The Master of Communication in Digital Media curriculum includes three core courses and a variety of electives. You must complete 45 credits to graduate.
Autumn 2009
COM 529: Strategic Research and Business Practice (required core course) (5 credits). Lead Instructor: Hanson Hosein. Wednesdays, 6-10 pm.
As the digital media revolution turns communication upside down, it also poses new challenges with how to strategically plan, propose, and assess the deployment of these new platforms. Students will develop theories, knowledge and skills 1) to use research as part of strategic decision-making about organizational problems and/or new opportunities in business, nonprofit, or civic/political arenas; and 2) to create effective proposals for implementing solutions.
COM 597 (Special Topics): Theories and Practice of Interactive Media (5 credits). Instructors Ken Rufo and Carolina E-Sousa. Mondays, 6-10 pm
Interactivity is an ubiquitous term in the realm of digital media. What makes interactive experiences compelling and how they are designed? This course provides an overview of the theories that guide an interaction designer, such as heuristics and user research, and takes a look at the steps in project development. Students will study existing interfaces and the keys to making them effective; our focus is on computer interfaces but is not limited to its traditional "keyboard/mouse/monitor" triangle. We will explore the applications (historical, current and future), such as web 2.0 applications, search sites, online social networks and games; how they have been impacting our lives and what can we expect in the future.
COM 548: Economics of Digital Communication. (5 credits) Instructor: Kathy Gill. Tuesdays, 6-10 p.m.
This course explores the impact of the Internet and digital technologies on the economy — from facilitating product variety to pricing, from switching costs to social network impacts on content creation and marketing. The objective of the course is not to produce a trained economist or a computer scientist; instead, the objective is to expose students to current practices in the digital marketplace and the market impacts of emerging technologies. In addition, students will take an economic approach to media analysis and consumer behavior.
Last year's syllabus: http://neteconomics.wordpress.com/syllabus
COM 597: Emerging Markets in Digital Media (5 credits) Instructor: Anita Verna Crofts. Times have been determined: Saturdays, 8:30-4:30: October 10, 24; November 7, 21; December 5
The developing world often creatively leverages new technology and adapts it for every day use in ways that are consistent with their cultural contexts and make multinational companies pay attention. Sony and Nokia jockey for market share in Asia while Google invests millions in emerging Sub Saharan market research. The public and nonprofit sectors are finding reasons to interact with corporate media outfits more than they ever have before--there is now mutual interest in information dissemination and innovation This course will survey examples of inventive digital communication efforts in resource-poor environments, entrepreneurial points of entry in developing world markets, and how digital media adoption and application in the global south compares to the global north. Students will apply a cross-cultural lens to these business models, exploring how the same digital technology we use in the global north can take root and flourish in unique ways in the global south. In doing so, students will gain understanding of the challenges and opportunities that exist in expanding digital communication efforts in these parts of the world.
COM 597 (Special Topics): Web Strategies for Storytelling (5 credits). Thursdays, 6-10. Communication 302. Instructor: Drew Keller http://www.linkedin.com/in/drewrkeller This will be a computer lab, hands-on class to build basic skills in media creation while developing a deep understanding of the architecture of digital media distribution. This class will focus on: 1) A survey of emerging technologies used to move content from provider to viewer; 2) Analysis and practice of specific technologies; and 3) The impact of new mediums on the voice of the storyteller. Course will include instructor lecture, class workshops, guest expert lectures, a final paper and final project. In-class discussion will include the impact of various delivery platforms and the resultant impact on user experience, the emerging syntax of web-based video, maximizing delivery options with media choices, audio and video codecs, and software players. No previous production experience is required.
Winter 2010
COM 546: Evolution and Trends in Digital Media (2 sections) REQUIRED (a section also will be offered in Summer) Focuses on the past, present, and future of digital media. Explores the connections between new technology, traditional media content, economics, consumer acceptance, and communications theory. Examines what may be truly new and revolutionary about digital media, and what may be a continuation of traditional technology, content, or audience uses. Students investigate technologies, industries or products of their choice during the course of the quarter. Sections:
Wednesdays, 6-10, January 6-March 10. Kathy Gill, http://courses.washington.edu/com546/2010/,
Thursdays, 6-10, January 7-March 11. Kenneth Rufo, PhD. Last year's syllabus: http://com546.kennethrufo.com/ (there will be significant changes in readings and content this year)
COM 588: Digital Media Marketing and Branding. Instructor: Lori Dugdale. Mondays, January 4-March 15, plus one additional night TBD. Holidays: Monday, January 18 and February 15 Critically examines the role of advertising, marketing and other promotional efforts in establishing the branding of digital media companies. By analyzing successful cases of established and start-up digital media companies, the course seeks to identify practicable and effective strategies for brand building and enhancement.
COM 583: Multimedia Storytelling (2 sections). A hands-on, skills-oriented class meeting in the computer lab, this seminar will use videos, photos, audio and text. This course proposes using consumer-grade technology to build a groundbreaking, compelling narrative that can be accessed by a worldwide audience via social media distribution. Guest lecturers and practical examples will supplement the skills and knowledge that students will acquire. No previous production experience is required. Sections (both sections will meet together two full-day Saturdays, the second and sixth weeks, and for six weeknights, 6-10 (TBD):
Wednesdays, 6-10, Hanson Hosein. Will emphasize conceptual understanding of storytelling practice and applications from instructor's book-in-progress on storytelling Last year's syllabus: http://courses.washington.edu/mmst/index.html
Thursdays, 6-10, Scott Macklin. Will emphasize documentary production.
COM 568: Mobile Technology and Communication. Tuesdays, 6-10 pm. January 5-March 9. Last year's syllabus: http://mcdmmobile.wordpress.com/course-syllabus/ The mobile communication channel can be very engaging and personal, making it a powerful way to interact with people. But it is a complex and often bewildering marketplace to navigate. This course will provide the map you need to make your way through the mobile media world. You'll learn who the key players are, what types of media and content are available, how to create and deliver content, and what it takes to make mobile an integrated part of a broader media strategy. The course will also explore some of the basic technologies by explaining things like 3G, 4G, CDMA, LTE, and WiMax and what they might mean to your mobile strategy. With this course you will understand what it takes to be successful in this very personal and often private medium. Instructor: Kelly McIvor
COM 581: Social Production and Distribution of Digital Content (5 credits). Instructor: Mark Shea. Tuesdays, 6-10 pm. January 5-March 9.
Inexpensive technology and powerful distribution networks mean nearly anyone can transmit their digital creations. This flood of amateur content provides a glimpse at new ways to reach an increasingly fragmented audience. Students will study the success stories and discuss how their popular messaging can be used in advertising, campaigning, storytelling and entertainment. What's driving the explosion of this form of digital content? Is there a "recipe for success" for the material that reaches a large audience? What lessons can people, companies, and organizations that typically use and generate professional content draw from the amateurs? Can any of it be monetized? And where is all of this heading? At the end of the course, students will be able to design, pitch and critically evaluate a proposal to use amateur content schemes.
Spring 2010 (subject to revision)
COM 597 (Special Topics): Media, Money, and Metrics: Measuring What Works (5 credits). Instructor: Adriana Gil Miner http://digitalecologist.com/As social media adoption matures and the nature of the "firm'" evolves we need to deeply explore and formulate solutions that drive revenue and sustain businesses in the era of networked communications. Part of that quest is to understand how to develop new measurement models that link back to the bottom line. The class will be seminar style primarily focused on real-life case studies and guest speakers that will help us explore the evolution of emerging revenue models in the communication industry e.g. ad space -CPM-, google ads, upgrade models, subscription, syndication, affiliate programs, fundraising, micropayments, etc. and the measurement models that go along such as: impressions/circulation, web tracking, perception, net promoter score, customer satisfaction, recall, chatter monitoring, media, consumer behavior modeling etc.
COM 558: U.S. Digital Media Law and Policy(5 credits)Required core course. Two sections
Instructors: Kraig Baker and Theresa Simpson. Examines the conceptual/theoretical framework and social application of existing regulations and policies, with the aim of helping digital media professionals to meet the changing legal and policy environments.
COM 597 (Special Topics): Gaming, Virtual Worlds and Communication(5 credits). Instructor: Ken Rufo <k.rufo@comcast.net>, Mondays 6-10. Mary Gates Hall Room 030
No technology better defines the digital media experience than the video game. What was once the domain of the maladjusted introvert has become the dominant new media experience, with whole generations of console and PC gamers competing against other players online, crafting avatars and walking the halls of virtual worlds, playing, cheating, and building their “second lives.” This course will explore these virtual environments, mapping the communication that happens within and through this new medium. We will ground the class through a variety of game-playing, both in and outside of the classroom, and will do so in a way that works for “noobs” as well as hardcore gamers. Speakers will include those that live, breathe, and design video games right here in the Seattle area, one of the hubs for national and international video game production. Emphasis will be placed on determining strategies by which new video games may solve old communication problems.
Summer 2010 (subject to revision)
COM 558: U.S. Digital Media Law and Policy(5 credits)Required core course. Examines the conceptual/theoretical framework and social application of existing regulations and policies, with the aim of helping digital media professionals to meet the changing legal and policy environments.
COM 546: Evolution and Trends in Digital Media (5 credits). Required core course.
Focuses on the past, present, and future of digital media. Explores the connections between new technology, traditional media content, economics, consumer acceptance, and communications theory. Examines what may be truly new and revolutionary about digital media, and what may be a continuation of traditional technology, content, or audience uses. Students investigate a technology, industry or product of their choice during the course of the quarter.
