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 Giago, Lucchesi, Olson; Professor Emeriti Lee, Getz; Associate Professors M. Cecil, Heinle, Oguntoyinbo, Paulson; Associate Professors Emerita Laird, Perpich; Assistant Professors Klock, Tiernan, Koroglu; Instructor Jensen; Instructor Emeritus C. Cecil.

Programs

The four-year advertising program awards either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degree. Students are encouraged to select one of the following emphases within Advertising: Creative Strategy, Interactive Media, or Public Relations.

The four-year journalism program awards either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degree. Students are encouraged to select one of the following emphases within Journalism: Broadcast Journalism or News-editorial Journalism. The Journalism major is offered both at the main campus in Brookings and at the University Center in Sioux Falls.

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

The Department also cooperates with the Department of Economics in offering the Marketing Minor.

Journalism and Advertising (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 113 schools so accredited. The Department has been accredited continuously since accrediting began in 1948. Journalism and Advertising majors take a minimum of 80 credit hours outside of journalism and mass communication with 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. Students in both the Journalism and Advertising major are required to purchase a Macintosh laptop and software appropriate for the discipline.

Advertising Major
Advertising majors are required to take a minimum of 38 credits of MCOM courses, but may not take more than 44 credits without extending the 128-credit requirement for graduation. Students must take a total of 18-24 credits of social sciences. That total includes credits that fulfill the SGR#3 Social Sciences and the IGR #3 Social Science requirements. Six credits of Humanities and Arts can be used to achieve the 24 credits. Advertising majors select one of the three emphases below.

Creative Strategy Emphasis. Students who want to work in the account management and creative areas of advertising, including copywriting, take this emphasis. It is recommended that students seeking a career in advertising art direction take this emphasis and pursue a double major in Graphic Design or a minor in Art through the Department of Visual Arts.

Interactive Media Emphasis. Students seeking employment in the areas of print and broadcast, online and social media planning; interactive marketing; research; and media sales take this emphasis.

Public Relations Emphasis. Students who want to work in public relations and corporate marketing positions requiring an understanding of integrated marketing communications take this emphasis.

Minor in Advertising. Available for students majoring in other fields. Students take four required advertising courses for 12 credits plus 6 electives for a total of 18 credits.

Journalism Major
Journalism majors are required to take a minimum of 36 credits of MCOM courses, but may not take more than 44 credits without extending the 128-credit requirement for graduation. Students must take a total of 24 credits of social sciences. That total includes credits that fulfill the SGR #3 Social Sciences and the IGR #3 Social Science requirements. Journalism majors select one of the three emphases below.

News-Editorial Journalism Emphasis. Students who want to be reporters, editors or page designers for print and online media, photojournalists and those seeking employment in corporate or government communications take this emphasis.

Broadcast Journalism Emphasis. Students who want to work in news in radio and television or online media take this emphasis.

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 on campus and online. (See the Graduate School Catalog for details.)

Facilities

The Department moved into expanded and renovated facilities in 2000 that cost $2.4 million. The Yeager Media Center, completed in 2011, is an up-to-date high-definition television and new media facility and the primary center for SDSU campus television and media production. There are also 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 and software. Broadcast and advertising courses are in the Joe L. Floyd News Media Laboratory. It is connected to digital video and audio production suites. Second floor of Yeager Hall incluse a conference room, a reading room, a student lounge, and individual offices for the Department’s 11 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.