Ohio University Telecommunications Graduate Program

Ohio University
Graduate Catalog

Telecommunications

The School of Telecommunications offers programs of study leading to the Master of Arts degree in telecommunications and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in mass communication. The doctoral degree is offered in conjunction with the School of Journalism (see Mass Communication ).

Various specializations are offered at the master's level. These include international communication, management, and screenwriting. Individualized programs that combine two or more specializations must be approved by the graduate committee of the school. The master's program prepares students for careers in telecommunications.

The M.A. in public broadcasting management provides theory and application training through coursework in the school and courses in business administration and public administration, while offering practical experience through the Telecommunications Center and internships. Research associateships are available for women and/or minorities who have full-time public broadcasting experience.

Admission

Admission to graduate study in telecommunications requires a baccalaureate degree for the master's program and a completed master's degree for the Ph.D. degree program. You should have maintained a 3.0 undergraduate grade-point average (g.p.a.) on a 4.0 scale, although other factors--professional experience or test results, for example--may qualify you for admission if your g.p.a. is lower. Doctoral applicants are expected to present academic credentials of a higher caliber. All applicants are required to submit letters of recommendation, scores of the Graduate Record Examination and/or the Miller Analogies Test, and appropriate college transcripts. You should present previous degree work that includes a reasonable background in electronic media and closely allied fields of communication. Because academic ability, recommendations, and other factors weigh heavily in the admission process, some students may enter graduate study without such a background. On advice from the graduate committee, individuals may be required to make up this deficiency by enrolling in appropriate undergraduate courses or by completing a directed readings program.

The M.A. in screenwriting requires submission of scripts or similar sample material along with the application.

To permit an adequate review of credentials, you must submit all materials no later than February 15. You may enter only in the fall quarter.

Requirements

The typical master's program consists of a nonthesis sequence of 56 hours, including a minimum of 20 hours in the major field of study and at least eight hours in a supplementary area. Supplementary areas may be selected from within or outside the College of Communication and may include more than one department. A thesis option exists in which you will be granted up to 10 credit hours for the completed thesis.

Thesis and nonthesis students are required to take two courses: TCOM 501 Introduction to Graduate Study and TCOM 601 Introduction to Mass Communication Research. Additional requirements include successful completion of qualifying examinations and approval of a final paper, or presentation of a thesis at the end of the program. Screenwriting students have somewhat different requirements commensurate with their professional writing commitment. Different courses are required, and a completed script (or scripts) will serve as a thesis.

The school requires that a minimum g.p.a. of 3.0 be maintained. In addition, those who earn a grade below a B (3.0) in more than two courses are not permitted to continue in the program except in unusual circumstances.

Ph.D. requirements are listed under Mass Communication .

Facilities

Laboratory facilities are provided by a cable TV production unit; CATVision, a multichannel dormitory cable service; stations WOUB AM-FM-TV; and ongoing contract studies through the school's Institute for Telecommunications Studies.

Faculty

Telecommunications (TCOM) Courses

501 Introduction to Graduate Study (1)
Analysis of scholarship and research as foundation for graduate study.
Staff; F; Y; 1994.

513 Studio Audio Production (4)
Special problems in audio production including documentary, live music, and dramatic presentations.
Redefer; W; 1994.

518 Producing for Video (4)
Developing programs for commercial, public, and corporate television. Covers program research, development, testing of program concepts, and the production process.
Newman; F, W; Y; 1994.

521 Nonbroadcast Video Systems (4)
Examination of the uses of video in business, industry, and other public service organizations.
Flournoy, Wurtsbaugh; F, W, Sp; 1994.

531 Screenwriting (4)
Writing and critique of form, structure, and presentation of dramatic programs, series, and films.
Miller; W, Sp; Y; 1994.

540 Public Telecommunications (4)
Historical development, current status, and challenges to public telecommunications.
Clift; W; 1994.

541 Instructional Telecommunications (4)
Using telecommunications in instruction: radio, television, cable, fiber optics, satellite, computer applications in education.
Staff; Sp; Y; 1992.

554 Personal Values in Telecommunications (4)
Explores the nature of personal values and surveys the values that have shaped and are shaping American culture. Examines the role of the individual within media institutions and of the media within American culture.
Korn; W; Y; 1995.

563 New Technology (4)
Investigation of emerging technologies of telecommunications via broadcast, cable, satellite, telephone, and information systems.
Flournoy, Slade; Sp; Y; 1994.

564 Cable Communications (4)
Critical examinations of cable industry including technical aspects; franchising; programming; local, state, and federal regulation; and public interest service.
Clift, Richie; F, Sp; 1994.

575 Politics and the Electronic Media (4)
Examines complex relationships between electronic media and political process through study of campaign strategy, polling, commercial advertising, and news coverage.
Mould, Sandell; F, Sp; D; 1994.

581 Women and Media (4)
Examines representation of women in media through experiential exploration of individual attitudes and values with respect to culture, sexism, and analysis of media content.
Miller, Sandell; W, Su; 1994.

582 Documentary Genres (4)
Explores the various genres of documentary video and film with a particular emphasis on television documentary and recent video works. Deals with such topics as historical development, factuality and truthfulness, objectivity, and ethics. Assignments and discussion are based on an extensive schedule of screenings.
Korn; F; Y; 1994.

586 Colloquium in Telecommunications (1-5)
Intensive study of special topics in field of telecommunications.
Staff; F, W, Sp, Su; D; 1994.

601 Introduction to Mass Communication Research (5)
Examines historical, economic, political contexts in which quantitative and qualitative research emerges. Includes introduction to current quantitative and qualitative techniques.
Brown, McDaniel; F; Y; 1994.

602 Quantitative Research (5)
Mass communication measurement techniques, research design and implementation, survey, content analysis, and applied statistical analysis.
Rota; Sp; Y; 1994.

603 Qualitative Research (5)
Introduction to qualitative research methodology with an emphasis on phenomenology, semiology, and ethnographic fieldwork.
Nelson; W; Y; 1994.

610 Audio and Video Production (5)
An introductory course for graduate students lacking production experience. Covers audio and video theory and terminology and production planning. Provides experience in audio and video production.
Mould, Richie; W; 1994.

632 Professional Screenwriting (5)
Advanced writing course in which the experienced student creates substantive scripts in documentary and dramatic areas.
Miller; F, W, Sp; 1994.

694 Independent Study (1-12)
Individual research on special problems. Projects must be approved prior to registration.
Staff; F, W, Sp, Su; Y.

695 Thesis (1-10) Staff; F, W, Sp, Su; Y.

705 Research Internship (1-9)
Prereq: acceptance by competition only. Provides opportunity to implement and complete major research study under supervision.
Staff; F, W, Sp, Su; Y; 1989.

750 Economics of Telecommunications (5)
Economic structure of broadcast and cable industries; their relationships with other industries; fiscal policies and practices; sources and control of revenue, profit, and expenses. Case studies in economic problems and practices.
Staff; W; 1987.

751 Telecommunications Management (5)
Consideration and examination of theory and practice in telecommunications management, organization, personnel management, and motivation; examines role of manager in relationship to various telecommunications operations.
Clift, Savage; F; 1993.

753 Telecommunications Law and Regulations (5)
Sociopolitical control of telecommunications; effect of laws, regulations, and public pressures upon policy.
Clift; W; 1993.

755 Broadcast and Cable Programming (5)
Programming concepts, resources, costs, selection, and scheduling.
Clift; Sp; 1993.

757 Broadcast and Cable Sales Management (5)
Problems and practices of broadcast and cable sales and sales management; policy formation including projects devoted to commercial inventory and rate structure.
Staff; D; 1985.

759 Audience Research (5)
Various methods, techniques, and applications of audience study in broadcasting and cable; includes study of current rating services.
Sandell; Su; Y; 1995.

767 Comparative Systems of Telecommunications (5)
Telecommunications systems of selected countries studied in terms of political, social, economic, and cultural themes.
McDaniel; W; 1993.

769 International Telecommunications (5)
Development, impact, and control of international telecommunications for propaganda, commercial, and social purposes.
Flournoy; Sp; 1994.

770 Mass Communication Theory (5) Examines diverse midrange theories in mass communication including media dependency, cultivation, uses and gratifications, social learning, and media effects.

Cambridge; F; Y; 1994.

771 Social Impact of Mass Communication (5)
Examination of the literature on effects of mass media upon society with particular reference to highly attracted individuals and groups; includes study of relationship of research to policy-making process.
Sandell; Sp; Y; 1992.

772 Critical/Cultural Theory (5)
Preq: 770. Critical and cultural approaches to theorizing about mass communication in a mediated society. Emphasis on such contemporary theories as semiotics, deconstruction, feminism, and postmodernism.
Miller; W; Y; 1993.

779 History of Broadcasting (5)
Origin of U.S. system of radio and television communication and its development to present.
Staff; Sp; Y; 1992.

784 Television Criticism (5)
Survey of contemporary theories and methods of critical analysis including semiotics, feminism, and reader response. Screenings include past, present, avant-garde, and mainstream television programs.
Nelson; Sp; 1994.

804 Seminar in Mass Communication Research (5)
Intensive study of research methodologies in mass communication scholarship; individual projects.
Staff; D; 1994.

843 Seminar in Pedagogy (5)
Problems, methods, and techniques of teaching college-level telecommunications.
Staff; Sp; Y; 1995.

865 Seminar in International Telecommunications (5)
Problems in sociopolitical control of telecommunications related to developing systems of other nations and international implications of technological development of telecommunications.
Nelson, McDaniel; W, Su; D; 1994.

884 Seminar in Criticism (5)
Intensive examination of video as aesthetic and cultural form. Analysis and practice of video criticism.
Staff; Sp; Y; 1994.

894 Independent Study (1-12)
Individual research on special problems. Projects must be approved prior to registration.
Staff; F, W, Sp, Su; Y; 1994.

895 Dissertation (1-12) Staff; F, W, Sp, Su; Y.

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