Teaching

I have taught a variety of courses throughout my career focused on mass communications/advertising, health, and policy/democracy. 

Below are course titles and descriptions to provide a sense of the content I currently cover or have covered in the past.  

Qualitative Research Methods

This course examines the qualitative research methodology as a whole, while examining individual methods for mass communications research.  Each week will present a new qualitative research method in a way that prepares students to use that method, involving discussions of: research questions, steps taken to carry out a method, how to collect and present data, and how we as researchers can contribute to methodological fields of inquiry.  Along with tracing important epistemological stances of qualitative research, the course will explore bodies of theory that help to explain the rationale for conducting particular research. Emphasis on interviewing, observational methods, and data interpretation.

Advertising Proseminar

Students will learn the basic concepts of advertising, public relations, promotion, branding, and direct marketing and their applications for integrated marketing campaigns. This proseminar will cover the three areas most important for understanding the advertising industry. First, a broad understanding of the field of advertising will be provided. Second, the prospective researcher will develop a strong sense of what a theory is, and most importantly, what constitutes a good theory. Finally, this course will integrate the state of the field with theory in order to discover what research is necessary for advertising through the creation of a White Paper.

Principles of Advertising

An introduction to understanding the consumer journey and the field of advertising. Provides prominent theories related to persuasion as associated with the applied practice of the profession. Focus on the structures and functions of advertising in mass media with attention to social, economic, and regulatory aspects. Emphasis on best practices for current and future trends in the field to align with an ever-evolving media landscape.  Course content reflects contemporary advertising association (e.g., ANA, AAF, AEF) growth trends.

Mass Communications Internship for Integrated Public Relations and Advertising Majors

This course is designed to provide mass communications and IPRA students a laboratory in which to practice principles, theory, and skills learned in the classroom, and to offer a meaningful experience in a creative and ethical real-world environment under the tutelage of a practicing communications professional. Success in the course is dependent upon submission of the journal, final presentation, and portfolio; completion of the required number of hours; and a satisfactory evaluation of the student's performance by the sponsor. This course fulfills elective credits required for the completion of the mass communications/IPRA program.

Health Communication and the Media

This course is designed to serve students in the mass communications and health fields who wish to better understand the growing trend of health consumerism and the types of health information people are obtaining through various mass media channels, how they are using this information, their ability to assess the quality and accuracy of the information, and how health is depicted in the media, with emphasis on racial/ethnic and gender portrayals.  This course will also touch on media literacy; ethics related to health content in the media; the influences that mass media have on health behavior and health policy, including health reform; and risk and crisis communication in the media. The breadth of topics featured in this course is intended to encourage an appreciation of health content in the media and its potential influence on individuals, as well as socially and politically.  It is a general introduction to mediated health communication using diverse communication communications and technologies, including television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the Internet, and other newer genres, including immersive and augmented reality. 

Persuasion in Digital Media (Study Abroad)

Understanding major issues involved in decision-making in mediated communications. Focuses on theories and concepts that underlie good decision-making in persuasive messaging and key theoretical concepts of how strategy is used throughout a campaign. Explore central European cities (Prague, Budapest, Vienna, and Brno) while learning how to create professional media content for social media and the web. We'll go behind the scenes at advertising and digital media companies (e.g., Google) and get our hands on innovative technology to learn how augmented and virtual reality are shaping the future of media. Advertising is becoming increasingly immersive, interactive, and technology-driven. Therefore, it is important for advertising practitioners to have the ability to develop successful (measurable) advertising strategies. In this course, you will learn how to identify, develop, analyze, and utilize immersive advertising strategies with various digital approaches, with a focus on digital advertising tactics. Beyond advertising, the digital literacy skills cultivated in this course will allow you to apply critical thinking solutions to find necessary solutions for agencies in need, leverage emerging technologies ethically and efficiently, and quickly adapt to technological changes in the mass communications industry. 

Principles of Public Relations

This course examines the underlying theory and professional practice of public relations within corporate and institutional structures and its vital role in society.  We will also examine the relationships of the practice to the public media and investigate problem-solving processes for public relations. My goal is to provide you with a strong understanding of the practice of public relations, which includes the history associated with the field, theories that serve as the foundation for appropriate practice, and the ways in which it can be practiced in various situations and institutional settings.  We will also spend time considering various ethical and legal issues associated with the practice of Public Relations.

Media and the 2016 Election

In this course, we will explore the role of the mass media in fostering democratic practices, as well as civic awareness and engagement. In doing so, we will consider the media’s theoretical and practical relationship to nurturing these principles. We will also consider the role of government and its relationship to the media in constructing political knowledge. Critical to all of this is discerning how culture and entertainment impact the mass media, how the mass media contribute to culture and entertainment, and what civic responsibilities and obligations you have as a citizen within this framework.

As we are in an election year, this is an exciting time to study the methods and uses of public opinion.  The 2016 Presidential election will provide the backdrop for most of our discussions and coursework.  We will apply the principles that we learn to help us understand the impact of public opinion on the election and take a stab at the possible outcomes.  Special attention will be paid to the portrayal of political issues, candidates, and political themes in popular culture, including film, television, radio, music, the internet, billboards, bumper stickers, and slogans.

Students should have a very basic understanding of the functioning of politics in the United States prior to taking this course, but overviews of political systems will be discussed at the beginning of the course.

Media and Democracy

In this course, we will explore the role of the mass media in fostering democratic practices, as well as civic awareness and engagement. In doing so, we will consider the media’s theoretical and practical relationship to nurturing these principles. We will also consider the role of government and its relationship to the media in constructing political knowledge. Critical to all of this is discerning how culture and entertainment impact the mass media, how the mass media contribute to culture and entertainment, and what civic responsibilities and obligations you have as a citizen within this framework.

Students should have a very basic understanding of the functioning of politics in the United States prior to taking this course, but overviews of political systems will be discussed at the beginning of the course.

International Communications/World Media Systems

Designed to be a complement to World Media Systems, which is a “comparative study of modern media systems of mass communications in selected foreign countries.” This course addresses similarities and differences between nations’ media systems, within the context of a larger focus on the cross-border flow of media and its influence on culture, politics, economics, technology, and globalization. Emphases: role the media play in world affairs (foreign policy decision-making and fostering international understanding), to what extent the media exacerbate international conflict or can be used to mitigate conflict, the effects of rapid globalization of media on the world economy and other cultures.