Communication
Human Communication, Mass Media Studies, and Journalism
Britt 212
541-552-6424

Karen A. Shafer, Chair

SOU CATALOG HOME : SCHOOLS AND DEPARTMENTS : COMMUNICATION : COURSES

Professors: Charles Chilcoat, Ernest Ettlich, Ronald Kramer, Jonathan Lange, Karen Shafer

Assistant Professors: Kathryn Campbell, Garth Pittman, Susan Walsh, Richard Wilkins

Lecturer: Pete Belcastro

Adjunct: Terrie Claflin, Stuart Corns, John Enders, Linda Florin, Patty Jensen, Linda Natali Olson, Thomas Pyle, Russell Sadler

The Department of Communication provides students the opportunity to develop verbal and nonverbal communication knowledge and skills through exploration of human communication, mass media studies, and journalism.

Students are provided on-campus practical experience for credit through entities such as the student radio station, the community access cable television facilities operated by the University, student and University publications, and the public relations operations of SOU.

Practica are also provided throughout the immediate region at radio and television stations, newspapers, magazines, social service organizations, governmental agencies, advertising and public relations firms, businesses, and other organizations.

Degrees

BA or BS in communication with an option in human communication, mass media studies, or journalism

Minors

Human communication, mass media studies, and journalism

Requirements for Major

1. Fulfill baccalaureate degree requirements as stated beginning on page 31.

2. Choose one of the following options: human communication, mass media studies, or journalism.

3. Complete designated pre-major courses with at least a 2.5 GPA pre-major before being granted status as a communication major.

4. Complete a minimum of 60 credits of approved courses, including the pre-major courses; 28 of the credits must be upper division, not including activity credits. Activity credits may be applied to the 60-credit total.

5. At least 18 credits must be completed in the Department of Communication at Southern Oregon University.

6. To graduate, each communication major must have a minimum 2.75 GPA for all coursework in the department.

7. Complete a capstone experience (Comm 410) during the senior year.

8. Each student in journalism must complete 3 practicum credits. The credits may be in the student's declared option or related areas as approved by the faculty advisor. Those in human communication and media studies are encouraged to complete activity/practicum/internship credits.

9. The human communication option requires that at least 36 credits be in formal classes (i.e., classes other than 199, 377, 401, 403, 405, 408, 409, 410).

Accelerated Baccalaureate Degree Program

The communication major is an option for students participating in the Accelerated Baccalaureate Degree Program. For information on this program see page 144.

Capstone

The required capstone experience is designed to pull together, in one project, four years of learning. The course experience or project is completed in the senior year. Students receive between 1 and 9 credits for the project which is supervised or taught by a faculty member and culminates in an oral presentation. The student must have 1-4 capstone credits and earn a passing grade to meet major and University graduation requirements. Although students may have done a previous internship or practicum in a similar situation, the capstone experience is expected to be of greater depth, scope, and quality.

While students might choose to do their capstone experience in a public or private agency, a research paper may also be used to meet capstone requirements. In any case, the project must be an example of the student's very best work. Capstone experience credits may be earned under Comm 410.

Options

Human Communication

(60 credits)

Pre-Major Requirements (16 credits)

Complete the following courses:

Major Requirements (44 credits)

Complete the following courses:

Complete 8 or more credits from the following courses:

Complete 8 or more credits from the following courses:

Complete 9-12 credits from the following courses:

Secondary Teaching

(32 credits)

Students planning to teach speech at the secondary school level should take:

Mass Media Studies

(60 credits)

Pre-Major Requirements (4 credits)

Complete the following courses:

Major Requirements (56 credits)

Complete the following courses:

Complete at least 21 credits from the following courses:

Complete at least 19 credits from the following courses:

Journalism

(60-65 credits)

Students who want to earn the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in communication: journalism may choose from news-editorial, photojournalism, or public relations emphases.

News-Editorial

Pre-Major Requirements (8 credits)

Complete the following courses:

Major Requirements (52 credits)

Complete the following courses:

Complete at least 16 credits from the following courses:

PreMajor Requirements (12 credits)

Major Requirements (48 credits)

Complete the following courses:

Complete at least 8 credits from the following courses:

Pre-Major Requirements (8 credits)

Complete the following courses:

Major Requirements (52 credits)

Complete the following courses:

Complete at least 8 credits from the following courses:

Minors

Students must achieve a 2.75 GPA in 28 credits of communication coursework listed below to earn a minor in communication.

Human Communication

Required Courses (12 credits)

Select 4 credits from the following:

Select 4 credits from the following:

Electives

Choose 16 credits from the following:

Mass Media Studies

Journalism

Required Courses (14 credits)

Electives

Choose 14 credits from the following:

Academic Credit Policies

Activities, Practica, and Internships

The Department of Communication has adopted the following policies regarding academic credit for activities, internships, and practica. The total number of credits for activities/projects/internships and/or practica applied to the major cannot exceed 18. Additional credits may count toward graduation as electives but not toward the major. The remaining credits must be earned through completion of regular classroom courses not listed below.

Activity Courses

Activity courses are those involving an on-campus communication activity that is advised, supervised, sponsored, or hosted by a faculty member of the Department of Communication, or by a faculty member from another department (approved by the chair of the Department of Communication) or by the department as a whole. Such activities include but are not limited to: working for the University's student radio station; aiding a departmental faculty member as a teaching or research assistant; judging high school or University forensics tournaments; working on departmental and University publications; helping with Relationships Week; and being a member of the University's orientation team. Activity credits may be earned under course number 377. All of these courses may be repeated for credit. A minimum of 6 activity/project/practicum credits is required of journalism majors. Activity credits are recommended, but not required, of human communication majors. No more than 6 activity credits may be applied to the major.

Practica and Internships

Practica credits are earned for communication internships taking place off campus. Practica credits may be earned through working at radio and television stations, newspapers, advertising and public relations agencies; volunteer work with a variety of social service agencies (e.g., HelpLine, Rape Crisis Center, Dunn House); and work with youth organizations, healthcare facilities, charitable organizations, political campaigns, governmental offices, magazines, chambers of commerce, or arts organizations. Practica credits may be earned under Comm 409/509.

Computer Literacy

Communication majors can meet their computer literacy requirement by taking CS 115 or CS 116 or by demonstrating equivalency. Coursework that uses computers in the major (e.g., journalism) may be substituted with permission of the department advisor.

Graduate Study

Graduate students may choose communication as the secondary emphasis in the school-area degree (see Graduate Studies on page 155). This requires students to have previously finished three of the following courses or their equivalents: Comm 125, 210, 225, 342. Graduate work must include Communication Theory (Comm 560) and two additional graduate courses in communication. Exceptions may be made on rare occasions with the approval of the student's advisor.

Teacher Licensing

Students who want to teach communication at the middle school and/or high school level in Oregon public schools must complete a bachelor's degree in communication, including the rhetoric and public communication sequence under the human communication option, before applying for admission to the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program at SOU. Interested students should consult the department chair for an appropriate advisor and also consult the Education Department regarding admission requirements for the MAT teacher education program.

This competitive program requires students to prepare in advance to enhance their acceptance into the program. Practica, internships, and volunteer experiences working with children in the public schools prior to application to the MAT program are required.

In addition, admission requires proficiency in a second language. This requirement can be met by successfully completing two years of a second language at the college or university level or by passing a second language proficiency test at the intermediate level.

The department offers coursework preparing teachers of journalism, though no formal endorsement is offered by the state.

Writing Component

Students demonstrate writing proficiency by completing Core 101, 102, 103 or Wr 121, 122, and 123 or, preferably, Comm 300, and by taking any of the upper division communication courses with a writing component. Students in the human communication and media studies options are required to complete a Comm 460 topics course to further demonstrate their writing competency.