Program Director: Ruth Ann Ragland, Ph.D., Associate Professor
 

Location: HDB 301
Telephone: (940) 898-2181
Fax (940) 898-2188
e-mail: raragland@twu.edu
www.twu.edu/slis/mc/

Faculty: Lecturer II Charles Orbison; Visiting Lecturer Rhonda Snider.

The Program in Mass Communications has as its objective the preparation of practitioners for a successful career in a changing world. Mass communications includes all aspects of media, including print and broadcast journalism, advertising, public relations, photojournalism and cyber publishing. The study of mass communications is applicable in many other areas, too.

Students will find exceptional opportunities for developing skills in their chosen field through classroom work, through experience on department-sponsored media, and through internships.

The Program is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.

Major

A student in the Program in Mass Communications must take 90 semester hours outside the major. At least 65 of those hours must be liberal arts and sciences courses.

The major requires 33 semester hours in Mass Communications courses, 15 hours of which must be 3000- or 4000-level courses completed at TWU. No more than 3 hours may be taken as an internship. A grade of "C" or higher is required in all Mass Communications courses. "Incompletes" in Mass Communications courses must either be completed for a minimum grade of "C" or be retaken for a minimum grade of "C." Students must be able to type at least 30 words per minute.

All majors must take six core courses outlined below. In addition, students must take 15 hours of electives in the major. One of these electives must be a writing/editing course.

A Mass Communications student must have a minor of at least 18 hours in a discipline outside Mass Communications. At least 6 hours must be advanced with 3 upper level hours completed at TWU. A 2.0 gradepoint in the minor is required.

No more than 12 semester credit hours in Mass Communications may be transferred from a junior college. No more than 15 semester credit hours may be transferred from a four-year college or university. Transfer students must take at least one of the following writing/editing courses at TWU: MCOM 4113, MCOM 3033, MCOM 3013, MCOM 2313, MCOM 2013 or MCOM 2023.

Media

The Lasso: Students gain valuable experience in writing, editing, layout/design, desktop publishing, advertising and photography for the student newspaper, which is produced in a computerized newsroom and distributed on campuses in Denton, Dallas and Houston. An online edition also is published. The URL is: www.twu.edu/lasso/

The Campus Report: The program produces a television newscast on Denton cable channel 25. Students apply skills in producing, reporting, editing, videography and anchoring television news broadcasts. Digital and analog video editing facilities are available for student use.

Program Affiliations

The program has student chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists, Association for Women in Communications and the National Association of Black Journalists.

Undergraduate Degrees

B.A. and B.S. in Mass Communications

Core Courses Required

MCOM 1013
MCOM 2013
MCOM 2023
MCOM 4413
MCOM 4213
MCOM 3523 or MCOM 1323

Students must take an additional 15 hours in Mass Communications courses. One of these electives must be a writing/editing course from the list below:

MCOM 2313
MCOM 3013
MCOM 3033
MCOM 4113

Minor

For a minor in Mass Communications, 18 semester hours of credit are required. Six hours must be upper level, three of which must be completed at TWU.
 

Journalism Undergraduate Courses

MCOM 1013. Introduction to Mass Communication. (COMM 1307) This course is designed to develop an understanding of the interrelationship and future of the mass media in society in a changing world. It provides an overview of the traditional mass media?print, broadcast, film, as well as the related institutions of advertising, public relations, photography?regarding their functions, structure, support, and influence. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours. (This course satisfies a University core curriculum requirement for social sciences for students who are not Mass Communications Majors.)

MCOM 1323. Broadcast Production. (COMM 2331) Practical experiences in taping, editing, studio work and other aspects of production. Two lecture hours and three laboratory hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

MCOM 2013. Newswriting and Reporting I. (COMM 2311) Open to non-majors and majors. Introduction to basic writing and reporting skills of journalism and broadcasting. Recognition and evaluation of news. Two lecture hours and three laboratory hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

MCOM 2023. Newswriting and Reporting II. (COMM 2315) Fundamentals of newswriting and reporting for the print or broadcast media: practical problems of the reporter in covering speeches, meetings, interviews. Stories are made available to The Lasso for publication. Prerequisites: MCOM 2013. Two lecture hours and three laboratory hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

MCOM 2313. Broadcast Newswriting. (COMM 2332) Advanced development of skills in writing and editing news for radio and television. Prerequisite: MCOM 2013. Two lecture hours and three laboratory hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

MCOM 3003. Race, Gender and the Media. Examination of the influence of the mass media on the social constructions of race and gender. In-depth study of media portrayals of race and gender and of women and persons of color as communicators and as audience. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours. (This course satisfies a University core curriculum requirement for social sciences and/or multicultural studies. If it is taken to fulfill a University core requirement, it cannot be applied to a Mass Communications major.)

MCOM 3013. Copyediting. Methods of preparing newspaper copy for publication; editing local and wire service copy; writing headlines and cutlines; correction, condensation and evaluation of news; editing and desk management. Prerequisite: MCOM 2013 or concurrent scheduling of the course. Two lecture hours, three laboratory hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

MCOM 3023. Desktop Publishing and Publication Design. Theory and practice in publications design and layout using computer technology. Two lecture hours and three laboratory hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

MCOM 3033. Reporting Public Affairs. Coverage of government, education, and the courts; off-campus reporting assignments. Prerequisite: MCOM 2013 or consent of the instructor. Two lecture hours and three laboratory hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

MCOM 3123. Public Relations. Nature of public opinion; attitudes in opinion formation; evolution of public relations; business relations; educational relations; government relations; public relations for organizations and institutions; media and methods. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

MCOM 3523. Photojournalism. The continuing study of principles of news picturemaking techniques and darkroom methods. May be taken up to six hours, two semesters, one more advanced than the previous. Two lecture hours and three laboratory hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

MCOM 4113. Feature Writing. Production of nonfiction articles for both newspapers and magazines; techniques in developing ideas, planning, writing, revising, and marketing articles. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor. Two lecture hours and three laboratory hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

MCOM 4213. Ethics and Law of the Press. Legal limitations and privileges affecting both publishing and broadcasting. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

MCOM 4313. TV Workshop. Advanced production of the University’s TV newscast, The Campus Report. Two lecture, four laboratory hours a week. May be taken up to six hours (two semesters), one more advanced than the previous. Prerequisites: MCOM 1323 and MCOM 2313. Credit: Three hours.

MCOM 4413. Principles of Advertising. Advertising fundamentals; economic aspects; research; appeals; media; product; production; laws affecting advertising. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

MCOM 4433. Advertising and Public Relations Campaigns. Conceiving, researching, planning, executing, and evaluating advertising campaigns for the print and broadcast media. Prerequisites: MCOM 3123 and MCOM 4413 or consent of the instructor. Three lecture hours. Credit: Three hours.

MCOM 4503. Electronic Information. Use of electronic resources to access and manage information, including online systems, CD-ROM systems and software packages. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

MCOM 4903. Selected Topics in Journalism. Study of a specialized field of mass communications and problems peculiar to that field. Prerequisite: MCOM 2013 and sophomore standing. Credit: Three hours. May be repeated when topics vary.

MCOM 4911. Independent Study. Individual supervisory instruction in mass communications to meet individual student needs. Credit: One hour.

MCOM 4913. Independent Study. Advanced topics chosen to meet individual student needs. Prerequisite: MCOM 2013 and sophomore standing. Credit: Three hours. May be repeated when topics vary.

MCOM 4951. Cooperative Education. Cooperative work-study arrangements between the University, business, industry, or selected institutions appropriate to the Mass Communications program. Job assignments are made on the basis of student interests, skills, and degree program. The student will apply the ideas and processes learned in other courses in practical experience under cooperative supervision. Cooperative planning and evaluation are essential elements in the course. For one hour of credit, 8-12 hours of work per week are required.

MCOM 4953. Cooperative Education. A paid mass communications internship with a media company. Each paid internship is developed through the department chair's office and the Cooperative Education Office. Credit: Three hours.