Communications Studies Programme (COMMST)

Notes

Communication Studies Programme

Students will enroll at the University of Waterloo in the Faculty of their choice. Those enrolled in general degree programmes at the University may elect communication studies as a major area of study. Students enrolled in honours programmes may elect communication studies as a minor area of study. In each case, a total of five communication course credits must be taken to qualify for the appropriate degree recognition. The Communication Studies Programme consists of a set of introductory core courses and three theme areas . The core segment provides a distinct focus while at the same time contributes to an interdependent set of studies. The courses included in the core segment are.

Arts 100 Communications General Engineering 062A-B Introduction to Human Communication Systems Sociology 270* Communications

An examination of the origins, evolution, and future dimensions of communications media designed to facilitate an understanding of the adequacies and inadequacies of media, to relate them to the purposes of human awareness, and to explore needs and means of maintaining accountable controls over the media. The course seeks to assist students in discovering the rdnge of - informational, research and exploratory resources open to them; in gaining some preliminary experience in utilizing such sources; and in applying a critical judgment of material secured. (Arts 100 is a multi-media course offered in part on Channel 19 TV.) Instructor: D. Gordon

Describing and analyzing the range of human communication behaviours. The course will focus upon a variety of communication systems including man-man, man-machine, and machinemachine communication systems. Various models of communication systems will be examined. Using a systems approach, such concepts as redundancy, entropy, feedback, opennessclosedness, equifinality, nonsummativity, relationships, determinism, homeostasis, stability, uncertainty and process will be examined. Various art forms such as films and computer graphics will be considered..

3 hours per week, lectures and seminars. Instructor: M. L. Constant

This course undertakes an analysis of the role of language and other symbol systems in social interaction; the interplay between communication and the social system; the formulation of attitudes through language; social and individual disorders as: * caused by, and reflected in, the breakdown of the communication process. . Prerequisite: Soc. 101* 2 lectures, Fall term Instructor: N. High

Philosophy 341* Decision and Value Theory

Communication Theme Areas A) Mass Media Systems

1) Arts 200G* Issues in Mass Communication

2) IFS 300 Media Writing Exposition

3) Mass Communication and the Rule of Law

4) Communication Systems Administration

Communications Studies Programme 361

A systematic study of the basic concepts in decision-making theories and their associated value theories. Special emphasis will be devoted to the definition and measurement of utility functions and to the various criteria employed in models of decision-making under uncertainty and under risk. Extensive use will be made of literature from Economics, Political Science, Psychology, and Mathematical Statistics.

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

3 hours

Instructor: J. S. Minas

The student is required to elect three of the core courses, two of which must be taken in the first year.

In addition to the introductory core courses, students will continue their communication studies in one or more of three theme areas, representing a more specific area of study.

The emphasis of the course is on the role of the mass media

in national and international communications and covers such topics as truth and deception, propaganda, legal controls, economic and political factors, government information systems, language and stereotypes, and mass media systems.

3 lectures. Winter term.

Instructor: F. Epp

An examination of the terms and forms of expression characteristic of non-fiction presentations in the media of print, radio

and television. Lectures, seminars and workshops will be combined to seek to establish basic criteria for media expositions, to assess them and apply them to individual student projects. Offered only if enrollment exceeds 15.

3 hours

Beginning with the proposition that any mass medium is by its nature essentially incompatible with any system of rule of law, the course will explore selected areas of mass media responsibility, for both publicly and privately owned systems, and the

ways in which such responsibilities conflict with the law. The “right” of publics to know and the legal basis for the control

of information will be examined.

Not offered 1974-75.

The course will examine the organizational and financial structure of media systems, ownership, and control patterns, the organization and operation of information, acquisition, internal processing, and dissemination. The course will examine mass media operations in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Not offered 1974-75.

B) Communication Systems

Design

1) SD 371 Introduction to Human Communication Systems

2) SD 471 Communication ; Media.

3) SD 473 Inter-Cultural Communication

4) SD 475 Man-Machine Communication Systems

C) Communication and Environmental Studies

1) M-Env 240* Small Groups and the Environment

2) M-Env. 260(Y) Visual Perception and Communication

Communications Studies Programme

The course focuses upon a variety of communication systems including man-man man-machine and machine-machine systems. Various models of communication systems will be examined paying particular attention to the assumptions and situational factors upon which the models are based. Using a systems approach such concepts as redundancy, entropy, feedback, openness-closedness, equi-finality, nonsummativity, homeostasis and stability, etc., will be examined.

Instructor: M. L. Constant

The course encompasses the tools of communication and the nature and use of communication media. There will be a particular emphasis on those media containing a large technological component; machine-mediated human communication systems, e.g., computer graphics, film, T.V., etc.

‘Instructor: M. L. Constant

The problems of designing a human communication system where more than one culture is involved. Anthropological, sociological, psychological, political, economic and technological _ aspects of such design. Environmental perception, value systems, social forms, etc.

Instructor: M. L. Constant

The nature and design of machine-mediated human communication systems. Consideration will be given to displays, computer graphics, computer-aided instruction and mass communication media (film, T.V., radio, print). The design of new media innovation. A systems approach will be adopted with special attention to the socio-economic effects of such systems. Instructor: M. L. Constant

This course will focus on the ways small groups of people function. The emphasis will be on analyzing and understanding how the various groups concerned with environmental issues operate and how they might be made more effective.

No prerequisite.

3 hours, Fall term

Instructor: W. Shalinsky

An exploration of images, symbols and ideas which constitute the basis of evolution in the perceptual and communication processes. Special emphasis will be placed on films and some of the major movements in art and architecture.

Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.

5 hours.

Instructor: 8. K. Gupta

3) M-Env. 262* Environments of the Future

4) M-Env. 360 Science, Technology, Art and Environment

5) M-Env. 361* Contemporay Media of Communication and Human Environment

6) M-Env. 440 Honours seminar: Environmentals Communication and Education

Communications Studies Programme 363

An imaginary look at the Future, both in terms of extrapolating from the present and postulating new, unforeseen and unforeseeable forces that may be at work in the future.

Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor

5 hour, Winter term

Instructor: S. K. Gupta

An interdisciplinary exploration of concepts and themes which unify many aspects of nature and human artifacts. Such themes as Nature of Time as expressed in films, poetry, art, science fiction, psychology and nature are discussed.

Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor

5 hours j Instructor: S. K. Gupta

A study of “heroes” and “anti-heroes” of the “counter-culture”, with special emphasis on the “new wave” movements in cinema, theatre, art and literature..

Prerequisite: Serious pupils only, with the consent of the instructor.

5 hours, Winter term

Instructor: S. K. Gupta

A study of communication, innovation and educational processes in the context of environmental issues. Approaches to environmental education and communication for primary and secondary school programmes and adult education.

2 hours seminar

Not offered in 1974-75

Instructor: R. Keith

Associate Professors

Assistant Professors

Director, Humanities Theatre

Director, Cultural Programme Centre, Bookings Manager Creative Arts Resident Director

Technical Supervisor Assistant Technical Supervisor

House Manager

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