Telephone: (757) 579-4204
Fax: (757) 579 4291
E-mail: robesch@regent.edu

Telephone: (757) 579-3512 (Office), (757)420-6921 (Home)
Fax: (757) 579 4291
E-mail:mihaboc@regent.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This computer-mediated communication seminar proposes to conceptualize the relationship established by the process of human communication mediated by the personal computer. The alteration of the process by mediating factors between and among communicators will be considered. The growing role of the computer in society as mediating factor in communication will characterize the academic objective of the seminar. Seminarists will individually focus on elements of computer-mediated communication as their rese arch contribution. Research contributions of seminarists will constitute chapters of a proposed book manuscript/publication.

COURSE OBJECTIVES / PURPOSES

(1) To introduce the student to the study of computer-mediated communication and the role of technology in the lives of people.
(2) To integrate computer-mediated communication elements into definitions and models of human communication.
(3) To revisit theories of communication in terms of computer-mediated communication.
(4) To consider various perspectives current in the literature on computer-mediated communication.
(5) To move towards a unified corpus of concepts, issues and theories in computer-mediated communication.

COURSE COMPETENCIES / WHAT STUDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO

(1) Articulate computer-mediated communication in terms of human and mass communication theories.
(2) Develop meaningful dialogue with those outside the field of communication who speculate on computer-mediated communication.
(3) Contribute to the literature in computer-mediated communication.

COURSE PROCEDURES

(1) Seminarists are to read all required readings prior to the scheduled multilogue on the specific reading.
(2) Seminarists will contribute to a meaningful multilogue via e-mail among coursemates and professors.
(3) Early in the seminar, each seminarists is to choose an element/concept/issue in the phenomenon of computer-mediated communication as an area of specialization.
(4) Each seminarist is to review published research on his/her respective area of specialization.
(5) Each seminarist is to abstract the reviewed research for distribution to coursemates and faculty.
(6) Areas of specialization are to be written up by seminarists with an eye to integrating the area into existing human communication understanding and theory. The written paper must be of publishable quality in acceptable APA style form.

STUDENT EVALUATION

Final grades in the seminar will be calculated in the following bases:

Evidence of reading:	20%
Contribution to electronic multilogue:	20%
Quality of abstracts:	20%
Final publishable paper:	40%

REQUIRED TEXTS / READINGS

RECOMMENDED TEXTS

COURSE SCHEDULE / CALENDAR

Week One //

Ontological perspective on CMC

Week Two //

Epistemological perspective on CMC

Week Three //

Ethical perspective on CMC

Week Four //

Religious perspective on CMC

Week Five //

Linguistic/Semiotic perspective on CMC

Week Six //

Social perspective on CMC

Week Seven //

Cross-cultural perspective on CMC

STATEMENT OF ACADEMIC HONESTY

As should be expected, particularly at a Christian institution, students will adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty. This includes the avoidance of plagiarism, defined as the uses of written and oral words (or images and designs) of another person, including another student, without the expressed acknowledgement of the indebtedness to that person. Any violation of this policy will normally result in the withdrawal/failure of this course, and/or dismissal from the University or revocation of the degree.

COURSE EVALUATION

Students are encouraged to feel free to bring any academic or course concerns to the attention of the professor at any time during the semester. Students will be given opportunity to provide formal feedback about the professor, readings, assignments and course to the university administration at the end of the course. Doctoral students are to complete a course evaluation form at the end of the semester for this course.

STATEMENT OF INCOMPLETE GRADES POLICY

It is university policy that incomplete grades are to be given only for legitimate deficiencies because of severe illness or emergencies or other significant reasons acceptable to the professor and not because of neglect on the students' part.

STATEMENT OF LATE ASSIGNMENTS POLICY

The nature of both doctoral studies and distance learning preclude completing any assignments apart from the necessary interactions among professors and students. This doctoral seminar may not be taken nor assignments completed independently from the sem inar as a whole. Late assignments may only be made up by taking the seminar the next opportunity that it is offered.

INTEGRATION OF FAITH AND LEARNING

For the maturing Christian academic, the integration of faith and learning occurs principally in the very behavior required of the academic. One is a good and sincere Christian academic to the extent he/she is a good and sincere academic. If the person of faith has incarnated the Word of God into his/her life in personal prayer, study of scripture, and communal worship, the call to a way of life is ultimately only the forum to manifest one's faith-full worldview and lifestyle. The choice of what to synthe size when reading and studying, how to think and reason in light of truth, how to respond as a committed believer in a discipline of study is equally impregnated by the degree of orthodox faith and lifestyle one possesses. No amount of Scripture knowledge and quotation will make a person neither initially a Christian or a better Christian nor an academic a true scholar. Anyone can quote Scripture-even Satan. This is clear in the temptation of Jesus by Satan in Mark's Gospel. We stand on the integration of faith and learning found in the Letter of James-faith without authentic integration in the works of a chosen lifestyle-is barren and dead.