Introduction to Mass Media will present student with a fundamental understanding of mass communication theory. The course will examine various forms of mass media in terms of their evolution, contemporary status, and future potentials. The course will also study the effects of mass media on both a personal and global level. The lecture portion of the class will be supplemented by video screenings, field trips, in-class research, and group work.

Prerequisites: None

A. Information Literacy
i. Citations
ii. Library Research
iii. Source Credibility
iv. Internet Research

B. History of communication
i. Language
ii. Writing
iii. Printing
iv. Photography
v. Radio
vi. Television
vii. Internet

C. The Communication Industry
i. Print
ii. Newspapers
iii. Broadcast
iv. Persuasive

D. Communication Law
i. First Amendment
ii. Privacy
iii. Intellectual Property
iv. Corporate Speech

E. Communication Theory
i. Paradigm Shift
ii. Technological Determinism
iii. Magic Bullet Theory
iv. Limited Effects
v. Cognitive Dissonance
vi, Diffusion of Innovation
vii. Neomarxist Theory
viii. Cultivation Theory