USF 2004-2005 Undergraduate Catalog - USF St. Petersburg - Pages 281 - 283
Mass Communications/Journalism introduces students to the theories, principles, and problems of communications, emphasizing the concept of freedom of information as the cornerstone of constitutional democracy and preparing students for future leadership roles in communications media. Graduates should understand the structure and functions of mass media systems as well as the basic processes of communication. In addition, students specialize in an area of mass communications (advertising, journalism, public relations, or telecommunications) to blend a strong introduction to professional skills with the theoretical orientation.
Majors seeking careers in the mass media will be directed to the various media in close contact with the School for summer internships, practica, and part-time work. A limited number of students will have the opportunity to serve as interns with a mass communications organization and take MMC 4945 for three hours credit. Students may not receive credit for both an internship (MMC 4945) and a practicum (ADV 4940, JOU 3940, JOU 4941, JOU 4944, PUR 4700, RTV 3941, RTV 4942, VIC 3943).
To be admitted to the core curriculum in Mass Communications/Journalism, students must have completed general education requirements or a minimum of 45 hours with a 2.75 minimum Overall Grade Point Average, including ENC 1101 and 1102 with a minimum grade of “C” in each. Applicants must establish a minimum score of 60 percent on the Mass Communications English Diagnostic Test prior to entering MMC 2100 (Writing for Mass Media). (Students who transfer MMC 2100 or its equivalent must pass the Mass Communications/Journalism English Diagnostic Test with a score of at least 70 percent, which is the same score required for the successful completion of MMC 2100 at USF.) Both courses in the Mass Communications core curriculum (MMC 2100 and MMC 3602) must be completed with a minimum grade of “C” before any other Mass Communications/Journalism course may be taken. Students failing to achieve a minimum grade of “C” in both MMC 2100 and MMC 3602 will be disallowed as majors in the School. A 2.5 GPA in Mass Communications courses is required for graduation, and no student may graduate with a grade lower than “C” in any Mass Communications/Journalism course.
The Mass Communications/Journalism major requires six hours of core curriculum courses (MMC 2100 and MMC 3602) and 31 hours of a combination of required and selective sequence courses for a total of 37 hours in Mass Communications within the 124-hour degree requirement. Six hours in Mass Communications/Journalism writing courses (three hours in addition to MMC 2100) are a part of the graduation requirement.
Mass Communications/Journalism majors are required to take a minimum of 80 hours in courses outside the journalism and mass communications areas, with no fewer than 65 hours in the basic liberal arts and sciences. (Liberal Arts courses are listed in materials available from the School program advisor.) To facilitate this, no more than 44 hours of Mass Communications/Journalism courses may be applied toward the bachelor’s degree within the 124-hour graduation requirement. Mass Communications/Journalism majors taking more than 44 hours of Mass Communications/Journalism courses, regardless of the departments in which those courses are listed, must add those hours to the 124 hours required for graduation. In particular, film and photography courses offered in other departments may be considered to be Mass Communications/Journalism courses and added to the 124-hour degree requirement.
At least twenty-two (22) hours of resident School courses are required.
All material submitted by students as assignments in writing, reporting, editing, photography, and electronic news gathering and production classes is subject to publication or broadcast. The School uses a variety of print and electronic media outlets.
Sign Language may be used as an option by Mass Communications/Journalism majors to fulfill the language requirement.
Most Mass Communications/Journalism courses have prerequisites as specified in the course description (these prerequisites are separate from the State Mandated Common Prerequisites for program admission listed below). Refer to each prerequisite listed to determine progressive prerequisites for each course. Students also should note that the Mass Communications/Journalism major is a four-semester program at a minimum and the majority of courses are offered only during the day.
Prerequisites (State Mandated Common Prerequisites)
This is a limited access program. Students wishing to transfer to USF should complete the A.A. degree at the community college. Some courses required for the major may also meet General Education Requirements thereby transferring maximum hours to the university. If students transfer with fewer than 60 semester hours of acceptable credit, the students must meet the university’s entering freshman requirements including ACT or SAT test scores, GPA, and course requirements.
The transfer student should also be aware of the immunization, foreign language, and continuous enrollment policies of the university.
Students must complete 18 semester hours outside the Mass Communications/Journalism curriculum and beyond the 36 hours general education requirements prior to entering the university. If these courses are not taken at the community college, they must be completed before the degree is granted. A grade of “C” is the minimum acceptable grade. Students are encouraged to complete the following prerequisites, or major, support, or elective courses if available, during the program of study at the community college, and when feasible in General Education/Gordon Rule courses.
Prior to being admitted to the School of Mass Communications, a student must:
Required Upper-level Coursework for the Mass Communications Major
JOURNALISM Requirements
News-Editorial Option
Selective Requirements (10 hours required, selected with advisor’s approval)
Other Requirements:
The following courses are required outside the School to complete sequence requirements:
Magazine Option
Selective Requirements (7 hours required, selected with advisor’s approval)
Other Requirements: The following courses are required outside the School to complete sequence requirements:
See specific courses for prerequisites.
Visual Communications Option
Sequence Core Curriculum (all 9 courses required):
Selective Requirements (6 hours required, selected with advisor’s approval)
Other Requirements: The following courses are required outside the School to complete the sequence requirements:
The minor in Mass Communications is available to students pursuing any other major at USF. Students who wish to minor must apply for admission to the Advising Office and must meet all admission standards required of majors. Please see “Requirements for the Major in Mass Communications” for more admission information.
The minor in Mass Communications requires a minimum of 18 hours of Department coursework, including:
MMC 2100 (3) MMC 3602 (3)
The other 12 hours may be selected from among Department offerings and must include a minimum of 9 hours at the 3000-level or higher. All major course prerequisites must be met. A grade of “D” or “F” will not be counted toward a mass communications minor and a 2.5 grade point average in all minor coursework must be maintained. All minor hours must be completed at USF.
Please send questions or comments to:
Karen M. Hall - webcat@ugs.usf.edu
Effective Date: Semester I, 2004
http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/0405/stpcom.htm