Communications and Media - Junior

Course # MDIA 3195

Credits 6

Course Description 

The course focuses on case studies and enables students to research and learn about the social, historical, cultural, and economic aspects of online communities at the intersection of mediated and unmediated experiences. Students examine the role and significance of digital media practices within local and global milieus, across shifting and fluid communicative ecologies, and present their findings using digital and mobile and written narratives. Additionally, students learn to apply intersectionality and the associated sensitivities in their digital and social media tasks and projects. The course also places an emphasis on the contemporary creative skills of digital and social media including digital design and user experience in computer interfaces for effective communication. It provides students with both theoretical and practical tools to respond with thoughtful insights to inexorable shifts in digital technology and their disruptive impacts on the production, dissemination, and consumption of information.  

Course Learning Outcomes 

Upon the completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Identify key historical moments and dominant theories in the evolution of contemporary digital and social media.
• Analyze the construction of communities through mediated practices and experiences.
• Explain the impact of social and digital practices within pertinent cultural frameworks. 
• Create a digital and social media strategy for organisation/NGO, business/brand. 
• Define the dominant continuities and disruptive shifts in traditional media phenomena in the early 21st century.   

Course Assessments and Grading 

Course # MDIA 3192

Credits 6

Course Description 

This course covers the basics of filmmaking, including the narrative elements of storytelling for documentary films. In the course, students learn every stage of the filmmaking process, from pre-production to post-production, and have opportunities to put their knowledge into practice. The course focuses on the development of documentaries and explores different genres and modes of production. Students analyze documentaries from directors in Central Asia and worldwide, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the industry. The course combines a theoretical and practical approach to documentary filmmaking. 

Course Learning Outcomes 

Upon the completion of the course, students will be able to:

• generate ideas for documentary films
• plan the script elements in preparation for a documentary film project
• write a script that can convey a storyline
• operate essential video and audio equipment items to create a professional product
• analyze different kinds of non-fiction and fiction films
• apply post-production methods and techniques using editing software.

Course Assessments and Grading 

Course # MDIA 3192

Credits 6

Course Description

This course introduces students to the theories and practices of visual communication.  Through the discussions of perceptual and critical theories, students read, analyse and interpret a variety of visual texts. These texts will include those of pre-modern craft mediums and extend to film, television, online media and other digital image-based mediums. The ways in which images are constructed to convey sociocultural, political, and commercial positions and preferences are analysed. A goal of the course is the acquisition of visual literacy skills, which can then be transferred into media production work. Visual communication will be explored as a global language, however local nuances will also be examined to provide students with contextualised directives in their practice.   

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon the completion of the course, students will be able to: 

• Examine the ways in which explicit and implicit messages are visually encoded 
• Analyse the dominant traditions, concepts and principles that inform visual communication 
• Apply visual design strategies for an effective communication across distinct cultural contexts
• Explore the ways in which visual design informs and forms a core part of public discourses
• Critique patterns of production and consumption in visual communication practices
• Analyse the means-to-an-end technical strategies involved in visual communications 

Course Assessments and Gradings  

Course # MDIA 3087

Credits 6

Course Description

This course extends student knowledge and skills in communication studies into the field of science communication.  The course provides an introduction to forms of science communication intended for non-scientific audiences, such as writing for both online and print outlets, podcasting and short video production.  Students will develop a critical understanding of the wider societal context of both science and communication.  They will examine how communication practices can address contemporary science communication challenges and enhance public understanding of science.  Science communication is examined through both conceptual analysis and practical skill development and critical issues and themes in the field are explored.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon competion of the course students will be able to:

• Discuss the conceptual basis of science communication.
• Analyse contemporary global science communication issues and practices.
• Examine ways that communication practices can address contemporary science communication challenges and enhance public understanding of science.
• Use a variety of media to share science information in different formats and contexts.
• Discuss the relationship between non-western knowledge and science and the ways that non-western worldviews can shift our conception of science

Course Learning Outcomes  

Course # COMP 1073

Credits 6

Course Description 

This "Introduction to Computer Science" course is designed for students majoring in Communications and Media, offering a comprehensive overview of the fundamental concepts in computer science with a special focus on data science and AI (Artificial Intelligence). Throughout the semester, students will explore key areas including programming in Python, data manipulation using Excel and Pandas library, and an introduction to machine learning and AI. The course emphasizes practical skills in data analysis, visualization, and storytelling, culminating in a final project where students will apply their knowledge to real-world datasets. Ethical considerations in research, data science, and AI are also integral to the curriculum, preparing students for responsible and informed engagement in the digital world. 

Course Learning Outcomes  

Upon the completion of the course, students will be able to: 

• Demonstrate proficiency in foundational computer science concepts (e.g. algorithms, functions, logical operators, etc.) by effectively using Python to declare variables, define functions, implement loops and conditional statements, and manipulate data with the Pandas library.
• Manipulate data using Excel, demonstrated through their ability to copy, fill, format cells, utilize functions for data analysis, clean datasets, remove duplicates, and construct pivot tables. 
• Tell compelling stories by means of data visualization and interpretation.  
• Explore ethical issues in data science and AI, fostering a sense of responsibility and ethical conduct in technological research and implementation. 

Course Assessments and Grading 

Course # DMNS 3034E

Credits 6

Course Description 

This course is an introduction to data visualization for computer science, and communication & media majors. This course introduces various data visualization techniques using Python. It starts with an overview of what data visualization is and why it is important, covering basic Python for visualization, data cleaning, Pandas for manipulation, and exploratory data analysis. This course will delve into a variety of plotting methods, interactive visualizations utilizing Python libraries, multi-dimensional data representation, geographic data visualization, time series visualization, advanced statistical methods, and the creation of dashboards. The course aims to equip students with a strong skill set in Python-based data visualization to effectively communicate complex insights from data. 

Course Learning Outcomes 

Upon the completion of the course, students will be able to: 

• Describe the importance and applications of data visualization in various fields.
• Employ basic Python skills for data visualization, including data types and structures.
• Apply data cleaning techniques, preprocessing, and transformation using Python, with a focus on Pandas for data manipulation.
• Perform exploratory data analysis, visually explore datasets, and generate insights through case studies.
• Implement fundamental plotting methods such as bar charts, histograms, scatter plots, line charts, box plots, violin plots, heatmaps using Matplotlib and Seaborn.
• Comprehend the basics of geospatial data, explore GeoPandas, and create basic to advanced geographic visualizations.
• Define time-series data, employ basic and advanced time series visualization techniques, and analyze trends and seasonality.
• Conduct correlation analysis, and regression analysis, visualizing residuals and model diagnostics.
• Build basic interactive dashboards and explore advanced dashboard features and layouts.
• Employ narrative techniques in visualization, display case studies of effective data storytelling.

Course Assessments and Grading 

Course # HUSS 1080

Credits 0

Course description 

Physical education strengthens health and develops students' physical and mental abilities. Physical exercises and sports games are the way to a powerful and functional body, clear mind and strong spirit. The course is practical and theoretical, covering basic concepts of anatomy and physiology and health and safety requirements.   

Course learning outcomes 

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: 

• perform a range of physical activities 
• understand health and safety requirements for a range of physical activities
• describe the role and progress of sport in Central Asia
• chose an appropriate physical activities program for their age and gender 
• identify tiredness and its symptoms to control the body during athletic exercises 
• describe the technique of running for a long and a short distance and jumping
• accomplish running for a short and a long distance and jumping according to all necessary norms
• describe the rules of a range of sports games
• participate in a range of sports games according to their rules and techniques

Course Assessments and Grading 

The course will be graded with PASS/FAIL.