Curriculum Action Notice

From:

Academic Affairs Committee

Date:

Nov 8, 2008

This is a bulletin from the Academic Affairs Committee concerning proposed curricular actions. Please forward any comments or concerns in the next 10 days to the AAC chair, Jeffrey Bossworth , 206 Pinecrest Manor, ext. 4762.

Curricular Action Notice – Music

1.      COURSE CHANGE: MU 4413 STUDIO PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES

Department: Music

Purpose and nature of change: Change the course description to better match the purpose of this class in the music technology sequence. Remove COM 3270 as a co-requisite.

Course Title: MU 4413 STUDIO PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES

Course Description for Catalog (limit to four sentences):

Seminar in studio production techniques, including critical listening and monitoring, application of effects processing to digital audio, sound design and synthesis, device and effects automation, mixing and mastering, and final project delivery. Students will collaborate to produce several high-quality audio projects.

Prerequisites: (Courses which MUST be completed prior to taking this course) MU 3313

Co-requisites: (Courses which must be taken prior to or simultaneously with) NONE

2.      COURSE CHANGE: MU 4414 RECORDING ARTS

Department: Music

Purpose and nature of change: Remove MU 4413 as co-requisite.

Course Title: MU 4414 RECORDING ARTS

Prerequisites: (Courses which MUST be completed prior to taking this course)

MU 3313 or permission of the instructor

Co-requisites: (Courses which must be taken prior to or simultaneously with)  NONE

3.      NEW COURSE: MU 1104 INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC TECHNOLOGY

Department: _Music________________________

Purpose and Nature of Course:  This course is an introduction to music technology for recording, editing, and mixing.  The main focus will be on digital audio workstation (DAW) software. Students will also gain hands-on experience with microphones, mixers, audio & MIDI interfaces, and simple concert recording and sound reinforcement setups.

Prefix: _MU_______________                      Number: 1104___________

Course Title: __ Introduction to Music Technology

Abbreviated Title (for Master Schedule), Maximum 20 spaces

INTRO MUSIC TECH

Credit(s) __1__ Undergraduate                       

Credit(s) _____ Graduate                               

For variable credits, list Minimum Credit _____; Maximum Credits _____    

Course Description for Catalog (limit to four sentences):

This course is an introduction to music technology for recording, editing, and mixing.  The main focus will be on digital audio workstation (DAW) software.  Students will gain additional hands-on experience with microphones, mixers, audio & MIDI interfaces, and simple concert recording and setups.

Prerequisites: (Courses which MUST be completed prior to taking this course) none

Co-requisites: (Courses which must be taken prior to or simultaneously with) none

Describe any student enrollment restrictions (limited to majors in program XXX, restricted from majors in program XXX, etc.)

Priority seating given to B. Music students concentrating in music technology

COMMUNICATIONS COURSES (3 NEW COURSES, 2 PROGRAM CHANGES)

4.      NEW COURSE: COM 3322 CASE STUDIES IN PUBLIC RELATIONS

Department: __Communication & Theatre___________

Purpose and Nature of Course: __To expose students to a variety of public relations cases through readings, discussion, and analysis.  Students will also use the planning and problem-solving process as a framework to develop and evaluate their own public relations campaigns. 

Prefix: __COM_________    Number: __3322___________   CIP:__________________

Course Title: __Case Studies in Public Relations_______________________________________

Abbreviated Title (for Master Schedule), Maximum 20 spaces

__ CASE STUDIES IN PR __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Credit(s) __3__ Undergraduate                       

Course Description for Catalog (limit to four sentences): 

This course provides advanced study of public relations through the examination of public relations cases.  Students will be exposed to issues, challenges, and opportunities within public relations practice and further develop their skills in these areas.

Prerequisites: (Courses which MUST be completed prior to taking this course)

COM 2210 (Introduction to Public Relations) and COM 3320 (Public Relations Writing & Techniques)

5.      PROGRAM CHANGE: COMMUNICATIONS (PUBLIC RELATIONS)

Department__Communication & Theatre____________________

Rationale for change: 

Offering another course specific to public relations (COM 3322 Case Studies in Public Relations) would greatly benefit the student seeking a Mass Communication Degree with a Public Relations Emphasis.  This course would replace COM 2203 Voice and Articulation.

For a Mass Communication degree (Public Relations Emphasis), students are required to take three courses specific to public relations.  They include: 

COM 2210   Introduction to Public Relations,

COM 3320   Public Relations Writing and Techniques

COM 4420   Public Relations Workshop

According to the Report of the Commission on Public Relations Education (2006), which present recommendations for public relations undergraduate and graduate educational institutions, undergraduate curricula should include (at minimum) the following coursework:

·         Introduction to Public Relations  (at MU is COM 2210)

·         Public Relations Research, Measurement, and Evaluation  (at MU is COM 2270, a general communication research class)

·         Public Relations Writing and Production  (at MU is COM 3320)

·         Public Relations Internship (at MU is COM 4410)

·         Additional coursework in Law (at MU is COM 4400, a general communication law class),

·         Planning and Management (at MU is COM 4420)

·         Case Studies or Campaigns (No MU equivalent)

Case Studies/Campaigns in Public Relations is the only course that is not offered at MU.  This course will provide a beneficial complement to the current public relations curriculum.  Requiring this course for all public relations students will allow them to learn about the public relations industry through the examination of real world cases, both past and current.  Students will apply their knowledge and skill in analyzing past public relations situations as well as the investigation and management of current campaigns.          

Informal research was also conducted by contacting (via email) other faculty advisors of Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), who are Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) members.  The advisors were asked what public relations courses were required of their students in comparison to those offered at MU.  Out of 21 responses addressing my specific question, 15 recommended that a Case Studies course would be the most valuable fit into our curriculum. 

Additionally, within our Journalism Emphasis, students are required to take five journalism-specific courses, in contrast to the three in the Public Relations Emphasis.  Currently our PR students are at a disadvantage compared to those at other Universities.  Our students are not exposed to the depth of the PR practice and challenges that exist in “real world” campaigns.  This course will significantly expand their knowledge and understanding of the field.

      Old Degree and Program Title (attach an old ER):  Public Relations Emphasis Requirements (old):

COM 2203   Voice and Articulation *

COM 2210   Introduction to Public Relations

COM 3320   Public Relations Writing & Techniques

COM 4401   Persuasion

COM 4420   Public Relations Workshop

COM 4425   Public Communication

      New Degree and Program Title (attach a new ER):  Public Relations Emphasis Requirements (new):

COM 2210   Introduction to Public Relations

COM 3320   Public Relations Writing & Techniques

COM 3322   Case Studies in Public Relations *

COM 4401   Persuasion

COM 4420   Public Relations Workshop

COM 4425   Public Communication

      List all changes:

There is no change to the core courses required for the Mass Communication Degree.  The change pertains to the Public Relations Emphasis requirements.   COM 2203 Voice and Articulation will be replaced with COM 3322 Case Studies in Public Relations. 

6.      NEW COURSE: COM 2211 PRINCIPLES OF ADVERTISING

Department:  Communication and Theatre

Purpose and Nature of Course: This course is to introduce communication students to the field of

             advertising. Students will learn the basic principles and strategies of advertising as it pertains to

             mass and Internet media and marketing. This course will be of particular interest to those

             students enrolled in the public relations and broadcasting emphases.

Prefix:  COM    Number:   2211     CIP:  090102

Course Title:  Principles of Advertising

Abbreviated Title (for Master Schedule), Maximum 20 spaces

Advertising __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Credit(s) __3___ Undergraduate                     

Course Description for Catalog (limit to four sentences): 

This course will offer a broad overview of advertising background issues and functions. The course will explore the historical, social, cultural, legal, and economic influences on advertising. The course will also cover the basic principles and practices of the advertising industry. Students will be introduced to the creative/media strategy decision processes.

Prerequisites: (Courses which MUST be completed prior to taking this course)  COM 2201     

Introduction to Mass Media  or  2210 Introduction to Public Relations

Request that Course be considered for General Education Credit.  Please check all

            applicable boxes.

a.       _____ Satisfy a Group Requirement – specify Group _________

b.      _____ Satisfy Global Awareness Requirement

c.       _____ Satisfy Information Literacy Requirement

d.      XXX   Satisfy a “Professional Course” for Block 6

7.      NEW COURSE: COM 3331 MEDIA ETHICS

Department:  Communication and Theatre

Purpose and Nature of Course:  Professional media and public relations organizations face ethical dilemmas in their day-to-day operations. This course will prepare communication and mass communication students to be able to identify ethical dilemmas, to analyze various ethical perspectives, and make ethical decisions which affect media organizations.

Prefix:  COM       Number:  3331      CIP:  090102

Course Title:   Media  Ethics

Abbreviated Title (for Master Schedule), Maximum 20 spaces

Media Ethics__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Credit(s) ___3__ Undergraduate                     

Course Description for Catalog (limit to four sentences): 

Media ethics focuses on conduct of the mass media practitioner and the impact of ethical decision-making on the mass media industry and on society in general.  Students will analyze case studies in light of ethical perspectives utilizing a model of moral reasoning.  Contemporary problems and issues in media ethics will be discussed as well as current ethical and moral dilemmas and issues.  This course will specifically explore ethical decision-making in the areas of  invasion of privacy, truth telling, conflicts of interest, reporters and sources, social responsibility, offensive and violent content, media content and juveniles, stereotyping, new technology, and censorship.

Prerequisites: (Courses which MUST be completed prior to taking this course)    COM 1101 Oral  

             Communication and 45 completed credits

Request that Course be considered for General Education Credit.  Please check all

            applicable boxes.

a.       _____ Satisfy a Group Requirement – specify Group _________

b.      _____ Satisfy Global Awareness Requirement

c.       XXX   Satisfy Information Literacy Requirement

d.      XXX   Satisfy a “Professional Course” for Block 6

8.      PROGRAM CHANGE: COMMUNICATIONS (BROADCASTING)

Department:  Communication & Theatre

Rationale for change:  It is valuable for broadcasting students to be exposed to the area of media ethics. The performance aspect of the Voice and Articulation course will be covered in other broadcasting emphasis courses.

List all changes:  In the Broadcasting Emphasis of the Mass Communication major, Voice and Articulation will no longer be a required course. In its place will be the course Media Ethics. Voice and Articulation will remain as a related elective.