THEORY OF COMMUNICATION (4 SCU)

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to: explain principles and central ideas of different communication theories; compare different perspectives in communication and media studies; apply different communication theories in real life; evaluate advantages and disadvantages of different communication theories applied to specific communication problems; review application of theories in different communication situations.

Topics:

Introduction to the theory of communication; The function and the elements of mass communication; Models in mass communication; The theories of mass communication; The effects of mass communication; Mass communication ethics; The benefit of mass media; The important aspects of mass media; Language perception and issues in mass media; Communication media in modern society; Communication network. The class provides a working knowledge of theories that explain the broad range of communication phenomena; discusses what these theories say about communication process and the relationship among the leading ideas in communication; introduces principles and central ideas of important theories they are likely to encounter in the communication discipline; overviews brief history of how the communication discipline is developing; explores classic as well as newest thoughts in communication; explores of practical, engaging, and relevant ways in which these theories operates in our lives.

Pre-requisites: None