The Journalism specialization for the B.A. in Education program has defined six learning outcomes for its students who should be able to:

1. Relate the development of American journalism from its origins to its current status and evaluate the media’s continued effects and influences on our democratic society.

2. Develop a comprehension of key free press issues including First Amendment rights allowing for a free press and free speech as well as legal issues of libel, privacy, open records/meetings and copyright. Also develop an understanding of ethical issues as they relate to the media field.

3. Relate the study of television, film, radio, videotape, advertising, newspapers, web sites and magazines as sources of information, persuasion and creative expression and develop an awareness of audience and purpose in evaluating mass media. They will also develop an understanding of the methods by which to judge media critically and understand the use of persuasive language and strategies.

4. Demonstrate a basic understanding and application of the production methods of print and new media (computerized). This should also include demonstrating the basic theories of design as it relates to various printed and electronic pieces. Students should also develop a production skill set for using the latest software technology.

5. Develop an understanding and application-level skills as they relate to reporting news events; this includes the development of skills associated with proper news gathering methods from documents and interviews as well as observations. Develop proper skills associated with writing news stories while adhering to fundamental rules of truth, accuracy, fairness and ethics. This will also include an understanding of proper style and grammar as well as story development.

6. Gain appropriate experience by completing an internship at an approved media outlet.

 

Direct Measurement Tools

In theory courses (Communications In Society, JOURN 270), History of American Journalism (JOURN 280) and Advertising and Sales Promotion (MKTG 320) measurement tools will include the satisfactory completion of testing of appropriate material by way of quizzes and tests as well as requirements of research papers in which students will be expected to properly explore varied theories such as press freedoms, media influence in society, sensationalism, media bias, civic journalism, advertising and promotional theories and the development of electronic media, to name a few.

In practicum courses (Introduction to Reporting, JOURN 240), Publication Process (JOURN 312), news photography (JOURN 318), Student Publications (JOURN 340) and journalism practice (JOURN 341) students will be initially tested on their understanding of subject matter by way of quizzes and tests and then by directly applying learned skill sets. This later application will include, for example, the successful gathering information by way of reporting as well as writing news stories using learned and developed techniques. In the appropriate course this can also include the production of publications as it relates to print and electronic forms. In photography this will require students to demonstrate an ability to photograph news events as well as static images and convert them into forms that are usable in production. In practicum courses, students will be measured by their successful abilities to take these fundamental skill sets and directly apply them to developing news so as to produce stories and products that can be used in real-world application.

Additionally, a requirement that all journalism minors successfully publish at least 100 column inches of copy from stories or photographs would enable the students to directly apply their knowledge, skills and talents to the student publications. These stories and photographs would have to meet the standard criteria that is established in their reporting and photojournalism courses and be approved by the director of student publications.

Students are also required to participate in a journalism practicum whereby they are assigned tasks at independent media outlet for the purposes of gaining valuable, hands-on experience in a professional setting.

 

Evidence Collected from These Tools

In each course the evidence of the satisfactory completion of theory comprehension and applied skill sets will be taken from their course work. In the case of theory courses this evidence will likely be represented in tests, quizzes and research papers. In practicum courses, this evidence will be made available by virtue of their work produced for the course in the form of news stories, page layouts, photographs and graphic illustrations.

 

Feedback Process for Using Assessment Data

In every course and with every assignment, students will receive direct feedback by way of their test, quiz and research paper grades. Students in practicum courses will be evaluated via every progressive assignment. Students will receive grade appropriate to skill levels and be informed of their deficiencies with every assignment. Students will be educated in a progressive fashion so as to build on each level of knowledge in subject matter and then effectively relating that knowledge to the instructor by way of testing, papers or practical application.