THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE

FACULTY SENATE

Senate Document Number 6211S

Date of Senate Approval 04/07/11

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Statement of Faculty Senate Action:

APC Document 50: Change credit hours and prerequisites for MCOM 341, 369, 421, 483, 498

Effective Date: Fall 2011

1. Delete: On page 203, catalog listing for MCOM 341:

341 Layout and Design (4)

Introduction to computer design for print media. Software applications for text, photography and graphics. Typography, studies in composition, color, line, page layout and image selection, and cropping. Course includes layout and design lab. Prerequisite: completion of 6 hours in MCOM; or ART 110 or 111; or permission of instructor. Spring.

Add: On page 203, in place of deleted entry:

341 Layout and Design (3)

Introduction to computer design for print media. Software applications for text, photography and graphics. Typography, studies in composition, color, line, page layout and image selection, and cropping. Course includes layout and design lab. Prerequisite: MCOM 201 and successful completion of Journalism Concentration Entrance Exam, or permission of instructor. Spring.

Impact:

Students will need to complete the required newswriting course before taking this class. The impact of the credit hour change is that students will get one less credit for taking this class. For faculty, the laboratory and classroom components will need reorganization.

Rationale:

The old prerequisites simply made no sense. The new one is pertinent to the intent of the course and the program. Laying out media publications (online and in print) requires an understanding of newswriting principles, thus the prerequisite of MCOM 201 is appropriate. Reducing the credit hours for this and other MCOM courses will give students more schedule flexibility and will provide the opportunity to take more course topics.

2. Delete: On page 204, the title and credit hours for MCOM 369:

369 Magazine Publication (4)

This course prepares students for careers in the magazine industry by strengthening writing and editing skills and providing an overview of the magazine industry. Special attention is paid to editorial, business and production requirements for magazines. Prerequisite: MCOM 201; or permission of instructor. Odd years Fall.

Add: On page 204, in place of deleted entry:

369 Magazine Publication (3)

This course prepares students for careers in the magazine industry by strengthening writing and editing skills and providing an overview of the magazine industry. Special attention is paid to editorial, business and production requirements for magazines. Prerequisite: MCOM 201 and successful completion of Journalism Concentration Entrance Exam, or permission of instructor. Odd years Spring.

Impact:

Students will need to complete the required newswriting course before taking this class. The impact of the credit hour change is that students will get one less credit for taking this class. For faculty, the laboratory and classroom components will need reorganization. The impact of increasing or decreasing the frequency of offering for individual courses is balanced in the overall two-year plan of course offerings. The entire curriculum is offered in two years, and no adjunct faculty are required for this. Should adjunct funds become available, these will be used to increase sections and/or reduce enrollments of MCOM 104, 201 and VMP 205, which are already multiple-section, every-semester courses with enrollments of 30 to 40.

Rationale:

Reducing the credit hours for this and other MCOM courses will give students more schedule flexibility and will provide the opportunity to take more course topics. The prerequisite helps insure that students who enroll are adequately prepared for the work of the course. Some courses in this proposal are offered more often than in the past, some less often, and some are eliminated. These changes in semester of offering will provide coherent curriculum structure over time.

3. Delete: On page 204, the title, credit hours and first sentence of the description for MCOM 421:

421 Public Affairs Journalism (4)

This capstone course in the Journalism concentration, which may also be used as the capstone course in the Commercial Media concentration, emphasizes field practice in newsgathering and writing, covering news beats, including courts, local governments and other news sources. Spring.

Add: On page 204, in place of deleted entry:

421 Public Affairs Journalism (3)

This capstone course in the Journalism concentration emphasizes field practice in newsgathering and writing, covering news beats, including courts, local governments and other news sources. Spring

Impact:

Students will receive one less credit for taking this class. For faculty, the laboratory and classroom components will need reorganization.

Rationale:

Reducing the credit hours for this and other MCOM courses will give students more schedule flexibility and will provide the opportunity to take more course topics.

4. Delete: On page 205, title and credit hours for MCOM 483:

483 Film Criticism (4)

Add: On page 205, in place of deleted entry:

483 Film Criticism (3)

Impact:

Students will receive one less credit for taking this class. For faculty, the laboratory and classroom components will need reorganization.

Rationale:

Reducing the credit hours for this and other MCOM courses will give students more schedule flexibility and will provide the opportunity to take more course topics.

5. Delete: On page 205, catalog listing for 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.

Add: On page 205, in place of deleted entry:

498 Mass Communication Research (3)

Study of research methods in Mass Communication. This course examines social science research methods, including experimental, survey and non-quantitative approaches. Prerequisite: MCOM 104 or permission of instructor. Odd years Spring.

Impact:

The new description more accurately reflects course content. With the elimination of the Communication Research concentration, the 30 hour prerequisite is not needed. The course will serve as a regular MCOM elective for interested students. The impact of the credit hour change is that students will get one less credit for taking this class. For faculty, the laboratory and classroom components will need reorganization. The impact of increasing or decreasing the frequency of offering for individual courses is balanced in the overall two-year plan of course offerings. The entire curriculum is offered in two years, and no adjunct faculty are required for this. Should adjunct funds become available, these will be used to increase sections and/or reduce enrollments of MCOM 104, 201 and VMP 205, which are already multiple-section, every-semester courses with enrollments of 30 to 40.

Rationale:

The current prerequisite is both unenforceable and represents a legacy requirement from its position as the capstone in the research concentration. Reducing the credit hours for this and other MCOM courses will give students more schedule flexibility and will provide the opportunity to take more course topics. This description better informs students about the material to be covered in the course. Some courses in this proposal are offered more often than in the past, some less often, and some are eliminated. These changes in semester of offering will provide coherent curriculum structure over time.