Transfer Student Courses in Communication Studies (Division 352)

Winter Term, 2000 (January 5 - April 26, 2000)

To see what Transfer Student courses have been added or changed in Communication Studies this week go to What's New This Week.

Section 001.

Instructor(s): Jerry Johnston (jerej@umich.edu)

Prerequisites & Distribution: Comm. Studies 211. (3). (SS). (QR/1).

Credits: (3).

Course Homepage: https://coursetools.ummu.umich.edu/2000/winter/lsa/comm/311/001.nsf

This course is a guided introduction to mass communication research processes. The course will address (a) methods of framing media research, (b) techniques for gathering empirical data in an effort to answer these questions, and (c) statistical and other techniques for organizing, analyzing and interpreting the data to form valid conclusions. Students collaborate in carrying out a term research project, which provides the opportunity to practice the many techniques learned in the course. The aim is to enable students to pursue their own ideas, from initial conceptualization and development of the research questions to final conclusions.

Section 001.

Instructor(s): Adam Fraczek

Prerequisites & Distribution: Comm. Studies 361 or 381 strongly recommended. (4). (Excl).

Credits: (4).

Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.

This course examines the theoretical and empirical connections between violence in society and portrayals of violence in the mass media. The course explores the reasons for the prevalence of violent themes in television, film, and other popular media, and investigates the psychological and social mechanisms through which media portrayals might influence attitudes and behavior.

Because one cannot fully understand the relation between violence and violence in society without first understanding the causes of aggressive and violent behavior, we will begin by examining the nature of aggressive and violent behavior and how it develops. In Part 2, we will discuss the role of the media as socializing agents in general. In Part 3, we will delve into the research and theory on the link between media violence and aggression. Finally, in Part 4, we will discuss societal and psychological approaches to controlling violence and the effects of media violence as well as issues of media policy.