DEPARTMENT
OF MASS COMMUNICATION
LIBERIA COLLEGE
Degree
of Bachelor of Arts
In Mass Communication
The
course of study for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication takes
four years. A student must earn the minimum requirements of 130 credit hours to
graduate. A candidate for the degree must complete his general education requirements
of 64 semester hours as prescribed by the College of Social Sciences and Humanities.
He is required to earn 36 semester hours in his major area, 18 semester hours
in his minor, plus six semester hours of electives. A student may select his minor
in any of the academic disciplines of the University - i.e. History, Economics,
Sociology, English and Literature, Political Science, etc
Students
interested in entering the Mass Communication Program will be required to take
a qualifying English examination to be administered by the Department of Mass
Communication.
The
Department of Mass Communication has two areas of concentration: Print Media and
Broadcast Media. Print Media majors will focus on newspaper and magazine reporting,
writing and production Broadcast Media majors will concentrate on broadcast writing
and production (Radio and Television). A student can only branch into either of
these areas of concentration after successfully completing Mass Comm. 201, Mass
Comm. 202 and Mass Comm. 204.
In
addition to practical work on a student Newspaper or a University Broadcasting
Station for at least two years, all students in Mass Communication will be required
to do a three-month internship with a local Newspaper or Broadcasting Station
at the end of their Junior year.
AM candidates for the degree of Bachelor of
Arts in Print or Broadcast Journalism must write a thesis as partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree.
Comm.
201 - Introduction to News Writing
An
introductory course designed to provide the student with basic techniques of news
writing; tips for good writing; words, sentences, and paragraphs; simple writing
assignments for various media; newspaper, radio/television, etc.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
Comm.
202 - News Reporting
Techniques
of gathering, analyzing and writing news, with emphasis on news values and ethics;
practical writing and assignments to acquaint students with the major elements
of news reporting, with considerable attention on writing "lead" paragraph
and simple news stories, plus introduction to law of mass media. Departmental
requirement for both print and broadcast journalism.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
Comm.
204 - Introduction to Mass Communication
Nature
and functions of Mass Communications; definition of Communication; different communication
models, characteristics of interpersonal, group and mass communication, major
functions of mass communication, mass communication theories. Departmental requirements
for both print and broadcast journalism.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
Comm.
301 - News Editing
(Pre-requlsltBL Comm. 304 & 415)
Preparation
of copy and other elementary desk work on newspapers, including news evaluation,
correction of errors of fact and expression, condensation of news stories, headline
writing, news display and page make-up.
Credit
3 credits/semester
Comm.
303 -Broadcast Reporting
(Pre-requisite: 204)
Study
and practice of writing and editing news for broadcast. Basic principles applied
to newscasts and on-the-spot coverage; use of wire copy; practice In Interviewing,
observation, and using documentary references. Examination of ethical; legal and
social responsibilities of the broadcast journalist.
Credit
3 credits/semester
Comm.
304 - Feature/Editorial Writing
(Pre-requisite: 202 and 204)
Practice
In writing opinionated news stories such as the editorial and commentary. Special
emphasis on the study of the purpose, form, style, and spirit of the editorial,
consideration of current events and their interpretation to Influence readers'
emotions. Principles and practices In the writing of feature stories for newspapers,
magazines and the electronic media. Emphasis on creative styles of factual writing
which task originally of style and Imaginative treatment. Includes the informative
feature, human interest story and current news feature in the areas of social
biological, earth and physical sciences. Departmental requirement for both print
and broadcast journalism.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
Comm.
305 - Television Production and Direction I
(Pre-requisite:303)
Creating,
planning, producing and directing of the television program. Understanding operational
problems of the TV studio. Functions, limitations and capabilities of standard
TV equipment. Knowledge of aesthetics in the mixture of audio and visual processing.
Lectures and laboratory.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
Comm.
313 -BroadcastScript-writing
(Pre-requislte: 303)
An
overview of techniques of scripting radio and television programs. Students will
be required to write several scripts including sports, music programs, children's
programs, and features. The final production will be a 30-minute group project
which will be produced.
Credit:
3 credits/semester Comm.
315
- Photo Journalism
Principles
of photography Including historical perspectives and special techniques, Medium
and small format reflex cameras used. Darkroom techniques for black and white
photography. Selection of photographs for publication and caption writing. Junior
Standing.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
Comm.
320 - Principles of Public Relations
Origin
and development of public relations; current practices and problems, Including
ethical standards and functional role in modem society; Its day-to-day functions,
communication and publicity techniques, and the analysis of relationships with
various groups, such as press representatives, employees, stockholders, consumers
and the like. Junior Standing.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
Comm.
350 - Mass Media Law and Ethics
History,
principles, and provisions of the law as applied universally to the day-to-day
functions of the mass media. Emphasis on the Law of Libel, Right of Privacy, Contempt
of proceedings, Copy-right, Treason, ' etc.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
Comm.
360 - Radio and Television News Writing
(Pre-requisite: 303)
Theory
and techniques of writing news and features for broadcast media. Editing and rewriting
press association dispatches,- gathering local news, recording interviews, musical
script and preparing newscasts and feature programs.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
Comm.
401 - International Communications
A
survey of the media of mass communications (press and broadcast systems) throughout
the world: their structure, chief characteristics; tics; historical background;
differing fundamental concepts of their role and conflicting theories of control;
international news services and foreign correspondents; majors newspapers of the
world; growth and attendant problems in the developing nations, particularly Africa.
Senior Standing.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
Comm.
403 - Mass Media Research
Examination
of qualitative and quantitative approaches to research used by practicing writers
and editors in all media. Analysis of theories of mass communications, including
models based on various theories; content analysis; experiments; field projects
and presentation of minimum two research papers. Senior Standing.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
Comm.
405 - Radio and Television Management
(Pre-requisite:
360)
Business
policies and practices of networks and stations. Departmental functions cost and
income figures, sales techniques, promotion, advertising agencies and governmental
regulations.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
Comm.
408 - Broadcast Sales Management
(Pre-requisite: 405)
Problems
and practices of radio and television sales; case studies in sales developments;
pricing; promotion and other areas of sales management and marketing.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
Comm.
412 - Development Communication
(Pre-requisites: 204 and 304)
This
course attempts to give a definition and origin of development communication;
how students relate theories of mass communication to problems of national development,
by actively participating and accurately reporting development activities throughout
the nation; it will also stress the evolution of the vernacular and rural press
as instruments of national development; and finally, in cooperation with planning,
health, education and agriculture authorities, it will give the student a thorough
practical orientation of promoting development activities in these areas as well
as produce film strips and other illustrations to educate the rural population.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
Comm.
415 - Magazine Editing (Pre-requisite: 304)
Survey
and history of magazine; principles and problems of magazine editing; planning,
content selection, manuscript revision, copy editing, caption and title writing;
editorial responsibility; book and movie review for the mass media.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
Comm.
420 - Broadcast Journalism Senior Thesis
(Pre-requisite: 320)
Integrated
readings and research in the field of electronic media. Survey of issues as related
to the policies and practices of the broadcast media in the 20th century. Examination
of the historical, economic and legal aspects of broadcasting, with emphasis on
the Liberian situation. Analysis of current station practices in the Liberian
context. Presentation of final thesis. - '
Credit:
3 credits/semester
Comm.
440 - Advertising Principles
(Pre-requisite: 320)
Advertising
in Business and society. Types and functions of advertising. Fundamentals of Broadcast
and publications advertising. Stress on communications aspects of advertising.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
Comm.
450 - Print Journalism Senior Thesis
(Pre-requisite: 403)
Integrated
readings and research in the field of Journalism. Includes survey of issues as
related to the news performance of newspapers and other information media and
analysis of twentieth century trend affecting news selection. Analysis of current
journalistic practices in the Liberian context. Presentation of final thesis.
Credit.
3 credits/semester
