Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2020 - CMNS 802 G100

History of Communication Theory (5)

Class Number: 6610

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2020: Mon, 1:30–5:20 p.m.
    Vancouver

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

A survey of classic works, issues and debates in communication theory.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course explores the emergence and development of communication theory from the late 18th century to the present day. The course situates its developments in the context of the social, economic, political and cultural histories of western and non-western societies over the past two centuries in order to break away from ‘Eurocentric’ approaches to the study of communication and culture. In order to comprehend the complexity of continuities and raptures in the history of communication theory, in this course, we will approach the themes, issues and debates persisting in “modern” social thought along with those omitted or neglected within it by engaging with feminist thought, considering indigenous epistemologies, and well as such conceptual frameworks as posthumanism, media archaeology and materialist reading of media.

Grading

  • Weekly Seminar Participation 10%
  • Paper Proposal and Annotated Bibliography 15%
  • Seminar Presentation 20%
  • Final Paper Presentation 5%
  • Final Paper 50%

NOTES:

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 follow Policy S10.01 with respect to Academic Integrity, and Policies S10.02, S10.03 and S10.04 as regards Student Discipline. [Note: as of May 1, 2009 the previous T10 series of policies covering Intellectual Honesty (T10.02), and Academic Discipline (T10.03) have been replaced with the new S10 series of policies.]

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Course readings will be available as PDFs on the course Canvas page or will come from SFU Library web resources.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS