CO 3403-04 PHOTOGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION: SPRING 2026
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR WENDY ROUSSIN, MFA
37 McCOMAS HALL
wroussin@comm.msstate.edu
LECTURE TIME: TR 2-3:50 pm, McComas 216
MAIN CONTACT METHOD: Email
OFFICE HOURS: Tuesdays 1-2 pm CT (F2F), or by appointment (F2F or WebEx)
COURSE DESCRIPTION and COURSE (LEARNING) OBJECTIVES
(Prerequisite: Nine hours in Communication or consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Study and practice of techniques of photography and digital imaging as they relate to visual communication in journalism, public relations, mass media, and related fields.
This course is designed to familiarize students with the basic principles of photography and digital image editing as they relate to a photojournalistic style of expression. Students will work primarily with monochromatic imagery but will have a brief introduction to color image editing. Assignments will be shot using a digital SLR camera, input & perfected in the computer and output in appropriate fashion.
Technical, practical and aesthetic concerns will be part of each assignment.
TECHNICAL - The work created follows "Best Practices" in the field for hardware, software and other conventions
PRACTICAL - The work created matches the project description as written on the assignment handouts and other support materials
AESTHETIC - The work created has good visual organization and standard design principles are utilized.
COURSE TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS
HARDWARE:
A dSLR Camera Outfit (Body & Lens) with appropriate Memory Card
A recent MAC laptop.
More Information can be found here: https://www.comm.msstate.edu/concentrations/technology-requirements
SOFTWARE:
Adobe Creative Cloud, specifically Photoshop/Bridge (subscription)
(https://www.adobe.msstate.edu/student)
OTHER:
Internet access, high speed strongly recommended.
COURSE MATERIALS
No Textbook Required
MORE ON COMMUNICATION
Email is the best and most direct way to handle any questions.
Every effort will be made to answer emails within 24 hours during the work week.
Students will communicate with each other via Discussion boards.
EMAIL ETIQUETTE
Please remember to conduct all class related emails in a professional manner. It is preferred that all emails originate from your official MSU email address. All emails should contain your full name and the name of the class and should contain an appropriate subject line that indicates the reason for the email. Complete sentences should be used in the email and there should be no texting abbreviations. You should complete a 'spell check' before sending. If you are requesting a meeting – please indicate the times you are available.
ACADEMIC HONESTY IN THIS COURSE
All work created and turned in for this course shall be from your own individual effort and created solely for the purposes of this class.
The grading scale is as follows: 90-100 A, 80-89.99 B, 70-79.99 C, 60-69.99 D, Below 60 F
A grade of “A” would indicate consistently excellent work, a “B” would indicate above average work, and a “C” grade would indicate average work. Average should be defined as turning in the assignment or project on time and meeting all stated requirements. Above average and excellent grades are earned by exceeding the assignment or project specifications in a demonstrable way, generally by aesthetic concerns and technical skill. Grades of a “D” or “F” are earned by failing to meet deadlines and expectations for assigned coursework.
Exercises and Websites will be evaluated by a combination of technical, practical and aesthetic concerns that will be detailed on each project handout.
Assignments will generally be turned in by postings to your MSU website.
Work that is not posted live to your individual website with the correct file name will not be graded. All assignments and sub-sites must be properly linked from your 'home' page to be evaluated and graded. You may not use online templates to complete any exercise or sub-site (Client or Character) – all work for this class must be completed by you with the provided tutorials and information from the class website.
Check individual assignment sheets for project specifications and due dates.
All work created during the semester must be properly named and formatted, 'live and linked' and visible on your individual website for the class at the end of the term to receive a final grade.
Electronic Journal – 15 %
You will be required to keep a weekly journal of published imagery) related to the assignments and assigned readings for the class.
Final Project (Photographic Essay) – 20 %
The final project for this class will be an expanded photographic feature essay (4-6 images).
Style and subject matter for your essay must be approved.
There will be no written final examination during the scheduled final exam period.
ADDITIONAL CLASS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
As a Face-to-Face class, students should expect to attend each class period and to log onto Canvas multiple times per week to access class documents and discussion boards. Due dates per module and/or assignment will be posted in Canvas. Students are responsible for following the class schedule and adhering to all published dates and deadlines. It is important to note that students who attend class on a regular and consistent basis routinely earn higher grades than those who do not.
Certain class periods are designated as Research/Shooting days. On those announced class dates, classroom attendance is not expected or required. You are expected to devote that time to shooting and/or researching for your photographic assignments.
Unless prior approval has been granted, work turned in via Canvas on a day you are absent will not be graded until an absence approved by AOP 12.09 has been submitted.
(https://www.policies.msstate.edu/sites/www.policies.msstate.edu/files/1209.pdf )
GENERATIVE AI
Generative AI is prohibited for all Written requirements for this course. It is expected that all submitted written work is produced by students themselves. Use of a Generative AI tool to complete an assignment constitutes academic dishonesty and will be reported as an Honor Code Violation. Submitted work may be filtered through an AI Writing Detection tool. This review may initiate further discussion about the authenticity of the submission which could result in a more formal review through the Honor Code Council.
Generative AI is prohibited for Image Creation in this course with the SOLE EXCEPTION of the Illustration/Editorial Assignment. Generative AI restrictions will be listed on that specific assignment sheet. For ALL other image-based assignments- It is expected that all submitted written work is produced by students themselves. Use of a Generative AI tool to complete an assignment constitutes academic dishonesty and will be reported as an Honor Code Violation. This review may initiate further discussion about the authenticity of the submission which could result in a more formal review through the Honor Code Council.
DISCUSSION BOARDS
Students will have discussion board posts as a requirement for each assignment (details on individual assignment sheets). Generally, students will be required to post an "in-progress" report for their own assignment(s) and to also have a minimum amount of commentary for their classmates' posts.
PREVIEW / INTERMEDIATE DEADLINES
Certain assignments will have two different sets of required images due (first set and final set). The first set of images due is a 'preview' deadline to submit in progress work on the assignment for feedback. Students will have the option to reshoot any problem images and will earn credit for all properly formatted and honestly attempted 'preview' image submissions.
LATE WORK
If it is not possible for an assignment to be turned in on time the student must contact the professor via email as soon as possible, preferably prior to the due date. If the lateness would be considered 'excusable' under AOP 12.09 - the work will be accepted without penalty if turned in within an individually approved time frame. If the lateness is not considered 'excusable' under AOP 12.09 – the penalty shall be 10 points per business day.
UNIVERSITY POLICIES
The Mississippi State University Syllabus contains all policies and procedures
that are applicable to every course on campus and online. The policies in the
University Syllabus describe the official policies of the University and will
take precedence over those found elsewhere. It is the student's responsibility
to read and be familiar with every policy. The University Syllabus may be
accessed at any time on the Provost website under Faculty and Student Resources
and at:
https://www.provost.msstate.edu/faculty-student-resources/university-syllabus
Professional Values and Competencies:
ACEJMC Professional Values and Competencies: As an accredited unit from the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC), the Department of Communication, Media & Theatre is committed to preparing students with the requisite knowledge and skills to be successful in the media and communications industries after graduation.
The Department has adopted as its degree program learning outcomes ACEJMC’s 10 professional values and competencies that all graduates of an ACEJMC accredited program should be aware of and able to demonstrate as scholars and professionals in the discipline.
This class meets the following learning outcomes:
SLO4: Present images and information effectively and creatively, using appropriate tools and technologies By evaluating both published photojournalism and personally created photographs for their readability and storytelling accuracy.
SLO5: Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve; By understanding and applying writing strategies appropriate for visually based communication and applying them to the written journals and for file info text entries for photographs.
SLO6: Demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity; By studying methods and strategies in visual communication and diverse representation and applying this knowledge to assigned photographic projects.
SLO7: Apply critical thinking skills in conducting research and evaluating information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work; By utilizing "best practices" in terms of dSLR camera operations and the Adobe Creative Suite.
SLO10: Apply tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work; By using the Adobe Creative Cloud Photoshop and Bridge and following "best practices" to creative effective visual imagery.