Social Media Advocacy and Activism minor

Description

Advocacy (arguing in support of a specific cause, policy, or set of ideas) is core to activism (organizing, educating, campaigning, and protesting for social change). In the 21st century, the Internet and social media are integral to the organization and social impact of every advocacy and activist movement. From online networks to the streets to the state, all kinds of advocates and activists are using social media to raise consciousness about social problems, advance solutions, and catalyze real change. #MeToo, #BlackLivesMatter and #Green New Deal moves across Twitter; YouTube is a massive informational battlespace between influencers across the political spectrum; and everywhere online, ordinary people are posting, liking sharing support for many social causes. The minor in Social Media Advocacy and Activism consists of seven courses (21 credit hours). Students learn the foundations of social media and strategic communications studies, and then choose from a list of courses related to specific areas in media advocacy and activism. The minor is available to all students in any major program in any faculty at Ontario Tech University. A cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in the minor courses is required to successfully complete the Social Media Advocacy and Activism minor.

Minor requirements

Core courses:

• COMM 1420U – Living Digitally: Social Media, Culture & Society
• COMM 3610U – Strategic Communications for Influence: Rhetoric, Persuasion and Propaganda

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  Five of:

• LBAT 2413U – Science Communication: Media for creative, fun, and effective STEM communication
• COMM 3310U – Communication for Social Change, Community and Development
• COMM 3350U – Environmental Communication: Media and Tech for Sustainability
• COMM 3710U – Media, Identity and Intercultural Communication
• COMM 4120U – AI, Ethics and Communication
• COMM 4420U – Political Communication, Digital Media and Democracy
• COMM 4510U – Public Relations: Social Power, Social Media Platforms, and Social Responsibility
• COMM 4530U – Media Activism and Protest Cultures
• COMM 4610U – The Struggle is Real: Transformation for Communication, Conflict, and Peace
• COMM 4710U – Global Media, the Internet and International Relations

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  Note: not all courses listed are available each year and are offered due to scheduling availability.