CM325: Media Studies
Semesters taught: Fall 2010, Spring 2011, Summer 2011, Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Summer 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Summer 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Summer 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015
Catalogue Description: Analytical, critical and historical approaches to the U.S. media institutions and their content. Emphasizes broad interdisciplinary study of mass communications. Includes focus on central issue in cultural studies and a critique of historical paradigms in mass communications. Prerequisite: CM 101 and CM250; or permission of the instructor.
Course Materials, PDF:
CM325 is, in many ways, my favorite course to teach. As the final course in preparation for the senior capstone project, I have the opportunity to work with advanced students on understanding the trajectory of media studies as a discipline, and offering an overview of theoretical approaches to the study of media, as well as new and pressing questions in the field. From the start my students have responded well to the material, but I think my greatest achievement in the course has been making the course outcomes more clear, and structuring assignments to more directly build toward them. I’ve also had some success at building up ways to make students more engaged in, and responsible for their learning.
Digest Evaluation Data:
CM325 FALL 2010 SPRING 2011 FALL 2011 SPRING 2012 FALL 2012 SPRING 2013 FALL 2013 SPRING 2014 FALL 2014 CAREER AVG ARCADIA AVG NATL AVG
n 10 7 14 10 7 13 13 2 13
Organization/Planning 4.56 4.46 4.54 4.62 4.83 4.92 4.79 5 4.97 4.66 4.38 4.31
Communication 4.51 4.54 4.63 4.76 4.92 4.89 4.85 5 4.98 4.71 4.48 4.37
Faculty/Student Interaction 4.38 4.46 4.54 4.66 4.8 4.83 4.75 5 4.98 4.61 4.49 4.37
Assignments, Exams, Grading 4.3 4.25 4.29 4.42 4.56 4.7 4.63 5 4.69 4.42 4.23 4.17
Supplementary Instruction 4.26 4.51 4.29 4.47 4.85 4.54 4.66 5 4.62 4.49 N/A N/A
Course Outcomes 3.78 4.03 4.07 4.35 4.6 4.54 4.26 4.5 4.29 4.23 3.83 3.81
Student Effort 3.47 3.71 3.78 4.3 4 4.08 4.31 4.5 4.18 3.89 3.76 3.88
Overall Evaluation 4.3 4.43 4.07 4.67 4.71 4.69 4.75 4.5 4.62 4.48 4.12 4.08
Quantitative Data from Evals, PDF: CM325
Raw Evaluations, PDF: (CM325)
CM325: Selected Student Comments:
“The teaching seems to be very in depth and complex without ever being intimidating or irrelevant. Very hard balance to achieve in my opinion.”
— Student in CM325, Fall 2010
“I don’t think there was anything wrong with the assignments but the fact that it wasn’t enforced let people slip too much”
— Student in CM325, Fall 2010
“I always find myself relating things in my life to what we learned in class.”
— Student in CM325, Spring 2011
“I learned A LOT. What I read made me notice things in my everyday life. Prof. Dwyer structured the classes very meticulously.”
— Student in CM325, Spring 2011
“The lectures were exceedingly helpful. Our discussions broke everything down in relatable, understandable and cool ways. That attitude was reflected in class, in individual meetings and email communication.”
— Student in CM325, Fall 2011
“The use of computer was extremely effective and really helpful in contextualizing information in a way that is relatable to students.”
— Student in CM325, Fall 2011
“This is my second course with this instructor and I can see his teaching style greatly improved since a year ago. He knows the subject matter very well and is super enthusiastic. I would not be able to get through this class if he was not teaching it.”
— Student in CM325, Spring 2012
“He’s tough but fair. Also he explains any and all aspects I did not understand at first.”
— Student in CM325, Spring 2012
“As a communications major I think it’s important to know the theories of my field and not just the practical skills. This class makes students think critically about our professions and forces you to look at media in a serious light”
— Student in CM325, Fall 2013
“I think a lot of learning in this class happens ‘under the surface.’ That’s not to say I didn’t explicitly understand the material itself, but the analytical/critical thinking skills developed & sharpened in this course manifest in other areas of my studies and, more broadly, my life”
— Student in CM325, Fall 2014