INTERNAL MEMORANDUM

School of Communication

Box 5619

Northern Arizona University

TO:SBS Curricular and Academic Affairs Committee Members

FROM:Paul Helford

RE:EM Change in Academic Plan

DATE:November 14, 2005

Cc:Norm Medoff, Dale Hoskins

The Electronic Media program is proposing an academic plan change to be called Electronic Media and Film (EMF).

The reason for the change is simple. The current curriculum does not prepare students for the revolutionary changes that are occurring in the electronic media and film industries. There is a revolution in entertainment and news viewing patterns, in electronic media and film production, and in program distribution. There is more opportunity for electronic media and film creators than there has ever been, and we want to prepare our students for that opportunity.

The proposed program change was developed with direction from Director Tom Knights and was presented to both Dean Kathy Cruz-Uribe and Associate Dean Larry Gould as well as to the school faculty before submitting it to the School of Communication’s Curriculum Committee. Everyone has responded favorably to the proposed plan.

The curriculum has been streamlined with a simplified numbering system. We have added ten new courses and deleted eleven. The major has two emphases: news and entertainment; the entertainment emphasis has three tracks. All courses in the program will be offered once or twice each academic year, and students will be able to graduate in four years. The program has been designed to integrate with other programs in the school. It has also been designed with measurable learning outcomes for a program assessment plan.

Regarding the submissions to the SBS curriculum committee, with guidance from Associate Provost Ron Pitt, we have not completed forms for classes that only changed prefix and number if the number is at the same level (that is, for example, a 100 level course remains a 100 level course). The courses that are not using a form are detailed at the end of this memorandum. The document titled Summary_courses is a one-page summary of all the changes.

Please feel free to contact Norm Medoff, Dale Hoskins or myself if you have any questions.

Thank you.

The following courses do not have change forms:

EM 121 (3) / EMF 121 (3)
EM 124 (3) / EMF 124 (3)
EM 198 (1-3) / EMF 198 (1-3)
EM 199 (1-3) / EMF 199 (1-3)
EM 223 (3) / EMF 223 (3)
EM 222 (3) / EMF 226 (3)
EM 251 (1) / EMF 251 (1)
EM 252 (2) / EMF 252 (2)
EM 299 (1-3) / EMF 299 (1-3)
EM 389 (1-12) / EMF 389 (1-12)
EM 399 (1-3) / EMF 399 (1-3)
EM 408 (1-12) / EMF 408 (1-12)
EM 466 (1-12) / EMF 466 (1-12)
EM 485 (1-6) / EMF 485 (1-6)
EM 497 (1-6) / EMF 497 (1-6)
EM 566 (1-12) / EMF 566 (1-12)

Electronic Media, Entertainment and Film

Degree Requirements

All EMF Majors will take:

COM Core Courses

COM 101Communication Analysis

COM 200Basic Communication Theory

6 hours

Major Core Courses

EMF 121Introduction to Electronic Media (and Film)

EMF 123Introduction to Electronic Media, Film and Entertainment Production

EMF 327 or EMF 328W

Marketing, Promotion and Sales or Operations and Industry Preparation

COM 382Art of Communication: Cinema

12 hours

Students do either an emphasis in Entertainment or New

Entertainment / News
EMF 129 Intro A/V Storytelling
EMF 222 Ent Programming 1
EMF 322 Hist Ent 2 (1960 to present)
SC 111 Public Speaking
Select a track below:
12 hours / JLS 130Writing for Com Channels
JLS 131Writing for Mass Media
EMF 124 Announcing & Performing I
EMF 225 Intro Audio, Lting, Editing
EMF 223 News Writing for EM
EMF 323W Specialized Reporting
or
EMF 224 Announcing&Performing II
or
EMF 333Newscast Production
EMF 326Field Production
EMF 423CNews Capstone
(Students choose either 324 or 333W or 333)
24 hours
Writing Track / Production Track / Management Track
EMF 229
EMF 321
EMF 329W
EMF 426C
12 hours / EMF 225
EMF 226
EMF 326
EMF 426C
12 hours / EMF 327
and
EMF 328W
(One in core)
EMF 428 C
Choose 2 classes from:
ADV 207, COM 305, 400, 425, 450, PR 272
12 hours