Minor of Media Analysis

The mass media, more than ever, play a vital role in how information is disseminated and how societies are shaped and function. As traditional forms of media and information dissemination change rapidly in an increasingly technological world, it is more important than ever for students to understand the way that media work as well as learn to evaluate the messages that are sent.

All students can benefit from the study of mass communications institutions, functions and techniques. In this minor, students will learn to understand the roles that media play, how these are changing and their impact. They will be given the tools they need to critically evaluate, analyze and interpret media messages in order to become wise consumers of media.

Requirements
The Minor of Media Analysis consists of 18 semester hours of coursework. This is a requirement consistent with many other minor programs at Arizona State University and at other colleges and universities.

The focus of the program is on media analysis: Students in the minor will concentrate on evaluating the impact of information dissemination rather than on topics that focus on the practice of gathering and distributing messages. Students in the minor may not register for courses in the professional journalism curriculum.

To take upper-division courses, the student must be at least a sophomore (25 semester hours). To pursue the Minor of Media Analysis, the student must maintain a minimum 2.00 overall GPA, obtain a minimum grade of “C” (2.00) in each course in the minor and have a major other than Journalism and Mass Communication.

There are three required courses (9 hours):

MCO 120 Media and Society. (3 credits)
Role of newspapers, magazines, radio, television and motion pictures in American society. Credit is allowed for only MCO 120 or 110.
General Studies: SB

MCO 240 Media Issues in American Pop Culture. (3 credits)
The production and consumption of popular culture as disseminated by the mass media with emphasis on the societal implications.

MCO 418 History of Mass Communication. (3 credits)
American journalism from its English and colonial origins to the present day. Development and influence of newspapers, magazines, radio, television and newsgathering agencies.
General Studies: SB, H

Students also select three courses (9 hours) from the list of MCO classes offered by the Cronkite School. (The common element of these courses is that they focus on understanding specific aspects of the mass media and how those aspects impact individuals and societies in terms of function, effects and enculturation.)

MCO 302 Media Research Methods (3 credits)
Surveys research methods used in the social sciences, with a focus on mass communication.

MCO 421 Media Problems (3 credits)
Trends and problems of the mass media, emphasizing editorial decisions in the processing of information.

MCO 430 International Mass Communication (3 credits)
Comparative study of communication and media systems. Information gathering and dissemination under different political and cultural systems.
General Studies: G

MCO 435 Social Media (3 credits)
Explores and critically analyzes the social, cultural, legal, ethical, economic, and technological dimensions of social media tools from Facebook to Foursquare, Twitter to Flickr and beyond.

MCO 450 Visual Communication (3 credits)
Theory and tradition of communication through the visual media with emphasis on the continuity of traditions common to modern visual media.
General Studies: HU

MCO 455 War and Mass Media (3 credits)
Explores the role and impact of the mass media in shaping public perceptions about one of humanity’s most monumental undertakings, the act of war.

MCO 456 Political Communication (3 credits)
Theory and research related to political campaign communication. The persuasive process of political campaigning, the role of the media, the candidate, and image creation.

MCO 460 Race, Gender and Media (3 credits) fall, spring and summer
Readings seminar designed to give a probing examination of the interface between African, Hispanic, Asian and Native Americans (AHANA) and the mass media in the United States. Lecture, discussion. Cross-listed as AFR 460. Credit is allowed for only AFR 460 or MCO 460.
General Studies: C

MCO 465 Sports and Media (3 credits)
Explores the intersection of sports and media and the impact on society.

MCO 473 Sex, Love and Romance in the Mass Media. (3 credits)
The role of the mass media in constructing and/or reinforcing unrealistic mythic and stereotypic images of sex, love and romance.
General Studies: SB.

MCO 494 Special Topics (1-4 credits)
Omnibus Courses. For an explanation of courses offered but not specifically listed in the catalog, see “Omnibus Courses.”