Journalism students must take a different path to get their degree next semester. Beginning in fall, students must follow a new course catalog, or a list of courses, to earn a degree.
The Manship School of Mass Communication changed the journalism core sequence from two newsgathering courses with split curriculums on both print and broadcast fields and a general news editing course to one class in print news and editing, one in broadcast news production and one advanced class in either print or broadcast journalism.
The new courses allow students greater focus in either print or broadcast areas instead of taking more general courses in both areas, said Ronald Garay, a Manship School associate dean.
Under the old catalog, students spent eight weeks studying print with one instructor then eight weeks studying broadcast with another instructor. The new catalog has students spend one semester in each; then, they choose their concentration to study further, said Larry Snipes, a mass communication professor.
He said the old system was “inefficient.”
The new courses integrate and redistribute learning, allowing more time to focus in specific areas.
Mass communication students who have questions about the changes should contact their counselor.
Manship School counselor Helen Taylor said any time a department changes its curriculum, students and faculty go through a rough transition period, especially students who are in the middle of the course sequence. When a new catalog comes out, students may change to the new catalog, but they must complete all coursework in the new one, Taylor said.
Students who were in the middle of coursework will have to take substitute courses because the former classes are gone, Taylor said.
“It’s hard for us and students. We have to make sure we don’t shortchange anyone,” she said.
However, she feels mass communication students now will receive a better education.
Chris Kaleel, a mass communication senior, said the new courses will allow journalists to focus more closely on their specific area of concentration. The changes will improve the Manship School, which should pump students up, he said.