Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Communication & Digital Culture

COMM 6160-B80

Course: COMM 6160-B80
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: COMM
CRN: 32103

Course Description

Communication and Digital Culture interrogates the so-called “digital age” by paying analytical attention to the intersection of technology, culture, economics, and politics. We will trace both the social and technological history that has led to the current moment, from the beginning of the idea of ‘the digital’ to contemporary cultural practices surrounding social media. We will seek to define “digital” and “culture” individually and in combination. Our time will be spent critiquing various cultural texts, audiences, institutions, and technical systems as well as learning how to engage in the production of digital texts as practitioners. Course readings draw from a broad range of literature situated within media studies, philosophy of technology, visual communication, and critical-cultural studies. (Spring - Odd Years) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): Master’s degree-seeking students only

Required Texts

N/A. Required readings and texts will be provided by the instructor.

Learning Outcomes

Essential Learning Outcomes:
  • Critical Thinking: Students demonstrate disciplined processes of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action. 
  • Digital Literacy: Students strategically and responsibly employ appropriate technologies to explore, create, collaborate, and organize in a digital context.
  • Information Literacy: Students identify, locate, evaluate, attribute and share information effectively and ethically.
  • Integrative Learning: Students make connections among ideas and experiences and can synthesize and transfer their learning to new, complex situations within and beyond the campus. 

Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
  • Analyze the intersections of technology, culture, economics, and politics that define the digital age.
  • Trace and explain the social and technological history that has shaped contemporary digital cultural practices.
  • Define “digital” and “culture” both independently and in combination, and apply those definitions to interpret mediated phenomena.
  • Critically evaluate cultural texts, audiences, institutions, and technical systems within digital culture.
  • Produce original digital texts as informed practitioners, demonstrating responsible and effective digital literacy.

Course Requirements

  • Regularly access Canvas and engage with all provided course materials.
  • Complete and submit all assignments on time; late work is not accepted and extensions will not be granted.
  • Ensure submissions are readable and uncorrupted (submit PDFs and double-check uploads); unreadable files are treated as unsubmitted.
  • Complete all papers in APA 7 style.
  • Uphold academic integrity: no cheating, plagiarism, or unauthorized use of AI tools unless explicitly allowed; all submissions are subject to detection (e.g., CopyLeaks).
  • Understand the grading: all points are equally weighted and the Canvas percentage determines the final grade; reach out to the instructor with questions if needed.
  • Follow grading/appeal procedures: wait 24 hours before initiating an appeal; appeals must be typed, submitted within 7 days, and delivered in person or by appointment (not via email or in class).
  • Engage respectfully and flexibly with the instructor and classmates.
  • Use the preferred out-of-class contact methods (text is best; also available via call, email, or Zoom) and expect prompt responses.

Course Outline

Note: This is a tentative schedule. As the instructor, I reserve the right to make any changes I deem necessary without prior consent of the student.
Module 1: Setting the Parameters of Your Message Design Project
  • Content/Lectures: Overview of course project; Hypotheses & Inquiry; Measures; Themes; Behavior
  • Assignments:
    • Video Response: Digital Culture and Political Communication (10 pts)
    • Project Hypothesis or Research Questions (25 pts)
  • Deliverable: Module 1 Summary
Module 2: Creating Your Messages
  • Content/Lectures: Picking Your Message Type; Call to Action
  • Assignments:
    • Video Response: Digital Culture and Sports Communication (10 pts)
    • Two Messages Used for Your Proposal (100 pts)
  • Deliverable: Module 2 Summary
Module 3: Introduction Section
  • Content: Overview of the Introduction section of the proposal
  • Assignments:
    • Video Response: Digital Culture and Family Communication (10 pts)
    • Proposal Introduction Section (100 pts)
  • Deliverable: Module 3 Summary
Module 4: Literature Review Section
  • Content/Lecture: Message Design Theories
  • Assignments:
    • Video Response: Digital Culture and Health Communication (10 pts)
    • Proposal Literature Review Section (100 pts)
  • Deliverable: Module 4 Summary
Module 5: Method Section
  • Content/Lectures: To Create or To Borrow; Writing the Participants Section; Writing the Procedure Section; Writing an Instrument Section
  • Assignments:
    • Video Response: Digital Culture and Public Relations (10 pts)
    • Method Section (100 pts)
  • Deliverable: Module 5 Summary
Module 6: Final Paper
  • Content: Integration and completion of full proposal
  • Assignments:
    • Proposal Survey (50 pts)
    • Final Proposal (100 pts)
  • Deliverable: Final Paper

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late work is never accepted unless previously discussed with instructor PRIOR to the assignment being submitted. 

Attendance Policy

This is an asynchronous online course; therefore, attendance is not taken. Participation is demonstrated by the timely completion of required course activities, quizzes, exams, and assignments.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.