CMST 1500 - Exploring Communication
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 42598,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Adam Earnheardt
Email: acearnheardt@ysu.edu
Course Description
1500. Exploring Communication. Introduction to the world of media, journalism and communication with a focus on various functional areas and career opportunities. Development of the requirements of the communication professional including teamwork, information gathering and communication skills. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choose One | n/a | n/a | n/a |
All readings are available in each module. No textbook required.
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Chapter 1 - Medium and Message: The Whirlwind History of Communication by Adam Earnheardt (available on Blackboard) | Understanding Communication | Complete readings |
| 8/31 | Chapter 2 - Human Connection: A Field Guide to Not Being Completely Awkward by Adam Earnheardt (available on Blackboard) | Understanding Communication | Field Reflection 1 - 5% Quiz 1: Communication - 5% |
| 9/7 | Chapter 6 - The First Rough Draft: Decoding Journalism's Eternal Quest for Truth by Adam Earnheardt (available on Blackboard) | Understanding Journalism | Complete readings |
| 9/14 | Chapter 7 - Ask, Verify, Write, Repeat: The Not-So-Simple Art of Getting It Right by Adam Earnheardt (available on Blackboard) | Understanding Journalism | Field Reflection 2 - 5% Quiz 2: Communication - 5% |
| 9/21 | Chapter 11 - Cave Paintings, Talkies, and TikTok: Learning to Tell Stories in Moving Pictures by Adam Earnheardt (available on Blackboard) | Understanding Multimedia Communication | Complete readings |
| 9/28 | Chapter 12 - A Creator’s Playbook: Mastering Audio and Video in the Digital Age by Adam Earnheardt (available on Blackboard) | Understanding Multimedia Communication | Field Reflection 3 - 5% Quiz 3: Communication - 5% |
| 10/5 | Chapter 3 - Herding Cats & Juggling Chainsaws: Small Group and Organizational Dynamics by Adam Earnheardt (available on Blackboard) | Exploring Communication | Complete readings |
| 10/12 | Chapter 4 - The Art of Persuasion: Surviving The Rhetorical Wilderness by Adam Earnheardt (available on Blackboard) | Exploring Communication | Complete readings |
| 10/19 | Chapter 5 - Breaking (Bad) Boundaries: Intercultural Communication and Mass Media by Adam Earnheardt (available on Blackboard) | Exploring Communication | Field Reflection 4 - 5% Quiz 4: Communication - 5% |
| 10/26 | Chapter 8 - When Lawyers Enter the Newsroom: Freedom, Responsibility, and the Occasional Lawsuit Reuters Institute Digital News Report (https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report) |
Exploring Journalism | Complete readings |
| 11/2 | Chapter 9 - Journalism’s Special Forces: From Dogged Beat Reporters to Sideline Storytellers | Exploring Journalism | Complete readings |
| 11/9 | Chapter 10 - Pivot to Survival: How Journalism Found Its Way in the Digital Wilderness | Exploring Journalism | Current Events Group Assignment - 15% Field Reflection 5 - 5% Quiz 5: Journalism - 5% |
| 11/16 | Chapter 13 - Digital Media Management: Building Your Content Empire | Exploring Multimedia Communication | Complete readings |
| 11/23 | Chapter 14 - The Art of Strategic Communication: How to Build Campaigns That Actually Work | Exploring Multimedia Communication | Complete readings |
| 11/30 | Chapter 15 - Career Paths and Industry Trends: College Grad to Comm Guru | Exploring Multimedia Communication | Field Reflection 6 - 5% Quiz 6: Multimedia Communication - 5% |
| 12/7 | No reading this week | Applied Communication Specialization (Finals Week) | Final paper - 25% |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.