CMST 208 - Media & Society

Credits: 5
LEC hours per week: 5
An overview of the evolution of mass media-from the printing press to modern social media platforms-and their continuing influence on our culture and society, with an emphasis on developing strong media literacy skills.
Course Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Identify the major historical and technological developments in mass media.
Analyze the lasting impact of landmark legal cases and legislation on our media landscape.
Utilize best practices to assess intent, veracity, and reliability of media sources.
Develop critical thinking skills through examination of media messages and their impact at individual, social, and governmental levels.
Identify the effects of media convergence and consolidation on our society and the job market
Analyze the positive and negative impacts of our current media technologies

Course Topics:

History and evolution of mass media technology
Process and theory of mass media
Media literacy and message assessment
Effects of media on culture and society
Social media, convergence, and consolidation

Course Attribute(s): Communication, Humanities