Download CUP Report of January 26, 2016

REPORT TO THE NMU ACADEMIC SENATE
from
The Committee on Undergraduate Programs
Chair: Lesley Putman
First Reading: January 26, 2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Department of Communication and Performance Studies
A. Program changes
Public Relations Major
a. Remove Economic Issues Elective
b. Increase PR Theoretical Elective to 8 credits
B. Course changes:
i. BC 200 Introduction to Multimedia Journalism
a. Eliminate “C or better in EN 217” as a prerequisite for BC 200
b. Add EN 211 as a prerequisite for BC 200
ii. TH 131 Entertainment Technology
a. Change lecture lab ratio
b. Change semester offered
c. Change course description
CUP Report to the Senate
January 26, 2016
Page 1 of 5
1. DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION AND PERFORMANCE STUDIES
A. PROGRAM CHANGES:
PROPOSED BULLETIN COPY:
Public Relations Major
Total Credits Required for Degree
124
Liberal Studies
Health Promotion Requirements
30-40
2
Required Courses in Major
40
Core
36
Select one course from the following:
BC 165 Introduction to Mass Media (4 cr.)
BC 200 Introduction to Multimedia Journalism (4 cr.)
EN 206 Survey of Journalism (4 cr.)
EN 217 News Writing and Reporting (4 cr.)
4
BC 470 Mass Communication Law
SP 100 Public Address or
TH 132 Acting (4 cr.) with adviser approval
SP 310 Communication Theory
PR 231 Introduction to Public Relations
PR 250 Research in Public Relations
PR 330 Public Relations Message Design
PR 430 Public Relations Case Studies
PR 431 Campaigns
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
PR Theoretical Electives
8
Choose 2 from the following:
BC 320 Electronic Media Management (4 cr.)
BC 410 The Documentary (4 cr.)
BC 415 Intercultural Communication (4 cr.)
BC 420 Global Communication (4 cr.)
BC 471 Mass Communication and Society (4 cr.)
BC 495 Special Topics in Broadcasting (1-4 cr.) (adviser-approved topic)
ESPR 495 Special Topics in Entertainment and Sports Promotion (2-4 cr.) (adviserapproved topic)
PR 495 Special Topics in Public Relations (2-4 cr.)
SP 320 New Media Literacy (4 cr.)
SP 401 Persuasion (4 cr.)
CUP Report to the Senate
January 26, 2016
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SP 421 Organizational Communication (4 cr.)
SP 422 Crisis Communication (4 cr.)
SP 432 Environmental Communication (4 cr.)
SP 495 Special Topics in Communication Studies (2-4 cr.) (adviser-approved topic)
Other Required Courses
12
May be satisfied by courses in the major, minor, liberal studies or general electives.
Contact department or see department adviser for more information.
EN 211E Critical Thinking and Writing [I] or
4
SP 200 Argumentation (4 cr.) (if EN 211 taken before)
MA 171 Introduction to Probability and Statistics [V] or 4
PY 305 Psychological Statistics (4 cr.) [V] or
SO 208 Methods of Social Research I (4 cr.) [V]
MKT 230 Introduction to Marketing
4
Economic Issues Elective
Choose from the following:
EC 101 Introduction to Economics (4 cr.) [IV]
EC 201 Microeconomic Principles (4 cr.)
EC 202 Macroeconomic Principles (4 cr.)
EC 337 American Economic History (4 cr.) [IV]
GC 220 Economic Geography (4 cr.)
4
Minor
20
Choose any minor except speech cluster or entertainment and sports promotion.
RATIONALE:
As the public relations field continues to evolve, increasing the exposure students have to
different aspects of the field is important. Eliminating the Economic Issues Elective and
increasing the Theoretical Elective requirement from 4 to 8 credits allows us to
accomplish this without changing the credits required in the major. It will add to
students’ depth of knowledge in critical growth areas (e.g., New Media Literacy) and
allow them to take a course in a specialty area of interest (e.g., Environmental
Communication).
In addition, PR students can still be advised to take an Economic Issues course within
Division IV Liberal Studies.
CUP Report to the Senate
January 26, 2016
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B. COURSE CHANGES
PROPOSED BULLETIN COPY:
BC 200 Introduction to Multimedia Journalism
4 credits
Offered Winter Fall
Prerequisites: C or better in EN 217 EN 211
RATIONALE:
This change eliminates the C grade requirement in EN 217, and it eliminates the need to
take EN 217 prior to taking BC 200. EN 211 is a sufficient prerequisite for BC 200 given
how the two courses are now structured. This will better allow students to move through
the program in a timely manner, and it will also create parity among all grade
requirements for courses in the major.
PROPOSED BULLETIN COPY:
TH 131 – Entertainment Technology I
4 credits (2-0-4) (3-0-2)
Offered: Winter Semester Fall Semester
Description:
Theoretical and applied aspects of set construction, painting, lighting, properties and
special effects for the stage. Weekly laboratory assignments.
This course provides a basic knowledge of beginning technical theatre aspects. Topics such
as set construction, stage electrics, painting, props, and basic rigging will be discussed.
This course may not be repeated for credit
RATIONALE:
From previous course assessments and student evaluations the instructor determined
that it is very difficult for students to retain information discussed during the lecture
when the lecture is only held once a week. In addition, with more lab hours than
lecture hours there isn’t enough lecture time to adequately instruct students on
scenery applications before applying those same applications during the lab period.
CUP Report to the Senate
January 26, 2016
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Adding a second lecture and removing a lab period will not only increase the ability
of the students to retain the information but allow for more adequate time to expand
on certain topics. The second lecture would allow students more time to focus on
course material as well as better apply that newly learned material in their lab section.
Since TH 131 is the only basic theatre technology course in the major, it really needs
to encompass as many areas of technical theatre as possible. This would give
students a better understanding of all technical aspects making them better prepared
for future advanced technical theatre courses. The second lecture would also give the
opportunity to expand on topics such as stage electrics and painting as well as add
new topics like props, stock scenery, and even automation.
A final project will also be added to the course. Students will be given a painting and
asked to recreate a real life version of that painting using topics and materials
discussed in class; materials such as stock scenery, props, paints, and stage lighting.
They will then present the final project to the class. This will allow the instructor to
judge their ability to grasp the concepts discussed over the semester and apply them
in a real life setting.
The course will be offered in the Fall rather than Winter semester. This change
will help the course line up better with other classes in the Theatre major.
CUP Report to the Senate
January 26, 2016
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