Overview

What role does media play in our society? Do audiences define the actions of media or vice versa? Who owns and controls media? How does it affect us – mentally and socially?  Introduction to Media Studies explores the theory and practice of both the Humanities and Social Science perspectives on the field. We also explore digital media industry jobs in each area of focus: radio, television, film, games, advertising, and internet.

 

Goals

Students will learn to perceive our immersive media environment with an analytical, critical perspective.  The goals of this course are to:

• Provide an historical context of communications technologies and a theoretical framework useful to study the role of these technologies in today’s society.

• Improve media literacy, critical thinking skills, and awareness for media consumers and creators.

• Introduce an overview of scholastic research & media production skills required for employment in the media industries.

 

Requirements

1. There are many brief writing assignments + other creative assignments. Students will interact with each other and the instructor through their own multi-media blogspaces (set up on day 1).

2. All video lectures and assignments are in English.

3. Students are expected to contribute creatively to the learning process in small groups and individually.

4. This is an online-only course. Each student must have access to computers with access to the internet at speeds that allow easy viewing of streaming video.

5. A student account with a participating college to access our online class work area, Skype, and Google.

 

Evaluation

Learning will be evaluated by:

• Weekly writing or other creative assignment = 3 points per assignment

• A mid-term, multiple choice test = 25 points

• Final research paper or project  = 30 points

Extra credit events will be available.

 

Weekly Course Organization

Weekly projects are on a deadline and coincide with semester structures (15 to 17 week versions available). There are three major sections in this course: Foundations (5 modules), Channels (12 modules), Convergence and Flow ( 3 modules).