Course schedule: Fall 2026
This schedule follows the published Montclair Syllabus. Topics can change based on class progress and industry developments. Canvas is the source of truth for assignment deadlines.
Assignment due dates at a glance
| Due date | Assignment | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, Sep 7 | Academic engagement verification | Required |
| Fri, Sep 11 | Cluetrain Manifesto media analysis | 50 |
| Fri, Sep 18 | Alien propaganda poster | 50 |
| Fri, Oct 2 | Design a slide deck that does not suck | 50 |
| Fri, Oct 9 | Research dossier | 35 |
| Fri, Oct 30 | User/customer persona | 75 |
| Fri, Nov 6 | Campaign strategy | 75 |
| Fri, Nov 13 | Critical copywriting | 100 |
| Fri, Nov 20 | Social media promotion | 75 |
| Fri, Dec 4 | Brand kit and style guide | 75 |
| Tue, Dec 15 | Final project: Multimedia asset package | 500 |
Week-by-week schedule
Week 1: August 28 — Course introduction, digital fundamentals, and the state of media
- Syllabus review, course expectations, digital literacy, and the state of digital platforms
- Keyboard shortcuts, file organization, Canvas submissions, and shared-document permissions
- Reading: “Your media business will not be saved” by Joshua Topolsky
- Final project preview: Multimedia asset package
Week 2: September 4 — The Cluetrain Manifesto, media markets, and information needs
- The 95 theses, corporate communication, humor, and authentic voice
- Media markets, audience information needs, and the “shiny new thing”
- Discussion of assigned Cluetrain observations, questions, and theses
Week 3: September 11 — AI tools, assignment protocols, and visual design principles
- AI use policy, assignment submissions, and shared-document access
- Contrast, hierarchy, alignment, balance, and spacing
- Introduction to Canva and the alien propaganda poster
Week 4: September 18 — Propaganda poster production and web visuals
- Visual persuasion, composition, typography, color, and image selection
- Featured images, aspect ratios, resolution, and different screen sizes
- In-class alien propaganda poster production
Week 5: September 25 — Poster critique and slide-deck design
- Alien propaganda poster presentations and live critique
- Peer feedback and design critique principles
- Slide hierarchy, pacing, typography, image placement, and visual consistency
Week 6: October 2 — Slide presentations and final project introduction
- Slide-deck presentations
- Final project organization, campaign, or cause selection
- Research dossier, competitor analysis, inspiration gathering, and NotebookLM
Week 7: October 9 — Research, audience, and campaign strategy
- Research dossiers, competitor analysis, and existing communications
- Campaign objectives, platform strategy, tactics, content calendars, and performance measures
- Audience motivations, constraints, and media habits
Week 8: October 16
No Friday class. The university meets on a Monday schedule.
Week 9: October 23
No class. Fall break runs October 17–25.
Week 10: October 30 — Personas and strategic planning
- Customer and user personas
- Motivations, constraints, pain points, and media habits
- Campaign goals, strategies, tactics, and performance measures
Week 11: November 6 — Copywriting foundations
- The solutions lens and useful criticism
- Reading: Selections from On Writing Well by William Zinsser
- Clarity, structure, active voice, specificity, and concise language
- Critical copywriting argument and structure
Week 12: November 13 — Copywriting workshop, headlines, and platform voice
- Voice, tone, headlines, leads, calls to action, and audience fit
- Adapting campaign language for different channels
- Drafting, peer review, revision, and headline testing
Week 13: November 20 — Social graphics, accessibility, and distribution
- Social cards, promotional graphics, calls to action, and distribution strategy
- Accessibility, mobile screens, and useful alt text
- Pairing campaign copy with visual assets
Week 14: November 27
No class. Thanksgiving break runs November 25–29.
Week 15: December 4 — Brand systems and final project workshop
- Style guides, brand kits, typography, color, image treatment, voice, and tone
- Written, visual, and social asset integration
- Final project troubleshooting and presentation preparation
Week 16: December 11 and December 15
Final project presentations, feedback, troubleshooting, and course review.
- Friday, December 11: First presentation session
- Tuesday, December 15: The university meets on a Friday schedule
- Tuesday, December 15: Final project due
Class meeting dates
August: Fri 8/28
September: Fri 9/4, Fri 9/11, Fri 9/18, Fri 9/25
October: Fri 10/2, Fri 10/9, Fri 10/30
November: Fri 11/6, Fri 11/13, Fri 11/20
December: Fri 12/4, Fri 12/11, Tue 12/15
Total: 14 class sessions