University senate approves JRMC curriculum, TV master
The journalism and mass communication department (JRMC) at the American University in Cairo (AUC) is introducing a new undergraduate curriculum and a new master’s degree in television.
Instead of a single major with three specializations, students will choose between three disciplines, journalism, communication and media arts (CMA), and integrated marketing communication. They will receive their degrees in the specialization they choose.
The new masters degree in television and digital journalism was approved on Mar. 12 by the university senate and will also be in place next fall.
“This new program is a restructured version of the one which we previously had, but which was cancelled and replaced with a graduate diploma,” said Naila Hamdy, JRMC professor and graduate director.
The journalism major will be a multi-platform program that includes online, broadcast, and print. “Reporters for international news outlets now work with all three platforms. We are trying to get our program in line with schools in Europe and the United States,” said Janet Key, managing director of the Caravan.
Moreover, the students who want to pursue careers in the non-journalistic aspects of television, radio, film, advertising or music, will have the option of specializing in CMA, which combines media arts courses with communication theory.
To expose students to both communication and marketing, the integrated marketing communication major is being continued. “This is one of the largest programs in mass communication; it has been reorganized and revised,” said Dennis O’Connor, dean of the school of business, economics and communication.
“One of our motives for developing this new curriculum is to apply for accreditation from the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC), which has stringent requirements for staffing, curriculum, and students,” said O’Connor.
New courses include research for journalists, which will teach students investigative skills and computer assisted reporting, and a media convergence capstone, which will integrate all media.
With the creation of new courses, some older courses will be cancelled and others will have their contents altered to accommodate multiple media platforms.
“Students who are already studying the old curriculum will finish what they are doing, but they also have the option of joining the new one,” said Hamdy.
The new curriculum changes got mixed reviews from students. Some find the change unnecessary. “What is the difference? They just changed specializations into majors and it will just put a bigger load
on students,” said Christine Habib, a journalism and mass communication senior.
Other students expressed optimism about the changes taking place. “I like the idea. Now IMC majors will take only the courses they need that focus on their specialization,” said Sara Hegazy, a journalism and mass communication senior. “I am also looking forward to doing the new master’s program.”
The new changes were made after open meetings last year with members of the journalism community, people from the media industry and consultants.
“The goal of these changes is to ensure that AUC’s journalism and mass communication department is at the forefront of the industry in the region and globally,” said Lawrence Pintack, director of the Adham Center for Electronic Journalism.
“The department’s achievement was brilliant,” said O’Connor. “One of the beautiful things about this curriculum is that there are clear, measurable goals for each major.”