School of Communication

Bachelor of Science in Internet Studies

Credits Required: 125 - 127

Courses in this major prepare students to become professionals that can be competitive in the market-place. Students will take a variety of courses that explore the many ways that the internet has become embedded in our lives. They will learn, hands on, how social media is changing the nature of our personal and work-related relationships. They will be exposed to the basic underlying theories of how we communicate using the internet, and then focus, in individual courses, on how the internet now impacts communication industries such as journalism and marketing communication.

Opportunities for intense, professional application in Internet Studies are available through a series of internships including the semester-long internship and the senior thesis in the final year.  

New courses include the following:

CMM 115- Introduction to Social Media

This course will provide an overview of the role of social media in society. The course will use a research-based focus to examine the internet itself, exploring how it links with other aspects of communication. Students will evaluate strategies for effective uses of social media. Additionally, students will be expected to utilize social media clients and participate in online communities. (Cr:3)

CMM 335 – Social Media and Marketing

Students will explore the rapidly changing world of social and digital media and how it is applied to the practice of marketing communication. After studying the concepts and theories behind communicating through digital media, students will create social media marketing plans to support specific campaign initiatives through the use of these digital media. (Cr:3)

CMM 345 - Media and Cultural Studies

This class will provide students with an introduction to media and cultural studies. Content will address the emergence of critical and cultural theories of mass communication as well as theories that address media, culture and society. Key concepts and theorists in media and cultural studies will be addressed.  Satisfies the Social Science core requirement. (Cr:3)

This class will explore the practice of digital storytelling, specifically through the use of blogging (text) and podcasting (audio) over the Internet.  The class will examine and critique a variety of digital storytelling narratives and techniques across disciplines. Each student will create a digital storytelling project. (Cr:3)

This course will explore, in depth, an area of Internet Studies. Topics and course descriptions will change from semester to semester.  Examples of topics may include the internet and video games, net-neutrality and government control, SMS, or commercialism. (Cr:3)

Students will explore the assumptions and theories underlying how computer-mediated communication is used to create and sustain online community. (Cr:3)  Pre-requisites & Notes:  Students must have completed a Junior level research methods course in their major.

Learning Outcomes

    Upon completion of the Communication program, graduates will be able to:

1. Develop a basic understanding of theories and concept in the field of Communication.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the core ethical values underlying best practices in the production of media
3. Demonstrate they understand the research methods used in the many fields encompassed under the umbrella of Communication.
4. Articulate the complexity of media’s place in society and culture.
5. Communicate effectively in written form within the conventions of their concentration in the communication discipline.
6. Demonstrate the critical inquiry and analysis skills needed to engage constructively in intellectual discourse within the Communication discipline. 

For Further Information Contact

Laurel Hellerstein
Dean of the School of Communication
lhellers@endicott.edu
Academic Center
978-232-2153