SOCIOL M176
Sociology of Mass Communication
Description: (Same as Communication M147.) Lecture, four hours; discussion, one hour (when scheduled). Studies in relationship between mass communication and social organization. Topics include history and organization of major media institutions, social forces that shape production of mass media news and entertainment, selected studies in media content, and effects of media on society. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2025 - This class was actually the bane of my existence. Though professor Rossman was very cool, his lectures were online where he would speak extremely quickly and include a lot of information which half the time weren't on the test. I struggled a lot and it was quite difficult.
Winter 2025 - This class was actually the bane of my existence. Though professor Rossman was very cool, his lectures were online where he would speak extremely quickly and include a lot of information which half the time weren't on the test. I struggled a lot and it was quite difficult.
Most Helpful Review
Steve is a wonderful professor and he teaches a fascinating class. He is one of the few professors I have had who bothers to learn the names of his students. (Which is no small task because there are about 150 of them in his classes.) His classes are enjoyable and he is all about letting the students take away from the class what is most important to them. I found papers for his class very difficult to write but I always got an 'A.' This being said, I do not think he is an easy professor, you have to work hard, do and understand the readings, show up for the classes AND participate. If you do all of these you will do just fine and have a great time.
Steve is a wonderful professor and he teaches a fascinating class. He is one of the few professors I have had who bothers to learn the names of his students. (Which is no small task because there are about 150 of them in his classes.) His classes are enjoyable and he is all about letting the students take away from the class what is most important to them. I found papers for his class very difficult to write but I always got an 'A.' This being said, I do not think he is an easy professor, you have to work hard, do and understand the readings, show up for the classes AND participate. If you do all of these you will do just fine and have a great time.
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Most Helpful Review
Professor Stein is a wonderful professor who is truly passionate about what she teaches. She is extremely knowledgable and personable and this shows in her teaching. She makes lectures more enjoyable by including music, videos, and films that are contemporary, informative, and intesting. Discussion is optional in this class and her exams are well balanced and fair with a variety of multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. Her class also includes a research paper, but it is on relevant and contemporary topics. Overall, this class is highly recommened to those who want to study the sociology of mass communications from a passionate expert.
Professor Stein is a wonderful professor who is truly passionate about what she teaches. She is extremely knowledgable and personable and this shows in her teaching. She makes lectures more enjoyable by including music, videos, and films that are contemporary, informative, and intesting. Discussion is optional in this class and her exams are well balanced and fair with a variety of multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. Her class also includes a research paper, but it is on relevant and contemporary topics. Overall, this class is highly recommened to those who want to study the sociology of mass communications from a passionate expert.
Most Helpful Review
Spring 2025 - If you are thinking about taking Sociol M176 with Professor Yeritsian, I cannot recommend it enough. It was one of the most meaningful and intellectually rewarding classes I have taken in college. First off, everyone learns differently and meshes with different teaching styles–so the only real way to know if a class is right for you is to take it yourself. That said, I can speak from personal experience when I say that Professor Yeritsian is one of the most impactful professors I have ever had. His classes are challenging, yes, but in the way that college should be: they ask you to think deeper, study differently, and really engage with the material. Some students have left negative reviews saying he “does not help” or “is not engaging”–but I have to strongly disagree. He absolutely lays out a clear and structured path through the course. The difference is that he expects you to meet him there. He provides detailed slides, study outlines, and frames the content in a way that makes everything build on itself. It is up to you to take that framework and do something with it–to sit with the material, make connections, and ask questions. And if you do? He is always available to talk, clarify, or help you think through ideas. His office hours are some of the most stimulating conversations I have had, and I always leave them feeling more grounded in the material. I had taken his Sociol 101 class before this one, so I knew what I was getting into. That class changed how I study, how I think, and honestly, how I see the world. It was the first time in college that I found myself excited to study–genuinely motivated by the content, not by the grade. I found myself constantly talking about what I was learning with friends and family, wanting to share ideas that had stuck with me long after class ended. His teaching made me fall in love with sociology and shifted the course of my academic path. When I saw he was teaching M176, I enrolled immediately–and it was just as engaging and thought-provoking. The material was complex and layered, but so interesting. I walked away from the class not only having learned a lot, but also having felt that familiar sense of intellectual curiosity and excitement that his teaching brings out. If you are someone who wants to be pushed, who values depth and structure, and who is willing to do the work–this class will not disappoint. Professor Yeritsian’s classes are not just about passing a test; they are about expanding how you think. And that kind of learning stays with you.
Spring 2025 - If you are thinking about taking Sociol M176 with Professor Yeritsian, I cannot recommend it enough. It was one of the most meaningful and intellectually rewarding classes I have taken in college. First off, everyone learns differently and meshes with different teaching styles–so the only real way to know if a class is right for you is to take it yourself. That said, I can speak from personal experience when I say that Professor Yeritsian is one of the most impactful professors I have ever had. His classes are challenging, yes, but in the way that college should be: they ask you to think deeper, study differently, and really engage with the material. Some students have left negative reviews saying he “does not help” or “is not engaging”–but I have to strongly disagree. He absolutely lays out a clear and structured path through the course. The difference is that he expects you to meet him there. He provides detailed slides, study outlines, and frames the content in a way that makes everything build on itself. It is up to you to take that framework and do something with it–to sit with the material, make connections, and ask questions. And if you do? He is always available to talk, clarify, or help you think through ideas. His office hours are some of the most stimulating conversations I have had, and I always leave them feeling more grounded in the material. I had taken his Sociol 101 class before this one, so I knew what I was getting into. That class changed how I study, how I think, and honestly, how I see the world. It was the first time in college that I found myself excited to study–genuinely motivated by the content, not by the grade. I found myself constantly talking about what I was learning with friends and family, wanting to share ideas that had stuck with me long after class ended. His teaching made me fall in love with sociology and shifted the course of my academic path. When I saw he was teaching M176, I enrolled immediately–and it was just as engaging and thought-provoking. The material was complex and layered, but so interesting. I walked away from the class not only having learned a lot, but also having felt that familiar sense of intellectual curiosity and excitement that his teaching brings out. If you are someone who wants to be pushed, who values depth and structure, and who is willing to do the work–this class will not disappoint. Professor Yeritsian’s classes are not just about passing a test; they are about expanding how you think. And that kind of learning stays with you.
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