© Raritan Valley Community College
Introduction to Mass Communication

COMM-120-99V
Spring course begins January 20, 2009

1st-time online or hybrid student?
We recommend you attend one of 2 optional, live, orientation sessions!
Online instructors will give a demo and answer questions.

Introduction to Mass Communication surveys the development of the major mass communication media: newspapers and magazines, radio, recordings, film, television, and electronic media. This course focuses on fundamental technologies, operations, economics, and influences of mass media. It also focuses on current issues about mass media and society, such as the effects of global concentration of media ownership, and develops analytical tools to help students understand opposing points of views on such issues. Students who complete this course will better appreciate the impact of mass media on the world today and become more proficient observers, consumers, and practitioners of mass media by becoming media literate.
On This Page:

Am I Suited to Take an Online Course?

Strategies for Success

Please review these statements to see if your learning style and environment are compatible with the dynamics of distance learning. If so, these tips will help you to be a successful online student.

You may also choose to take advantage of our Advising & Counseling Services.

Services for Students with Disabilities

Blackboard CE is designed to accommodate students with vision impairments. Whenever possible, video material is accompanied by transcripts for hearing-impaired students. However, if you have a disability that prevents you from accessing any part of this course or one of its links, please inform your instructor as soon as possible and contact RVCC Disability Services.

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Prerequisite

None.

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Instructor

Bick Treut is an instructor specializing in Communications at Raritan Valley Community College..

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Textbooks

Bundle of both texts available at RVCC's Golden Lion Bookstore.

text cover - Intro. to Mass Communication 5e, Baran, McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages, © 2007 Introduction to Mass Communication, with DVD, 5th edtion
by Baran, Stanley J.
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages
ISBN-10: 0073302716
ISBN-13: 978-0073302713
© January 26, 2007
Paperback: 516 pages
Publisher's textbook site
text cover - Annual Editions: Mass Media 07/08 14e, Gorham, McGraw-Hill/Dushkin, © March 12, 2007

Annual Editions: Mass Media 07/08, 14th Edition
by Gorham, Joan
ISBN-13: 9780073316727
Softcover, 224 pages
© 2008
MHID 0073316725
Publisher's textbook site
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Do I have the Software I need?

Your computer should have Internet access.
Please carefully consult our software resources page to

  1. see if your Web browser is compatible with our Learning Management System, Blackboard/WebCT CE8, then
  2. tune up your browser.
  3. You may need some of these free plug-ins, if you don't have them.
    Please check back here soon for a reduced list:

For assistance, please contact RVCC online course support, or telephone 908-526-1200, ext. 8306 or 8451.

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What am I Expected To Do as a Student?

This course is based on interactive teaching and learning. The instructor and students contribute to one another's learning through dialog (postings) and collaborative learning. To take full advantage of the course, students are expected to manage and direct their academic progress with support and guidance from the instructor. Students are expected to:

How will I be Graded?

Students will be graded based on their class participation, mastery of material and submission of assignments and projects. The final grade is based on the following percentages:

Submission of postings and participation in class discussions 40%
Regular assignments 25%
Summit on the Future paper 15%
Final paper 20%
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What is the Course Structure/Schedule?

Introduction to Mass Communication is structured as follows:
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How do I Register for this Course?

Please complete the registration procedures outlined in the Raritan Valley Community College registration pages.
The course code is COMM-120-99V.

For additional information on course enrollment, content, and requirements, please e-mail rtreut@raritanval.edu.

For technical assistance, please send e-mail to online@raritanval.edu.

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