CMSD 103: Intro to Visual Communications

3 Units / CSU GE C1 and D7 / IGETC 3A / SAC AD-T in Journalism

Accessible syllabus

Course Syllabus

Meet Your Instructor 

Professor: Sarah Bennett   |  Email: bennett_sarah@sac.edu

Office: C-201 (in hallway) | Office Phone: (714) 564-5675

Office Hours: In-person on Mon. and Wed., 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. or virtual by appointment. Schedule at calendly.com/ProfBennett

Assistant Professor Sarah Bennett is an award-winning arts and culture journalist, publication designer, editor and digital strategist with over 15 years of experience in mass media publishing. In addition to co-founding multiple print media outlets (including L.A. Record, Beer Paper L.A. and theLAnd Magazine), she has helped independent newspapers, digital publications, brands and magazines incorporate mobile storytelling, social media and audience engagement strategies into their practices. She is currently an adviser of Santa Ana College's student media organization, el Don. (Follow campus news @eldonnews on Instagram and Twitter!)

Learn more about Professor Bennett here. 

For personal questions regarding your own work, you can DM me on Pronto, email me , or schedule a private Zoom meeting . These methods are listed in the order of immediacy of response but I will always respond to any communication within 24 hours.

Course Description

This multimedia course is an overview of the physical, social and cultural implications of visual communications, from cave paintings to modern-day digital media. Using works of philosophical, historical and cultural importance, students will analyze and debate the changes in the ways visual communications affect society and shape cultural values.

Required Materials

I do not require a textbook for this course (yay!). Because this course is rarely taught as a general education class, there are not many textbooks that I felt would be worth their expensive price tags. Therefore, all tests, quizzes and assignments will be based on readings and multimedia content provided directly through our Canvas course.

Treat these and all the information on the Canvas course with as much academic weight as you would a textbook. 

Student Learning Objectives 

By the end of this course, students should be able to: 

• Describe the unique characteristics of visual communication
• Demonstrate an ability to analyze visual messages in a variety of mediated contexts
• Analyze the historical influence of media on visual communications
• Write summaries, analysis and evaluations of various visual media, including cartoons, graphic novels and advertisements
• Participate in large and small groups, discussing critical works of social, historical and cultural importance
• Recognize visual stereotypes and understand what they reveal about branding, identity, culture and privilege
• Explore the use of typography as artwork
• Explain visual and perceptual theories of semiotics, gestalt, constructivism and more
• Measure ways that visual messages are employed in efforts of visual persuasion
• Compare and contrast artistic movements that have influenced visual communication over history

Communication Plan

Communication is key in all online courses, but especially so when we are learning about a subject that challenges you to get out of your comfort zone and consider the impact of media on you, your life and society at large. So, let’s talk about it! Without open lines of communication with your classmates and your professor, it’s easy to fall behind.

The primary communication in this course will be done through the discussion boards, Pronto and our weekly Canvas Announcements. I will also give feedback on your assignments.

Please be sure to have a current working email address in your Canvas profile as it is where all notifications will be sent! All students are required to have notifications enabled for Announcements and Conversation Messages.

For general questions, please post them in our Pronto group chat for immediate help from classmates or the professor. There is no “General Course Questions” discussion board for this course. For personal questions regarding your own work, DM me on Pronto, schedule a 1-on-1 Zoom meeting or email me. I will respond to any communication within 24 hours.