2013-2014 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
School of Mass Communication and Journalism
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 Return to: College of Arts and Letters
Christopher P. Campbell, Director
118 College Drive, Box 5121
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.4258
www.usm.edu/mcj
mcj@usm.edu
Campbell, Champion, Chen, Coleman, Davies, Gentile, Heo, Jenkins, LeDuff, Linden, McDowell, Murphree, Rassier, Sheffer, Shin, Wiggins, C. Williams, M. Williams, Xue, Young
The mission of the School of Mass Communication and Journalism (SMCJ) is to provide a comprehensive education across the broad spectrum of the mass media fields and to graduate a highly qualified, diverse group of baccalaureate and graduate degree holders.
The school offers majors in advertising; entertainment industry (with emphasis areas in film, media production, recording industry management and recording industry production); and journalism (with emphasis areas in broadcast journalism, news-editorial, photojournalism and public relations). All SMCJ students, except film and recording industry majors, complete a five-course core curriculum of MCJ 101 , MCJ 102 , MCJ 103 , MCJ 200 and MCJ 454 . Recording industry majors, production and management, complete a six-course core curriculum of MCJ 101 , MCJ 103 , MCJ 200 , EI 200 , EI 303 and EI 461 . All students required to take MCJ 103 must pass the school’s Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation Exam. MCJ 101 , MCJ 102 , MCJ 103 and MCJ 200 are prerequisites for all 300-level and above MCJ courses for advertising, journalism and media production majors. MCJ 101 , MCJ 103 , and MCJ 200 are prequisites for all 300-level and above MCJ and EI courses for recording industry management and production majors.
The school’s undergraduate programs in advertising, journalism and media production are accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC).
NOTE: In order to comply with ACEJMC accreditation standards, all majors in the School of Mass Communication and Journalism require a minimum of 65 semester hours in the basic liberal arts and sciences and a minimum of 72 hours of non-MCJ courses. In addition, every program in this school requires a capstone experience course.
Students majoring within the School of Mass Communication and Journalism may not pursue minors within the school.
Computer Equipment Requirements
SMCJ majors and minors are required to own a specifically equipped laptop computer. Specifications are available through the MCJ office or via the Web at www.usm.edu/mcj.
Internship Program
The internship program (MCJ 429 /FLM 429 ) provides supervised experiential learning in a professional setting. Eligible students must submit an internship application prior to the midpoint of the semester preceding the requested internship. Students should meet with the school’s internship coordinator to discuss internship options.
Major in Advertising
The advertising program is designed to teach students the creative and business practices of advertising. Graduates are prepared for professional positions as advertising layout artists, copy writers, media planners, account executives and advertising sales position in the mass media, advertising agencies and advertising departments in business and industry.
Students in the advertising program are required to complete a minimum of 36 hours in mass communication and journalism courses, including the MCJ core curriculum (MCJ 101 , MCJ 102 , MCJ 103 , MCJ 200 , MCJ 454 ), the advertising skills sequence (MCJ 312 , MCJ 329 , MCJ 330 , MCJ 333 , MCJ 425 , MCJ 431 ), a three-hour MCJ value elective, and three to six hours of general MCJ electives to be selected in consultation with an adviser in the school.
A minimum grade of C is required in each major course, as well as a major GPA of 2.5. An 18 to 21 hour minor is required. However, students in the advertising program may not minor in journalism or entertainment industry. Advertising majors may not count MKT 355 toward their major or minor.
Major in Entertainment Industry
The bachelor’s degrees offered in entertainment industry (EI) provide graduates an opportunity to enhance skills and employment options in the multibillion-dollar entertainment industry. The curriculum reflects the multidisciplinary collaboration necessary for success in this area: recording industry, mass communication and business.
Students can choose from four different emphasis areas of study: film (Gulf Park campus only), media production, recording industry management and recording industry production.
A minimum grade of C is required in each major course, as well as an overall GPA of 2.5. A minor in a discipline outside of the MCJ/EI program is required of all entertainment industry majors. Students who choose an emphasis in recording industry management are required to obtain a minor in management through the Department of Management and International Business in the College of Business.
Emphasis in Film (Gulf Park campus only)
The film emphasis is designed to prepare students for positions with large and small motion picture production companies, federal or state agency production units or for self-employment as independent producers, directors or production specialists.
Students are required to take FLM 351 , FLM 370 , FLM 371 , FLM 470 , FLM 471 , FLM 472 , FLM 478 and FLM 485 .
A minimum grade of C is required in each major course, as well as a major GPA of 2.5. A minor is required for this major and must be in a discipline outside of the School of Mass Communication and Journalism.
Emphasis in Media Production
The media production emphasis is designed for students who seek careers in video and audio production in the broadcasting industry.
Students are required to complete the MCJ core curriculum (MCJ 101 , MCJ 102 , MCJ 103 , MCJ 200 , MCJ 454 ), the media production skills sequence (MCJ 334 /MCJ 334L , MCJ 335 /MCJ 335L , MCJ 340 , MCJ 440 , MCJ 442 ), a three-hour MCJ values elective, and three to six hours of general MCJ/EI electives to be selected in consultation with an adviser in the school.
A minimum grade of C is required in each major course, as well as a major GPA of 2.5. A minor is required for this major and must be in a discipline outside of the School of Mass Communication and Journalism.
Emphasis in Recording Industry Management
Students are required to complete the recording industry core curriculum (MCJ 101 , MCJ 103 and MCJ 200 , EI 200 , EI 303 and EI 461 ), the recording industry management skills sequence (EI 370 , EI 432 , EI 441 , EI 470 ), two of the following courses for a total of six hours: EI 300 , EI 421 , EI 431 , PSY 469 , PHI 411 and three to six hours of general MCJ/EI electives to be selected in consultation with an adviser in the school.
Students who choose an emphasis in recording industry management are required to obtain a minor in management through the Department of Management and International Business in the College of Business.
A minimum grade of C is required in each major course, as well as a major GPA of 2.5.
Emphasis in Recording Industry Production
Students are required to complete the recording industry core curriculum (MCJ 101 , MCJ 103 and MCJ 200 , EI 200 , EI 303 and EI 461 ), the recording industry production skills sequence (EI 300 , EI 345 , EI 403 , MUS 120 ), two courses from each of the two sets of electives below:
- EI 430 , MCJ 334 /MCJ 334L , MCJ 335 /MCJ 335L , MCJ 340 , MCJ 440
- EI 421 , EI 431 , EI 432 , PSY 469 , PHI 411
and three hours of general MCJ/EI electives to be selected in consultation with an adviser in the school.
A minimum grade of C is required in each major course, as well as a major GPA of 2.5. A minor in a discipline outside the School of Mass Communication and Journalism is required for all recording industry production majors.
Major in Journalism
The objective of the major in journalism is to teach students professional and theoretical concepts and to develop their technical skills to enable them to be productive and responsible contributors in the field of journalism. The program emphasizes the basics of reporting, writing, editing, design, photography and multimedia. Professional preparation also requires an understanding of the historical, ethical and social responsibility of journalism. The department strives to achieve an integration of practice and theory in its courses.
The major offers a choice of four emphasis areas of study: broadcast journalism, news-editorial, photojournalism and public relations. These are designed to prepare students for a variety of career positions, including news reporting and editing, producing, writing, photojournalism and public relations.
The faculty strongly believes students should have a broad cultural education in the humanities and social sciences to complement their professional preparation so that they can serve society, as well as their own self-interests, productively and responsibly.
All students pursuing a major in journalism must complete 35 – 40 hours in a journalism emphasis, achieve a minimum grade of C in each major course and a GPA of 2.5 in the major. A minor is required of all journalism majors, and it must be in an area outside of the school.
Emphasis in Broadcast Journalism
Broadcast journalism prepares students to enter the challenging and competitive field of radio and television news. Students are required to complete the MCJ core curriculum (MCJ 101 , MCJ 102 , MCJ 103 , MCJ 200 , MCJ 454 ), the broadcast journalism skills sequence (MCJ 300 , MCJ 304 /MCJ 304L , MCJ 404 /MCJ 404L , MCJ 406 ), six hours of MCJ value electives, and three to six hours of general MCJ electives to be selected in conjunction with an adviser in the school.
Emphasis in News-Editorial
The news-editorial emphasis is designed to prepare students for positions in the news media as reporters, editors and writers. Students are required to complete the MCJ core curriculum (MCJ 101 , MCJ 102 , MCJ 103 , MCJ 200 , MCJ 454 ), the news-editorial skills sequence (MCJ 203 , MCJ 300 , MCJ 303 , MCJ 311 , MCJ 402 ), six hours of MCJ value electives, and three to six hours of general MCJ electives to be selected in conjunction with an adviser in the school.
All majors in the news-editorial emphasis are expected to do practical work on The Student Printz. Others are invited to participate in the publication of the newspaper.
Emphasis in Photojournalism
The photojournalism emphasis is designed to prepare students for careers as news photographers. Students pursuing an emphasis in photojournalism are required to complete the MCJ core curriculum (MCJ 101 , MCJ 102 , MCJ 103 , MCJ 200 , MCJ 454 ), the photojournalism skills sequence (MCJ 241 /MCJ 241L , MCJ 300 , MCJ 341 , MCJ 342 , MCJ 441 ), six hours of MCJ value electives, and three to six hours of general MCJ electives to be selected in conjunction with an adviser in the school.
Emphasis in Public Relations
This emphasis of study is designed to prepare students for careers as public relations practitioners and consultants in business and industry, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and governmental agencies. Students are required to complete the MCJ core curriculum (MCJ 101 , MCJ 102 , MCJ 103 , MCJ 200 , MCJ 454 ), the public relations skills sequence (MCJ 203 , MCJ 312 , MCJ 421 , MCJ 422 , MCJ 426 , MCJ 428 ), a three-hour MCJ value elective, and three to six hours of general MCJ electives to be selected in conjunction with an adviser in the school. ProgramsBachelor of ArtsBachelor of ScienceNon-degree
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