THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE

 

                                                                                    FACULTY SENATE

 

 Senate Document Number     4909S

 

 Date of Senate Approval      03/19/09

 

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Statement of Faculty Senate Action:

 

APC Document 35:                                           Change course description for MCOM 499;

Add new course, MCOM 498;

                       

Effective Date: Fall 2009

 

 

1. Delete:          On pg. 203, the entry for MCOM 499:  

 

499       Undergraduate Research in Mass Communication (1-6)

This capstone course in the Communication Research concentration, which may also be used as the capstone course in the Commercial Media concentration, requires completion of a significant undergraduate research project under the supervision of the instructor, who serves as faculty mentor. Students demonstrate oral communication competence in this course through presentation of research proposals, progress reports and findings. An IP grade may be awarded at discretion of instructor. May be repeated for a total of 6 hours credit. Prerequisite: 30 hours in MCOM and/or VMP courses including MCOM 201. Fall.

 

 

Add:           On pg. 203, in place of deleted entry:

 

499       Undergraduate Research in Mass Communication (1-6)

Independent research under the supervision of a faculty mentor. An IP grade may be awarded at discretion of instructor. May be repeated for a total of 6 hours credit. See department chair.

 

 

2.  Add:            On pg. 203, new course, MCOM 498:

 

498       Mass Communication Research (4)

The capstone for the Communication Research concentration, and an optional capstone for the Commercial Media concentration, this course requires completion of a significant undergraduate research project under the supervision of the instructor. Students demonstrate competence in oral communication through presentation of research proposals, progress reports and findings. An IP grade may be awarded at the discretion of the instructor. Prerequisite: Declaration of major in Mass Communication, and 30 hours in MCOM and/or VMP courses. Fall.

 

 

Impact:

No impact on programs or concentrations.  This change will repair an issue in the faculty load report.

 

Rationale:

This change fixes a problem created last year when MCOM 499 was approved by the APC as the capstone course for MCOM's research concentration.  APC had previously designated the "499" number as a universal designator of individualized undergraduate research. Faculty load for 499's is counted in the "equivalency" category rather than the "regular class" category. It was incorrect to install it as a required "class" for MCOM.  The proposed change creates a new class to replace the capstone requirement in MCOM's research track, and reinstates the "universal" description and status of MCOM499.