Mass Communication Department
Summary of Proposed Changes to the Curriculum – Broadcast Journalism
1. Remove the requirement for a mandatory minor curriculum in Broadcast
Journalism.
2. The minor is replaced with a series of four Department-approved electives and four
“free-choice” electives.
3. The final “free-choice” elective will be two hours rather than three credit hours. This
reduces the required number of credits to graduate to 120.
4. A student may choose to retain the old system and do a minor if the person prefers.
5. Online journalism is being added to the broadcast journalism curriculum if approved.
College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Curriculum Change Approval Form
Degrees: Bachelor of Arts
Concentration: Broadcast Journalism
Department: Mass Communication
Submission Date: March 5, 2008
________________________________________________________________________
Signature
_________________________________________
Departmental Chairperson
_______________
Date
Signature
_________________________________________
College Curriculum Committee
_______________
Date
Signature
_________________________________________
Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
_______________
Date
Signature
_________________________________________
Chairperson, Faculty Senate
_______________
Date
Signature
_________________________________________
Provost/Vice President
_______________
Date
Signature
_________________________________________
President
_______________
Date
Proposed Changes to the Curriculum
Proposed changes
The following pages contain the new curriculum, and the detailed course/curriculum revision
forms for the proposed changes.
We are proposing elimination of the mandatory minor in Broadcast Journalism and replacing it
with a new curriculum that allows for more flexibility. Students will have a choice of four
electives from a list of Mass Comm and allied subjects. All the subjects have been reviewed for
applicability to the profession by the department curriculum committee. Some are in the Mass
Communication Department: some are in allied departments such as Sociology and English.
After taking four of the department-approved electives, the student selects four electives from
any place in the college catalogue. This gives the student greater understanding of subjects
outside Mass Communications, and the student can make some wise choices with the advisor.
If a student does not wish to use the new curriculum, the person can still take a minor but it is not
required.
We are reducing the number of credit hours to 120 by making the last elective 2 credits instead
of 3.
We are adding a new course in Online Journalism. It becomes highly-recommended and the first
of the four department-approved electives.
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Approved Electives
Course Title & No.
Online Journalism
(xx-xx)
Interpersonal Communication
(01-327)
Home Department
Mass Comm
English
Relevance to Mass Comm Curriculum
Contemporary journalism techniques
Highly-advised for all Broadcast Journalists
All Mass Communication depends on how
understand self and several-way dialogue
Sport Broadcasting
Photography
(05-325)
Mass Comm
Art
Applicable to all areas of media
Need photos with stories
Multimedia Systems
(20-390)
Computer Science
Important on websites
Public Relations Writing
(55-251)
Mass Comm
Essential throughout media
Entreprenuership
(41-425)
Management
Essential for anyone self-employed,
Freelancers, owners
American Cinema & Society Mass Comm
(55-307)
Film is important medium throughout
Mass Comm world
Organizational Communication Mass Comm
(55-209)
Most Mass Comm majors will work in large
Firm & need to understand changes
Political Sociology
(37-320)
Political Science
Report on politics, different communities
Race & Ethnic Relations
(37-210)
Sociology
Report on different groups
Principles of Sociology
(37-102)
Sociology
Report much on different communities
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College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Curriculum Change Approval Form
Degrees: Bachelor of Arts
Concentration: Broadcast Journalism
Department: Mass Communications
Submission Date: March 5, 2008
1.
Course Title/Number:
Free Elective
_____
2.
Number of Credits:
3 credit hours
_____
3.
Curriculum Program Title:
Mass Communication__________________
4.
Curriculum/Course is:
5.
List Prerequisites:
N/A
_____
6.
List Courses Being Replaced:
N/A
_____
7.
List Courses Being Deleted:
1 (one) credit hour
( ) New
( ) Required
(x) Revised
( ) Elective
8.
Needs Statement (Give brief statement explaining the need for the new course or for
combining courses. Does this course adjustment alter the nature of the curriculum program or
the degree to be awarded?)
No significant changes. The total number of credit hours is reduced from 121 to 120 hours.
9.
Catalogue Description of the Course:
N/A
10.
List Objectives of the Course:
Broad liberal arts education
11. Course Outline (Attach Typical Course Outline)
N/A
12. Show how the proposed course fits into the curriculum or course sequence. Attach
course descriptions and list course numbers.
The hour will be dropped from the Spring Semester of the Senior Year (see attached
Curriculum in Broadcast Journalism)
13. Are there comparable courses in other departments? If so, list all comparable courses
here. (Attach course descriptions for all comparable courses.) N/A
14. How will students be affected by this course change? Will this course improve
students’ professional competence, employability, and ability to pass professional
examinations? Does this course increase the number of credit hours required for
graduation? Do the course prerequisites increase the total number of semester hours
in this curriculum program?
Change will reduce the number of credit hours required for graduation.
15. What effect will this new course have on University resources?
require new or additional resources and/or staffing?
Will this course
None.
16. How will this new course benefit the University?
N/A
17. How will the change affect the program?
Change will reduce the number of credit hours required for graduation.
Submitted by:____Dr. Myna German
Date: __3/5/2008
Approved by the Faculty of Department (Date) _______2/28/2008_____________
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MASS COMMUNICATION CURRICULUM COURSE REVIEW
1. Course Title/Number:
2. Number of Credits:
N/A
N/A
3. Curriculum Program Title: Broadcast Journalism Curriculum/Mass Communications
4. Curriculum/Course is:
New _ __
Required __ __
5. List Prerequisites:
Revised _x __
Elective ____
N/A
6. List Courses Being Replaced: All course designations for minor courses as made
mandatory by department selected outside of Mass Communications
7. List Courses Being Deleted:
Mass Communications
Requirement for a minor course program outside of
8. Needs Statement: In line with current higher education trends for more “free-choice” in
students’ programs, we seek to remove the need for a set series of courses as spelled out
by another department.
We seek to replace these eight courses with a minor-less curriculum.
9. Current catalogue Description of the Courses: NA
10. Description of change
Student may decide from list of 10-15 courses decided upon by Mass Comm
Curriculum committee, drawing from in-house courses and allied departments. These
constitute the first four courses; the second four courses (in a sequence of eight) are
decided upon by the student in consultation with the advisor.
New catalog description N/A
*The student has the right to choose a minor or continue with a program of minor subjects
from another department if the person chooses instead of the new curriculum. If so, all
rules of that other department would apply.
Submitted by: The Curriculum Committee of the Department of CAHSS
Date: _____________________________________________________
Approved by the Faculty of the Department of Mass Communications: February 28, 2008
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