The Mass Communication Department is devoted to developing and maintaining a curriculum that will produce students with professional writing and computer-skill competencies (MCOM 1332 and MCOM 3330), with a working knowledge of mass media law and ethics (MCOM 4371), and with a working knowledge of global media practices (MCOM 4393). 

Skills-based Projects and Exit Exams in various sections of these four courses indicate that generally the MCOM Department has achieved its goals.  

In regards to knowledge of media law and ethics, students in MCOM 4371 exhibited acceptable competencies on the Exit Exam.  Faculty will adjust the assessment instrument to more specifically address the application of media law theories and concepts to the emerging digital environs.

In regards to writing skills, students in one section of MCOM 1332 did exhibit acceptable levels of competence. Students in one section of MCOM 1332 did not exhibit acceptable levels of competence. Faculty will 1) adjust pedagogical strategies to emphasize grammatical skills, 2) identify students who need to be referred to the SHSU Writing Center, and 3) standardize course content across sections.  

In regards to computer competency skills, students in two sections of MCOM 3330 did not meet stated goals. Faculty will reassess practices related to online assignments.  Due to other curriculum changes this class will be retired from the MCOM Core curriculum, faculty will meet in the Fall 2012 Semester to identify specific web-based skills addressed in MCOM 3330 that will be migrated into other media-writing classes in the MCOM curriculum.

In regards to knowledge of global media, students in one section of MCOM 4393 met the projected competency scores. In a second section of MCOM 4393, students did not meet the ojective goals.  Faculty who teach this class in the future will emphasize topics related to geography and global politics at the beginning of the semester.  Due to other curriculum changes, MCOM 4393 will be retired from the MCOM Core.  The course will be offered as an Advanced Elective. 

Another Core Course MCOM 2271 (Introduction to Visual Literacy) will be included in the SACS Report next year.  Faculty will meet in Fall 2012 to fashion an instrument to assess this introductory production course.


Generally, the MCOM Department is improving in developing and maintaining a curriculum that helps students become better writers, become competent with computer-based skills, and become familiar with mass media law and global media issues. Efforts to improve in these areas (e.g., establishing new Assessment Objectives, adjusting current Assessment Instruments, and adapting Curriculum) will be coordinated by the Chair of MCOM and the new Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Mass Communication as MCOM integrates into the new college.

The Exit Exam employed in MCOM 4371 was adjusted to specifally address issues related to Copyright and Obscenity in the digital environment.  A new Diagnostic Exam was created for use in Fall 2013.  

Faculty in MCOM 1332 referred students to the SHSU Writing Center if special attention was warrented.  One faculty member who teaches MCOM 1332 worked with the Curriculum Committee to fashion an online module that could be used by all students in the class to improve grammar, spelling and punctuation skills. 

Two courses -- MCOM 3330 and MCOM 4393 -- were "retired" from the MCOM Core Curriculum due to overall changes in the departmental curriculum.  Skill-sets taught in MCOM 3330 were migrated to media-writing classes (MCOM 1332) and MCOM 4393 was offered as an Advanced Elective.

The new faculty member hired to teach both sections of MCOM 2271 is working with the Chair of the department to further standardize the assessment instrument so that (eventually) graduate students can take over the class and offer a uniform curriculum.  

The Chair of COM is meeting regularly with the Dean of the College of Mass Communication and Fine Arts to fully integrate MCOM into the new college.

The new Diagnostic Exam in MCOM 4371 was implemented the first day of class in Fall 2013 and the Post-Test will be administered at semester's end.  Due to the ever-changing nature of the digital environment and the parallel developments in mass media law, this Diagnistic Test will be updated every year.

The Online Grammar-Spelling Module developed for MCOM 1332 is being Beta-tested in three sections of the class and the department hopes to have this test as a required feature of all sections of MCOM 1332 by Spring 2014 or -- depending on Beta-test results -- Fall 2014.

Both MCOM 1332 and MCOM 4371 are important classes in the department's Core Curriculum. Assessment of these two classes will continue -- with updated Diagnostics for MCOM 4371 and adjustments to MCOM 1332 as required after this semester's Beta-test.

The new faculty member teaching both sections of MCOM 2271 has submitted his assessment instrument to the Chair and will employ that instrument in the Fall 2013 Semester. With appropriate adjustments, the department will have this instrument available for any graduate students who might teach sections of this course in the 2013-14 Fall-Spring academic year.