Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 Course Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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COMM 1061 - Introduction to Mass Communication

Credits: 3
Hours/Week: Lecture 3 Lab None
Course Description: This course focuses on the historical, cultural, economic, and political impact of mass communication on individual media consumers and on American and global cultures. Topics may include corporate control, the role of government, freedom of expression, values and ethics, journalism, advertising, public relations, and media effects. Specific media industries, including radio, television, movies, newspapers, books, magazines, and the internet, will be examined.
MnTC Goals
5 History/Social/Behavioral Science, 9 Ethical/Civic Responsibility

Prerequisite(s): Course placement into ENGL 0950  and RDNG 0950  or above OR completion of RDNG 0940  with a grade of C or higher OR course placement into ESOL 0051  and ESOL 0052  and ESOL 1033  OR completion of ESOL 0041  with a grade of C or higher and ESOL 0042  with a grade of C or higher and ESOL 0043  with a grade of C or higher.
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: Eligible for college-level Reading and English.

Major Content
  1. Concepts and definitions of Mass Communication
  2. First Amendment Issues
  3. Electronic and Digital Media Industries
    1. Radio (including internet radio)
    2. Television (including satellite and digital television)
    3. Movies
    4. Music and sound recordings (including digital distribution systems)
    5. Internet and the World Wide Web
    6. Convergence between analog and digital media
    7. Other (e.g. Video Games, Emerging techonologies and media)
  4. Media Economics
  5. Media Effects Theories
  6. Media Regulation and Controls
  7. Print Media Industries
    1. Books
    2. Newspapers
    3. Magazines

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course students will be able to:

  1. Identify basic concepts of mass communication/mass media relative to the historical, cultural, economic, and political issues surrounding these concepts
  2. Analyze competing interests underlying mass media content, administration, and regulation.
  3. Evaluate the impact of media industries on media consumers and on American and global cultures.

Competency 1 (1-6)
05. 01. Employ the methods and data that historians and social and behavioral scientists use to investigate the human condition.
05. 02. Examine social institutions and processes across a range of historical periods and cultures.
05. 03. Use and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories.
05. 04. Develop and communicate alternative explanations or solutions for contemporary social issues.
Competency 2 (7-10)
09. 01. Examine, articulate, and apply their own ethical views.
09. 02. Understand and apply core concepts (e.g. politics, rights and obligations, justice, liberty) to specific issues.
09. 03. Analyze and reflect on the ethical dimensions of legal, social, and scientific issues.


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