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College
College of Communication and Information

Department
School of Journalism and Mass Communication

201 Franklin Hall
Tel: 330-672-2572
E-mail: jmc@kent.edu
Web: www.kent.edu/jmc

Description

The Bachelor of Science in Electronic Media comprises three concentrations:

Electronic media production majors learn how to create audio and video programs.   Students may assist in the production aspects of both Black Squirrel Radio and TV2.  Graduates generally secure entry-level positions in production departments for broadcast operations or production work in studios.

Electronic media sports production majors learn how to shoot, edit, produce and create graphics for a variety of sporting events, including basketball and football. Students work both remotely in the field with a satellite truck and in the TV 2 studio to produce the games. They also learn about sports marketing and sports and the media.

Electronic media management majors study all aspects of program planning for electronic media, including understanding audiences' attitudes/motives and what types of programs attract different audiences. Graduates generally find employment in program scheduling, broadcast station management and sales fields.
 

Career Opportunities

Employment was distributed among the following detailed occupations:
About 30 percent worked in broadcasting (except Internet) and 17 percent worked in the motion picture, video, and sound recording industries. About 13 percent were self-employed. Television stations employ, on average, many more technicians than radio stations. Some technicians are employed in other industries, producing employee communications, sales, and training programs. Technician jobs in television and radio are located in virtually all cities; jobs in radio also are found in many small towns.
(Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
 

Admission Requirements

Students first entering the university, whether from high school or transferring from another institution, are admitted directly into one of the ten JMC majors/concentrations. A Kent State GPA of 2.750 must be maintained to continue taking JMC courses.

Current Kent State students wishing to pursue a major in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication must have a GPA of 2.750 or higher to be admitted directly into one of the ten majors/concentrations.

Current Kent State students with a GPA lower than 2.750 (but 2.000 or higher) may be admitted as journalism and mass communication pre-majors.
 

Graduation Requirements

Minimum 124 credit hours and minimum 2.750 GPA cumulative and in major. Minimum 80 credit hours taken outside the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Only general elective courses may be taken as pass/fail, of which maximum 12 credit hours may be taken as pass/fail. Students must meet the requirements stated in this catalog to declare a journalism and mass communication major.
A 2.750 overall GPA is also required to enroll in JMC courses.

Students who fall below a 2.750 overall will be allowed to remain in JMC courses for which they are already registered for one more semester. They will be given one semester to bring their overall GPA up to the school minimum. Failure to do so will result in not being permitted to enroll in JMC courses until their overall GPA reaches the school minimum. In addition, no grade lower than a C- (1.700) in a JMC course will be counted toward graduation or as a prerequisite for a subsequent class.

Students must earn a B- (2.700) or better in JMC 20004 Media Writing to move on in their major. If they fail to earn a B- (2.700) or better in JMC 20004 after two attempts, they are not permitted to continue in the journalism and mass communication program. Students must pass the school’s grammar usage and punctuation test before enrolling in any of the following JMC courses: 26001 Newswriting, 30004 Writing for Electronic Media, 30034 Programming for Electronic Media, 31002 Advertising Copywriting, 31003 Advertising Media Planning, 32001 Photojournalism I, 40006 Law of Mass Communication, 40010 Ethics and Issues in Mass Communication, 44040 Concept Psychographics and 46001 Information Graphics.

The Liberal Studies Requirement (LSR) is mandated by the ACEJMC  to make sure JMC degrees are well-rounded degrees with a strong grounding in the humanities, arts and sciences. Sixty-five credit hours (out of the total of 124 for the degree) must be taken in the humanities, arts and sciences. All Kent Core courses, except JMC 20001, count toward the LSR, so that covers 37 of the 65 hours. The remaining 28 hours of LSRs are covered in Additional Degree Requirements and electives. There are specific course designations and some specific courses that count toward the 65-hour Liberal Studies Requirement. See your advisor for details. Students electing minors that are not liberal studies in nature may need to complete more than 124 hours.

Journalism and mass communication majors supplement their coursework with an internship in their field of specialization. Other opportunities for practical experience include news, production, management, sales, performance and advertising positions on the campus newspaper, the Daily Kent Stater, and its online edition; the campus television station, TV-2; the campus radio station, Black Squirrel Radio; and the campus magazine, the Burr, and its online edition.
 

Study Abroad/Away Opportunities

There are many study abroad/away opportunities. For more information contact the Office of Global Education or CCI's Coordinator of International Study Programs.
 

Program Fee

$60/semester

Student Organizations

National Association of Black Journalists, Public Relations Student Society of America, National Press Photographers Association, American Advertising Federation Student Chapter, Kappa Tau Alpha. Student Media: Artemis, The Daily Kent Stater, The Burr and Cyburr, UHURU, Luna Negra, Fusion, TV2, Black Squirrel Radio, KentWired.com
 

Advanced Degree Programs