Communication Arts

Curriculum Change in the Communication Arts Department

Fall 2008 begins a new era in the curriculum of the Communication Arts major, as we move from a 3-credit course model to a 4-credit course model.  The purpose of this change is to provide students with an enhanced, more rigorous, more focused and deeper learning experience.  We believe that you will receive a better education by taking fewer classes and doing more and better work in each class, and we hope this curriculum change will help create a new culture of learning among our students.

Course Enhancements:  All courses will be changed to 4-credit courses through the incorporation of one or more "enhancements" that will both raise the credit value and the performance expectations in each course.  These enhancements may include increased course content and/or readings, civic engagement, cultural enrichment, online activity and/or an additional hour in class.  Most CMAT classes will continue to meet three hours per week, but some will now meet for four hours per week.  If the class meets three hours per week, expect to do significant amounts of work outside of class time as a means of justifying the fourth credit.

The New Major and Minor:  Because of the enhancements that will make each CMAT course worth four credits, fewer courses will be required for the major and the minor.  The CMAT major will require ten (rather than the current thirteen) courses, and the CMAT minor will require five (rather than the current six) courses. Comparisons between the old and new major are attached to this document.

Some Summary Facts: 

• The new major will require ten four-credit courses as opposed to thirteen three-credit courses.

• CMAT 100 will no longer be required for CMAT majors.

• CMAT 200 is being dropped as a course.  Its content has been redistributed into other courses.

• The Mass Media Track has been redeveloped into two tracks:  one in Media Production and one in Media Studies.

• The Interpersonal/Organizational Track has been redesigned and renamed “Human Communication Studies.”

• The Journalism/Public Relations Track now requires students to choose either a group of Journalism electives or a group of Public Relations electives.

• Track requirements have changed for all tracks.

WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT YOUR GRADUATION IS NOT DELAYED AS A RESULT OF THESE CHANGES!!

Students in Transition:  Students who have initiated CMAT majors or minors under previous catalogs will be advised and aided in making a decision to stay under the “old” catalog (pre fall 2008) or switch to the new version of the major reflected in the fall 2008 catalog.  Regardless of which decision you make, as of fall 2008 you will be taking four-credit CMAT classes.  The real question is, should you switch to the new catalog and the new version of the CMAT major that comes with it, or should you stay, as is your right, in the old catalog?  The answer to that question depends on a number of issues.  In most cases, we believe that switching to the new catalog will be in your best interest.  Below are a number of scenarios that result in a suggestion.  If one or more of them do not apply to you, or you are uncertain about where you fit, you should meet with your advisor and/or the CMAT department chair.

Below you will see a comparison of the old and new majors.  Study them carefully and be sure to let us know if you have questions.

Old Major   New Major

Transition Plan to New General Education Requirements and Reformed Curriculum Majors/Minors in the Fulton School 

Transition Principles to New General Education Requirements and Reformed Majors in the Fulton School

• Students should not be unfairly disadvantaged by or discouraged from entering the SU enhance curriculum in the midst of their studies.
• Departments, Advising Coordinators, Deans, and the Provost’s Office will work with students on a case-by-case basis to issue waivers where needed to ensure students’ time to degree is not extended.
• Students completing the old general education requirements who have remaining requirements in the social science, humanities, or history areas are encouraged to complete as many of those requirements as possible during the spring and fall 2008 semesters. 
• Students must complete major, minor, and general education requirements from the same catalog.  However, if a student moves to the new Fall 2008 catalog during this first transition year, there may be some adjustments made to the general education requirements to take into account previously completed general education requirements (see chart above).
• Students transitioning to new major or minor requirements in the Fall 2008 catalog may apply to that major or minor any course previously taken to meet the old major or minor requirements, even if that course is not included in the new requirements.
• Students completing major or minor requirements from an old catalog will be held to the minimum number of credits required of the old major or minor.  If the student completes the minimum number of credits by taking 4-credit courses and still has not met the course requirements of the old major or minor, the department chair will entertain the option of waiving the additional course requirements. 
• Transfer courses will be applied to the new requirements based on a course equivalency basis rather than a credit basis. 

NEW GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AS OF FALL 2008

GROUP I: English and Literature - 2 COURSES

A.  ENGLISH 103 (Grade of "C" or better) OR 4 _____

  HONORS 111 (if in Honors Program)

B.  LITERATURE (in either English or

  Modern Languages)  4 _____

GROUP II: History - 2 COURSES

A.  HISTORY 101, 102 or 103 4 _____

B.  HISTORY 101, 102, 103 or a History 

  Course above 103  4 _____

GROUP III: Humanities and Social Sciences – 3 COURSES FROM 3 DIFFERENT AREAS

A. Select one course from one of the following six areas:

Art, Communication Arts, Dance OR Theater Arts, Modern Languages, Music, Philosophy. (HONR 211 if in Honors Program)

___________________________________  3/4 _____

B.  Select one course from one of the following seven areas:  Anthropology, Conflict Analysis and Dispute Resolution, Economics, Human Geography, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology.  (HONR 112 if in Honors Program)

___________________________________  3/4 _____

C.  Select one course from either Group III A or IIIB (course may not be from the same area selected for IIIA or IIIB)

___________________________________ 3/4 _____

GROUP IV: Natural Science, Math and Computer Science – 4 COURSES

A. Select courses with laboratories from at least two of the following four areas (totaling at least six credits hours):  Biology, Chemistry, Geology or Physical Geography, Physics

___________________________________      4 _____

___________________________________      4 _____

B.  Select one additional course (need not include a lab) from Group IVA or Computer Science or Mathematics (totaling at least 3 credit hours): Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Health Science, Geology or Physical Geography, Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, HONR 212 (If in Honors Program)

___________________________________ 3/4 _____

C.  Select one math course for a total of three credit hours

___________________________________ 3 _____

GROUP V: Health Fitness - 1 COURSE

Complete PHEC 106 Personalized Hlth/Fitness 3 _____