Introduction to Communication -- MSTD / COMS 130

Syllabus Summer I 2010

COMS 130 01 INTRO TO COMMUNICATION 3.0 MTWR 11:00-01:15 Peters Hall, C103 children with radio paper

Communication includes both mass and interpersonal forms of communication

In this class we will focus primarily on Mass Communication; a subsequent course, COMS 230, will focus on Communication Theory.

We will study: The basic components and functions of the communication process,some of the key concepts of mass media, and some of the impacts of convergence on the mass media system.

Textbook

  • Pavlik book

    Converging Media: An Introduction to Mass Communication
    by John Pavlik (Author), Shawn McIntosh (Author) Publisher: Allyn & Bacon
    ISBN-10: 0205308031
    ISBN-13: 978-0205308033

  • Earlier editions of this textbook are acceptable.

Class times and location


Instructor and Office Hours

Prof. BIll Kovarik, Ph.D. email wkovarik@radford.edu ph: 831-6033
Summer Hours by appointment,

Policies

  • Attendance policy: Absense of more than 10 percent of the class will result in corresponding percent decreases in the grade. Missing more than 40 percent of the class would mean a D for an otherwise A student and so on.
  • Late policy: Late completion of projects will result in reduction of grade by one letter grade per week.
  • Disabilities policy: We are glad to work with all students to accomodate disabilities on a non-discriminatory basis. Students with special needs may be required to clear accomodations through the disabilities resource office of the university.
  • Honor Code: By accepting admission to Radford University, each students makes a commitment to understand, support and abide by the University Honor Code without compromise or exception.
  • Plagiarism -- Students who directly copy work from anyone else will flunk the class and be reported to the Dean of Students office.

 

Grades

Group reports / projects:

The group project is a problem based learning exercise. We want to take an issue -- for example, a media transition (book publishing to e-books, news organizations to new publishing models, and so on) -- and think about the solutions that people are offering. The point is to survey the problem and to propose a solution based on your research. The final days of class you and your group will present the problem and the solution in 10 - 15 minutes.