Comm 411 fulfills requirements for the five majors in the College of Communications as well as for students in other majors. It is an advanced course that offers a theoretical and academic background for students who often focus on Film Production or other industrial skills classes. Students investigate various topics within the realm of media culture, including signification, ideology, and consumption. Enrollment is approximately 50 students. Comm 411 challenges students to relate theory to practice.
Students divide into groups of five.
During regular text discussions, the groups focus on the week's assigned readings in relation to questions or examples provided by the professor. To these discussions, students come prepared with short response papers, which include recordings of insights, questions, confusion, or answers to study questions. Issues seminars also feature small group discussions and presentations, but are centered around issues rather than the actual text. During issues seminars, groups present specific topics or individual students share short, reaction papers to spark discussion. Class discussions originating from both types of group meetings are encouraged to overflow to email, particularly when students have an interesting insight outside of class or do not have time during class to voice their views.