Student Learning Outcomes

How prepared am I to be responsible/informed consumer and skilled producer

of communication processes and mass media messages in the 21st century?

I believe that I am very prepared to be a responsible and informed consumer due to some

of the relevant courses I have taken over my time at Worcester State University. I have taken

courses in Media Writing; Media Criticism; Race, Class & Gender; and Gender & Sexuality.

These classes have enhanced my critical thinking skills and have taught me how to read between

the lines while picking apart the media. I am also currently taking a course in Consumer Health,

which is teaching me how to stay away from deceptive health ads, and what buzz words to look

for in order to deem them as “fake.” I also have relevant coursework from Visual Media

Literacy, where I was able to gain the skills of learning why advertisers use certain colors,

product placement, etc. to catch the viewers’ attention.

What skills have I learned about processing, editing, presenting and evaluating
information?

Due to the coursework in both Media Writing and Media Criticism, I have learned how to

effectively write and interpret what is being put out in the media. I have learned to research

where the information I am receiving is coming from in order to either back up its credibility or

wash away its credibility. I have also learned to realize who owns our media, and how they act as

gatekeepers of information and they only dish out what they want us to know. By keeping that

fact in the back of my mind while reading media content, it helps me not fall victim to fake

news, or get caught up in certain stereotypes or comparing myself to others. Through my course

work in Public speaking, I have learned how to make myself credible to the topic I am about to

discuss, and connect it to the audience, so they feel as though it is relevant to them as well.
Communication is all about connection, if you cannot connect to your audience, you will not be

heard or understood in the way that you intended.

How prepared am I to effectively gauge the effects of communication and mass

media?
I feel prepared to effectively gauge the effects of communication and mass media in the

sense that I barley believe anything I read online on social media, due to its lack of credibility

and the fact that anyone can post anything at any time. I also know how these devices and the

mass media effects people mentally, so by knowing how to be truthful and persuasive without

hurting anyone’s feelings or crush their self-worth, making them compare themselves to others,

will help offer a different, and more credible spin on media.

How can I become a responsible/ethical media producer?

I can become a responsible/ ethical media producer by keeping intersectionality in mind

while putting out content, and by making sure there is a lot of diversity put into play,

representing everyone, not just the ingroups. I am also educated on the ethical values that the

Public Relations Society of America holds, due to relevant coursework in Public Relations

Strategies, which means I am ready to implement and go by these values while working in the

Communication field. It is important to build a strong relationship with the public that includes

respect and trust, without those two things, your credibility weakens and not many people care

for what you have to say.

How prepared am I for careers in the industries of communication and mass

media?

I am prepared in a numerous amount of ways, since I am effective in analyzing the media

and learning how to effectively reach key publics. Public speaking, again, has taught me how to

connect to a live audience to get them to listen to your message. In my Social Media course, I
have learned how to manage social media sites for companies, and how to condense posts in

order to keep the reader’s attention and get a point across. I have excellent communication skills,

leadership qualities, media literacy, and I work well in teams as well as independently.