Major Code BC1920

Honors Tutorial College
35 Park Place
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.2723
Fax: 740.593.9521
honors.college@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/honors

Arthur Cromwell, director of studies/contact person
cromwell@ohio.edu

Program Overview

The tutorial program in the School of Media Arts and Studies offers an individualized course of study for exceptional students interested in media industries. This program provides students with a broad liberal arts background, a concentration in theory and research, and practical training in sound recording, radio, digital media and television production. Maximum opportunity will be afforded for the student to work at his or her own pace. The tutorial program prepares a student for graduation as well as industry jobs. Upon completion of the program, students receive a degree of Bachelor of Science in Communications from the Honors Tutorial College and many choose to pursue advanced degrees at research institutes such as Indiana University, Michigan State University, University of Southern California, University of Pennsylvania, and of course Ohio University.

Tutorials

Students are required to complete eight tutorials within the College of Communication, including two devoted to the thesis. In addition to the tutorials, the student must complete the Tier I English requirement, all core courses not covered by tutorials, and an appropriate number of approved electives. Internships and/or study abroad may be included within the program with special permission from the Director of Studies (credit will only be given once). Honors Tutorial students take a minimum of 15 hours per semester.

Advising and Monitoring

Each student receives initial advice from the director of studies regarding selection and sequencing of courses, choice of a thesis advisor, and other procedural matters. A committee is composed of the director of studies and the advisor will monitor the thesis work. A typical tutorial will meet on a weekly basis for a minimum of one hour. The student and the tutor will discuss the current reading and written assignments, discuss problems and solutions, debate and offer critical analysis, and the tutor continuously evaluates the progress of the student. A final grade is made based on many facets of evaluation available to the tutor: written assignments, written exams, oral exams, discussions, presentations by the student, field work, etc.

The Honors Thesis

The honors thesis is a reflection of the student’s special interests. Its acceptance, dependent upon an appropriate mixture of research and analysis, relies upon the judgment of his or her thesis advisor or the Director of Studies. It is expected that this major paper will constitute work of the highest quality in investigating a problem of concern to both scholars and practitioners. Although an intensive study of relevant theoretical and research literatures is the underpinning of the thesis, students are encouraged to augment this scholarly base with field data whenever possible.

Evaluation

Students throughout the program earn letter grades consistent with the University grading system and are expected to maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Students who earn less than a B (3.0), or who maintain less than a 3.5 GPA will need to confer with the Director of Studies and/or Dean of the College. In addition to letter grade assessments, tutors complete semester based course descriptions and evaluations of each student’s work. In these assessments both the student’s academic standing and academic attitude are evaluated.

Admissions Information

Freshman/First-Year Admission

Students are selected by the director of studies of the media arts and studies tutorial program and the Honors Tutorial College on the basis of superior ability and sustained motivation. We look for good scores on standardized tests (30 composite score on the ACT or a combined score of 1300 on the SAT), but we also require a good high school record (class standing in the top 10%). An interview with the director of studies is required for acceptance into our program. Recommendations from two high school teachers and a portfolio are strongly recommended. The personalized aspects of the tutorial system occasionally make it possible for us to accept students who have not performed well on standardized measure of ability but who demonstrate exceptional aptitude in other ways. The priority deadline for application for admission is December 1st, and admission interviews are held in January.

Change of Program Policy

First-year students at Ohio University may apply to transfer into the media arts and studies tutorial program and the Honors Tutorial College. These students must meet the same entrance requirements as entering freshmen. The priority deadline for application is December 1st.

External Transfer Admission

First-year students at another institution may also apply to transfer to the media arts and studies tutorial program and the Honors Tutorial College. These students must meet the same entrance requirements as entering freshmen. The priority deadline for application is December 1st.

Opportunities Upon Graduation

A number of professional opportunities are available to tutorial students in the School of Media Arts and Studies. Two public radio stations, a public television station, a local public access television station, and a student-run web-based radio station provide professional experience in all aspects of media. Tutorial students are expected to seek out training and experience in these facilities. Internships are available in media industries in all specializations and in a number of locales including New York and Hollywood. These internships are often summer-long experiences that allow the student to gain college credit while working in the industry.

Requirements