Introduction to Social Media

Catalog description

This course analyzes the role and scope of social media by exploring foundational communication elements and examining socio-historical perspectives regarding technology and society, current trends concerning social media's impact on contemporary issues, and social scientific theories relevant to communicating via social media. Students will critically evaluate the impact of social media on relationships, activism, branding, politics, news media, and identity. Students will also gain basic practical social media skills: understanding the landscape, learning "best practices," and using different social media technologies throughout the class to create and propogate content. Students enrolled in this course will need access to a smart phone and will be required to post content on social media.