SOCIOL M176
Sociology of Mass Communication
Description: (Same as Communication M147.) Lecture, four hours; discussion, one hour (when scheduled). Studies in relationship between mass communication and social organization. Topics include history and organization of major media institutions, social forces that shape production of mass media news and entertainment, selected studies in media content, and effects of media on society. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2025 - Interesting concepts, okay structure, unfortunate grading breakdown. There are 10 memos throughout the quarter (~1000 word reflections on assigned readings) of which you need to complete 5. That's 20% of your grade, while the two midterms and the final are the rest of the grade (I want to say midterms were each 25 and the final was 30). Said midterms and final only have a few multiple choice and long-form questions, so there's very few points to be earned despite them being such a massive percentage of your final grade. The midterms and final are based largely on the lectures. All of these are recorded and released AFTER that week's memo is due (so that your memos are based on the readings instead of the lectures). The lectures are VERY interesting, but in terms of knowing exactly what to take notes on, that's kind of difficult. The main points are there, but I feel like Dr. Rossman overexplains them and gives so many examples that it can get a bit muddy. It would make a great conversation, just hard to figure out what to focus on in note-taking. This then translates into how you study for the midterms/final and can make it really stressful. I really enjoyed the material itself and found the lectures engaging, I just wish they would have been structured a little more clearly. Couple that with the lack of assignments available to help balance things out grade-wise and it can feel pretty overwhelming! Another thing that other students disliked was that the memos had to be written in Google Docs so that the TAs could check the edit history and ensure you didn't cheat. I personally didn't mind this, but I know some students had their memos rejected entirely for not doing it, and I can imagine that really sucks. I get why Dr. Rossman does it and can't say if there's a better way to go about it. Overall, the material is great, but the grade distribution and the overexplaining in lectures really ruins it for me and I think makes it unnecessarily difficult to do well. You miss half a point on a midterm and it tanks your grade, which sucks when you've studied so much but can't retain a tiny detail. That's disheartening, but also preferential, so do with it what you will! I still managed to clear an A, but would not take again since it's not my style.
Winter 2025 - Interesting concepts, okay structure, unfortunate grading breakdown. There are 10 memos throughout the quarter (~1000 word reflections on assigned readings) of which you need to complete 5. That's 20% of your grade, while the two midterms and the final are the rest of the grade (I want to say midterms were each 25 and the final was 30). Said midterms and final only have a few multiple choice and long-form questions, so there's very few points to be earned despite them being such a massive percentage of your final grade. The midterms and final are based largely on the lectures. All of these are recorded and released AFTER that week's memo is due (so that your memos are based on the readings instead of the lectures). The lectures are VERY interesting, but in terms of knowing exactly what to take notes on, that's kind of difficult. The main points are there, but I feel like Dr. Rossman overexplains them and gives so many examples that it can get a bit muddy. It would make a great conversation, just hard to figure out what to focus on in note-taking. This then translates into how you study for the midterms/final and can make it really stressful. I really enjoyed the material itself and found the lectures engaging, I just wish they would have been structured a little more clearly. Couple that with the lack of assignments available to help balance things out grade-wise and it can feel pretty overwhelming! Another thing that other students disliked was that the memos had to be written in Google Docs so that the TAs could check the edit history and ensure you didn't cheat. I personally didn't mind this, but I know some students had their memos rejected entirely for not doing it, and I can imagine that really sucks. I get why Dr. Rossman does it and can't say if there's a better way to go about it. Overall, the material is great, but the grade distribution and the overexplaining in lectures really ruins it for me and I think makes it unnecessarily difficult to do well. You miss half a point on a midterm and it tanks your grade, which sucks when you've studied so much but can't retain a tiny detail. That's disheartening, but also preferential, so do with it what you will! I still managed to clear an A, but would not take again since it's not my style.
Most Helpful Review
Steve is a wonderful professor and he teaches a fascinating class. He is one of the few professors I have had who bothers to learn the names of his students. (Which is no small task because there are about 150 of them in his classes.) His classes are enjoyable and he is all about letting the students take away from the class what is most important to them. I found papers for his class very difficult to write but I always got an 'A.' This being said, I do not think he is an easy professor, you have to work hard, do and understand the readings, show up for the classes AND participate. If you do all of these you will do just fine and have a great time.
Steve is a wonderful professor and he teaches a fascinating class. He is one of the few professors I have had who bothers to learn the names of his students. (Which is no small task because there are about 150 of them in his classes.) His classes are enjoyable and he is all about letting the students take away from the class what is most important to them. I found papers for his class very difficult to write but I always got an 'A.' This being said, I do not think he is an easy professor, you have to work hard, do and understand the readings, show up for the classes AND participate. If you do all of these you will do just fine and have a great time.
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Most Helpful Review
Professor Stein is a wonderful professor who is truly passionate about what she teaches. She is extremely knowledgable and personable and this shows in her teaching. She makes lectures more enjoyable by including music, videos, and films that are contemporary, informative, and intesting. Discussion is optional in this class and her exams are well balanced and fair with a variety of multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. Her class also includes a research paper, but it is on relevant and contemporary topics. Overall, this class is highly recommened to those who want to study the sociology of mass communications from a passionate expert.
Professor Stein is a wonderful professor who is truly passionate about what she teaches. She is extremely knowledgable and personable and this shows in her teaching. She makes lectures more enjoyable by including music, videos, and films that are contemporary, informative, and intesting. Discussion is optional in this class and her exams are well balanced and fair with a variety of multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. Her class also includes a research paper, but it is on relevant and contemporary topics. Overall, this class is highly recommened to those who want to study the sociology of mass communications from a passionate expert.
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2024 - i really dont know why people antagonize prof. yeritsian. ive had him for 3 courses now and can confidently say he’s one of my favorite professors. ive passed all his classes because i took the time to understand the content. this class in particular was super interesting and intriguing in regards to the material. doesnt assign homework in ANY course (aside from reading). tests can be difficult if you dont study or understand the material but thats why professors have office hours….. he wants his students to do well, makes sure to ask if students had questions throughout the lecture. and usually one or two people raise their hands. if you got the grade you wanted why are you complaining? yall gotta remember we’re in college. not every professor’s the same and they won’t always hold your hand (ur an adult). he’s not an “easy A”, you have to work for it. that is to say, if youre willing to put in the work by doing what you can to understand the course material, everything will be straightforward! id take him had i not finished my soc major requirements.
Fall 2024 - i really dont know why people antagonize prof. yeritsian. ive had him for 3 courses now and can confidently say he’s one of my favorite professors. ive passed all his classes because i took the time to understand the content. this class in particular was super interesting and intriguing in regards to the material. doesnt assign homework in ANY course (aside from reading). tests can be difficult if you dont study or understand the material but thats why professors have office hours….. he wants his students to do well, makes sure to ask if students had questions throughout the lecture. and usually one or two people raise their hands. if you got the grade you wanted why are you complaining? yall gotta remember we’re in college. not every professor’s the same and they won’t always hold your hand (ur an adult). he’s not an “easy A”, you have to work for it. that is to say, if youre willing to put in the work by doing what you can to understand the course material, everything will be straightforward! id take him had i not finished my soc major requirements.
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