Professor Stuart J. Bullion, Chair
331 Farley Hall

Professor Husni
Associate Professors I.E. Atkins, Manning-Miller, and Morris
Assistant Professors Braseth, Caldwell, and Wickham

The graduate program in journalism is an "academic" rather than a "professional" program. M.A. students planning to enter media careers (especially those without extensive academic or professional background in journalism) may, however, pursue a course of study combining undergraduate and graduate JOUR courses. Such students will inevitably take more than the minimum required number of semester hours in their post-graduate academic program. Only courses numbered 500 and above may be considered for graduate-degree credit.

Admission requirements
In addition to meeting graduate school admission requirements (see Admission Procedure, under "Entering the Graduate School," elsewhere in this catalog), applicants must submit a letter detailing their reasons for wishing to pursue an M.A. in Journalism. Applicants also should provide three letters of recommendation, including one addressing the applicant's mass media experience, if applicable.

Academic Requirements
Applicants who do not have the equivalent of an undergraduate major in journalism will be required to take 12 hours of approved undergraduate JOUR courses (reduced by any acceptable undergraduate journalism hours which have been completed) in addition to one of the programs of study outlined below. Students who do not have the equivalent of an undergraduate major in journalism but who have work experience in the field may submit appropriate credentials and work samples to be considered in lieu of undergraduate courses.

Thesis or thesis-project option
Students take a 30-semester-hour program of study, as follows: JOUR 651, 652, 654 and 655; 6 hours of graduate-level JOUR electives; 6 hours of graduate course work in an area of concentration outside the department; and 6 hours of JOUR 697 to complete a thesis or thesis project. A thesis project must be a professional work in an appropriate medium equal in scope to a formal thesis, i.e., based on a formal proposal encompassing problem analysis, literature review, method statement and bibliography. Both the thesis and the project require approval of a written prospectus and an oral examination. Students pursuing the thesis/thesis-project option must pass a written comprehensive examination before registering for thesis credits.

Nonthesis option
Students take a 30-semester-hour program of study, as follows: JOUR 651, 652, 654 and 655; 9 hours of graduate-level JOUR electives; and 9 hours of graduate course work in an area of concentration outside the department. Nonthesis students also must pass a written comprehensive examination.

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Course Descriptions

Journalism - JOUR

513. THE PRESS AND THE CHANGING SOUTH. An analysis of politics in the southern United States; examination of the role of the press in covering social issues; techniques used to inform the public about phenomena such as protest movements and their impact on social, political, and economic change. (3).

553. SERVICE JOURNALISM MANAGEMENT. Business aspects of magazine publication. Personnel management with emphasis on getting productivity and quality results from creative people. Prerequisite: JOUR 351. (3).

573. MASS COMMUNICATIONS, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY. The theory of mass communications technology in relation to media functions, responsibilities, and influence in society. (3).

574. PUBLIC OPINION AND THE MASS MEDIA. Effects of language, culture, and ideology. Communication in the formation and action of crowds, masses, and publics. Mass and personal persuasion and propaganda techniques. The diffusion of ideas. Community power structures. Public opinion measurement. (3).

575. MASS MEDIA ETHICS AND SOCIAL ISSUES. Formulation and discussion of professional ethics for journalists. Analysis of social forces affecting media performance. (3).

577. DEPTH REPORTING. Investigative and interpretative news writing; coverage of courts and legislative bodies; use of public records. Laboratory. (3).

578. TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY REPORTING. Development of skills in conceiving, documenting, recording, and presenting information at broadcast standards as mini-documentaries in television newscasts or as 30-minute and 60-minute documentary programs. Prerequisite: JOUR 378 or instructor's permission. (3).

580. TOPICS IN JOURNALISM. Perspectives on issues such as international mass communication, media and society, journalism ethics, diversity, communication theory, etc. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. (May be repeated for credit.) (3).

599. MEDIA PROBLEMS. Directed individual study or professional project. Prerequisite: permission of faculty supervisor and department chair. (1-3).

651. RESEARCH IN MASS COMMUNICATIONS. Introduction to basic procedures for gathering and evaluating information in mass communications. (3).

652. SEMINAR IN MASS COMMUNICATION THEORY. A survey of mass communication theory. (3).

653. PROBLEMS IN PUBLIC OPINION. Integration of theory with research methods for the production of a research project which may be the basis of a proposal for a thesis or thesis project. (3).

654. SEMINAR IN COMMUNICATIONS LAW. Continuation of Communication Law with concentration on specific areas of law in regard to the mass media. Prerequisite: JOUR 571. (3).

655. SEMINAR IN HISTORY OF MASS MEDIA. Concentrated analysis and discussion of readings on media history. Prerequisite: 572. (3).

657. SEMINAR IN HUMAN COMMUNICATION THEORY. Readings in human communication theory from anthropology, philosophy, psychiatry, psycho-linguistics, psychology, neurophysiology, and sociology. (3).

680. ADVANCED TOPICS IN JOURNALISM. Advanced perspectives on issues such as international mass communication, media and society, journalism ethics, diversity, communication theory, etc. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. (May be repeated for credit.) (3).

697. THESIS. (1-12).

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