This course introduces students to the many ways media shape how we think, feel, and connect with the world. Students will learn how to question and evaluate the messages they see and hear every day, from news and social media to advertising and entertainment. Topics include media influence on behavior, ethics and responsibility in media, how messages are created and shared, media bias and representation, political uses of media, and the effects of new and changing technologies. By the end of the course, students will be able to think critically about media messages and become more informed, ethical, and active media consumers and creators.
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- Analyze media messages across various platforms to identify purpose, audience, bias, and techniques of persuasion. (CTR LO 2 & 3, IL LO 2)
- Analyze how media shape individual and collective thought, emotion, and identity, and evaluate the ways media influence cultural values and community perspectives.
- Evaluate the credibility, accuracy, and ethical implications of media content in social, political, and cultural contexts. (IL LO 2)
- Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical dimensions of information use, creation, and dissemination, whether from traditional sources or emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (IL LO 3)
(Note direct alignments to SUNY Gen Ed Core Competencies in both Critical Thinking & Reasoning (CTR) and Information Literacy (IL))
Prerequisites
Repeat of CO 103.