UCB2: Media and Global Protest Movements

Class meeting time: The class will meet Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from 1:00 - 4:00 PM, with discussion sections from 4:00 - 5:00 PM. Class time will be divided between lectures (and in-class discussion) and web-building workshops.

Contact hours: Course instructors will be available by appointment (office hours) and via email throughout the six weeks of the course.

Credit equivalent: 5 semester units

Exams: There will be no in-class exams. The work students publish to their individual and group websites will be evaluated at the midterm and in the final review. Students will also give group website presentations on the last day of class before a jury of scholars who will provide feedback on the work completed and arguments advanced.

Student Testimonials from last summer’s GSP course (taught by the same instructors):

“Both instructors were clear in their objectives. I can see that they've placed immense effort in drafting the syllabus and adhering to it. Also, they were really helpful in answering our doubts which made the experience much easier and fun.”

“The instructors encouraged peer interaction for every lecture session, and I personally got perspectives that I would never [have encountered] if I did not attend.”’

“We had an opportunity to do a presentation in front of a panel of scholars, which was an opportunity that many dream of. After presenting, the panel shared their thoughts which I think further enriched our learning in the GSP course.”

“I love it. A very good experience to work with all of you, and I'm really proud of how far we've come within 6 weeks. Don't want to leave!!”

“Based on my experience this summer, I am strongly considering applying to Berkeley after I finish my Bachelors degree.”

Instructors will arrange for class visits to various sites of protest in Oakland, California, where “Occupy Oakland” took place. The class will engage with relevant organizations and/or social movement groups who played a pivotal role in articulating social grievances.

Undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in the intersection of international politics, popular movements and mainstream/social media are welcome to apply. No prior knowledge in academic theories related to analyzing protest movements is necessary, although familiarity with contemporary politics in the Arab world, Europe and United States would be helpful. We do not require any prior multimedia/web-building skills.

Please note that this class is NOT suitable for students who do not have a good command of the English language.

Learning Outcomes

The course will rely on student participation and active involvement through web-based (individual and group) assignments, as well as in-class discussions and group presentations. Attendance is mandatory for all sessions.

During the first three weeks, half of the students’ time will be spent in class lectures and discussions, while the other half will involve a series of media workshops. Lectures will provide an overview of the political, economic, geographic, and cultural climates leading up to the popular uprisings in the Arab world, Europe and the United States; an introduction to academic theories used to analyze these movements; and an assessment of the developments underway and/or the implications of certain outcomes. The class will also study the work, communication strategies and biases (intentional or not) adopted by key global media outlets. The media workshops will provide tutorials on a number of web-based multimedia tools, with specific focus on helping students conceptualize and launch their own websites and blogs. These individual websites will house all of the work the students produce over the duration of the course.

By the fourth week, students will be divided into groups that will undertake research on assigned case studies. Each group will research media coverage of a particular protest movement in the Arab world, Europe or the United States. Over the next two weeks, members of each group will track key events related their movement, identify key players, investigate how different media outlets report(ed) on developments, and ultimately, analyze the role of social media in mobilization, outcomes and other efforts. Each group will be asked to design a multimedia website to communicate their findings. This exercise will be a collaborative endeavor through which group members will specialize in their topics, demonstrate their capacity for critical media analysis, and also increase web proficiency through the design of a multimedia presentation.

By the conclusion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify the conceptual and methodological approaches relevant to the study of contemporary protest movements around the world, as well as assess the influence of social media in these uprisings;
• Apply these academic approaches to the description, analysis, and interpretation of protest movements across the world map through the methodologies of theory-guided case study analysis and web-based tools;
• Comprehend the interrelationship among the political, economic, cultural, and geographic factors that trigger protest movements and impact the interplay between sites of protest and ‘digital public spheres’;
• Produce research assignments (blog prompts posted to individual and group websites) pertaining to the linkages between protest movements and social media.

Assessment

Credit equivalent: 4+1=5 units total

Attendance = 5%

Participation in class activities/discussion = 10%

Individual (Midterm) Website = 20%

Five 400-500 Word Blog Posts = 30%

Group (Final) Website =20%

Group Oral Presentation = 15%

Contact hours: 75

Students must arrive by 7 July 2013. Students will be able to check in after 5pm.

Check-out date 17 August 2013.

Living on campus is a big part of the summer experience. Housing has been reserved for IARU students in the International House (I-House) and includes a meal plan for 10 meals per week in the I-House Dining Room. I-House offers a unique, fun community of American and International students and has an amazing view of the entire San Francisco Bay Area and the Golden Gate bridge. It is within walking distance of the central campus classrooms and libraries, recreational facilities, and Berkeley shopping and restaurants.

Tuition fees	:	USD$ 2,150
Accommodation including any deposits	:	USD$ 2,166 est. + USD$ 500 deposit
Other deposits	:	N/A
Field Trip	:	N/A
Textbook Fees	:	USD$ 250 est.
Miscellaneous Fees	:	USD$ 685
Living Expenses	:	UDS$ 420 est.

1. Can I participate in more than one GSP course at your University, concurrently?
   No. Here at Berkeley we only have two classes and they cannot be taken concurrently.
2. If I am accepted, when will I receive more course details, such as course content, reading lists, timetables, payment schedule & cancellation policies, campus maps and other logistics details?
   We will send you general and detailed program information in April.
3. Will I have access to student facilities such as computer labs, libraries and health services at the hosting university?
   Yes, you will have access to computer labs, the campus wi-fi system, libraries, museums, area buses, and sport facilities but not health services.
4. Will I need a visa to attend this GSP course?
   Information about visas is available from (http://www.state.gov/).
   
   The host GSP coordinator can provide supporting letters and other relevant information for your visa application. Please consult your local US Embassy or Consulate to find out whether you need to obtain a visa.
5. How can we interact with other participants and GSP alumni before the course?
   You will be invited to join the GSP Facebook group after being accepted into the program.

You can direct your questions about course credits and scholarships to your home institutions. More details about the application process and deadlines will be available in the "How to Apply" page.

Once students have been accepted into the program they will be required to register for their course through UC Berkeley’s online registration system. They can arrange to pay for the tuition and fees at that time either by credit card or bank wire. Students will register for housing after registering for courses and will make that payment directly to the housing office.

Depending on their citizenship, students will likely be required to obtain a US student visa. Once they have completed their online registration for courses they will be asked to upload a copy of their passport and financial statements to our website for review and they will be issued a I-20 certificate of eligibility, which they will use to apply for a US visa at a consulate in their country. They are responsible for the SEVIS fee and any other visa application fees.

Contact person:

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