Media Theory and Effects

Catalog description

This course is an analysis of historical and current theories of mass communication with an emphasis on media effects and the application of mass communication theory to social, political, economic, legal and ethical aspects of modern society. The course begins by providing a framework for evaluating mass communication theory, then focuses on deconstructing and applying four main theories (diffusion of innovation, uses and gratifications, social learning theory, and agenda setting), as well as a range of related mass communication theories.