Course Offerings

This is the capstone course for all Marketing and Communication interested Seniors. It puts previous learning experiences from management classes, marketing, research and communications into perspective and analyses the strategic choices that lead to building strong and lasting brands. The course sets a particular focus on brand positioning, brand architecture, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) and teaches the academic foundations and tools that are indispensable to develop truly differentiating brand statements, to understand key research techniques and their usage in real life as well as competitive strategy. Numerous brand cases and exercises such as Nespresso, Tag Heuer, Healthy Choice, Toyota, etc. help to illustrate brand strategy and teaches students to apply strategic thinking in building strong and differentiated brands. The course employs the Harvard Business School Case Study method and teamwork throughout.

The senior thesis research seminar allows students to work in a small group setting with a professor,where they draw from and hone research methods and theories they have learned in the Global Communications major and across their entire BA education. It culminates in a major piece of primary research that the student presents to an audience of peers and faculty.he seminar is designed to demonstrate cumulative knowledge, while teaching advanced research skills valued in the workforce and necessary for graduate school. The thesis is required for students seeking honors in the major.

Topics vary. Using analytic skills learned in core courses, students work with an AUP faculty member, visiting scholar or professional in an area of current interest in the field to be determined by the instructor and the faculty of the Global Communications department.

This course introduces students to major theories and practices of communications research, particularly those dealing with the globalization of media and culture. Students learn a mixture of approaches: rhetorical, quantitative, ethnographic and textual. They learn how various disciplines—economics, political science, anthropology, sociology, and rhetoric—deal with these issues. They also study a variety of research methodologies, learn how to create research projects and develop thesis-writing skills.