COM 130 - Current Events in Global Context

3 credit hours - Three hours weekly; one term.
Survey local, national, and world news with emphasis on understanding the background, context, and vocabulary of current news events as well as the personalities and relationships that affect those events. Read current news accounts, and through research and interactive assignments, learn how news events are globally interconnected.

Note: Typically offered at MC; fall, spring, and summer terms.

Course Outcomes:

Analyze major news trends and events.
- Explain what makes news.
- Demonstrate how to gather information from news reports.
- Explain how to recognize trends in news events.
Analyze how historical events have set the stage for current events.
- Explain the background and context of ongoing narratives in world events.
- Explain the relationships between different cultures that can trigger events on the world stage.
Analyze the major forces whose actions and decisions affect world events.
- Analyze how local, national and world leaders help set the course of events.
- Identify key local, national and world leaders.
- Explain how other forces, such as weather, politics, economics and social movement affect events.
- Explain how world organizations (NATO, Unitex Nations, and non-governmental organizations) help steer events.
Integrate vocabulary and geography with ongoing narrative of current events.
- Identify countries, borders, and key cities on a map.
- Define key words associated with people, groups, and countries.
Analyze the global interconnectedness of current events.
- Describe how other cultures report news events.
- Describe how a decision in one country can affect the lives of people in other countries.
Develop the tools for continued monitoring and understanding of world events.
- Demonstrate familiarity with major news organizations both in the U.S. and abroad.
- Find information online and in library holding that will enhance continued knowledge and understanding of ongoing news events.