JL MC 391P – Producing Sports Media Content

Tuesdays, 5:10-6:40 PM; 1/18/2022 – 2/22/2022 (6-week course)
Short course – 1 credit
As newspaper circulations fall and journalism jobs decline, sports continues to be a driving force in the industry. Sports fans are passionate and eager to absorb content in all platforms. This class will help students learn to produce sports media content in today’s digital world, including:
  • Meeting deadlines in a 24/7 news cycle.
  • Planning coverage of a press conference.
  • Reporting and writing a game story.
  • Reporting and writing a breaking news story.
  • Reporting and writing a sports-related feature story.
  • Covering a beat and managing sources.
  • Asking the right questions.

ADVRT/JL MC/P R 391B Audio Lab – Creating your own podcast

2nd half course; 10/18/2021 – 12/17/2021, 1 credit
Wednesdays, 6:00 – 8:00 PM at KHOI studio
Podcasting is one of the fastest growing media delivery systems. Work with KHOI radio professionals to create your own podcast. Develop an idea, write, record, edit and market your podcast.

ADVRT/JL MC/P R 391A – MarTech: Essential Technologies for Advertising and Public Relations

Learn how to use marketing technology tools (MarTech, for short), such as Hootsuite, Talkwalker, Hubspot, Adobe Marketing Cloud and Salesforce Marketing Cloud. These are becoming critical skills for professionals in advertising and public relations. Cannes Lion Winner Leo Morejon (Oreo Super Bowl "Blackout" tweet campaign) leads a hands-on exploration of current and future MarTech tools.

ADVRT/JL MC/P R 391D – Creating Virtual Worlds

Engage viewers on a more emotional level by exploring the concepts of virtual and augmented reality, 360 storytelling, and virtual and augmented reality applications.  Experts from ISO Form will partner with faculty to help students conceptualize a virtual reality or augmented reality project and create a "pitch" suitable for an editor or corporate client with concept, simple storyboarding/timeline.  Virtual reality equipment will be available for student use.

ADVRT/P R/JL MC 391E – From Posts to Profits: How to Tackle Social Media Influencer Marketing

According to USA Today, by 2020 brand spending on influencer marketing is expected to hit $101 billion. Students will learn the benefits and how-to of social media influencer engagement from both brand managers and influencers. The course will include interactive sessions with these professionals as well as small-group final projects.

ADVRT/JL MC/P R 391J – The Basics of Video Storytelling using Live Sports Production 

Students will get the opportunity to learn the basics of telling the Cyclones brand story using live sports video production. Students will use professional equipment you would see in a video control room or production truck.

ADVRT/JL MC/P R 391K: Search Engine Optimization

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, means setting up your website and content to show up through online search results. While many marketing tactics rely on you reaching out to your audience, SEO gives you the power to reach people when they are actively searching out information related to your products and services. This one-credit Short Course Intensive will introduce advertising, journalism, and public relations majors to the processes that power SEO programs. The course will be conducted by Prof. Jay Newell; Cooper Hollmaier, an SEO program manager with a large specialty outdoor retailer; and Better Homes and Gardens’ Des Moines-based digital deputy editor Rachel Weber.