MCDM - Curriculum - Current Courses

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.