Application deadline
26 June 2026
Regular enrollment/add deadline at 5:00 PM Pacific Time; later enrollment requires instructor consent.
In-person Program
Ethical and Policy Issues in Institutions of Mass Communication Summer Intensive Course
Study how print, film, broadcasting, and new technologies interact with government and society in UCLA's credit-bearing media ethics course.
Last verified: 6 Oct 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
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Ethical and Policy Issues at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Upcoming
Eligibility
High school, college, and adult students
Age range / Year group
Ages 15+
Location / Region
UCLA, Public Affairs Building Room 2250, Los Angeles, United States
Cost
From $1,680
Duration
3 weeks
Format
In-person
Latest deadline
26 June 2026 · Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.
Get next-cycle reminderEthicsMedia Studies
Accommodation: Optional Olympic Hall Deluxe Triple rooms
Sessions / cadence: MWF, 10:00 AM–12:50 PM PT
Academic credit: 4 UCLA quarter units
Tutors / faculty: Jim Newton
Housing meal plan: 14 Regular meal plan
Assessment style: Letter grade or Passed/Not Passed
Ethical and Policy Issues summary
COMM 187 examines the ethical and policy questions created when media institutions interact with government and society. Its focus spans print, film, broadcasting, and new technologies.
Jim Newton brings extensive journalism experience to an upper-division lecture course. It suits students who want academic analysis of media responsibility and institutional influence.
What is Ethical and Policy Issues in Institutions of Mass Communication Summer Intensive Course?
COMM 187 is a UCLA Department of Communication course offered through UCLA Summer Sessions. It examines ethical and policy issues arising from interactions between media institutions and societal institutions. Print, film, broadcasting, and new technologies form the media side of that analysis.
Students consider relationships involving Congress, federal agencies, courts, the Presidency, schools, churches, political action groups, advertisers, and audiences. The course uses an accelerated, upper-division lecture format and awards academic credit upon successful completion. Journalist and author Jim Newton teaches it.
Why Succeed highlights Ethical and Policy Issues
The course connects media ethics with concrete institutions, including government, courts, advertisers, and audiences.
Jim Newton's newspaper experience gives the academic focus a clear connection to professional journalism.
Successful work earns UCLA academic credit recorded on a formal transcript.
The upper-division level offers a substantial test of readiness for college study.
Who is Ethical and Policy Issues for?
Best for
Students interested in journalism, media ethics, and public policy who want to test themselves in a college-level academic course.
Not ideal if
You want a relaxed summer activity or supervised residential camp; the accelerated academic pace and independent housing arrangements require careful planning.
Is Ethical and Policy Issues worth it?
This is a strong option for students who want to understand how media decisions intersect with public institutions and social responsibility. The combination of an experienced journalist, upper-division study, and transcripted credit gives it clear academic value.
The accelerated pace makes it a demanding commitment, and families need to budget beyond tuition for applicable fees and housing. Credit transfer depends on the receiving institution, and UCLA states that Summer Sessions attendance does not provide an admissions advantage to a UC school.
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A practical overview of cost, accommodation, meals, dates and provider details to review before deciding.
Cost and what is included
From $1,680; includes COMM 187 lectures., Four UCLA quarter units upon successful completion., Instructor and teaching-assistant office hours., Undergraduate Writing Center access for visiting students..
Accommodation
Optional Olympic Hall Deluxe Triple rooms
Provider details
Review the UCLA Summer Sessions provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
Dates and logistics
3 weeks; UCLA, Public Affairs Building Room 2250, Los Angeles, United States.
What to check before committing
Confirm current dates, payment terms, travel arrangements, cancellation rules and what is included with the provider.
Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.
Compare with similar programsHow much preparation does Ethical and Policy Issues need?
Effort level
High.
Best started
Begin planning at least four to six weeks before the session starts, with longer lead time for international travel and visas.
Main challenge
Keeping pace while attending every scheduled class meeting.
Typical preparation
Review the course description and arrange the required instructor consent.
Reserve the Monday, Wednesday, and Friday class times and avoid overlapping commitments.
Confirm credit-transfer expectations and calculate tuition plus applicable fees.
Arrange housing and travel early; request disability accommodations at least three weeks before the course begins.
Useful if
You want to assess your readiness for college-level communication study.
What do students do on Ethical and Policy Issues?
You attend accelerated lectures examining how media institutions interact with government and society. You complete the instructor's academic requirements for a final grade and UCLA credit.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Attend the scheduled COMM 187 lectures.
- 2
Examine ethical and policy issues involving print, film, broadcasting, and new technologies.
- 3
Consider interactions with government, courts, schools, advertisers, and audiences.
- 4
Use instructor office hours to discuss challenging material.
- 5
Complete the instructor's evaluation requirements and receive your course grade.
Ethical and Policy Issues dates and deadlines
Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.
Reference date
Programme dates
22 June-10 July 2026
Registration opens
18 February 2026
Visiting-student registration began at 8:00 AM.
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Application deadline | 26 June 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Programme dates | 22 June-10 July 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Registration opens | 18 February 2026 | Local | Reference date |
Eligibility and requirements
At least 15 by the verified summer-term start.
COMM 187 is approved for high school students.
College students and adults may also participate.
Instructor consent is required.
Academic-institution enrollment is not required.
High school enrollment normally permits two courses and 10 units maximum.
Applicable international English-proficiency and immigration requirements must be met.
How much does Ethical and Policy Issues cost?
Course tuition
$1,164; $1,600; $1,680 — Four-unit totals for UC undergraduate, UC graduate, and other students respectively.
Funding or discounts
- Visiting-student registration: $175; $350 — UC and non-UC visiting students respectively; nonrefundable.
- IEI fee: $61 — Summer materials fee for students without a bachelor's degree.
- Document fee: $50 — Applies to first-time visiting Summer Sessions students.
- Summer Scholars Support: Full or partial scholarships — Limited need- and merit-based awards for eligible California ninth- through eleventh-grade students.
- UC financial aid: Eligible UCLA students and visiting UC students may access summer aid.
What's included
COMM 187 lectures., Four UCLA quarter units upon successful completion., Instructor and teaching-assistant office hours., Undergraduate Writing Center access for visiting students.
How to apply to Ethical and Policy Issues
- 1
Review COMM 187 in the Schedule of Classes and obtain the required instructor consent.
- 2
Visiting students complete the UCLA registration form and select Summer Courses.
- 3
Submit the form and pay the applicable nonrefundable registration fee.
- 4
Use the emailed UID instructions to create your MyUCLA account.
- 5
Select Classes, then Find a Class and Enroll, to enroll in COMM 187.
- 6
Confirm the course appears on your Study List and pay the remaining BruinBill balance.
- 7
Current and incoming UCLA students enroll directly through MyUCLA.
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What does Ethical and Policy Issues cover?
The program covers the following focus areas.
Media institutions
Examine ethical and policy issues involving print, film, broadcasting, and new technologies.
Government and policy
Study media interactions with Congress, federal agencies, courts, and the Presidency.
Society and influence
Consider how schools, churches, political action groups, advertisers, and audiences interact with media.
Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.
What is a typical day on Ethical and Policy Issues?
A typical day during the program.
Lecture days
COMM 187 follows this recurring class pattern during Session A3.
Lecture time
Each scheduled meeting lasts 2 hours 50 minutes in Public Affairs Building Room 2250.
Who teaches on Ethical and Policy Issues?
Jim Newton teaches COMM 187 and brings 30 years of newspaper experience as a reporter, editor, columnist, and bureau chief. He is a journalist and author who teaches ethics, writing, and California public policy.
Students can use instructor and teaching-assistant office hours for academic help.
Where do students stay on Ethical and Policy Issues?
Residential plan
- Optional campus housing: Eligible students apply independently for Olympic Hall Deluxe Triple rooms.
- Housing meal plan: A 14 Regular meal plan is required with the summer housing contract.
- Separate housing charges: UCLA Housing assesses residential charges separately from course tuition.
- Housing age requirement: The verified housing policy requires students to be at least 17 by 21 June 2026.
Non-residential plan
- Younger students' arrangements: Families of students under 17 must arrange independent accommodations.
UCLA Summer Sessions does not provide supervision for at-large housing contracts.
What happens after Ethical and Policy Issues?
After completing this program, participants often pursue:
Earn four UCLA quarter units upon successful completion.
Record the course and final grade on a UCLA transcript.
Develop a stronger foundation for studying media ethics and policy.
Seek advance approval for credit toward another institution's requirements.
Credit transfer is decided by the receiving institution; Summer Sessions attendance does not provide a UC admissions advantage.
Where does Ethical and Policy Issues take place?
Classes meet in Public Affairs Building Room 2250 on UCLA's Los Angeles campus. The Department of Communication describes its summer courses as an opportunity for visiting students to experience UCLA's campus and academic environment.
Ethical and Policy Issues FAQs
The course examines ethical and policy issues arising from interactions between print, film, broadcasting, new technologies, and societal institutions such as government, courts, schools, advertisers, and audiences.
Jim Newton teaches COMM 187. He is a journalist and author with 30 years of newspaper experience as a reporter, editor, columnist, and bureau chief.
Successful completion earns four UCLA quarter units recorded on a UCLA transcript. Credit transfer is decided by the receiving institution.
COMM 187 is on UCLA's approved high school course list. It is an upper-division course, and the registrar lists instructor consent as an enrollment restriction.
Standard Summer Courses and Summer Intensives enrollment does not require transcripts or standardized test scores. COMM 187 separately requires instructor consent.
Students meeting UCLA Housing's age requirement can apply independently for summer housing. The 2026 option uses Olympic Hall Deluxe Triple rooms with a required 14 Regular meal plan; housing charges are separate from course fees.
COMM 187 offers letter grading or Passed/Not Passed. The instructor determines the method of evaluation.
UCLA states that attending Summer Sessions does not give students an advantage in acceptance to a UC school. The course is best evaluated for its academic content and college-level experience.
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Save this program in Succeed to compare it with similar programs, dates, costs and formats in one place.
Compare with other programsContent reviewed by
Ben Stacy
Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader
Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.
Sources & verification
Source types reviewed
- 2026 Summer Sessions Housing Rates | Housing
- Summer Sessions Housing | Housing
- Application Management
- Schedule of Classes | Registrar’s Office
- COMM 187 - UCLA Communication
- Summer Courses - UCLA Communication
- International Student Information - UCLA Summer Sessions
- Approved Summer Courses for High School Students - UCLA Summer Sessions
- Enrollment and Academics - UCLA Summer Sessions
- Registration - UCLA Summer Sessions
- Calendar and Deadlines - UCLA Summer Sessions
- Registration - UCLA Summer Sessions
- Payment Information - UCLA Summer Sessions
- Fees, Payment and Financial Aid - UCLA Summer Sessions
- Enrollment and Academics - UCLA Summer Sessions
- FAQ - UCLA Summer Sessions
- 2026 Visiting Student Enrollment Guide
- Summer Intensives - UCLA Summer Sessions
Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.
What we verified (on 6 Oct 2026)
Official course listing checked
Session dates verified
Enrollment deadline reviewed
Instructor consent checked
Tuition rates calculated
Housing policies reviewed
Scholarship eligibility reviewed
Credit-transfer limits checked
How Succeed uses this information
We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.
Ethical and Policy Issues in Institutions of Mass Communication Summer Intensive Course
by UCLA Summer Sessions
Upcoming
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