"Integrating new media communication technology with
an applied social sciences curriculum"

A. MISSION AND GOALS

MCCNM provides an applied curriculum that prepares students for careers in the media and related fields, such as radio and television programming, print and on-line reporting and publishing, interactive new media including digital audio and video production, and integrated communication and promotion in government, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors.

Students are required to specialize in at least one of five emphasis areas:

• Advertising
• Broadcasting
• New Media Studies
• News Editorial Journalism
• Public relations

1. Department goals
(a) Offer a professionally credible program. (b) Provide a student-centered experience. (c) Create an applied learning environment. (d) Maintain a 30-year reputation for excellence.

2. The department maintains three highly visible media laboratories
(1) TODAY online and print newspaper, (2) KTSC-FM, the "REV", 10,000-watt, radio station, and (3) KTSC public television station in collaboration with Rocky Mountain PBS. A minimal level of coursework will allow any student to participate in any of these media opportunities.

3. The department also provides internships in all sequence areas for any nonprofit, government, or for-profit organization. Broadcasting students work at local and statewide radio and television stations, journalism students write for local newspapers, and new media students design websites for a variety of nonprofit and for-profit organizations. The advertising and public relations students provide their skills to organizations such as the Colorado State Fair, Colorado Springs World Arena, Pueblo Chemical Depot, Parkview Medical Center, Pueblo Chieftain, and Colorado College Hockey, just to name a few organizations. Some students intern outside of Colorado during the summer recess. MCCNM students are in such demand that the department routinely cannot fulfill all the requests for student interns.

B. MCCNM HIGHLIGHTS

*2004-The department was the recipient of the Media Excellence Award by the Southern Colorado Press Club.

*2004-A documentary entitled Forged in Steel about the CF&I Company, was created by students for the Bessemer Historical Society and CF&I retirees in southern Colorado.

*2004-A new transmitter and antenna were installed for KTSC-FM to meet FCC regulations.

*2002-2003-KTSC-FM "REV" was rated the number one radio station among all radio stations in Pueblo, and among all non-commercial, NPR, education and religious radio stations in the nation, by the national rating service, Arbitron.

*2002-The department created the Center for New Media in collaboration with Pueblo Community College to provide new media technology to students.

*2000-Survey results revealed that 82% of MCCNM graduates get jobs in their field following graduation, compared with a national average of 60%. Four out of five MCCNM graduates have worked in their field. And 92% of grads responding said MCCNM coursework prepared them "exceptionally well" for their careers.

*1999-The department was nominated by the university as a "Program of Excellence" to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education.

*MCCNM provides over $40,000 annually in scholarships to majors, because of an established scholarship program funded by department alumni.

*MCCNM has the oldest internship program in Mass Communications in the state of Colorado.

C. CURRICULUM

Core Courses: A 21-credit core is required of all majors, and begins with a general media and society course, followed by five courses that introduce students to the emphasis areas, finishing with two senior-level courses that discuss media law, ethics, and career preparation.
Emphasis Areas: All emphasis areas have extensive and rigorous writing components built into coursework, along with opportunities to participate in various media laboratories and internships. Students are allowed options for electives within MCCNM which provide them opportunities to study within other sequence areas, complimenting their academic goals and career plans. Although only one sequence is required for the MCCNM major, the majority of students use a portion of their university electives to study an additional emphasis area in MCCNM.

Students studying broadcasting and new media produce and direct two live local PBS television programs weekly, help direct cable access television of local sporting events and city council, and create all programming and production for KTSC-FM radio station. Journalism students produce the bi-weekly and online version of TODAY, the campus newspaper, which is funded solely through traditional print advertising generated by the students studying advertising.
Knowledge of communication technology is required and students are expected to become proficient in the technology necessary for their particular career path. Depending on the student's focus, that may require department coursework in the software required for desktop publishing, website design, digital and audio production, or electronic information gathering and research.

D. STUDENTS

1. Student centered goals
(1) Integrate curriculum with necessary technology, and prioritize writing in all coursework.
(2) Prepare students for entry-level and mid-management careers in media-related disciplines, with a combination of social science research and theory and applied coursework. (3) Prepare students for real-world experience with guest speakers, media laboratory opportunities, and internships. (4) Provide curriculum that will articulate with graduate school opportunities.

E. FACULTY

All faculty have advanced degrees and professional experience in their specific disciplines, and all consistently are recognized for meritorious and/or superior performance in teaching, scholarly or applied activity, and service. Faculty have diverse interests, expertise, and knowledge, which creates a stimulating learning and working environment in the MCCNM Department.

F. ASSESSMENT OF IMPACT

Department faculty continuously discuss and evaluate their effectiveness in teaching, curriculum, emphasis areas, media labs, internships, and testing instruments. Each spring, faculty plan a one day retreat to more formally evaluate the program, discuss challenges, and plan for the future.

The following methods are used for formal ongoing evaluation and assessment:

Student Focus

• An exit survey of graduating seniors is conducted each semester
• Student evaluations are reviewed and analyzed each semester
• Student portfolios and projects are evaluated and discussed by faculty
• The ongoing quality of the broadcasting and journalism media laboratories is continuously monitored

Alumni and Professional Focus

• The department conducts an alumni survey every 5-7 years
• Feedback is solicited by faculty from class guest speakers
• The number and quality of internship requests is analyzed

University Focus

• The department conducts a program review every 5 years
• Annual enrollment figures are carefully monitored

G. FUTURE PLANS

MCCNM faculty are experienced in disciplines driven by societal expectations and technological advancements. The concepts of "change" and "growth" are welcome challenges for department faculty regarding the department curriculum, function, and structure. Along with the continuous goal of recruiting and retaining students in the department, the following goals continue to be priorities for the MCCNM Department:

1. Further integrate new media technology into all emphases, requiring the additional resources of money, training, and facility upgrades.
2. Research the further utilization of the the Buell Communications Center, to include the possibility that the department would move to the facility to house all department media laboratories, faculty offices, and specialized classrooms.
3. Further enhance relationships with alumni for internships, contributions, and student career opportunities.

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