COURSE SYLLABUS

A Course Title
& Number MCM 150 Introduction to Mass Communication Studies
B Pre/Co-requisite(s) WRI 102
C Number of credits 3
D Faculty Name Dr. Harris Breslow
E Term/ Year Fall 2015
F Sections
CRN Course Days Time Location

MCM 150 UTR 15.00-15.50 CHE 103

Location subject to change

G Instructor
Information Instructor Office Telephone Email
Harris Breslow NAB 225 O: +971 6 515 2388 hbreslow@aus.edu
M: +971 50 249 3291
Office Hours:
UTR: 11.00-13.00; and by appointment at other times and days
Mobile Phone: +971 50 249 3291
Course Description: (From the University Catalog): Examines the nature of the
H Course Description
from Catalog
various areas of the mass media, (i.e., television, radio, newspapers, magazines and
interactive outlets) and how they impact the individual and society. Prerequisite: WRI
102.

Upon completion of this course students will be able to:

I Course Learning
Outcomes Understand and describe the composition of the various mass media industries;
Identify and describe and compare the relationships amongst marketing
communication (advertising, public relations) to the various mass media industries;
Identify, describe and compare the effects of the mass media;
Discuss the impact that globalisation is having upon the mass media;
Discuss the impact that digital media are having upon the mass media
Textbook and The Media of Mass Communication, 11 edition, by John Vivian. Pearson, 2014.
th
J
other Instructional Additional required readings, in PDF format, found on iLearn.
Material and
Resources
K Teaching and
This course will consist of lectures, required readings, in-class media viewings, one
Learning mid-term exam, one final exam, two short papers, and a final examination.
Methodologies
L Grading Scale, Grading Scale
Grading
Distribution, and MCM Grade Standard:
Due Dates A = 95 A- = 90
B+ = 87 B = 83
B- = 80 C+ = 77
C = 73 C- = 70 (the minimum passing grade for MCM majors)
D = 60
 COURSE SYLLABUS

Passing Grade Requirement

Effective Fall 2009, the minimum passing grade requirement for a course to meet
any area of the graduation requirements and to satisfy any course pre-requisites
and/or co-requisites is C-.

Grading Distribution

Course Evaluation:
Students will be evaluated for this course in the following fashion:
Attendance / Participation 10%
Assignments 40%
Mid-term Examination 25%
Final Examination 25%
Total 100%

M Course Policies Course Policies:

Please note the following policies that are in effect for this course.
Attendance is not participation; each will be assigned 50% of the
Attendance / participation grade. Students who do not participate in class
will find their grade in this area diminished.
Students who miss more than 6 lectures, without a medical note, or
compassionate reasons that are documented by the Dean of Students office
are subject to administrative withdrawal at my discretion.
No extra credit is available in this class.
There is no grade negotiating.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS ARE NOT ACCEPTED IN THIS COURSE

Academic Dishonesty: By taking this course, you acknowledge and agree that
any student found cheating or plagiarizing will be withdrawn from the course
with a grade of F. Please note that it is also the policy of the department that any
MCM student committing a second plagiarism offense will be withdrawn from
the MCM program.1 Please also note that, in the case of MCM 377, the
following academic integrity violations will be dealt with as if they are
plagiarism. These will be discussed in class with respect to the assignment
structure of this course.
Deliberate falsification of data; including the falsification of date data,
the falsification of cropping data, and/or the falsification of any aspect of
EXIF data
Any form of cropping, whatsoever, unless specifically permitted in the
assignment
Dishonesty in submitted work
Missed Tests: will receive a 0 and will not be excused or made-up without
medical documentation. Absences for compassionate reasons require
documentation from the Dean of Students office.

1 This policy was authorized by a unanimous 29 Dec. 2003 vote by the MCM faculty to allow instructors to set and enforce
individual policies against academic misconduct.
 COURSE SYLLABUS

Assignments: Students will be given regular assignments that they must have
completed by the listed due date. We will begin each week following an
assignment with photo critiques, and subsequently move on to lectures that lead
into the next series of assignments.

Late assignments will not be accepted for grading and will be given a grade
of 0.

End of Semester Project: Students will be complete and hand in an end of semester
project that consists of a minimum of 11 photographs that comprise a feature story.
N Student Academic All students are expected to comply with AUS academic integrity standards as spelled
Integrity Code out in the undergraduate student catalog pp. 18-20.
Statement

Grading Rubrics

The following is the grading scale that I use to grade students work. The rubrics are generally
applicable to all forms of written work as well as other forms of assignments.

A Exceptional: Thorough knowledge of concepts and/or techniques and exceptional skill or great
originality in the use of those concepts and techniques in satisfying the requirements of an assignment.
(95+)

A- Excellent: Thorough knowledge of concepts and/or techniques together with a high degree of skill
and/or some elements of originality in satisfying the requirements of an assignment. (90-94)

B+ Very Good: Thorough knowledge of concepts and/or techniques together with a fairly high degree of
skill in satisfying the requirements of an assignment. (87-89)

B Good: Good level of knowledge of concepts and/or techniques together with considerable skill in using
them to satisfy the requirements of an assignment. (83-86)

B- C+ Competent: Acceptable level of knowledge of concepts and/or techniques together with

considerable skill in using them to satisfy requirements of an assignment. (77-82)

C Fairly Competent: Acceptable level of knowledge of concepts and/or techniques together with some skill
in using them to satisfy the requirements of an assignment. (73-76)

C- Passing: Slightly better than minimal knowledge of required concepts and/or techniques together with
some skill in using them to satisfy the requirements of an assignment. (70-72)
 COURSE SYLLABUS

Schedule of Lectures Assignments and Examinations

Note: Tests and other graded assignments due dates are set. No addendum, make-up exams, or extra assignments to improve
grades will be given.

WEEK Readings NOTES

6-10
1
September No readings due Introduction to the Course

2
13-17 Readings: Mass media literacy
September
Vivian, Chapter 1
20-27
NO Class: Eid Al Adha
September

27
The technology of the
Readings: mass media
3 September-1
First writing assignment
October Vivian Chapter 2 handed out on 1
October
Readings:
4 4-8 October
Vivian Chapter 12 What is an audience?

Readings:
5 11-15 October
What is a media effect?
Vivian Chapter 13
No class on 15 October: Al Hijra
Readings:
6 18-22 October The economics of the
mass media
Vivian Chapter 3
25--29 Readings: Print
7
October Mid-term prep on 29
Vivian Chapter 3 October
Mid-term is on 1 and 3
8 1-5 November Mid-term examination November
Assignment # 2 handed
out on 5 November
Print
Readings: Assignment 1 Due on 8
8-12
9 November
November Vivian Chapter 4 Graded Mid-term
exams returned to
students
15-19 Readings:
10
November Audio industries
Vivian Chapter 5
 COURSE SYLLABUS

22-26 Readings:
11
November Video
Vivian Chapter 6
29 November-
Readings:
12
3 December News
Vivian Chapter 8

6-10 Readings:
13 Marketing
December
communication
Vivian Chapters 10 & 11
14 13-17 Readings: Digital media
December Assignment # 2 due on 17
Vivian Chapter 7 December
20-31
December NO CLASS: WINTER BREAK

Readings:
Globalisation
3-7 January
15 Vivian Chapter 13 Final Examination
Review on 7 January
FINAL EXAMINATION REVIEW
FINAL EXAMINATION
10 JANUARY: 11.00 AM-1.00
PM