M.A. in Media and Communication

GRADUATE PROGRAM

The Master of Arts (MA) degree in media communications is for students who have both an interest and background in communications. The MA in media communications is a specialized concentration available to individuals who qualify for the program.

Qualifications include an educational background in their intended area of graduate communications study or professional experience in their area of interest. The selection of prerequisites will depend on the student’s area of academic interest in communications and will be determined through consultation with an academic advisor.

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

MEDC 710 — Introduction to Graduate Studies: —

Advanced Thinking and Writing 3

Summer Classes

COURSE DESCRIPTION

JOUR 701: Teaching Scholastic Publications:

This course provides an overview of teaching beginning journalism and advising high school publications. Topics discussed include: press rights and responsibilities; gathering, reporting, and editing the news; photo and electronic journalism; mass media and society; design techniques; management and business skills necessary for advising publications; and evaluation techniques necessary for grading students involved in school publications. Students learn how to write lesson plans for daily use in their journalism classes, and each student is required to submit a lesson plan including activities, and tests and projects on teaching the First Amendment. Each student submits a sample staff manual, which he/she adapts to the school publication that he/she will be advising. This course applies to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education certification of teachers of journalism in secondary education.

JOUR 714: Teaching Journalism Topics:

Designed as a seminar, this course will provide an overview of teaching and advising publications. Topics to be discussed include: press rights and responsibilities, news gathering and reporting, design, photojournalism, copyediting, communication law, electronic journalism, management and business skills necessary for advising publications. Participants will receive hands-on experience that can be used in the classroom. The course is designed specifically to prepare journalism teachers at the high school and elementary level for Missouri state certification. Prerequisite: Admission to teacher post-baccalaureate certification program through the School of Education.

MEDC 700: Media Communications:

Students examine communications theory and its application to mass media. The course introduces students to the graduate program and describes program expectations as well as introduces research methodologies used throughout the program and discusses academic preparation for Seminar in Media Communications. Therefore, students must take this course even if they have academic and/or professional experience in media communications. Prerequisite: Students should have an educational background or professional experience in media communications, or they must enroll in 6 credit hours of additional preparatory undergraduate coursework, as determined by an academic advisor.

MED 701: News Writing and Reporting:

Writing for journalism is intended to give the student an understanding of the various genres of journalistic expression, including the hard-news story, feature story, and investigative story, as well as interpretive and explanatory journalism. Additionally, students are introduced to the trends of journalistic writing, from yellow and tabloid journalism to muckraking and the new civic journalism. Students can expect a number of writing/reporting assignments in this course.

MEDC 711: Communications Law:

The student examines the legal structure of the media communications industry. The course focuses on the formation, rationale, and implications of policies that form the basis of media law and regulation.

MEDC 710: Introduction to Graduate Studies: Advanced Thinking and Writing:

This course is an introduction to graduate studies that provides students with knowledge and skills in three important ways to maximize academic success as a graduate student. The course will focus on critical thinking and advanced analysis skills, basic information on academic research and library searches, and advanced writing. The course will also offer a brief introduction to effective online learning.

MEDC 720: Directed Studies in Media Communications:

Under faculty supervision, students examine an area of specialty not currently offered in the media communications curriculum. The student and instructor develop a written course proposal. Requires approval of the director of Graduate Studies and the dean of the School of Communications.

JOUR 712: Scholastic (High School) Publications:

This course provides preparation for instructing and advising in the area of publication production. The course will provide knowledge of publishing houses and the printing business; knowledge in content and style of contemporary publications; knowledge of available texts and teaching aids; and knowledge of legal and ethical issues in journalism. The course is designed specifically to prepare journalism teachers at the high school and elementary level for Missouri state certification.

JOUR 713: Methods of Teaching Secondary Publications/Journalism:

This course provides the instruction necessary for the teacher to aid in the publication of the high school newspaper, yearbook, or broadcasting medium. Students learn the process of writing bids for selecting the printing company, and techniques needed to publish the school paper or yearbook. Students learn classroom organization, photography (both digital and darkroom procedures), assigning beats, the public relations of scholastic journalism distribution and mailing of publications, press freedom and mass media in society, advertising and business skills for teaching journalism, and newspaper and yearbook production. This course applies to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education certification of teachers of journalism in secondary education.

MEDC 765: Interactive Media Applied to the Internet:

Students review concepts of interactive digital media and the methodologies used to deliver interactive media over the Internet. This course introduces students to web-based distribution languages such as HTML, XML, JavaScript, and ASP, as well as the authoring tools that assist in creating content for the web. Students are required to design content that incorporates Internet technologies and a minimal amount of HTML coding, which is introduced during the class.

MEDC 766: Interactive Programming:

The multitude of programming platforms is investigated, reviewed, and their many uses are discussed. Advantages, disadvantages, and suitability for particular markets (i.e. consumer, industrial, educational, remote link) are examined in detail.

MEDC 729: Issues in Media Communications:

Current and significant issues in media communications are examined. The course focuses on existing theories and practices, with emphasis given to new and emerging topics in the field.

MEDC 732: Strategic Communications:

This course is taught from a top-management perspective regarding the strategic role of communications, and the communications manager, in achieving the company mission and measurable bottom-line results. It introduces students to an integrated approach to managing all communications functions, including all direct and indirect communications requirements for both internal and external audiences and intermediaries, such as customers, suppliers, distributors, employees, shareholders, competitors, politicians, analysts, journalists and lobbyists. It encompasses the functional areas of marketing communications, organizational communications, media relations, investor relations, government relations and corporate branding.

MEDC 733: Media and Culture:

This course examines the mass media as it reflects and influences the attitudes, values, behaviors, myths, and preoccupations that define a given culture. The course considers the functions of mass media in society and the effect on the individual.

MEDC 735: Media Communications Production: Graphics:

This course is composed of two elements. First, the student is introduced to the prepress environment, which includes the production process, the current utilization of offset lithography in conjunction with advanced digital technology, and the production controls necessary for timely development of printed materials. The second element of the class is a hands-on production deployment of a prepress project using advanced print-ready techniques. The course will analyze the use of color, budget impacts, and new advances in printing and information distribution technology.