Effects of Science, Environmental and Health Media

Catalog description

This course provides students with a conceptual and applied overview of the effects of media representations of science, the environment, and health topics on different audiences. This course is appropriate for students interested in media effects as well as for students interested in science-related topics who want to gain a deeper understanding as to how messages about science (broadly defined) impact individuals and society. Class readings and discussions will encourage students to draw connections between theory, research, and message effects related to science, the environment, and health. In addition to learning and applying theories of media effects to the context of messages about science, students will also learn about the history of science, environmental, and health communication efforts and develop skills to critically interpret media messages related to these topics. This is one of multiple 300-level courses in the Media Effects sequences of the Media Studies major that focus on the effects of various types or genres of media on audiences.