San Diego State University

Apr 25, 2024

2022/2023 University Catalog

2022/2023 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Journalism and Media Studies

Undergraduate Information
Graduate Information

OFFICE: Adams Humanities 4196
TELEPHONE: 619-594-5450
E-MAIL: jmsdesk@sdsu.edu
WEBSITE: http://jms.sdsu.edu

Faculty

Director: Northup, Temple, Professor of Journalism and Media Studies, Director (B.A., Wake Forest University; M.A., Syracuse University; Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)

Undergraduate Advisor: Mokalis, Alexa L., Lecturer of Journalism and Media Studies (B.A., University of Arizona; M.A., San Diego State University)

Graduate Advisor: Schmitz Weiss, Amy, Professor of Journalism and Media Studies (B.A., Butler University, M.A., Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin)

Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty:

Arceneaux, Ronald J., Professor of Journalism and Media Studies (A.B.J., University of Georgia; M.A., City University of New York; Ph.D., University of Georgia)

Shen, Hongmei, Professor of Journalism and Media Studies (B.A., Renmin University of China; M.A., Ph.D., University of Maryland)

Sweetser, Kathleen D., Professor of Journalism and Media Studies (B.A., Old Dominion University; M.A., Ph.D., University of Florida)

Feng, Yang, Associate Professor of Journalism and Media Studies (B.M., University of China; M.A., Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Ph.D., Southern Illinois University)

Nee, Rebecca C., Associate Professor of Journalism and Media Studies (B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara; M.S., Northwestern University; Ed.D., Pepperdine University)

Rodriguez, Nathian S., Associate Professor of Journalism and Media Studies (B.A., University of Texas of the Permian Basin; M.A., Kent State University; Ph.D., Texas Tech University)

Santana, Arthur D., Associate Professor of Journalism and Media Studies (B.A., University of Texas at Austin; M.S., Columbia University; Ph.D., University of Oregon)

Zhong, Mei, Associate professor of the School of Journalism and Media Studies (B.A., University of Guam; M.A., Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville; Ph.D., Kent State University)

Cueva Chacon, Lourdes M., Assistant Professor of Journalism and Media Studies (B.S., Universidad de Lima, Chile; M.S., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; M.A., University of Texas at El Paso; Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin)

Peebles, Alanna, Assistant Professor of Journalism and Media Studies & Communication (B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara; M.A., University of Wisconsin, Madison; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison)

Smith, Damariye, Assistant Professor of Journalism and Media Studies & Communication (B.A., California State University, Sacramento; M.A., California State University, Sacramento; Ph.D., University of Memphis)

Thelen, Patrick D., Assistant Professor of Journalism and Media Studies (B.A., Universidad Adolfo Ibanez, Chile; M.A., University of Southern California; Ph.D., University of Florida)

Additional Faculty:

Mueller, Barbara, Professor of Journalism and Media Studies, Emeritus (B.A., M.A., Ph.D., University of Washington).

Lecturers:

Cicalo, Lora E., M.S., Journalism and Media Studies

Coddon, David L., M.F.A., Journalism and Media Studies

Frazee, Rebecca V., Ed.D., Journalism and Media Studies

Kruming, Martin A., J.D., Journalism and Media Studies

Littlefield, Dana S., M.S., Journalism and Media Studies

Koenig, Roman, M.A., Journalism and Media Studies

Lee, Jayla, M.A., Journalism and Media Studies

Peattie, Peggy, Ph.D., Journalism and Media Studies

Weiner, Louis, M.A., Journalism and Media Studies

Ritter, Christie, M.S., Journalism and Media Studies

McCormick, Jerry, B.A., Journalism and Media Studies

Trotter, Jim, B.A., Journalism and Media Studies

Emeritus:

Barker, Valerie, Ph.D., 2001-2018, Lecturer in Journalism and Media Studies

Borden, Diane L., Ph.D., 1998-2013, Professor of Journalism and Media Studies

Brown, Lee, Ph.D., 1978-1994, Professor of Journalism

Buckalew, James K., Ph.D., 1967-1999, Professor of Communication

Davis, Joel J., Ph.D., 1990-2014, Professor of Journalism and Media Studies

Dozier, David M., Ph.D., 1980-2013, Professor of Journalism and Media Studies

Eadie, William F., Ph.D., 2001-2014, Professor of Journalism and Media Studies

Hartung, Barbara W., Ph.D., 1976-2001, Executive Assistant to the President; Professor of Communication

Martin, Donald R., Ph.D., 1969-2004, Associate Dean, College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts; Associate Professor of Communication

McBride, James F., M.S., 1988-2017, Lecturer in Journalism and Media Studies

Odendahl, Eric M., Ph.D., 1964-1992, Professor of Journalism

Spevak, Joseph E., Ph.D., 1969-2006, Assistant Professor of Communication

Wulfemeyer, K. Tim, Ed.D., 1976-1980 and 1987-2013, Professor of Journalism and Media Studie

Undergraduate Information

The School of Journalism and Media Studies offers programs in journalism, advertising, public relations, and media studies, all of which are accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC).

General Information

The School of Journalism and Media Studies envisions a global society where citizens are engaged in their communities; where media professionals are ethical and committed to diversity and inclusivity, and embrace technology to serve the public good; and where people from all backgrounds think critically about the media. The school’s curricula reflect these very important themes. Students are required to take a set of core classes in digital and social media, ethics and law, and research methods for professional communicators. They also complement their in-class work with internships and service-learning projects in the community. Programs within the school prepare students for careers in advertising, journalism, public relations, and other media industries, as well as for jobs in a technologically driven workforce landscape whose future media forms cannot be predicted. The School of Journalism and Media Studies also prepares students to enter careers as analysts, producers, and editors of media content in government and private industry, as well as for graduate education in a variety of disciplines.

Impacted Programs

Programs in the School of Journalism and Media Studies are impacted. Students must enter the university under the designated major code for the selected program. To be admitted to the selected program, refer to the program description for specific impaction criteria.

Journalism and Media Studies Assessment

All students majoring in advertising, journalism, media studies, and public relations must complete a degree learning outcomes assessment in their first semester of enrolling in Journalism and Media Studies courses and during their final semester prior to graduation. See the School of Journalism and Media Studies advising office for more information.

Major Academic Plans (MAPs)

Visit http://www.sdsu.edu/mymap for the recommended courses needed to fulfill your major requirements. The MAPs website was created to help students navigate the course requirements for their majors and to identify which General Education courses will also fulfill a major preparation course requirement.

Graduate Information

Associateships

Graduate students are employed in the School of Journalism and Media Studies in teaching, research, and other areas. Graduate teaching associateships are available to a limited number of qualified students. Contact the school director for details. Please submit graduate application materials by March 1 for the subsequent fall semester.

General Information

The School of Journalism and Media Studies offers graduate study leading to the Master of Arts degree in communication with a specialization in mass communication and media studies. This degree prepares students either for additional graduate work, leadership positions in key media industries and professional areas, or teaching careers at the community college level. Graduates occupy leadership positions in advertising, digital and social media, journalism, media and telecommunications management, public relations, and telecommunications policy, as well as enter premier doctoral programs across the country.

In addition to advertising, journalism, and public relations, research interests of faculty and students include audience uses of media, digital and social media studies and technologies, international media, media criticism, media ethics, media and identity, media history, media law, media management, media message and program strategies, media organizations and professionals, media production, and telecommunication regulation and policy.

Admission to Graduate Study

The specialization in mass communication and media studies admits students for the fall semester only. Electronic applications and materials must be completed and received by March 1.

In addition to meeting the general requirements for admission to the university with classified graduate standing as outlined in Admission and Registration , students applying for admission to the Master of Arts degree in communication with a specialization in mass communication and media studies are evaluated according to the following criteria:

Undergraduate major or minor in advertising, journalism, media studies, public relations, radio-television, strategic communication, or a related discipline. Those lacking adequate undergraduate preparation may be admitted conditionally to the program and may be required to take one or more proficiency courses as determined by the school’s graduate admissions committee. Proficiency courses do not count toward the 30 units of a student’s graduate program.
Minimum grade point average of 2.85 (when A equals 4.0) in the last 60 semester (90 quarter) units attempted (this calculation may not include lower division courses taken after award of a baccalaureate degree).

Students applying for admission should electronically submit the university application available at http://www.calstate.edu/apply along with the application fee by March 1.

All applicants must submit admissions materials online to SDSU Graduate Admissions and to the School of Journalism and Media Studies by March 1.

Graduate Admissions

The following materials should be submitted by March 1 as a complete package directly to:

Graduate Admissions
Enrollment Services
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-7416

Official transcripts (in sealed envelopes) from all postsecondary institutions attended;

NOTE:
- Students who attended SDSU need only submit transcripts for work completed since last attendance.
- Students with international coursework must submit both the official transcript and proof of degree. If documents are in a language other than English, they must be accompanied by a certified English translation.

Students with international coursework: You will need to have your school send Graduate Admissions one official original-language record of all academic coursework and proof of degree. For each document, a certified literal English translation must also be provided. The translation may come directly from the school itself or from a professional, certified translator. The translation must contain all information shown on the original-language documents. For details on which documents are required, visit the Requirements by Country page.

International Applicants:

All graduate and post-baccalaureate applicants (regardless of citizenship status) applying to SDSU from an international institution where the medium of instruction was not English, must submit one of the following as proof of English proficiency:

TOEFL minimum score of 80 iBT/ 550 PBT: Score must be sent electronically from Educational Testing Service (ETS) using the SDSU institution code: 4682. Test score must be from within the past two years.

IELTS overall score of 6.5 or higher: Score report must be sent directly to the SDSU Graduate Admissions Office. Test score must be from within the past two years.

PTE minimum score of 58 or higher: Score report must be sent directly to the SDSU Graduate Admissions Office. Or score of 105 or higher on the Duolingo English Test. Test score must be from within the past two years.

Official transcripts have been received indicating English as the principle language of instruction.

School of Journalism and Media Studies

This program requires a supplemental application. See https://jms.sdsu.edu/admissions/graduate_admissions for details.

JMS Application:

Copies of transcripts from all colleges and universities attended (these do not need to be sent directly from the colleges - photocopies are acceptable);
A Statement of Purpose: In 1000 words or less, please tell us about yourself and what motivated you to choose this program. Describe your future career goals in your response;
Resume

English-language proficiency: Required for applicants who do not possess a bachelor’s degree from a postsecondary institution where English is the principal language of instruction. Score report must be sent directly to the SDSU Graduate Admissions Office. Test score must be from within the past two years. Those who do not possess a bachelor’s degree from a postsecondary institution where English is the principal language of instruction must receive a minimum score of 550 or higher (using the paper version) or 80 or higher (using the Internet version) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Students must obtain a score of 6.5 or better on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or 58 or higher on the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) or score of 105 or higher on the Duolingo English Test. Individual degree programs may require a higher minimum score.

Optional Materials for Application to JMS

Letters of recommendation (2 max, can be from academic or professional realm) -these letters are strongly encouraged;
Portfolio/writing sample (can be academic paper, professional work)