Journalism and Mass Communication (MCOM)

Mary Arnold, Head
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Yeager Hall 211
605-688-4171
e-mail: mary.arnold@sdstate.edu

Faculty

Professor Arnold, Head; Professors Getz, Giago, Lucchesi, Olson; Professor Emeriti Lee; Associate Professors Cecil, Hinde, Paulson; Associate Professors Emerita Laird, Perpich; Assistant Professor Klock; Instructor Emeritus Cecil.

Programs

The four-year journalism program awards either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degree. Students select one of the following specializations within Journalism and Mass Communication: Advertising, Broadcast Journalism, News-editorial Journalism, or Media Production.

The Department cooperates with the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences to offer a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership.

Journalism (MCOM)
The Department is accredited by the national accrediting body of journalism and mass communication, the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC). It is one of 105 schools so accredited. The Department has been accredited continuously since accrediting began in 1948. Journalism and Mass Communication students take a minimum of 80 credit hours outside of journalism and mass communication and a minimum of 65 credit hours in the liberal arts and sciences. Journalism and Mass Communication students must have a “C” or better in Freshman Composition; must have a graduation average of 2.5 in journalism and mass communication courses; and must have grades of “C” or better in all major courses.

News-Editorial Journalism Specialization. Students who want to be reporters or editors for newspapers, magazines, wire services or who want to work in photojournalism, public relations, or government information agencies usually take this specialization.

Broadcast Journalism Specialization. Students who want to work in news in radio and television take this specialization.

Advertising Specialization. Students who want to work in marketing communications, advertising sales or production or who want to work in advertising agencies or with advertising departments take this specialization.

Media Production Specialization. Students interested in creating audio and video for traditional and online
media take this specialization.

Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership. Students interested in agriculture and developing a flexible program of study including oral, written, electronic, and broadcast communications and studies in areas such as leadership and policy in agriculture should take this major.

Minor in Journalism. Available for students majoring in other fields. Courses required are basic newswriting, and other journalism and mass communication courses to total 16 credits.

Graduate Work in Journalism. An M.S. degree is offered. (See the Graduate School Catalog for details.)

Facilities. The Department moved into expanded and renovated facilities in 2000 that cost $2.4 million. There are four computer laboratories — for newswriting; for news editing and digital media; for broadcasting and advertising; and for photojournalism and media production. All have state-of-the-art equipment. Broadcast and advertising courses are in the Joe L. Floyd News Media Laboratory. It is connected to digital video and audio production suites. There are two conference rooms, a reading room, a student lounge, and individual offices for the Department’s 10 faculty members. The building has been renamed Yeager Hall in recognition of the contributions of Anson and Ada May Yeager. Mr. Yeager was the longtime editor of the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls.