COMM 1020 Introduction to Media Studies
Required course for all Communication majors. This course was previously called Survey of Mass Communication. Students who took COMM1020 Survey of Mass Communication may not register for COMM1020 Introduction to Media Studies This course will introduce you to the basics of the field, including industries, industry trends, regulations, and ethics. It will address historical developments that have shaped the mass media, particularly through the rise of newspaper, book, music, radio, television, film, advertising, and public relations industries. It will consider the influences of new media and their impacts on culture and industry. It will explore topics such as blockbusters, globalization, digital photography, social media, sports, " fake news," fans and fan cultures, and media violence. Further, it will ask you to consider your position as a media consumer.
Course overview
- Department
- Communication
- School
- MCAS
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Offered
- Every Fall, Every Spring
Catalog details
- Corequisites
- COMM1065
Requirements fulfilled
- Communication: Common requirements (three courses plus co-requisite lab): Rhetorical Tradition, Introduction to Media Studies with the COMM1065 lab, and Public Speaking (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Communication: Electives (four courses, 12 credits): any 3-credit class offered by the department; COMM5589 Internship Practicum may count once (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 4.23 / 5 · Very Good
- Instructor rating
- 4.46 / 5 · Very Good
- Terms evaluated
- 10
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Donald Fishman | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.1 | 1–3 hrs/week | 13 of 22 |
| Spring 2026 | Lindsay Hogan | 4.0 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 1–3 hrs/week | 58 of 76 |
| Fall 2025 | Donald Fishman | 3.7 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 1–3 hrs/week | 17 of 31 |
| Fall 2025 | Lindsay Hogan | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 1–3 hrs/week | 53 of 72 |
| Spring 2025 | Donald Fishman | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 1–3 hrs/week | 23 of 44 |
| Spring 2025 | Lindsay Hogan | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 65 of 81 |
| Fall 2024 | Donald Fishman | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 28 of 35 |
| Fall 2024 | Lindsay Hogan | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 1–3 hrs/week | 59 of 73 |
| Spring 2024 | Donald Fishman | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 1–3 hrs/week | 42 of 57 |
| Spring 2024 | Lindsay Hogan | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 72 of 79 |
| Fall 2023 | Donald Fishman | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 40 of 59 |
| Fall 2023 | Lindsay Hogan | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 60 of 78 |
| Spring 2023 | Donald Fishman | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 1–3 hrs/week | 43 of 57 |
| Spring 2023 | Lindsay Hogan | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 1–3 hrs/week | 67 of 80 |
| Fall 2022 | Donald Fishman | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 1–3 hrs/week | 43 of 60 |
| Fall 2022 | Lindsay Hogan | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 1–3 hrs/week | 60 of 83 |
| Spring 2022 | Donald Fishman | 3.6 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 1–3 hrs/week | 21 of 59 |
| Spring 2022 | Lindsay Hogan | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 1–3 hrs/week | 50 of 82 |
| Fall 2021 | Donald Fishman | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 4–6 hrs/week | 32 of 60 |
| Fall 2021 | Lindsay Hogan | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 1–3 hrs/week | 39 of 66 |
Data freshness
Instructors
Sections
- Section 01
- Section 02
- Section 01
- Section 02