School of Telecommunications
Karen Riggs, Director
Duncan Brown, Associate Director for Graduate Studies
Jerry Redefer, Associate Director for Undergraduate Studies
The School of Telecommunications offers programs of study leading to bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. The baccalaureate program is a professional degree program designed to prepare students for careers in all aspects of telecommunications. First-year students are allowed direct entry into sequences in audio production, video production, media management, and media studies. While pursuing a telecommunications degree, students are also actively involved in the liberal arts curriculum found at Ohio University. Coursework in the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Technology, and Communication Sciences are all part of this liberal arts foundation that is critical to the success of today's media professionals. While there is overlap between journalism and telecommunications in broadcast news career preparation, students interested in studio and field production should enroll in the School of Telecommunications, and those interested in news writing, reporting, and anchoring should enroll in the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism. The school also offers an Honors Tutorial Program to qualified students. (See the Honors Tutorial College section.)
The classroom and laboratory experiences of students are augmented by a variety of practical experiences, including work with the school's production unit--Athens Video Works, the All-Campus Radio Network, and the three University-owned and operated stations: WOUB-AM, WOUB-FM, and WOUB-TV. Credit for such experiences is granted through TCOM 390.
The school maintains relationships with various professional organizations including the Ohio Association of Broadcasters, the Ohio Cable Telecommunication Association, the International Radio-Television Society, the National Association of Television Program Executives, the Society of Professional Audio Recording Services (SPARS), the Audio Engineering Society, and the National Association of Broadcasters.
Ohio University's Zanesville and Southern Campuses offer an associate's degree program in electronic media, including a sequence in broadcast engineering. This program offers a smaller, more intimate setting for the first two years of University coursework. For additional information, see "Electronic Media" in the Regional Higher Education section.
Transfer Policy
Because the School of Telecommunications sets high academic standards and limits enrollment, students from other universities or programs at Ohio University wishing to transfer into the school must show strong academic performance. Transfer applications will be accepted throughout the year with final decisons made early in spring quarter. Students who will have a minimum of 48 hours by the end of spring quarter and a cumulative g.p.a. of 3.0 or higher will be considered. Students accepted for transfer will begin the Telecommunications program the following fall qarter.In some exceptional cases, a student may be accepted into the school with less than 3.0 g.p.a. In these cases, the prospective transfer student shall submit the transfer application as well as supporting documents. These support materials should include 3 letters of recommendation (2 from university instructors, 1 from the professional community), a resume, and a portfolio of work.
Students transferring into the school must be enrolled for a minimum of one academic year (three consecutive quarters) or their final 48 hours of earned credit in order to graduate from the program.
All transfer applications should be delivered to the School of Telecommunications office (RTVC 202) to the attention of the Associate Director of Undergraduate Sudies.
Bachelor's Degree in Telecommunications
General Requirements for All Majors
1 Arts and humanities.Twenty quarter hours,with at least eight hours of 300- to 400-level courses (or 200-level or above for language courses). Courses include Tier 1 freshman and junior composition with the balance of the hours chosen from art, art history, classical languages, comparative arts, dance, English, film, humanities, modern languages, music, philosophy, and theater.2 Social sciences.Twenty quarter hours, with at least eight hours of 300- to 400-level courses. Courses may be chosen from anthropology, classical archaeology, economics, history, international studies, management, marketing, political science, psychology, and sociology.
3 Communication sciences.Twenty quarter hours,with at least eight hours of 300- to 400-level courses (or 200-level or above for language courses). Courses may be chosen from classical languages, computer science, communication systems management, hearing and speech sciences, communication studies, journalism, linguistics, modern languages, and visual communication.
4 Mathematics and/or natural sciences.Tier I quantitative skills plus five quarter hours chosen from astronomy, biological sciences, chemistry, geology, mathematics, physical science, physics, physical geography, and environmental and plant biology.
University General Education Tier II, African American Studies, and University Professor courses can be used to fulfill general requirements. You must fulfill the Tier III requirement.
5 Telecommunications.The following core courses are required of all majors:
TCOM 100 A Mediated World 4 TCOM 110 Telecomm. Writing and Production Planning 4 TCOM 201 Media Culture, and Technology I 4 TCOM 202 Media Culture and Technology II 4 TCOM 367 World Broadcasting 4 orTCOM 453 Telecommunications Law and Regulations 4
Sequence Requirements
Students entering the School of Telecommunications as fall quarter freshmen must successfully complete TCOM 100 and earn a "C" or better in TCOM 110, 201, and 202 before enrolling in telecommunications courses at or above the 300 level. Transfer students and advanced freshmen must complete TCOM 110, 201, and 202, and earn a "C" or better in each course.Corollary
Each student in the School of Telecommnications is required to complete a corollary of coursework. These are courses outside telcommunications selected by you and your advisor to enhance your area of interest. The corollary totals a minimum of 35 credit hours (20 at the 300-400 level), from no more than two areas. For instance, students in the video production sequence might choose courses from the School of Film, while students interested in politics and the media might find courses from the political science area useful.Of special note is the required minor in music for students pursuing the music production track in the audio sequence. The music minor will count toward part of the corollary in this track. (Please see requirements for the music minor in College of Fine Arts section.)
Audio Production Sequence
This plan of study is designed to provide majors with skills in various areas of audio production including commercial production, narrative and documentary, music recording, and sound for picture. Students must complete the Audio Production core and coursework from one of three tracks: Music Production, Media Production, or Audio Post Production.Audio Production Core:
TCOM 220 Intro to Audio Production 4
TCOM 308 Technical Bases
of Telecommunications 4
Music Production Track:
Major code BC5353
TCOM 315 Recording Industry Survey 4
TCOM 413 Commercial Music Recording
and Production 4
TCOM 414 Advanced Projects in
Music Production 4
Media Production Track:
Major code BC5352
TCOM 231 Short-form Media Script 4 TCOM 313 Field Audio Production 4
Audio Post Production Track:
Major code BC5354
TCOM 240 Intro to Video Production 4
TCOM 415 Audio Post-production for
Moving Image 4
One or more of the following courses:
TCOM 425 Digital Video Post-production
TCOM 422 Narrative Production II
TCOM 485 (486Y) AVW Productions
TCOM 497 Independent Production 4
Telecommunications electives with approval of advisor, including at least one four-hour non-production course 4 Corollary courses outside the school that support progam goals (from no more that two areas with at least 20 hours at the 300 to 400 level)
Music Production track requires a Music minor.35
Management Sequence
Major code BC5312
This plan of study is designed to provide an understanding of the management process in media organizations and to develop managerial skills. It is designed for those who hope to work in sales, marketing, advertsing, and mid-level management positions in electronic media organizations. Student must complete the Management core and a minimum of two courses from the Management electives list. The following courses are required: Management Core:
TCOM 359 Audience Research 4 TCOM 360 Electronic Media Mgt. 4 TCOM 461 Electronic Media Financial Management 4 Management Electives: 2 courses at 300- to 400-level:TCOM 355 Broadcast and Cable Programming 4 TCOM 362 Electronic Media Sales 4 TCOM 367 World Broadcasting 4 Telecommunications electives with advisor approval 8 Corollary courses from outside the school that support program goals;ACCT 101, ECON 103 and 104, and MGT 202 or MKT 202; 20 hours at the 300-400 level in business and/or organizational communication. 35
Media Studies Sequence
This plan of study offers students the opportunity to build a program in one of four areas of study: Electronic Media, International Communication, Media and Society, and Politics and Media.In addition, a student can design an individualized program of study. In consultation with the sequence director and a faculty advisor, the student submits for approval a proposal for coursework including justification and corollary.
Students must complete the TCOM Core, the Media Studies Core, and coursework from one of the areas of study. The following are required:
Media Studies Core:
TCOM 270 Mass Comm Theory 4 TCOM 279 History of Electronic Comm 4 Telecommunications electives with advisor approval 8 Corollary courses outside the school that support program goals (from no more than two areas with at least 20 hours at the 300- 400-level). 35
Electronic Media Technologies
Major code BC5350
(3 of the following):
TCOM 308 Technical Basis of Telecomm 4
TCOM 421 Non-broadcast Video 4
TCOM 441 Instructional Telecomm 4
TCOM 463 New Technology 4
TCOM 465 Satellite Communication 4
TCOM 466 Technology, Communication
and Culture 4
International Communication
Major code BC5349
(3 of the following):
TCOM 371 Effects of Mass Comm 4
TCOM 384 Media Criticism 4
TCOM 455 Media Messages for
Social Change 4
TCOM 456 Southeast Asia
Popular Culture 4
TCOM 463 New Technology 4
TCOM 465 Satellite Communication 4
TCOM 466 Technology, Communication
and Culture 4
TCOM 484 Age, Class, Gender, Race,
Sexual Orientation 4
Media and Society
Major code 5348
(3 of the following):
TCOM 333 Sports and Media 4
TCOM 359 Audience Research 4
TCOM 382 Television Genres 4
TCOM 384 Media Criticism 4
TCOM 440 Public Telecommunications 4
TCOM 454 Personal Values
in Telecommunications 4
TCOM 466 Technology, Communication,
and Culture 4
TCOM 475 Politics & Electronic Media 4
TCOM 480 Children and Television 4
TCOM 481 Women in Media 4
TCOM 482 Documentary Genres 4
TCOM 483 The African-American
Televisual Images 4
TCOM 484 Age, Class, Gender, Race,
and Sexual Orientation 4
Politics and Media
Major code 5355
(3 of the following):
TCOM 359 Audience Research 4
TCOM 371 Effects of Mass
Communication 4
TCOM 424 Contemporary American
Documentary 4
TCOM 455 Media Messages for
Social Change 4
TCOM 463 New Technology 4
TCOM 466 Technology, Communication,
and Culture 4
TCOM 475 Politics & Electronic Media 4
Individualized Concentration
Major code BC5351
Specialized study with approval of sequence director and faculty advisor; minimum cumulative g.p.a. of 3.0 required. Video Production Sequence
Major code BC5313
This plan of study is designed to provide skills in video production with special emphasis on the creative responsibilities of producing and directing. Students must complete the TCOM core, Video Production core, a minimum of 8 hours of video production electives at the 300 or 400 level, and a minimum of 8 hours of non-production electives. The following are required: Video Production Core:
TCOM 230 Intro to Video Production 4 TCOM 231 Short-form Scriptwriting 4 Video Production Electives (2 courses required):TCOM 308 Technical Bases of Telecommunications 4 TCOM 318 Multiple-Camera Producing and Directing 4 TCOM 319 Single-Camera Producing and Directing 4 TCOM 320 TV Lighting & Staging 4 TCOM 323 Animation and Videographic Design 4 TCOM 324 Documentary Production 4 TCOM 425 Digital Video Post-production 4 TCOM 418 Producing for Video 4 TCOM 419 Narrative Production I 4 TCOM 422 Narrative Production II 4 TCOM 485 (486Y) Athens Video Works 1-4 Telecommunications electives with approval of advisor, including at least eight hours of non-production classes 8 Corollary courses outside the school that support program goals (from no more than two areas with at least 20 hours at the 300 to 400 level) 35
Minor in Telecommunications
Minor code ORTCOM
The minor in telecommunications is available to students in all disciplines.Required Core Courses (12 Hours)
TCOM 110 Telecomm. Writing and Production Planning 4 TCOM 201 Media, Culture and Technology I 4 TCOM 202 Media, Culture and Technology II 4 Elective Courses (20 hours)Select 20 hours from: TCOM 231, 270, 355, 360, 367, 371, 384, 421, 430, 431, 432, 453, 454, 463, 464, 465, 466, 475, 479, 481, 482 Up to 8 hours in equivalent courses from other institutions will be accepted, but you must take 20 hours in telecommunications at Ohio University to complete the minor. Total Hours: 32
Internships
While not required; telecommunications majors are strongly encouraged to undertake an internship. The school and the college both have hundreds of professional internship opportunities available to students with nearly every major media organization in the United States, as well as Internationally. Majors may receive one hour of credit for an off-campus practicum (TCOM 390 or 391) as early as the summer following their freshman year. Students may undertake the formal internship (TCOM 490) by the spring or summer of the junior year, or during the senior year. An internship provides between two and sixteen hours of credit (only four credits apply to the major; the remainder apply to overall hours)) for full-time work with an approved sponsor during an academic term. To qualify for an internship, completion of 130-170 credit hours with a minimum cumulative g.p.a. of 2.7 is required. For information, contact the internship coordinator in the dean's office.Other Requirements and Standards
No course selected to fulfill any requirement may be taken on a pass/fail basis by a telecommunications major.Typically, no course may be counted toward more than one type of requirement. For example, a course used to meet a Telecommunications General Requirement may not be used to meet a sequence requirement. However, a Tier II course may also be used to fulfill a Telecommunication General Requirement.
University Advancement and Computer Services revised this file (https://www.ohio.edu/catalog/03-04/colleges/tcom.htm) on December 19, 2003.
Please E-mail comments or suggestions to " ucat@www.ohiou.edu ."