Welcome! I'm Professor Brewer, and I will be your online instructor for Survey of Mass Media Communications. Explore the pages of this syllabus to prepare for Week One and your Syllabus Quiz. Wishing you a wonderful first week!
Professor Brewer
To access our Canvas course log in to: https://online.smc.edu
This is a 16-week, fully online course that begins on Tuesday, February 18, 2025. This online course is on Pacific Standard Time (PST).
This class does not meet on Zoom. Your learning will be conducted asynchronously (no scheduled meetings) on Canvas.
This class is organized into one-week modules that open each Monday morning. This is not a self-paced course.
Our textbook is: Media & Culture: Mass Communication in a Digital Age (13th edition, 2022) by Richard Campbell, Christopher Martin, & Bettina Fabos. You can purchase the textbook at the SMC Bookstore or purchase/rent it on Amazon or other online bookstores. You can buy the 14th edition (2025), which is excellent and includes many important updates, including AI (Artificial Intelligence). However, it is currently expensive and not yet available on cheaper online book retailers like Chegg, so we will use the 13th edition this semester.
You will learn in a community with your peers. You will interact with your peers throughout each of our weekly modules.
By the second day of class in Week 1, you will need to complete the Syllabus Quiz, Introduction, and Profile Photo in the Module "Complete First 2 Days." To do this, log in to our course in Canvas and complete those three items. This will signal your intent to stay enrolled.
Each module contains readings and videos, a lecture, learning objectives, key terms and questions, assignments, and peer comments.
During this semester, be kind to yourself. I am sure you have a lot on your plate outside of this course. I hope this class offers some consistency, knowledge, memories, and a bright spot on your future transcripts. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me any time. I can also help link you to the many resources offered to SMC students. I am committed to being flexible throughout this course to support you towards your academic success. I am your partner on this journey. I will support you, guide you, and believe in you.
Online courses move quickly and getting off to a good start is the best way to prepare yourself for success.
FIRST, read through the pages of this syllabus carefully.
SECOND, on the first day of class read all of the pages in the Module titled "Course Information" and this Netiquette Guide.
THIRD, purchase or rent the textbook (print or e-textbook):
Media & Culture: Mass Communication in a Digital Age
13th edition (2022) ISBN: 9781319244934 (MacMillan4 | SMC Bookstore | Amazon | Chegg)
Please only buy/rent the 13th edition (or 12th edition oldest). Content in older editions is way too out of date. Media Studies is a rapidly changing field with new developments, technologies, and trends emerging regularly. The newest edition of the textbook includes the most current information, case studies, and examples. You can buy the 14th edition (2025), which is excellent and includes many important updates, including AI (Artificial Intelligence). However, it is currently expensive and not yet available on cheaper online book retailers like Chegg, so we will use the 13th edition this semester.
FOURTH, sometime during the first 2 days of class (Tues. & Wed.) complete the following three items under Module "Complete First 2 Days":
1. Syllabus Quiz (1 point)
2. Introduction (3 points)
3. Profile Photo
FIFTH, start working on the other assignments for WEEK 1:
Module "Mass Communication" (Ch. 1)
Review Module Instruction & Learning Objectives
Due Friday: Key Terms & Chapter Questions (5 points)
Due Sunday: Lecture Review & Digital Literacy Video (12 points)
Note: Textbook chapters are not in order. Week 1 is Chapter 1, Week 2 is Chapter 15, Week 3 is Chapter 13, etc.
If you would like to set your preferred/affirmed first name in Corsair Connect and/or personal pronouns in Canvas, go to Gender-Inclusivity Statement on the Statements page for more information.
I hope that we have a wonderful semester together. I am really excited to work with each of you. Reach out anytime through Canvas email and I will get back to you promptly. Have a great first week! I'm confident you'll thrive in this class, and I'm here to support you every step of the way.