Introduction to Mass Communication Syllabus for 2025-2026
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Instructor Information

Course Information

AI Statement

Collusion is defined as “the unauthorized collaboration with another person or by any other means, including artificial intelligence (AI) and computer translators, in preparing work for fulfillment of course requirements.” Using AI like (ChatGPT or Google Gemini) to create a document is considered colluding. The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence on specific assignments is at the discretion of the instructor.

Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Reporting

Amarillo College prohibits discrimination and harassment based on sex, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, under Title IX and Texas Education Code §51.253–255. Faculty and staff are mandatory reporters and must share any related concerns with the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@actx.edu. Reports and additional information are available at https://www.actx.edu/hr/title-ixtitle-ix. Confidential counseling and advocacy services are available through the Counseling Center and Advocacy & Resource Center.

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Enrollment Center, Suite 700. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

COMM-1307-DC003 Introduction to Mass Communication

Prerequisites

Course Description

Survey of basic content and structural elements of mass media and their functions and influences on society.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Dual Credit Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Video link: https://www.mheducation.com/highered/support/connect/first-day-of-class/blackboard-ultra.html

Step 1:  Login into your campus Blackboard Ultra account using your personal login and password.

Step 2:  Then select COMM 1307.

Step 3:  Select the folder that contains your course assignments.

Step 4:  Select any McGraw-Hill Connect assignment link to start the registration process.

Step 5:  Enter your Amarillo College email address and click Begin. If you receive the message, You have a Connect Account but have forgotten your password, click Forgot Password. *Depending on your school, you might skip this step. That’s ok! Just continue the process from that step to the end. 

Step 6:  Create your McGraw-Hill Education account. Please use your Amarillo College email address when creating an account. To receive text alerts, enter your mobile number. Agree to the Terms and Conditions and then click Continue.

Step 7:  You’ll see 3 registration options. Enter code: J8S8-M6L8-Q6Z4-N4K4-J4B8 and click Redeem.

Step 8:  Click Confirm. You are now registered.

Make the most of Connect

Stay Organized

• Digital Course Planner has all your upcoming Connect assignments in one place, and you can customize calendar alerts 

Focus On What Matters

• Use Reports to track your performance and your understanding of key concepts

Learn On-the-Go

• Download the free ReadAnywhere App to take your eBook* and SmartBook® 2.0* with you – online and offline

*ReadAnywhere supports newer eBooks and SmartBook 2.0. may not be available in your Connect course.

Connect Student Support Tools

• Find more tips: https://www.mheducation.com/highered/support/student/connect.html

FREE Study App

Sharpen

• Thousands of short videos, quizzes, and flashcards designed for your courses: https://mhss-links.mheducation.com/G1f2/JB1243

Tech Support:

Please contact McGraw Hill’s Customer Experience Group for tech support using the information below.

• Phone: 1-800-331-5094
• Available for Instructors and Students
• Support Hours:
  • EMAIL & LIVE CHAT
    Sunday: 11 AM to 11 PM
    Monday - Thursday: 24 hours
    Friday: 12 AM to 8 PM
    Saturday: 9 AM to 7 PM
     
  • PHONE
    Sunday: 11 AM to 12 AM
    Monday - Thursday: 7 AM to 12 AM
    Friday: 7 AM to 8 PM
    Saturday: 9 AM to 7 PM

https://mhedu.force.com/CXG/s/ContactUs

Supplies

• The textbook listed above
• Adequate browser capabilities 
• Microsoft Word OR Google Docs for writing papers (you may access Google docs for free through your AC email account)
• Access to a reliable computer several times a week

Student Performance

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1. Demonstrate understanding of the fundamental types, purposes, and relevance of mass communication.

2. Demonstrate understanding of mass media in historic, economic, political, and cultural realms.

3. Demonstrate understanding of the business aspects of mass media and the influence of commercialism.

4. Demonstrate understanding of evolving media technologies and relevant issues and trends.

5. Demonstrate understanding of mass media values, ethics, laws, and industry guidelines.

6. Demonstrate understanding of globalization of mass media.

7. Demonstrate understanding of media effects on society.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

COMMUNICATION EXPECTATIONS

I will send out announcements to the class in Blackboard. However, if you have any specific questions, please message me through Blackboard or blfrank@actx.edu. 

Please allow up to 48 hours for a reply to your email. Correspondence received on Fridays and Holidays will not be addressed until the next regularly scheduled business day. In circumstances where a longer response time is needed, faculty will notify the student. Please allow at least one week for feedback for graded assignments and activities.

When communicating in an online format (i.e., e-mail, chat, discussions, etc.) please adhere to the standard rules of netiquette.

PROFESSIONALISM:  Students will be expected to behave professionally at all times.  Professionalism includes:

• Being responsible. Being prepared for the week and participating actively. Avoiding disruptive behavior. Approaching your assignments with resourcefulness, and with the goal of completing them as thoroughly as possible. Taking the initiative to ask for help from the course instructor when you need it.
• Being respectful. Recognizing that you need to be respectful of the opinions of others. Being courteous to one another in your discussion posts. Disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated.   
• Being accountable. Keeping up with your assignment due dates.
• Being ethical. All work submitted should be your own. Plagiarism, whether from published works, the internet, or other students, is unacceptable. When using ideas, quotes, or data from others, ensure you correctly cite your sources. Purdue OWL should become your best friend. 

CLASS POLICIES:

No substance or equipment in violation of the AC Student Code of Life will be permitted in mass media courses.

Plagiarism is considered serious academic misconduct.  All written assignments presented in this class must be original work by the student.  Any student caught plagiarizing or cheating will receive a failing grade. Students must abide by high standards of integrity.  

AIgiarism refers to using artificial intelligence tools (AI) to produce seemingly human output that does not actually reflect your own work. AI-generated content can seem like a tempting shortcut, compared to doing the hard work of learning. When you do this, you shortchange yourself, and you and misrepresent yourself to the outside world (instructors, classmates, family, hiring managers, etc.). Moreover, the quality of AIgiarized content is often not as good as you think it is to a knowledgeable reader. Unless otherwise stated, all work submitted is expected to be conducted and written by you – not by AI chatbots or similar tools. Inappropriately misrepresenting AI-generated output as your own work will be considered a violation of academic integrity, and treated in the same way as plagiarism. 

AI-detecting software may be used to analyze your submissions. If I am unsure about the source of the work you submit, I will require you to meet with me to explain the ideas and how the assignment was written.

No form of scholastic dishonesty will be tolerated. Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.

“Cheating on a test” shall include:

--Copying from another student’s test paper.

--Using test materials not authorized by the person administering the test. -------Collaborating with or seeking aid from another student during a test without permission from the test administrator.

--Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, or soliciting, in whole or in part, the contents of an unadministered test.

--The unauthorized transporting or removal, in whole or in part, of the contents of the unadministered test.

--Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for one’s self, to take a test.

--Bribing another person to obtain an unadministered test or information about an unadministered test.

“Plagiarism” shall be defined as the appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another’s work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one’s own written work.

“Collusion” shall be defined as the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for fulfillment of course requirements. 

A complete statement regarding scholastic dishonesty can be found in the Student Code of Conduct in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services, located in the Student Services Center 119, phone number: 371 5436 as soon as possible.

No administrative withdrawals will be initiated by the instructor.  It is each student’s responsibility to drop a class or withdraw from school in the event he/she decides to quit attending class.

Every student is required to comply with the policies published in the “Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook”

LATE WORK POLICY: Late work will NOT be accepted. You are responsible for completing all work in this course on time, in accordance with the guidelines for each assignment. If you do not understand an assignment or have difficulties with an assignment, it is your responsibility to contact me in a timely manner to request assistance. Be realistic about the time frame you use when requesting assistance and be specific as possible when asking a question. Begin your assignments early so that should the need for help arise, you have time to receive it and still meet the deadline for the assignment. All work should be typed.

Grading Criteria

Assignments will consist of:

Smart Book Chapter Reviews

Weekly reading assignments are designated in the course calendar, and the Smart Book assignments for each chapter we cover in the course. You should complete the required reading assignments before discussions and major assignments. Smart Book assignments for each of the 15 weeks count for 1.25%, totaling 20% of your final course grade. Smart Book assignments will not be reopened. 

Multiple Choice Tests:

Two ‘open book’ online multiple choice tests will be given in this course. Each online test is designed to cover one-half of the course. Each online test is worth 10% of your final course grade. These tests will only be administered online. You will only be able to take the online tests during the designated testing periods through AC Online using any computer with Internet access, such as a home computer or a computer in an AC computer lab. You must take each exam during the time period scheduled for the exam. Because technological problems may arise, you are strongly encouraged to take the on-line tests during the beginning of each testing period. This will allow time to correct computer problems and/or seek assistance before the test period ends. You may consult your notes and textbook while taking the online tests; however, the testing time is limited so effective preparation is essential for success. Careful note-taking of the online material, highlighting and marking relevant portions of the textbook and reviewing the material prior to testing will be especially beneficial. Exams will not be reopened. 

Discussion Postings

Weekly online homework will include discussion forum postings. To receive full credit for a discussion forum, you must make one discussion forum posting and respond to at least two of your classmates’ postings. Online discussions will constitute 30% of your final course grade. Points for discussions are earned based on the quality of your responses and your compliance with the required number of postings and replies. Your initial posts need to be at least 250 words and your two responses need to be at least 100 words. 

Due dates are shown in the course calendar. To facilitate a discussion forum that is more engaging for all of us, I encourage you to submit your original post as early in the week as possible then return a day or two later and respond to your peers. For this course, a discussion post should involve a mention of something from the course material or that you've found on your own. A response should add depth to what your peer has posted. Credit for weekly discussions will be awarded as follows: 50% of grade for an original post that contains substance and 50% for multiple responses that expand the conversations your peers have begun. "I agree," no matter how eloquently worded, does not count as a response and no credit will be given for it. Do your part to make a better learning experience for all, and tell us why.

Cultural/Self Reflection Essay

Students will write a clear and comprehensive essay analyzing whether the mass media reflects culture or shapes culture. Essays should discuss aesthetic principles, philosophy, ethics and values. Students will examine the role media plays in their lives and evaluate how the mass media has impacted their personal values and social experiences. The essay will then outline how the students will use socially responsible decision making to use mass media effectively to enhance their own lives and serve their communities. Students will use quotes and paraphrases from the lecture notes and textbook to support their assertions and will demonstrate an in-depth grasp of the role and significance of the mass media.

Critical Analysis Essay

Students will write a two-page critical analysis of a piece of media, such as a book, television show or series, movie or record album. Students should discuss whether the piece of media achieves its purposes and what qualities or characteristics of the piece help the piece achieve its goals. Students should explain how the piece relates to and/or reflects the cultural and philosophical issues studied throughout the semester and should address how the piece contributes to the field of mass communication. Finally, the students should describe their personal responses to the chosen piece of media, its strengths and weaknesses and its overall impact.
 

The use of proper grammar and punctuation is required in essays as is submitting through Safe Assign when turning in your final assignment. Correct APA citation of sources is required. Purdue Owl website: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/in_text_citations_the_basics.html is helpful, as is a visit to the AC Writers' Corner.

Grading Scale:

A= 89.5 -100

B= 79.5 - 89.4

C= 69.5 - 79.4

D= 59.5 - 69.4

F=59 and below 

Grading Criteria

Attendance

This is an online course. Since we don't meet in person, students should plan to log into the course daily and complete readings, assignments and discussions. 

Get in the habit of checking your college email every day. 

Calendar

Additional Information

This Dual Credit Introduction to Mass Communication course follows Amarillo College’s Academic Affairs Manual (2025), which affirms that faculty “must not attempt to force on students a personal viewpoint and must at all times allow diversity of opinion.”

Mass Communication is a broad field that examines how messages are created, shared, and interpreted through media such as news, advertising, social media, film, and digital platforms. Throughout the course, students will analyze media content, discuss current and historical examples, and explore how media influences individuals and society.

Students are not expected to change their personal beliefs as a result of this course. Instead, they are encouraged to think critically, consider multiple perspectives, and develop media literacy skills that will help them become informed consumers and responsible creators of media in academic, professional, and everyday settings.

(Adapted from Academic Affairs Manual, p. 2, “Academic Freedom,” BOR DGC; SACSCOC 6.4)

About Blackboard and AC Connect

Blackboard is the online course delivery system that you will use to turn in all written work, to participate in weekly discussion forums, to take exams and to monitor your grades. You may access Blackboard from any computer with an internet connection.

To access Blackboard, you must log into AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu/students/Pages/default.aspx.  You can also access AC Connect by clicking on the AC Connect link on the AC Website home page: www.actx.edu.  If this is the first time you have used AC Connect, click on the “First Time Users” link at the bottom of the page and follow the instructions to activate your electronic accounts.

You should get into the habit of logging into AC Connect every day to check email and
announcements.  The college and your individual instructors will use AC Connect to send important messages.  Once you log into AC Connect, you will see your Blackboard classes listed in the center of the page. 

Strategies for Success

Stay on top of due dates and turn in all your assignments on time.

If you don’t fully understand an assignment or topic, ask your instructor.

Check out the online materials available through Blackboard for lecture notes and tips on how to complete your assignments.

If you have questions regarding assignments or due dates, do not hesitate to email me immediately at mfowler@actx.edu

Plan accordingly - technology problems are not a valid excuse for late work, and no assignments will be accepted after their due dates.

To receive full credit for each discussion, you must post a comment and then reply to at least two of your classmates’ comments.  By making your initial post early in the week, you'll facilitate and participate in more meaningful discussions when you post your replies to peers later in the week. No participation in discussions will be accepted after their due dates.

For assistance using AC Connect and Blackboard, visit AC Connect Student Resources at http://www.actx.edu/ctl/index.php?module=article&id=222.  If you have further questions, you can contact  the Center for Teaching and Learning Student Help Center.  The purpose of the Student Help Center is to introduce and/or instruct students in the proper procedures to interact confidently with Blackboard and AC Connect components or other software required for course assignments.  The services below are available to students who are currently enrolled in academic or continuing education courses on a walk-in/appointment basis or by phone:

· Logging-in to AC Connect, WebAdvisor (self-service), myACcount and Google Apps

· Password resets

· How to use AC Connect and Blackboard

· Microsoft Office

· General computer/software questions

Students may use the computers located in the Underground - located in the basement of the Ware Student Center on the Washington Street Campus to access AC Connect.