Social Media and Society
** available as of 06/15/2026
** available as of 06/15/2026
Prerequisites: COMM 200.
This course explores how individuals, organizations, and brands use social media to connect, communicate, and engage audiences in today's digital environment. Students will learn by observing and analyzing real-world social media practices, including interviews with professional practitioners who specialize in content creation, community management, and digital strategy. The course emphasizes what works--and what doesn't--in building connection and engagement online. Through hands-on projects, case studies, and self-assessment, students will gain a clearer understanding of the strategic choices behind social media activity and reflect on their own digital practices as communicators.
Outcomes: Demonstrate understanding of how practitioner insights inform social media strategy by articulating key themes and lessons derived from professional practices; Understand and apply principles of social media evaluation, including identifying strategic goals, target audiences, and platform choices, and assessing their effectiveness using established criteria; Recognize and explain the strategic and contextual factors that influence successful and unsuccessful social media practices, as illustrated through case studies; Explain and critically reflect on the benefits and risks of social media use for individuals and organizations, particularly regarding engagement, reputation, reach, and sustainability; Audit and assess their own social media practices and produce a strategic plan that aligns their online behavior with defined personal or professional goals.
This course explores how individuals, organizations, and brands use social media to connect, communicate, and engage audiences in today's digital environment. Students will learn by observing and analyzing real-world social media practices, including interviews with professional practitioners who specialize in content creation, community management, and digital strategy. The course emphasizes what works--and what doesn't--in building connection and engagement online. Through hands-on projects, case studies, and self-assessment, students will gain a clearer understanding of the strategic choices behind social media activity and reflect on their own digital practices as communicators.
Outcomes: Demonstrate understanding of how practitioner insights inform social media strategy by articulating key themes and lessons derived from professional practices; Understand and apply principles of social media evaluation, including identifying strategic goals, target audiences, and platform choices, and assessing their effectiveness using established criteria; Recognize and explain the strategic and contextual factors that influence successful and unsuccessful social media practices, as illustrated through case studies; Explain and critically reflect on the benefits and risks of social media use for individuals and organizations, particularly regarding engagement, reputation, reach, and sustainability; Audit and assess their own social media practices and produce a strategic plan that aligns their online behavior with defined personal or professional goals.