You are in the official 2000-2001 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
You are in the official 2000-2001 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Majors must complete 33 semester units of mass communication and journalism
courses with a grade of C or better in each course. To ensure
that students obtain a broad academic background, no more than 33 units
in MCJ courses may apply toward the 124 semester units required for graduation.
The university's General Education requirement of 51 units, plus the 33
units in the major, total 84 units. The remaining units needed to reach
the 124-unit graduation requirement must be taken outside the MCJ department
and the content of these electives may not be primarily mass communication.
Of these outside electives, 15 units must be in "liberal arts and sciences"
courses approved by the student's faculty adviser. (Courses in General Education
taken beyond the 51-unit G.E. requirement automatically qualify for the
department's liberal arts and sciences requirement.)
The department's requirements for study outside the major meet national
accreditation standards as well as the communications industries' preference
for graduates with strong grounding in the liberal arts and sciences.
Degree Summary
General Education (51 units)
Major requirements (33 units)
Liberal Arts and Sciences block (15 units)
Electives (25 units)
Total (124 units)
Each MCJ major must select an option, which is an area of specialization within the major. The options are advertising, broadcast journalism, digital media, electronic media production, photojournalism, print journalism, and public relations. The courses required for each option are listed under Major Requirements.
In addition to the above requirements, MCJ majors must observe the following:
Major Requirements (33 units)
Select one option
--- Advertising
MCJ 1, 10, 142, 143, 144, 146, 148, 172, or 173 (24 units)
Two MCJ electives numbered between 160 and 179. (6)
One additional MCJ course selected with the approval of a faculty adviser
(except MCJ 5) (3 units)
--- Broadcast Journalism
MCJ 1, 10, 102W, 124, 128,172, 173 (21 units)
One course from MCJ 108,126, 182, 188, 191 (3 units)
Two MCJ electives numbered between 160 and 179 (6 units)
One additional MCJ course selected with the approval of a
faculty adviser (except MCJ 5) (3 units)
--- Digital Media
MCJ 1, 10, 104, 106, 115,131, 132, 172 or 173 (24 units)
Two MCJ electives numbered between 160 and 179. (6 units)
One additional MCJ course selected with the approval of a faculty adviser
(except MCJ 5) (3 units)
--- Electronic Media Production
MCJ 1, 10, 113, 115, 116, 119, 172 or 173 (21 units)
One course from MCJ 17, 112, 118, 178, 182, 188, 191 (3 units)
Two MCJ electives numbered between 160 and 179 (6 units)
One additional MCJ course selected with the approval of a faculty adviser
(except MCJ 5) (3 units)
--- Photojournalism
MCJ 1, 10, 17, 102W, 132, 134, 138, 172 or 173 (24 units)
Two MCJ electives numbered between 160 and 179 (6 units)
One additional MCJ course selected with the approval of a faculty adviser
(except MCJ 5) (3 units)
--- Print Journalism
MCJ 1, 10, 102W, 104, 105, 108, 172 (21 units)
One course from MCJ 17, 106, 132, 173, 174. (3 units)
Two MCJ electives numbered between 160 and 179 (6 units)
One additional MCJ course selected with approval of a faculty adviser (except
MCJ 5) (3 units)
--- Public Relations
MCJ 1, 10, 102W, 104, 152, 158, 159, 164, 172 or 173, 191 (30 units)
MCJ elective numbered between 160 and 179 (3 units)
Required (6 units)
MCJ 1, 10
Minimum Electives (12 units)
Any four or more courses selected with the advice and consent of a member
of the departmental faculty
Minimum Total (18 units)
Students majoring in MCJ may earn a certificate in marketing by taking any three or four (12 units) of the following marketing courses:
MKTG 103, 110, 130, 132, 136, 140
To earn a certificate in mass communication and journalism, marketing students may take any four courses (totaling 12 units) from the following:
MCJ 142, 144, 146, 148, 152, 158
__________
MCJ students note: Marketing courses cannot be used in the liberal
arts and sciences block, but can be used as electives.
The department offers a flexible, professionally oriented program of study leading to the Master of Arts. The program prepares students for positions of leadership and influence in professional and academic careers. It also gives students a broadly-based understanding of mass communication in contemporary society and encourages continuing intellectual growth.
Admission. A graduate admissions committee reviews all files before admission. International students must pass the TOEFL with a score of at least 580. For more information, contact the graduate director, Dr. Philip J. Lane, at (559) 278-7028.
Writing Competence. California State University, Fresno requires that students have graduate-level writing ability before being advanced to candidacy for the master's degree. Students can statisfy this requirement by earning a passing grade in M COM 203.
Students take 30 units of coursework. Two core classes (M COM 201 and 203) are required, for 6 units. As a culminating experience, candidates must undertake either a thesis for 6 units or a professional project for 3 or 6 units. Students may select the remaining courses to meet their individual goals, including up to 6 units from other departments, depending on a student's area of interest. At least 21 of 30 units required must be in 200-level courses.
Students without a bachelor's degree in mass communication or significant professional experience may be required to take up to 15 units of undergraduate courses in the department before beginning the graduate program.
Required core courses
M COM 201, 203 (6 units)
Selected courses in major interest area
(may include up to 6 units in other departments) (18-21 units)
Thesis or project (3-6 units)
Total (at least 21 units in 200-series) (30 units)
