U N I V E RS I T Y OF
1119 M a m A d m i n i s t r a t i o n B u i l d m g
College Park, M a r y l a n d 20742-5031
301.405.5252 TEL 301.405.8195 FAX
MARYLAND
OFFICE OF THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND PROVOST
July 6,2015
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Bonnie Thornton Dill
Dean, College of Arts and Humanities
FROM:
Elizabeth Beise
Associate Provost for Academic Planning and Programs
SUBJECT:
Proposal to Modify the Bachelor of Arts in Communication Public Relations
Specialization (PCC log no. 14067)
The proposal to modify the Bachelor of Arts in Communication Public Relations
Specialization has been administratively approved. A copy of the approved proposal is attached.
This change is effective Fall 2015. Please ensure that this change is fully described in the
Undergraduate Catalog and in all relevant descriptive materials, including the undergraduate
program's four-year plan (contact Lisa Kiely at IkielvfSlumd.edu for more information), and that
all advisors are informed.
MDC/
Enclosure
cc:
Gregory Miller, Chair, Senate PCC Committee
Barbara Gill, Office of Student Financial Aid
Reka Montfort, University Senate
Erin Taylor, Division of Information Technology
Pam Phillips, Institutional Research, Planning & Assessment
Anne Turkos, University Archives
Linda Yokoi, Office of the Registrar
Cynthia Stevens, Office of Undergraduate Studies
Alene Moyer, College of Arts and Humanities
Elizabeth Toth, Department of Communication
T H E U N I V E R S I T Y OF MARYLAND, C O L L E G E P A R K
PROGRAM/CURRICULUM/UNIT PROPOSAL
PCC
LOG NO.
•
Please email the rest of the proposal as an MSWord
attachment
to pcc-submissionsfa).umd.edu.
•
14067
Please submit the signed form to the Office of the Associate Provost
for Academic Planning and Programs, 1119 Main Administration Building, Campus.
College/School: A R H U
Please also add College/School Unit Code-First 8 digits: 012027001271501
•
,
^|tWt|-fv«»*
Department/Program:
Please also add Department/Program Unit Code-Last 7 digits:
Type of Action (choose one):
X Curriculum change (including informal specializations)
• Curriculum change for an LEP Program • New Professional Studies award iteration
• New Minor
• Request to create an online version of an e
program
Summary of Proposed Action:
Proposed are the following for four actions to improve the Department of Communication'
recommended by the Public Relations Society of America re-certification team and the pub
requirements of the track that are critical to successfully entering the practice of pub
1.
Add as a requirement, JOUR 181: Grammar for Journalists in order to strengthen st
advanced public relations writing courses.
2.
Substitute a new course COMM 201: Introduction to Public Relations for COMM 350:
so that students will have an overview of the public relations track earlier in th
understanding of the advanced writing courses required.
3. Change the number of the course, COMM 231 to COMM 331 to better reflect that thi
relations writing course.
4.
Change the number of the course, COMM 232 to COMM 332 to better reflect that this
relations writing course.
Departmental/Unit Contact Person for Proposal: Elizabeth L . Toth
APPROVAL SIGNATURES -
1. Department Committee Chair
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2. Department Chair
3. College/School PCC Chair
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4. Dean
5. Dean of the Graduate School (if required)
6. Chair, Senate PCC
7. University Senate Chair (if required) fly.
8. Senior Vice President and Provost
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1
University of Maryland, College Park
Curriculum Change Proposal: Four Changes to the Public Relations Track in the Commu
Department of Communication
April 22, 2015
We propose to make the following four changes to the public relations track in the Com
(1). Add as a requirement, JOUR 181: Grammar for Journalists in order to strengthen
student preparation to take advanced public relations writing courses.
(2.) Substitute a new course COMM 201: Introduction to Public Relations for COMM 350:
so that students will have an overview of the public relations track earlier in thei
their understanding of the advanced writing courses required.
(3.) Change the number of the course, COMM 231 to COMM 331 to better reflect that this
relations writing course.
(4.) Change the number of the course, COMM 232 to COMM 332 to better reflect that this
relations writing course.
CURRENT TRACK (51 total credit hours)
COMM 107 Communication: Principles and Practices
COMM 107 Communication: Principles and Practices
COMM 200 Critical Thinking and Speaking COMM 200 Critical Thinking and Speaking
COMM 230 Argumentation and Debate
COMM 230 Argumentation and Debate
COMM 250 Introduction to Communication Inquiry
COMM 250 Introduction to Communication Inquiry
COMM 400 (pre-req: COMM250 & approved STAT):
COMM 400 (pre-req: COMM250 & approved STAT):
Research Methods in Communication
Research Methods in Communication
COMM 401
COMM 350
COMM 401
COMM 231: News Writing and Reporting for PR
News Writing and Reporting for PR
COMM 232 News Editing for PR
COMM 351
News Editing for PR
COMM 351
2
COMM 386: Communication Practicum
COMM 386: Communication Practicum
COMM 353 New iVIedia Writing for PR
COMM 353 New Media Writing for PR
COMM 483
COMM 483
BMGT230
CCJS 200
STAT 100
PSYC 200
EDMS 451
SOCY 201
BMGT230
CC1S200
STAT 100
PSYC 200
EDMS 451
SOCY 201
(1). Add as a requirement, JOUR 181: Grammar for Journalists in order to strengthen
student preparation to take advanced public relations writing courses.
The Department of Communication (COMM) proposes to require that students, who want t
public relations track, take JOUR 181: Practical Grammar for Journalists prior to taking
for Public Relations. COMM 181 (1 credit) permits students to take a test in the second
principles. If students pass the test, they pass the course and do not have to attend t
Preparation for entry into public relations requires that students have excellent writing
grammar, spelling, and punctuation (GSP). This standard mirrors the same expectation of
journalism major. When the public relations track became part of the Department of Commun
a GSP diagnostic test (the same one was used in journalism). However, the commercial vend
offered the product. Department efforts to continue to provide critical GSP training incl
journalism leadership without success and attempting to fold GSP into an introductory cou
by the University Curriculum Committee that responded that entering UMD freshman were equ
GPS and needed no remedial work). COMM was left with the alternative to emphasize the imp
spelling, and punctuation (GSP) knowledge by teaching GSP within COMM 231 (331). However
has too many other important writing skills components being crowded out by 40 percent of
over to GSP instruction. Students struggle with meeting the demands of learning GSP and a
writing, based on journalism principles. Students drop out because of the demanding writi
Now with the cooperation of the Merrill College, COMM wishes to correct this overcrowding
students to have more control of GSP writing basics. JOUR 181 will be pre-requisite to t
Merrill College of Journalism has agreed to open a section of this course for COMM majors
Also, JOUR 181 is taught or led by an English department professor who has the GSP exper
course.
(2.) Substitute a new course COMM 201: Introduction to Public Relations for COMM 350:
so that students will have an overview of the public relations track earlier in the
their understanding of the advanced writing courses required.
COMM 201 Introduction to Public Relations, to be offered Fall and Spring semesters
Public Relations Theory on recommendation of the Public Relations Society of America (PR
3
The Department of Communication's public relations track is one of only a few undergradua
that is credentialed by PRSA. The team's recommendation was that by introducing the pract
public relations earlier in the track at the sophomore year, students entering the track
of the public relations career and understanding of the reasoning for the four advanced w
The team wrote in its re-certification report: "Students have also indicated their prefer
introduce them to various aspects of the profession before plunging into the current firs
strong emphasis on writing." Prior learning outcomes for the PR track focused on developi
public relations knowledge learning outcomes. However, students are struggling with a dif
without a broad overview of the public relations profession. COMM proposed a large lectu
assistants leading group sessions as the best means of delivery for a knowledge-based se
proposed syllabus). In a large lecture format, COMM will also accommodate communication m
more about public relations as a profession whether they pursue the track or not. COMM 20
for the advanced writing courses of the track.
(3.) Change the number of the course, COMM 231 to COMM 331 to better reflect that this
relations writing course.
COMM proposes to change COMM 231's course number to COMM 331. When the public relati
moved from Journalism to Communication, its course number stayed the same at the 200 leve
the advanced writing nature of the course more appropriate to the junior level. Students
writing style, based in part on Journalistic principles but also public relations princi
on deadline. Assignments lead to a professional portfolio of kinds of public relations wr
hours per week of class lecture and lab time, producing weekly assignments that become a
culminating in final presentations to area PR professionals. The course merits a junior
Students will be required to complete COMM 201 as a pre-requisite for COMM 331.
(4.) Change the number of the course, COMM 232 to COMM 332 to better reflect that this
relations writing course.
COMM proposes to change COMM 232's course number to COMM 332. The reasoning for this i
request to advance COMM 231 to COMM 331. When the public relations track moved from Journ
Communication, the editing course number stayed at same 200 level without thought to the
nature of the course more appropriate to the junior level. This course is also a profess
at the desktop and include graphics skills based on public relations principles, culmina
presentation to area PR professionals. It advances the work of COMM 231 (331) and merits
designation. COMM 331 is a pre-requisite for COMM 332.
The Department of Communication will pay the Merrill College for the instruction and
support for one section of JOUR 181 each semester. The cost will be offset because COMM
two sections per semester of COMM 350 @ 35 students per section, saving the cost of one
The impact of this partnership will be that faculty teaching COMM 331 and COMM 332 will b
focused in-depth instruction on public relations writing and editing with students who ha
No new resources will be needed to accommodate these changes because JOUR 181 will be ta
College. COMM has satisfactory computer labs for COMM 331 and COMM 332. No new equipment
be required.
4
Current students will be impacted by finding that COMM 201 will substituted for COMM
be offered when this proposal is approved). COMM is prepared for a period of transition
already entered the public relations track prior to approval so that they may still take
GPS (if the timing doesn't work on approval). Students will find that course number chang
COMM 231 (when they are approved). Future students will be required to add the I credit J
and to take it and COMM 201 as a pre-requisite to COMM 231 (331). COMM students receive
department's advising office. Following are proposed new advising sheets and proposed cat
are part of a listserv that provides announcements and information and curriculum change
plans of study and track forms to help them with registration and successfully complete
revised catalog copy.
Comm Public Relations Proposed Four Year Academi
Spring
Fall
COMM 107, 200, or 230
ENGL 101 (AW)*
Natural Sciences (NS)**
COMM 250
Math (MA)*
Analytic Reasoning (AR)
Statistics requirement
Humanities (HU)**
History/Social Sciences (HS)**
Oral Communication (OC)
COMM 107, 200, or 230
UNIV 101
COMM 201
JOUR 181
Humanities (HU)**
One additional major requirement
COMM 250
Cognate #1
Scholarship in Practice (SP) #1**
STAT requirement or electiveCOMM 331
Elective lxx-4xx
Elective 3xx-4xx
Global Engagements!
Global Engagement #2
Natural Science Lab(NL)**
Four additional major requirements
History/Social Sciences (HS)**
COMM 332
COMM 400 or 401
COMM 400 or 401
Cognate #2
COMM 351
Cognate #3
Elective lxx-4xx
Elective 3xx-4xx
Professional Writing (PW)
COMM 483
Scholarship in Practice (SP)COMM
#2**386
COMM 353
Elective 3xx-4xx
COMM3XX-4XX
Elective 3xx-4xx
COMM3xx-4xx
Elective 3xx-4xx
JTotal Credits for Degree: 120; 45 credits must be 3xx-4xx level
Note: Some courses for the major may also count toward the General Education requirements.
**AII students must complete two Distributive Studies courses that are approved for l-series courses.
Plural Societies and Cultural Competence courses may also fulfill Distributive Studies categories.
6
Communication - Public Relations
ENGL 101
Academic Writing (AW)
Professional Writing (PW)
Oral Comm. (satisfied through COMM 107
or 200)
Math (MA)
Analytic Reasoning (AR) (satisfied through BMGT
230, COS 200, EDMS 451 or STAT 100)
COMM 107, 200, or 230
COMM 250
Statistics requirement
One additional major requirement
Four additional major requirements
Course Credits Grade 1
Natural Science Lab(NL)
Natural Sciences
History/Social Sciences (HS)
History/Social Sciences (HS)
Humanities (HU)
Humanities (HU)
Scholarship in Practice (SP)
Scholarship in Practice (SP) non major
Course Credits Grade
l-Series (IS)
l-Series(IS)
Course Credits Grade
Understanding Plural Soc. (UP)
Understanding Plural Soc. (UP)
Cultural Competency (CC)
COMM
COMM
COMM
COMM
COMM
COMM
COMM
COMM
COMM
COMM
COMM
COMM
250
400
401
331
332
201
351
353
386
483
3xx-4xx
3xx-4xx
One course from the following:
BMGT 230, 200,
EDMS 451, PSYC 200,
SOCY 201, STAT 100
Course Credits Grade
DEPT lxx-4xx
DEPT lxx-4xx
DEPT lxx-4xx
At least 30 credits must be earned at UMD
15 of the final 30 credits must be earned at the 300-400 level
12 upper level major credits must be earned at UMD
45 upper level credits
ARHU 158 equivalent (if applicable)
7
Global Engagement
Comm Public Relations Proposed Four Year Academ
Spring
Fall
COMM 107, 200, or 230
ENGL 101 (AW)*
Natural Sciences (NS)**
COMM 250
Math (MA)*
Analytic Reasoning (AR)
Statistics requirement
Humanities (HU)**
History/Social Sciences (HS)**
Oral Communication (OC)
COMM 107, 200, or 230
UNIV 101
COMM 201
JOUR 181
Humanities (HU)**
One additional major requirement
COMM 250
Cognate #1
Scholarship in Practice (SP) #1**
STAT requirement or electiveCOMM 331
Elective lxx-4xx
Elective 3xx-4xx
Global Engagement #1
Global Engagement #2
Natural Science Lab(NL)**
Four additional major requirements
History/Social Sciences (HS)**
COMM 332
COMM 400 or 401
COMM 400 or 401
COMM 351
Cognate #2
Cognate #3
Elective lxx-4xx
Elective 3xx-4xx
Professional Writing (PW)
COMM 483
4
Scholarship in Practice (SP)COMM
#2**386
COMM 353
Elective 3xx-4xx
COMM 3xx-4xx
Elective 3xx-4xx
COMM 3xx-4xx
Elective 3xx-4xx
Total Credits for Degree: 121; 45 credits must be 3xx-4xx level
Note: Some courses for the major may also count toward the General Education requirements.
**AII students must complete two Distributive Studies courses that are approved for l-series courses.
Plural Societies and Cultural Competence courses may also fulfill Distributive Studies categories.
8
CATALOG COPY REVISION
Public Relations Track
JOUR 181: Grammar for Journalists (1)
COMM 331: News Writing and Reporting for Public Relations (3)
COMM 332: News Editing for Public Relations (3)
COMM 201: Introduction to Public Relations (3)
COMM351: Public Relations Techniques (3)
COMM353: New Media Writing for Public Relations (3)
COMM386: Experiential Learning* (3-6)*
COMM483: Senior Seminar in Public Relations (3)
COMM300/400 Upper Level COMM Electives (6)
(3-4)
PSYC200: Statistical Methods in Psychology
SOCY201: Introductory Statistics for Sociology (4)
BMGT230: Business Statistics
EDMS451: Introduction to Educational Statistics
STATIOO: Elementary Statistics and Probability
(or an equivalent course - see advisor)
COURSESXX
Courses related to Public Relations in one department other than COMM or JOU
8