Some sophomores will be able to dissect media-driven myths next fall as part of a pilot living-learning community.
This new program, “Media Myth and Power,” will be the first sophomore living-learning community at AU.
The 18 students will be housed on the same floor in McDowell Hall and take a class together in the building.
The class is a three-credit course taught by School of Communication Professor W. Joseph Campbell that will count toward the second level of the area four General Education requirements and toward certain majors in SOC.
Campbell said the course is drawn from his research on these myths. The principal text will be his book, “Getting it Wrong: 10 of the Greatest Misreported Stories in American Journalism.”
The class will include field trips to the Newseum and the Library of Congress, where students will do research for assignments.
“To reach out and encourage students to embrace in some measure the resources of Washington is a key objective of the class,” Campbell said.
The community will be similar in some ways to the University College program in that students will live together and share the experience of the course.
If the program is successful, it might be expanded in the future so that students will be able to choose the class they want to take, according to Paul Brown, assistant director of learning communities and assessment for Housing and Dining Programs.
Brown said that national education research shows that living-learning community students are happier, more satisfied and tend to stay at their universities longer.
“One of the benefits of using that class is Dr. Campbell has his office in the residence hall right there,” Brown said. “It strengthens the living-learning connection by being able to have the class housed right there with him.”
If more than 18 students apply, selections will be made on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students can apply as an individual or with a roommate, but priority will be given to complete roommate pairs over individuals, according to the Housing and Dining website.
There is no cost to apply or to participate in the program. Although applications were due Feb. 4, freshmen who are still interested may contact Brown at pbrown@american.edu.
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