Overview
Communication Studies 423: The Television Age examines the familiar medium of television as a technology, an industry, an educator, a medium for propaganda, and an art form. Students will study the major trends in television broadcasting and performance as well as major trends in critical responses to television. Assignments, readings, commentaries, and television viewing, will be used to help students examine and analyze the impact and implications of television in the past, present, and future.
Evaluation
To receive credit for CMNS 423, complete all of the assignments, achieve a mark of at least 50 percent on Assignment 4, and obtain a course composite grade of at least D (50 percent). The weighting of the composite mark is as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1: Short Essay | 25% |
| Assignment 2: Short Analysis Essay | 20% |
| Assignment 3: Short Analysis Essay | 20% |
| Assignment 4: Research Essay | 35% |
| Total | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Thompson, E., & Mittell, J. (Eds.). (2020). How to watch television, second edition. New York University Press.
Other Resources
All other materials required for this course can be accessed online.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the CMNS 423 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent) on the examination.
| Activity | Weight |
| Part I: Take home essay | 50% |
| Part II: Paper exam | 50% |
| Total | 100% |
Challenge for credit course registration form