Skip to main content

COMS 373

COMS 373: Advertising Media and Integrated Research

Prerequisites: COMS 130 (with a grade of "C" or better) and COMS 173; or permission of instructor.

Credit hours (3)

Examines local and national sales methods, market and audience research, demography, sales planning, organization and management.
Focuses on integrated communication research that informs advertising media planning and communication planning across paid, owned, and earned media channels.
Includes writing for integrated campaigns, preparation of presentations, production and placement of advertising, development of client relations, and follow-up service.


Detailed Description of Course


Industry figures show that 90 percent of advertising expenditures are incurred by media placement costs.
Media’s role in delivering advertising and strategic communication messages to the right audiences at the right times remains central to communication effectiveness.
At the same time, integrated communication planning requires understanding how paid, owned, and earned media work together to build reach, frequency, and engagement.  Integrated research analyzes the synergies between these media strategies.


Detailed Description of Conduct of Course


The course will be taught through a combination of lectures, internal and external individual and group projects, and guest lecturers from the fields of print, broadcast, outdoor, digital, and direct mail advertising.


Goals and Objectives of the Course

Students will learn:

  • The art and science of advertising and strategic communication research.
  • How to gather, analyze, and interpret integrated communication data—including cross-platform audience metrics, consumer insight tools, social listening, and owned-media analytics.
  • How to apply these insights to create evidence-based media plans and evaluate paid, owned, and earned media performance.


Assessment Measures

  1. Graded tests covering textbook materials, lectures, guest presentations, readings, and case studies.
  2. Individual and group research assignments demonstrating the ability to gather, analyze, and apply integrated communication data.
  3. Integrated media plan project requiring primary/secondary research and cross-platform recommendations.


Other Course Information


None

 

Review and Approval

April 19, 2016

May 2011

March 01, 2021

December 12, 2025