MCM 103 Course Syllabus

Gulf University for Science & Technology

College of Arts & Sciences

Department of Mass Communications

  Professor John P. Hayes
Office: N1-262
Phone: 2530- 7089
E-Mail: hayes.j@gust.edu.kw

Office Hours

S-T-T from 1-2 pm

M-W from 4-5 pm

                                   By Appointment                                   

Class Meetings       
            MCM 103-52, M-W 5:00 - 6:20 PM Room W5-203                                 

                                   

I.  Course Description

This course is an introduction to oral, print and electronic mass media, with emphasis on history, theory and criticism of the media as cultural institutions.

II. Learning Outcomes

1.     Define the functions of the mass media.

2.     Describe the various mass media, including books, newspapers, radio, motion pictures, television, and the Internet as technologies of communication.

3.     Articulate the complexity of practices in the industries that make up the media, as well as the trend toward concentration of ownership.

4.     Apply critical methods to the study of mass media.

5.     Evaluate the importance of traditional and nontraditional mass media.

6.     Understand the nature, functions and responsibilities of mass media, and

7.     Become intelligent consumers of mass media.

III. Methods of Course Delivery

        

Lectures, in-class exercises, class discussions, oral and written reports. Team projects will require students to work together outside of class time.

IV. Course Educational Resources

Textbook: The Dynamics of Mass Communications in the Information Age, 11th Edition, 2011, by Joseph R. Dominick, published by McGraw-Hill. Please purchase the book from the GUST Bookstore . . . make sure it's the 11th edition, International Student Edition.

Please note: You may not copy the textbook -- it's illegal and not acceptable. You must purchase a copy of the textbook, new or used. 

V. Basis for Evaluating Student Work Performance

Each student’s class performance will be assessed on the basis of the following grading scheme:

	Course Activity	Percent of Final Mark
1.	Midterm Exam (week of March 27) . . . Do not make any plans to travel and do not miss classes this week!	25%
2.	In-class Announced Quizzes	20%
3.	Oral and written reports; team projects	15%
4.	Class attendance and participaton	10%
5.	Final Exam (May 28-June 7)	30%
	Total	100%

Final Letter Grades will be based on the following Percentage & Grade Value Scales:

A	95-100	C	73-76
A-	90-94	C-	70-72
B+	87-89	D	60-69
B	83-86	F	Less than 60
B-	80-82	DL	Delayed
C+	77-79	FA	Failure due to absence

NOTE: in-class activities cannot be “made-up”. If you missed a class that included a quiz, an exam, a team project, or when extra credit may have been allotted, you cannot make up the work and you will not receive credit unless you attended the class and completed the assigned work. 

VI. Course Outline

Class Meeting	Topic/s	Readings	Notes
	Communication: Mass and other forms Perspectives on Mass Media Historical & Cultural Context	1,2,3
	Newspapers, Magazines, Books QUIZ	4,5,6
	Radio, TV, Motion Pictures	9,10,11,12
	The Internet & World Wide Web	12
Week 8 March 28, 30	MIDTERM
	News Gathering and Reporting	13
	Public Relations & Advertising	14, 15
	Format Controls, Laws, & Regulations	16
	Ethics QUIZ	17
	International and Comparative Media	18
	Social Effects of Mass Media	19
	Team & Individual Media Reports
May 28	FINALS BEGIN

VII. University Policies

Academic Dishonesty

“Academic dishonesty is a serious offense which may lead to probation, suspension, or expulsion. There are several forms of academic dishonesty. One form is plagiarism--the use of an author’s ideas, statements, or approaches without crediting the source. Another form is the recycling of one’s own work without informing the reader of the prior presentation of the same material. Academic dishonesty also includes cheating or assisting another person in cheating (GUST Bulletin, 2009-2010, p. 41).”

A student who commits academic dishonesty will receive a grade of F (for the respective assignment, quiz or exam) and will be referred to Student Counseling.

Class Attendance Policy

“The University requires regular and timely attendance at all classes. Attendance is registered in the student information system (PeopleSoft) by the students as they enter the classroom by swiping their identification card over a card-reader. Repeated tardiness or absences will result in warnings, and, if absence continues, the instructor can decide to fail the student due to absence. Students should inform their instructor of any foreseen absence. Students excused from class for valid reasons by their Deans shall be permitted, if possible, to make up work missed; but the Dean must have notified the instructor in writing (GUST Bulletin, 2009-2010, p. 39).”

The University’s rules on class attendance are clear.

1-     A student will receive a first warning if missing 3 hours.

2-     A student will receive a second warning if missing 6 hours.

3-     A student will receive a third warning if missing 9 hours.

4-     A student may receive a dismissal if missing 10 hours.

Please note: Each student is personally and solely responsible for managing class attendance. The best policy is to attend each class session. If you receive a warning from the university and you believe it’s inaccurate, do something about it immediately and do not wait until the end of the semester. Contact the appropriate personnel and make certain that your attendance record is correct. Please come to class on time (arrive early). The classroom door will be closed 5 minutes after the start of the class; please do not enter when the door is closed.

Course Expectations

-       Always come to class early

-       Read assigned materials in advance of class

-       Provide accurate, neat and complete assignments

-       Adhere to the professor’s rules for assignments

-       Participate in class discussions

-       Meet every deadline!

-       Speak only English in the classroom and in meetings with the professor

-       Write in English when completing assignments

-       Respect conventional class manners such as turning off cell phones (or similar electronic device) and disengaging from chatting with classmates about topics unrelated to the class. (For more on this and related issues, please read Student Code of Conduct in GUST Bulletin, 2009-2010, p. 41). 

-       Follow the professor’s guidelines and rules – each student is required to review and agree to the documents posted on www.mcm103.blogspot.com. These documents include: How To Avoid Child-Like Treatment; Understanding & Accepting Your Grades; and “My GUST Attendance Record Is My Responsibility.”

Please note: The professor reserves the right to change the syllabus, content, and grading scale during the semester.

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