Introduction

As the media world converges online, the curriculum in our school follows suit. Old boundaries break down, and skills that were once the provenance of one concentration become crucial to another. The faculty of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications is continually updating courses and curriculum to meet new realities in the marketplace. For organizational purposes, however, the information presented here follows the tracks determined by specialization.

Students are encouraged to become familiar with these pages before directing any remaining questions to office staff and advisors. Downloadable forms can be found via a link to the right.

Academic advising August 17

Dr. Kathleen Martinelli, the primary academic advisor for all Advertising, Journalism and Public Relations students, will be available on campus one more time for student advising before the start of the Fall 2011 semester.

She will be in her office in 102 Dwight Bentel Hall on Wednesday, August 17, from 10 am to 3 pm.

After that, Dr. Martinelli will not be available again until August 24th, the first day of fall instruction at San Jose State University.

Read this before buying your laptop

Students in our school are required to own a laptop personal computer loaded with specified multimedia software. You could be dropped from a class if you show up with a laptop that does not perform the necessary tasks for that class. Complete specifications for hardware and software are available here in a PDF download: Fall 2011 technology requirements.

Special electives for fall 2011

SOCIAL MEDIA & MIDDLE EAST CHANGE (3 units) MCOM 180 (section 04 only)

Tuesdays, 3 pm – 5:45 pm

Undergraduate and graduate student special research class focused on studying the impact of social media on global news events. An opportunity to learn how social media and traditional news media affect protests for freedom and democracy in the Middle East. Provides practical research experience that Silicon Valley employers want new employees to have. Open to all SJSU students.

JMC School students may substitute this elective for MCOM 104: Intro to Mass Communications Research.

REVIEWING THE ARTS (3 units) MCOM 139 – Section 01 only

Tuesdays, 6 pm – 8:45 pm

Learn how to write reviews that reach audiences with criticism that informs, persuades and inspires the reader. Meets one evening a week so we may, on certain evenings, attend films, concerts, plays, etc. Will also cover arts reporting. Students will contribute to Access, the JMC School magazine. This elective is open to all SJSU students.

"EQUAL TIME" – PBS Television Show Production (3 units) MCOM 139 – Section 02 only

Thurdays, 6 pm – 8:45 pm

Learn how to research, write, produce and report for a timely half-hour, special topic news and information television program broadcast throughout Northern California and produced by SJSU students and Broadcast Journalism faculty. Equal Time airs every Saturday afternoon at 2:30 pm on KTEH, Channel 54, the Public Broadcasting station in San Jose, CA. This elective is open to all SJSU students wishing to develop their research and long form broadcast reporting skills.

NEWSPAPER & MAGAZINE DESIGN (3 units) MCOM 136 – Section 01

Thursdays, 6 pm – 8:45 pm

Soon to be a requirement for all Magazine students. Take this before your production classes and you'll be able to contribute more. Covers the basics of InDesign, terminology and fundamentals of newspaper and magazine design, news and story judgment, plus visual ethics. Expand your technical skills set. You don’t need to be a designer to succeed in this class. This elective is open to all SJSU students.

SEX, DRUGS & ROCK ‘n’ Roll (3 units) MCOM 72– Section 04 only

Mondays & Wednesdays, 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm

This special focus "Media and Society" section looks at the musical and cultural impact of a unique American genre. The course examines the music of the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s, studies the relationship that people, as a society and as individuals, have with Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll, and reviews motivating factors behind the music in media education and personal growth. It also studies the influence of other musical genres with Rock ‘n’ Rolls’ genesis. This elective is open to all SJSU students.

CNN EXPERIENCE- Advanced Online Video Feature Reporting (3 units) JOUR 166– Section 01 & 02

Lecture & Lab Tues. & Thurs, 10:30 am – 1:15 pm

Students brainstorm, research and develop timely west coast, national news feature stories for posting on the CNN Web site. Through a special arrangement with network producers, each posting is reviewed in Atlanta. Best efforts are "flagged" for national online promotion or broadcast. All students must have prior journalism writing and reporting experience, plus video editing experience with Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere software, and a digital video camera, preferably HD quality.