SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION

CMNS-310-4

COMMUNICATION THOUGHT IN THE EVOLUTION OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES

Prerequisite:

CMNS 210
Note: CMNS 310 is becoming a prerequisite for CMNS 422 in the near future.

Overview:

This course examines the place of human communication in western social science from the eighteenth century to the early twentieth century. The course begins with a general discussion of the concept of modernity and the role played by communications media in the making of modern western societies. We will then examine the importance of communications in respect to a number of important concepts and debates in the eighteenth, nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Examples include, liberalism, ideology, alienation, mass society theory, the public sphere, propaganda, and formalism.

Course Requirements:

Take Home Mid-term Exam 20%
Term Paper 50%
Take Home Final Exam 30%

Course Readings:

There is no single required text for the course. We will read selections from a variety of books placed on reserve in the library.

The School expects that the grades awarded in this course will bear some reasonable relation to established university-wide practices with respect to both levels and distribution of grades. In addition, the school will also follow Policy T10.02 with respect to “Intellectual Honesty” and “Academic Discipline” (see the current calendar, General Regulations Section).