Journalism and Mass Communication (MCOM)

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

Faculty

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

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: Advertising, Broadcast Journalism, News-editorial, 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 Journalism.

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 of journalism so accredited. The Department has been accredited continuously since accrediting began in 1948. The Department subscribes to the accrediting body’s philosophy of one-quarter of the student’s work in journalism and three-quarters of the student’s work in liberal arts courses. Journalism students take a minimum of 30 credit hours in journalism, but may take no more than 36 credit hours without extending the 128-hour requirement for graduation. Journalism students must have a “C” or better in Freshman Composition; must have a graduation average of 2.5 in journalism courses; and must have grades of “C” or better in all major courses.

News-Editorial 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 Journalism. Students may major in both agriculture and journalism thus preparing themselves for careers in many areas that draw upon mass communication skills and a knowledge of agriculture. Those careers include reporting and editing for agriculture magazines and newspapers, for agriculture sections of general newspapers, for public relations or advertising in agribusiness, and for farm broadcast.

Minor in Journalism. Available for students majoring in other fields. Courses required are basic newswriting, and other journalism 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 typography; for broadcasting and advertising; and for photojournalism. All have state-of-the-art equipment. Broadcast and advertising courses are in the Joe L. Floyd News Media Laboratory. It is equipped with high-end Macintosh computers and 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 nine faculty members. The journalism 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.