Dr. Steve Spence

Professor of Media Studies

Media and Culture

CMS 3101 Media and Culture is a core class in the Communication and Media Studies program at Clayton State University.

This syllabus includes information about the course, class schedule, and general class policies. Links to these pages can be found in the header menu that appears on each page of the syllabus. University services to support your health and wellness are detailed on a separate page.

Additional course materials are available to enrolled students through Desire2Learn.

This syllabus is for the Fall 2025 semester, and has not yet been fully updated. Check this site regularly to make sure that you have the most current information.

Section information

First steps

Log into D2L and complete the first week’s assignments, which are detailed in the D2L Content section.

Required textbook

  • Practices of Looking 4th ed., by Marita Sturken, Oxford UP, ISBN 9780197627150

This textbook is available at the Loch Shop, and it serves as the heart of our course. Success in the class requires that you have ready access to your own copy.

Required platforms

In addition to D2L, class projects require that you create and use accounts on the following platforms. Both are free for CSU students.

ChatGPT
You will create a free OpenAI account and use its AI tool, ChatGPT, for multiple assignments. We will use ChatGPT to study prompt engineering and to produce content for a variety of venues and purposes.
Adobe Express or equivalent
Students will need a free account on this platform or one like it (e.g. Canva) to complete course assignments. (The Hub offers support for Express but not for other platforms.)

Required hardware, software, and technical skills

Laptop Computer
CSU requires that all students “have on-demand access to a laptop computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for your academic program.”
Webcam and Microphone
You will create audio and video recordings for multiple assignments. If your laptop does not include these capabilities, you will need an external microphone and webcam. (Wikipedia has a useful entry on webcams, which typically include built-in microphones.)
Lockdown Browser
For our D2L quizzes and exams, you are required to use the Respondus Lockdown Browser. You will download and install this on your laptop from within D2L. Please complete this process by taking the Sample Quiz during the first week of class. The Lockdown Browser includes video monitoring, which is one of the reasons you will need a webcam.
Up-to-Date Web Browser
In this media-rich class, using a recent version of Firefox, Chrome, Edge, or Safari is mandatory.
PDF Reader (Adobe Reader)
Students must be able to read PDF files.
Media Player: VLC or equivalent
Students must be able to play mp3 and mp4 files. Many software tools will enable this, including VLC, which is available for free download.
Microsoft Word word processing
Students must be able to compose and read documents saved in the Microsoft Word “docx” format. If you use another word processor, use “Save as” to convert the file to docx before submission.
Microsoft Teams
Students must be able to use our class’s MS Team.
Clayton State email
Students must access their CSU email accounts on a regular basis. They must be able to use these accounts to attach and retrieve attached files. They must use only their CSU accounts (not, e.g. a gmail account) to communicate academic information to instructors.

Contact Information

My contact information including office hours is collected on separate page.

Vulgarity, violence, and profanity

A note of warning: We are all adults, and we are studying a culture that is often vulgar, violent, and profane. As a result, you may hear or see adult content in the materials assigned for our class. Nothing assigned by me or submitted by other students should exceed the MPAA rating of R. When engaging in class discussions, if you submit material that is Not Safe For Work (NSFW) or other venues and audiences, please note this in your subject line as a convenience to your classmates. Please also be aware that your contributions should conform to the class’s rules regarding Online Etiquette.

Diversity and disability services

It is my intent that students from diverse backgrounds and perspectives be well served by this course, that students’ learning needs be addressed, and that the diversity that students bring to this class be viewed as a resource, strength and benefit. It is my intent to present materials and activities that are respectful of diversity along multiple dimensions, including ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality, disability, age, socioeconomic status, and culture. Your suggestions are encouraged and appreciated. Please let me know ways to improve the effectiveness of the course for you personally or for other students or student groups.

Students with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact the Disability Resource Center, Edgewater Hall, Suite 255; 678-466-5445; disabilityservices@clayton.edu.