Words Du Jour: An Analysis of Traditional and Transitional Course Descriptors at Select J-Schools. (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Spillman, Mary; Kuban, Adam J.; Smith, Suzy J.
• Is Part Of: Journalism & mass communication educator. Volume 72:Number 2(2017:Jun.)
• Page Start: 198
• Page End: 211
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: journalism education -- curriculum -- undergraduate -- program of study -- content analysis -- course catalogs; Communication -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- United States -- Periodicals; Journalism -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- United States -- Periodicals; Mass media -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- United States -- Periodicals; 070.07
• DOI: 10.1177/1077695816650118
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-6958

Abstract

Journalism education may be at a tipping point. It is unclear, however, what new form curricula might take. Through an analysis of individual course titles and descriptions that appeared in the 2013-2014 undergraduate catalogs of 68 selected universities, this exploratory study finds that most departments/schools are not offering classes that reflect pedagogical approaches recently promoted in professional literature (e.g., hospital model, entrepreneurship, apprenticeship) nor are they responding to calls for greater integration between the classroom and industry via quasi-professional experiences. Journalism programs are, instead, relying on historically recognized and accepted models—such as practicum and capstone.