2008-09 Catalog

Journalism and Mass Communication

Contact Information
Cheryl Bacon, Chair
ACU Box 27892
Abilene, Texas 79699-7892
Don Morris Center, Room 301

Phone: 325-674-2296
Fax: 325-674-2139
Email: cheryl.bacon@jmc.acu.edu
Web: www.acu.edu/jmc

Majors:Advertising/Public Relations (BS)
Electronic Media (BS)
Journalism (BS)

Minors:Digital Media
             Integrated Marketing Communication
             Journalism
             Media Studies

Faculty
Cheryl Bacon, Professor
Larry L. Bradshaw, Senior Faculty
David A. Hogan, Instructor
Susan Lewis, Assistant Professor
Charles Marler, Senior Faculty
Kenneth Pybus, Assistant Professor
George Saltsman, Instructor
Cade White, Instructor

Course Descriptions
Please see the Course Descriptions section of this catalog. Courses offered by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication include those with the following designation: JMC.
These courses are the JMC core: JMC 100, 102, 201, 342, 310 or 451, 488, 495.

The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. The department offers the Bachelor of Science degree. Majors in journalism and mass communication may concentrate in one of three programs: advertising/public relations, electronic media or journalism. The department also cooperates with the Department of Art and Design to offer the Bachelor of Arts interdisciplinary degree in graphic design/advertising. A minor in digital media, integrated marketing communication, journalism or media studies may be added to other majors outside the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Introduction

The journalism and mass communication curriculum is message focused, technology driven and committed to convergence in order to prepare students for service in media, agencies, corporations and institutions that use mass communication.

Course work in the department carefully balances theoretical and practical information about journalism and mass communication. The curriculum is designed to help students master analytical processes, writing, technology, and the theoretical, historical, ethical and legal foundations of their major field choices.

State-of-the-art laboratories and a faculty that balances strong academic and professional preparation complement the unique purposes of the university and the department. Student media operated by the department are KACU-FM, a National Public Radio affiliate; KXN-TV, a Class A TV station; ACU Video, a television production facility; the Optimist, a twice-weekly All-American student newspaper; the Prickly Pear, an All-American yearbook; and an integrated marketing communication agency operated by the Ad Club and the Public Relations Student Society of America chapter. All of these operations have access to up-to-date computer and electronic technology so the graduate is proficient in contemporary media operations.

Professionally oriented student organizations supplement the students’ preparation. Available are the Advertising Club, affiliate of the American Advertising Federation; Kappa Tau Alpha, national honor society for journalism and mass communication students; the Public Relations Student Society of America chapter, affiliate of PRSA; a chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists; and a student chapter of the National Broadcast Society.

All majors are strongly encouraged to be active members of at least one of the professional societies or associations.

Study Abroad Expectations

All students are encouraged to participate in ACU’s Study Abroad program. Classes offered at Study Abroad sites vary depending on the site. Academic advisors can assist students in planning ahead for their Study Abroad experience and should be consulted during the freshman year.

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Bachelor of Science Degrees (BS)

Admission Requirements
Before being admitted to a program, a student must satisfy the requirements listed in the ACT/SAT Placement Information section of this catalog. Before enrolling in JMC 102, Creating Media Messages, a student must make a score of 70 or higher on the Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling Exam, or have a SAT verbal score of 550 or an ACT English score of 24.

Degree plans in each field include both academic and practical experience. In addition to on-campus media experience, students are required to do an internship. They have the opportunity to work in internships at the Abilene Reporter-News, local radio and television stations, local advertising agencies or public relations departments.

Summer internships have been done by recent graduates in Washington, D.C., Nashville, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Fort Worth, Amarillo, Abilene, Shreveport, St. Louis, Austin, Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Seattle and Chicago.

Requirements for the major fields are listed below.

ADVERTISING/PUBLIC RELATIONS (BS)

BS: ADVERTISING/PUBLIC RELATIONS DEGREE PLAN (JAPR) ______________________________________________________________________
UNIVERSITY CORE
Bible
BIBL 101 Life and Teachings of Jesus .................................................................... BIBL 102 Acts-Revelation ..................................................................................... BIBL 211 Message of the Old Testament ................................................................ BIBL 212 Christianity in Culture ............................................................................ Advanced Bible ...................................................................................................	3 3 3 3 3
English
ENGL 111 Composition and Rhetoric ..................................................................... Sophomore Literature ..........................................................................................	3 3
Speech
COMS 111 Fundamentals of Communication ..........................................................	3
History
HIST 117 Civilization I or HIST 221 American History I ...........................................................................	3
Science
Choose from (must include two different fields): biology, chemistry, geology, physics, AENV 130, ANSC 111, ANSC 235, ENVR 112, NUTR 120 .......................	6
Mathematics
MATH 120, MATH 123, MATW 120/020 or higher (except MATH 147) ..........................	3
Exercise Science
EXSC 100 + 3 activities .......................................................................................	4
University Seminar
UNIV 100 ...........................................................................................................	1
TOTAL UNIVERSITY CORE ......................................................................................	41
BS DEGREE CORE
English
Composition: ENGL 112, 326 or Sophomore Literature ............................................	3
Social Sciences/Humanities
HIST 118 Civilization II or HIST 222 American History II* ........................................................................ Choose from: anthropology, economics (also AGRB 261), geography, philosophy, political science, psychology (also EDUC 221), sociology (maximum one course per area) .....................................................................	3 6
Fine Arts
Choose one: ART 101, MUSM 230, MUSM 231, MUSM 232, MUSM 233, THEA 220 or THEA 250 .....................................................................	3
TOTAL BS CORE .....................................................................................................	15
*The student must continue the sequence chosen for the University Core.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Journalism and Mass Communication
JMC 100 Media Issues ......................................................................................... JMC 102 Creating Media Messages ........................................................................ JMC 201 Introduction to Visual Media .................................................................... JMC 310 Interactive Media or JMC 451 Electronic Publishing .......................................................................... JMC 342 Publication Design .................................................................................. JMC 488 Communication Law (writing-intensive course) .......................................... JMC 495 Internship .............................................................................................	3 3 3 3 3 3 1
Total Journalism and Mass Communication Core ................................................	19
Advertising/Public Relations
JMC 301 Principles of Integrated Marketing Communication .................................... JMC 492 Ad/PR Campaigns .................................................................................. JMC Elective .......................................................................................................	3 3 3
Total Advertising/Public Relations Core ..............................................................	9
TOTAL ....................................................................................................................	28
ADVERTISING/PUBLIC RELATIONS SELECTION
Choose four of the following courses (note prerequisite requirements): JMC 223 Basic News JMC 239 Writing for Electronic Delivery JMC 389 Public Relations Writing JMC 390 Ad Creativity and Copy Writing JMC 391 Ad/PR Media Planning JMC 392 IMC Tactics
TOTAL ....................................................................................................................	12
SUPPORT FIELD
Concentration
Choose from: art or marketing (preferred), communication, English, ethnic and women’s studies, political science, psychology or sociology. Lower level selections .......................................................................................... Advanced selections ............................................................................................	9 6
TOTAL ....................................................................................................................	15
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT HOURS REQUIRED FOR JAPR MAJORS*
MKTG 340 Principles of Marketing ......................................................................... MKTG 344 Marketing Promotion or MGMT 330 Management and Organizational Behavior ........................................	3 3
TOTAL ....................................................................................................................	6
*These hours may be included in the 15-hour support field or be included in the 18-hour elective block.
ELECTIVES
Minimum ............................................................................................................	18
OTHER GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Minimum GPA in major ........................................................................................ Minimum GPA for graduation ................................................................................ Minimum liberal arts and sciences hours ................................................................ Minimum advanced hours .................................................................................... Minimum total hours ............................................................................................	2.00 2.25 65 33 129
Courses numbered 0* do not count in minimum hours required for degree.*

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ELECTRONIC MEDIA (BS)

BS: ELECTRONIC MEDIA DEGREE PLAN (JELM) ______________________________________________________________________
UNIVERSITY CORE
Bible
BIBL 101 Life and Teachings of Jesus .................................................................... BIBL 102 Acts-Revelation ..................................................................................... BIBL 211 Message of the Old Testament ................................................................ BIBL 212 Christianity in Culture ............................................................................ Advanced Bible ...................................................................................................	3 3 3 3 3
English
ENGL 111 Composition and Rhetoric ..................................................................... Sophomore Literature ..........................................................................................	3 3
Speech
COMS 111 Fundamentals of Communication ..........................................................	3
History
HIST 117 Civilization I or HIST 221 American History I ...........................................................................	3
Science
Choose from (must include two different fields): biology, chemistry, geology, physics, AENV 130, ANSC 111, ANSC 235, ENVR 112, NUTR 120 .......................	6
Mathematics
MATH 120, MATH 123, MATW 120/020 or higher (except MATH 147) .........................	3
Exercise Science
EXSC 100 + 3 activities .......................................................................................	4
University Seminar
UNIV 100 ...........................................................................................................	1
TOTAL UNIVERSITY CORE ......................................................................................	41
BS DEGREE CORE
English
Composition: ENGL 112, 326 or Sophomore Literature ............................................	3
Social Sciences/Humanities
HIST 118 Civilization II or HIST 222 American History II* ........................................................................ Choose from: anthropology, economics (also AGRB 261), geography, philosophy, political science, psychology (also EDUC 221), sociology (maximum one course per area) .....................................................................	3 6
Fine Arts
Choose one: ART 101, MUSM 230, MUSM 231, MUSM 232, MUSM 233, THEA 220 or THEA 250 .....................................................................	3
TOTAL BS CORE .....................................................................................................	15
*The student must continue the sequence chosen for the University Core.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Journalism and Mass Communication
JMC 100 Media Issues ......................................................................................... JMC 102 Creating Media Messages ........................................................................ JMC 201 Introduction to Visual Media .................................................................... JMC 310 Interactive Media or JMC 451 Electronic Publishing .......................................................................... JMC 342 Publication Design .................................................................................. JMC 488 Communication Law (writing-intensive course) .......................................... JMC 495 Internship .............................................................................................	3 3 3 3 3 3 1
Total Journalism and Mass Communication Core ................................................	19
Electronic Media
JMC 239 Writing for Electronic Delivery ................................................................. JMC 260 Television Studio Production ................................................................... JMC 317 Electronic Media Principles ......................................................................	3 3 3
Total Electronic Media Core .................................................................................	9
TOTAL ....................................................................................................................	28
ELECTRONIC MEDIA TRACKS Choose one of the following 12 hour tracks:
Digital Media (DM)
JMC 310 Interactive Media or JMC 451 Electronic Publishing .......................................................................... JMC 452 Advanced Digital Media ........................................................................... JMC electives ......................................................................................................	3 3 6
Visual Communication (VC)
JMC 233 Introduction to Photography .................................................................... JMC 360 Television Field Production ...................................................................... JMC 405 Visual Portfolio ....................................................................................... JMC electives ......................................................................................................	3 3 3 3
TOTAL ....................................................................................................................	12
SUPPORT FIELD
Concentration
Choose from: art, communication, computer science, English, ethnic and women’s studies, marketing, political science, psychology or sociology. Lower level selections .......................................................................................... Advanced selections ............................................................................................	≤9 ≥6
TOTAL ....................................................................................................................	15
ELECTIVES
Minimum ............................................................................................................	18
OTHER GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Minimum GPA in major ........................................................................................ Minimum GPA for graduation ................................................................................ Minimum liberal arts and sciences hours ................................................................ Minimum advanced hours .................................................................................... Minimum total hours ............................................................................................	2.00 2.25 65 33 129
Courses numbered 0* do not count in minimum hours required for degree.*

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JOURNALISM (BS)

BS: JOURNALISM DEGREE PLAN (JOUR) ______________________________________________________________________
UNIVERSITY CORE
Bible
BIBL 101 Life and Teachings of Jesus .................................................................... BIBL 102 Acts-Revelation ..................................................................................... BIBL 211 Message of the Old Testament ................................................................ BIBL 212 Christianity in Culture ............................................................................ Advanced Bible ...................................................................................................	3 3 3 3 3
English
ENGL 111 Composition and Rhetoric ..................................................................... Sophomore Literature ..........................................................................................	3 3
Speech
COMS 111 Fundamentals of Communication ..........................................................	3
History
HIST 117 Civilization I or HIST 221 American History I ...........................................................................	3
Science
Choose from (must include two different fields): biology, chemistry, geology, physics, AENV 130, ANSC 111, ANSC 235, ENVR 112, NUTR 120 .......................	6
Mathematics
MATH 120, MATH 123, MATW 120/020 or higher (except MATH 147) .........................	3
Exercise Science
EXSC 100 + 3 activities .......................................................................................	4
University Seminar
UNIV 100 ...........................................................................................................	1
TOTAL UNIVERSITY CORE ......................................................................................	41
BS DEGREE CORE
English
Composition: ENGL 112, 326 or Sophomore Literature ............................................	3
Social Sciences/Humanities
HIST 118 Civilization II or HIST 222 American History II* ........................................................................ Choose from: anthropology, economics (also AGRB 261), geography, philosophy, political science, psychology (also EDUC 221), sociology (maximum one course per area) .....................................................................	3 3
Fine Arts
Choose one: ART 101, MUSM 230, MUSM 231, MUSM 232, MUSM 233, THEA 220 or THEA 250 .....................................................................	3
TOTAL BS CORE .....................................................................................................	15
*The student must continue the sequence chosen for the University Core.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Journalism and Mass Communication
JMC 100 Media Issues ......................................................................................... JMC 102 Creating Media Messages ........................................................................ JMC 201 Introduction to Visual Media .................................................................... JMC 310 Interactive Media or JMC 451 Electronic Publishing .......................................................................... JMC 321 Student Media Lab................................................................................... Two semesters of JMC 321 required, one must be on the student newspaper. JMC 342 Publication Design .................................................................................. JMC 488 Communication Law (writing-intensive course) ......................................... JMC 495 Internship .............................................................................................	3 3 3 3 0 3 3 1
Total Journalism and Mass Communication Core ................................................	19
Journalism
JMC 223 Basic News ............................................................................................ JMC 324 Reporting ..............................................................................................	3 3
Total Journalism Core ..........................................................................................	6
TOTAL ....................................................................................................................	25
JOURNALISM TRACKS Choose one of the following 15 hour tracks:
Broadcast Journalism (BJ)
JMC 111 Announcing ........................................................................................... JMC 260 Television Studio Production .................................................................... JMC 360 Television Field Production ...................................................................... JMC 438 Broadcast News ..................................................................................... JMC electives ......................................................................................................	3 3 3 3 3
Print Journalism (JO)
JMC 341 Copy Writing ......................................................................................... JMC 449 Opinion Writing ...................................................................................... JMC 450 Feature Writing ...................................................................................... JMC electives ......................................................................................................	3 3 3 6
Photojournalism (PJ)
JMC 233 Introduction to Photography .................................................................... JMC 333 Photojournalism ..................................................................................... JMC 405 Visual Portfolio ....................................................................................... JMC electives ......................................................................................................	3 3 3 6
Religion Journalism (RJ)
JMC 341 Copy Editing .......................................................................................... JMC 364 Media and Religion ................................................................................. JMC 449 Opinion Writing or JMC 450 Feature Writing ................................................................................. JMC electives ......................................................................................................	3 3 3 6
TOTAL ....................................................................................................................	15
SUPPORT FIELD
Concentration
Choose from: business, English, ethnic and women’s studies, foreign language, history, political science, psychology, science or sociology. Religious journalism support field must be in Bible and include 3 hours of advanced text (beyond university core), 6 hours ministry and 6 hours Greek. Lower level selections .......................................................................................... Advanced selections ............................................................................................	9 6
TOTAL ....................................................................................................................	15
ELECTIVES
Minimum ............................................................................................................	18
OTHER GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Minimum GPA in major ........................................................................................ Minimum GPA for graduation ................................................................................ Minimum liberal arts and sciences hours ................................................................ Minimum advanced hours .................................................................................... Minimum total hours ............................................................................................	2.00 2.25 65 33 129
Courses numbered 0* do not count in minimum hours required for degree.*

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Digital Media Minor

This 18-hour minor is designed to provide digital media support for all types of majors -
particularly in careers that require message presentation comprising digital photography and video; presentation graphics; computer-assisted training; and desktop, CD, DVD and World-Wide Web publishing. The program is managed by the Department of Journaism and Mass Communication, but a maximum of two courses may be substituted from other departments to give the minor an interdisciplinary flavor.

DIGITAL MEDIA MINOR (DGME)
Digital media minors may take the required JMC classes without meeting the prerequisites of JMC 100 and JMC 102. All other prerequisites will apply. Freshmen and sophomores may take JMC 233 or 260 after completing JMC 201, but they cannot take an advanced course until their junior year.
Digital Media Core:JMC 201, 233 or 260, 310, 342, 451 and 488 ......................... Substitution from other departments: Students may petition to substitute one or two computer-based courses that are relevant to this minor and that fit the individual student’s needs ...............................................................................	12-18 0-6
TOTAL ....................................................................................................................	18
Note: The minor advisor may be able to waive prerequisites for some courses within this minor.

Other Minors in Journalism and Mass Communication

OTHER MINORS
Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC)
JMC 301, 342 or 451, 390, 391 or 392, 488, 492 ....................................................	18
Journalism (JOUR)
JMC 223, 324, 341, 342, 449 or 450, 488 ..............................................................	18
Media Studies (JMMS)
JMC 100, 102, 301, 317, 488 ................................................................................ JMC selection ......................................................................................................	15 3
TOTAL ....................................................................................................................	18
Note: The minor advisor may be able to waive prerequisites for some courses within these minors.

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Journalism and Mass Communication

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