Detailed Course Descriptions

*Current students should refer to the Academic Catalogue for all course information.

Orientation to Online Learning (non-credit)

An online orientation to Loyola's learning platforms and tools that includes strategies for student success for online learning. This orientation must be completed within the first week of beginning the first course. Students will be automatically enrolled for this course by the Director of Program Operations.

0 credits, runs every semester

Required Courses (9 credits)

ME 601.W01: Exploring Digital Culture

In this course students will investigate the social, political, cultural, intellectual and economic impact of new media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, and Wordpress, among others. Students will assess the way the Internet and its applications have influenced the way we see ourselves and others; the way we interact and govern ourselves formally and informally; the ways we do business, and even the way we think. Critical issues such as privacy, cyber-bullying and civility, identity theft and security, free speech and more are addressed.

3.0 credits, required course, runs every semester, regularly taught by Dr. Elliot King and Dr. Greg Hoplamazian

ME 602.W01: Content Creation Seminar

This course will address the question: What must one consider when creating content for digital media? To answer this question, a series of modules have been developed in which students will learn to create and manage various forms of graphic/visual and multimedia content.

3.0 credits, required course, runs summer only, regularly taught by Dr. Mas Biswas and Prof. Bryan Babcock

ME 701.W01: Ethics in Emerging Media

Ethical issues are examined, from the use of new media for sourcing in journalism to product and brand promotion. Students will engage in discussions about their ethical beliefs as they relate to our ever-changing, technologically-based society. Students will examine social media policies of corporations, government, and nonprofit organizations. 

3.0 credits, required course, runs summer only, regularly taught by Prof. April Newton

Elective Courses (18 credits)

ME 710.W01: Media Innovation

The most important characteristic of emerging media is that it is new. Baseline concepts such as where good ideas come from, how innovation moves through society, and the relationship of emerging media to existing media are explored. Students will develop a set of tools that enable them to assess the potential use and impact of emerging media.

3.0 credits, typically runs in the spring semester, regularly taught by Dr. Elliot King and Prof. April Newton

ME 715.W01: Emerging Media in Strategic Communication

In this course students will learn how new and emerging media technologies are being integrated into advertising and public relations campaigns, and how they are being used to deliver traditional messages in novel times and spaces. In an increasingly competitive and diversified media space, communicators are finding new ways to reach their intended audiences. This course will foster an understanding of the roles and limitations of new media for delivering messages and engaging with key audiences, the public, and markets while allowing students to critically analyze how to best utilize new media to connect with consumers.

3.0 credits, typically runs in the fall semester, regularly taught by Dr. Tania Rosas-Moreno and Dr. Greg Hoplamazian

ME 720.W01: The User Experience

This course will review the latest theories and research methods developed to better understand how and why people use new media technologies. Students will cover a diverse range of perspectives on how users come to identify and make meaning from media, individual motivations and behavior, and the role of user communities. Students will then review and apply the latest qualitative methods used by scholars and media companies to better understand target user groups, including usability studies, focus groups, interviews, and web-based surveys.

3.0 credits, typically runs in the fall semester, regularly taught by Dr. Mas Biswas

ME 725.W01: Emerging Media Applications

This course will explore best practices in the use of social networks, blogs, Facebook and Twitter, among other platforms in strategic communication campaigns. Students will learn how to develop a mission-based social media campaign by exploring topics including setting goals, objectives, and key performance indicators (KPIs). Students will create social media properties, and schedule content based on a content strategy employing best search engine optimization (SEO) practices. Students will also learn to measure the degree of success of their social media campaigns in real-time.

3.0 credits, typically runs in the spring semester, regularly taught by Dr. Greg Hoplamazian

ME 730.W01: Social, Political, Economic, and Cultural Impact of New and Emerging Media

In this course students will analyze and interpret the ways that race, class, gender, and ethnicity impact the access to, use of, and knowledge of technology, information, and communication. By looking at both in- and out-of-country usage, students will also discuss the technological divide between countries, communities, neighborhoods, and people.

3.0 credits, typically runs in the summer semester, regularly taught by Dr. Sara Magee and Dr. Mas Biswas

ME 735.W01: Emerging Media Law and Regulation

Emerging media frequently test the existing legal and regulatory framework for speech. Key legal and regulatory issues raised by new media are explored, including copyright and piracy, net neutrality, free speech, privacy, and democratic governance.

3.0 credits, typically runs in the spring semester, regularly taught by Dr. Elliot King and Dr. Jonathan Lillie

ME 740.W01: Global Communication and Social Media: Policy and Trends

New and emerging media are changing the ways in which people around the world communicate. However, access to new media is subject to local laws, regulations, and customs. Therefore, it is important for communication professionals to think globally, but act locally. Students will research the political economy, media ownership, regulations, and laws of various countries. Students will also review social media policies of global organizations, and gain an understanding of new and emerging media strategies that are utilized by global organizations and brands.

3.0 credits, typically runs in the summer semester, regularly taught by Dr. Neil Alperstein

ME 745.W01: Writing and Planning for Social Media

In this course students will extensively practice writing for the different platforms associated with social media with a special emphasis on blogging and tweeting. This course will explore the characteristics of the different channels associated with social media including audience, usage patterns and impact, and the particular challenges posed by writing for social media. Students will also learn how to plan an effective calendar to guide the posting of social media content and receive certification in using a social media dashboard and management tool.

3.0 credits, typically runs in the fall semester, regularly taught by Dr. Elliot King

ME 750.W01: Foundations for Health Communication

In this course students will learn how information regarding health (promotion, risk, care, etc.) is communicated to individuals and communities by individuals (doctors, patients) and groups (hospitals, governmental and non-governmental organizations, media) within boundaries set by governmental regulations. The course will highlight the use of new and emerging digital media on mobile and web platforms as a part of the health communication channel mix.

3.0 credits, typically runs in the fall semester

ME 755.W01: Health Communication and Culture

In this course students will explore the intersection between public communication, health care information, and culture. The complex relationship between patients and providers in multicultural heath care settings is studied, with particular emphasis on the ways in which various groups utilize new and emerging media to seek out health-related information to manage their own care or care of others. This course will examine how culture affects health and health care decisions, including perceptions of health, disease, treatments, and values associated with these factors. The need for cultural sensitivity to various populations based on race and ethnicity, age and income, among other factors in health care, is stressed.

3.0 credits, typically runs in the spring semester

ME 760.W01: Health Communication Campaigns

Our world is fraught with health-related issues, from substance abuse to diabetes and beyond. Public awareness of health-related issues and behavior change can occur through the use of new and emerging media. This course will seek to apply strategic communication approaches to health-related issues. Students will create health communication campaigns based on their employment, personal passion, or the desire for thought leadership on a given health issue. Students will begin with a strategic mission and vision, develop goals and objectives, and designate KPIs for their campaigns. They will identify target audiences through the development of personas and consider key messages directed toward each. A corresponding content strategy is carried out and analytics are used to determine the degree of success achieved.

3.0 credits, typically runs in the spring semester

ME 765.W01: Health Communication Research

Reviews a diverse range of research methods used by scholars, organizations, and companies working in the area of health communication. The course will look at traditional research methods such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, and ethnography, community-based methods such as participatory research and community assessment, and the impact of big data on health communication research. Students will complete a literature review on a topic of their choice by the end of the semester.

Restrictions: Restricted to Health Communication Graduate Certificate Students.

3.0 credits, typically runs in the fall or summer semester

ME 770.W01: Social Network Analysis

Reviews foundational concepts and applications of social network analysis in the field of communication. Students will select an organization or group and craft an RFP for a social network analysis to better understand how fans, followers, or customers seek and share information on social media platforms. Students will discover how relationships are formed into crowds, clusters, and networks on common social media applications. Students will explore the use of sentiment analysis to analyze and interpret hashtags and related issues or topics. Students will learn about and sample data visualization and social networking tools. Students will study contemporary applications of social network analysis in the fields of politics, public health, and social movements. Students will understand what data is needed to undertake a social network analysis of their organization, what tools to best use to capture, analyze, and effectively present that data.

3.0 credits, typically runs in the spring semester, regularly taught by Dr. Amy Becker

ME 795.W01: Emerging Media Internship

Provides students with a hands-on, professional experience engaging in off-campus internships in various areas of new and emerging media. Students must submit an initial internship proposal for approval, provide timed updates of internship activity, and submit a reflection of the internship experience at the end of the semester. Scheduled performance evaluations signed by the internship supervisor are required. Written or electronic permission of the Academic Program Director.

1.0 credit, runs every semester, written or electronic permission required to register, managed by the Academic Program Director

Capstone Courses (6 credits)

ME 796.W01: Emerging Media Capstone Project I

Students will work closely with a subject matter expert to engage in original research on a subject relevant to new and emerging media, then present their findings through a formal research paper; or develop an applied project in which they demonstrate their proficiency using new and emerging media. The emerging media capstone project is completed under the tutelage of an instructor/practitioner in the department. By arrangement with the faculty advisor.

3.0 credits, runs every semester, written or electronic permission required to register, managed by the Academic Program Director and faculty advisors

ME 797.W01: Emerging Media Capstone Project II

Prerequisite: ME796
A continuation of ME796 (Emerging Media Capstone Project I). Students will work closely with a subject matter expert to engage in original research on a subject relevant to new and emerging media, then present their findings through a formal research paper; or develop an applied project in which they demonstrate their proficiency using new and emerging media. The emerging media capstone project is completed under the tutelage of an instructor/practitioner in the department. By arrangement with the faculty advisor.

3.0 credits, runs every semester, written or electronic permission required to register, managed by the Academic Program Director and faculty advisors

ME 798.W01: Emerging Media Capstone Project I and II

An intensive one-semester capstone course in which students work closely with a subject matter expert to engage in original research on a subject relevant to new and emerging media, then present their findings through a formal research paper; or develop an applied project in which they demonstrate their proficiency using new and emerging media. The emerging media capstone project is completed under the tutelage of an instructor/practitioner in the department. By arrangement with the faculty advisor.

6.0 credits, runs every semester, written or electronic permission required to register, managed by the Academic Program Director and faculty advisors

ME 799.W01: Capstone Continuation Guidance

Prerequisite: ME797 or ME798

Students work with their capstone advisor towards the completion of their capstone projects as needed. Written or electronic permission of the academic program director. By arrangement with the faculty advisor. A guidance fee is charged. May be repeated once.

0 credits, runs every semester, written or electronic permission required to register, managed by the Academic Program Director and faculty advisors