SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AND BROADCASTING

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1 ADMISSIONS PACKET SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AND BROADCASTING Master of Science in Mass Communications with an Emphasis in Media Management Admission Packet Contents: Application Checklist Overview of Program Frequently Asked Questions Application Procedures OSU Graduate College Instructions Program Goals Essay Guidelines Letters of Reference Guidelines Preparing for the GRE Program Faculty Folder information should be mailed to: Last updated Feb. 2, 2009 Stan Ketterer, Ph.D. Director of Graduate Studies School of Journalism and Broadcasting 316B Paul Miller Building Stillwater, OK (405)

2 APPLICATION CHECKLIST NOTE : Please submit this checklist with your Admissions Packet. Date that Application sent to the Graduate College with transcripts and application fee GRE Scores: Date when test taken and scores forwarded to the School of Journalism and Broadcasting at OSU Resume or Vita. Program Goals Essay. 3 Recommendation Letters: Please list your references and the date you requested their recommendation: Name Date Requested I waive my right to review the letters of recommendation submitted with my application. I have informed those writing my letters of references that I waive my right to review their letters of recommendation. Deadlines The deadline for submitting all application materials for fall is April 15. The deadline for submitting all application material for spring is November 15.

3 OVERVIEW OF M.S. PROGRAM Thank you for your inquiry about OSU s graduate program in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Media Management. We re proud to be taking the lead in providing graduate studies tailored to meet the needs of media professionals confronted with the realities of a rapidly changing media environment. As a Master s student at OSU, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that your degree is being earned through a program sanctioned by OSU s nationally accredited School of Journalism and Broadcasting. MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MASS COMMUNICATION/MEDIA MANAGEMENT. The M.S. program focuses on mass communications theory and research. It is designed for students pursuing careers as mass media managers or teachers of journalism, public relations, advertising and broadcasting. In Stillwater, the program focuses on News Media Management. In Tulsa, the program focuses on Strategic Communication Management, public relations and advertising. Required course work addresses relevant research skills, theories relating to management and media content and effects; and the impact of technology in media organizations, pragmatic issues associated with ethical responsibilities of mass communication professionals. Our courses are focused on developing professionals, teachers and managers capable of dealing with the increasingly complex and ever-changing mass communication organization in today s technically advanced global market. 2 OPTIONS Our program offers two options to help students reach their goals. Students in the Thesis Option take 34 hours of courses and write a scholarly thesis. This option is designed for students who want to teach or get a higher degree. Students in the Professional Project Option take 34 hours and do an applied project, such as a public relations plan for a company, or a creative component, such as a documentary. This option is designed for students who want to advance in their professional careers. Students will also take courses in media management and at least two marketing and management course in the MBA program. In Stillwater, the media management courses will focus on News Media Management. In Tulsa, the courses will focus on Strategic Communications Management. BASIC REQUIREMENTS The school s Graduate Faculty assesses all requests for admission into our program, and it makes a recommendation to the Graduate College, which makes the final admissions decision. In making its recommendation, the Graduate Faculty considers several factors. They include: Grade point average: In most cases, applicants should have a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0. If mass communication courses have been taken, a minimum GPA of 3.0 is desired in those courses as well. These standards are especially important for students who have graduated recently because they tend to have little work experience. Research has shown that undergraduate GPA is the best predictor of success in graduate school.

4 GRE scores: A minimum Graduate Record Exam score of 975 (with a desired minimum verbal score of 490) is also desired. An Analytical Writing Score in the 50 th percentile of above is also desired. Again, these scores are especially important for recent graduates. Previous media experience: Graduate instruction, especially in media management, will be more meaningful for applicants who have media experience. The applicants also will bring an important perspective to class discussions. Undergraduate major: An undergraduate major in a mass communications-related discipline is highly preferred, but not required. Similarly, instruction will be especially meaningful to applicants with previous knowledge of media. Program goals essay: The quality of the program goals essay, including writing and language usage skills, is an important indicator of the student s ability to do well in our mass communications graduate program. In addition, the student and the program benefit if the student s goals match the focus of the program. Letters of Recommendation: The Letters of Recommendation are important in evaluating a student s likelihood of success in the program. The assessment of professors and supervisors with first-hand knowledge of the student help shed light on the student s aspirations and ability to do graduate work. TOEFL: Additionally, international students must achieve a minimum TOEFL score of 600 for the paper test, 215 on the computer version or 100 for the Internet test. The Graduate Faculty has the option of admitting a student on probation. All students must complete their undergraduate degrees before beginning graduate work. FOUNDATION COURSES Our program concentrates on theory and research, so applicants will need basic media skills so they can teach with the master s degree. If an applicant does not have a degree in media, the director of graduate studies and the head of the sequence will meet to determine which undergraduate foundation courses are needed. Media-related experience is considered when determining these courses. Foundation courses are taken in the student s area of interest, such as broadcasting or public relations. All students must have taken Introductory Statistics and Mass Communication Law. These courses are usually taken within the first year of graduate work. GRADUATE STUDENT PERFORMANCE The Graduate Faculty is naturally concerned about the academic performance of students enrolled in the program. Writing quality is of prime concern in mass communications, and candidates who cannot communicate effectively will have difficulty earning a degree. Mass communications students must make a B (3.0) or better in all courses. Mass communications students must retake all courses in which they make a C or below. If a mass communications student makes a second C or below, the student will be dropped from the program. REQUIRED GRADUATE COURSES MC 5651 Introduction to Graduate Study. Overview of graduate study. MC 5113 Methods of Research in Mass Communication. Introduction to research methods. MC 5223 Mass Communication Research Analysis and Interpretation. Focus is on statistical analysis, interpretation and reporting of research results. MC 5333 Process and Effects of Mass Communication. Communication theory. MC 5733 Responsibility in Mass Communication. Mass media ethics. MC 5863 Media Management. Principles of media management. MC 5883 Advanced Media Management. Advanced study of media management. MC Thesis. A scholarly research project for students in the thesis track. or MC Professional Project. A media project or creative activity for those in this track. * MGMT 5113 Management Organization and Theory. MBA organization management course. * MKTG 5133 Marketing Management. MBA marketing management course. * Students can specialize in another area with permission of the graduate faculty. Electives can be taken in mass communications or another field.

5 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS How long will it take me to finish a degree? Classes are scheduled to allow full-time students to finish in two years. Part-time students may expect to complete their degrees in about three years. University regulations stipulate that all course work must be completed within seven years for a Master s Degree. When can I begin the program? We prefer that you enter in the fall semester, although you may begin taking foundation courses and graduate electives at any time. What classes will be offered at the Tulsa campus and can I earn a full degree at Tulsa? Our goal is to offer all courses needed to complete an M.S. in Mass Communications at OSU in Tulsa on a two-year rotation, assuming sufficient enrollment. Of course, Tulsa students willing to commute to Stillwater have the option of taking classes offered at OSU-Stillwater and vice versa. Can I take strategic communication management courses in Stillwater or news media management courses in Tulsa? The Stillwater campus will focus on News Media Management and the Tulsa campus will focus on Strategic Communications Management. However, only the media management courses -- and perhaps some electives -- will be different. Thus, you can take those two media management courses at the other campus to complete your desired degree. May I be admitted on a provisional basis if I don t meet the TOEFL requirement? The Graduate Faculty can recommend that applicants with TOEFL scores of 475 or more be provisionally admitted to the program, but they must attend classes at OSU s English Language Institute until they raise their scores to 550 or higher, the general university requirement. The Graduate College must approve the recommendation. Students who score 600 or more after attending the institute would be admitted to the program. If they score between 550 and 600, they must take ENGL 0003 Academic English for Graduate Students and can take two classes in our school. However, they must take the TOEFL again and score 600 or more before they would be admitted to the program. What is a special student? An incoming student who does not submit all required admissions materials by our application deadline may ask the Graduate College to take classes as special student (non-degree candidate). The applicant must only have an undergraduate degree and pay an application fee. A special student can take up to nine hours toward a degree program, including courses in our school. Special students usually apply to our program in their first semester and submit their admissions materials. If they take courses in our school, the Graduate Faculty also considers how they perform in these courses when considering their admissions request. More questions?: If you have any more questions about our mass communications program in media management, please contact Dr. Stan Ketterer, director of graduate studies, by phone at (405) or by at stan.ketterer@okstate.edu.

6 APPLICATION PROCEDURES TWO-STEPS: The admissions process at OSU requires two steps. The first step is to submit an application to the Graduate College, which can be done online at: Then, you must pay an application fee and submit official transcripts of all the colleges and universities that you have attended. Students can pay the application fee online. International student also must submit TOEFL exam scores and must comply with Graduate College requirements regarding immigration status and financial arrangements. In the second step, students must apply for admission to the mass communications program. Admission to the M.S. program involves the submission of materials that will help the school s Graduate Faculty thoroughly evaluate the applicant to determine admission into the program. These materials must include an updated resume or VITA, a program goals essay, three letters of reference and GRE scores. The applicant can also include other supporting materials if desired. All materials except GRE scores must be submitted to the graduate coordinator at one time with this packet. The deadline for the Fall semester is April 15 and for the spring semester is November 15. If all materials are not received by April 15, the applicant must apply to the Graduate College as a special student. RESUME or VITA: An updated resume or VITA is required. It should include the applicant s skills, work and teaching experience, if any. Further, it can be more than one page to allow for a more detailed explanation of the applicant s work and teaching experience, especially if interested in a teaching assistantship. PROGRAM GOALS ESSAY: An essay that details the applicant s career goals and reasons for graduate study to reach those goals is required. It will help the Graduate Faculty assess the compatibility of the applicant s goals and the program, as well as the applicant s writing ability. Consequently, it should be written with care and prepared according to the guidelines contained in this packet. LETTERS OF REFERENCE: Three administrators, supervisors and/or university faculty members must write letters of reference that must be included with this packet. The applicant should ask the references to put the letters in an envelope, sign them across the seal on the back, and mail them to the applicant to be included in the packet. At least one of the references should be from a previous or current faculty member with knowledge of the applicant s scholarship. Overall, the letters should evaluate the applicant s likelihood of success in our program. They should explain the applicant s scholarly ability and work habits, and how well the program fits with the applicant s previous work and future goals. You many duplicate the guidelines for letters contained in this packet and give them to your references. GRE: Applicants should authorize a testing agency to send their Graduate Record Examination scores to the School of Journalism and Broadcasting at OSU. The OSU code is 6546, and the Mass Communications code is This test is offered at many sites. At OSU-Stillwater, it is given at University Testing and Evaluation Service, 111 N. Murray Hall, (405) In Tulsa, it is given at the Sylvan Learning Center, 6808 S Memorial Drive, Suite 146, (918) Please see the tips for taking the test in this packet. I hereby certify that all materials submitted in support of my application for admission to the program area are mine and that they are accurate. Signature Date The School of Journalism and Broadcasting, in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Higher Education Act) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, handicap, or status as a veteran, in any of its policies or procedures.

7 PROGRAM GOALS ESSAY GUIDELINES Our program combines theory and research to develop media practitioners, teachers and media managers capable of dealing with the increasingly complex and ever-changing mass communication landscape. Thus, it seeks to recruit individuals who will profit from our program, make significant contributions to educational and/or media organizations, and demonstrate the potential for: Individual growth Scholarship Career growth At the same time, writing and thinking are critical for success in graduate programs. Consequently, the Graduate Faculty requires a written essay of all prospective students that addresses the applicant s career goals and likelihood to succeed in our program. The faculty also will examine the essay for clarity, organization, focus and development of the major points. The essay must be addressed to the Graduate Faculty in this form: Two to three pages Double-spaced 12-point type with standard formatting

8 LETTER OF REFERENCE GUIDELINES You have been asked by an applicant to the Master of Science program in Mass Communication/ Media Management in the School of Journalism and Broadcasting at Oklahoma State University to provide a letter of recommendation. Using examples from the specific activities that you have observed, evaluate the applicant in terms of the following areas as applicable: Individual growth Scholarship and academic performance Work habits and performance Career growth Compatibility with the individual s goals and a master s degree program in mass communication/ media management We would appreciate any additional comments you may wish to make that would help in evaluating the applicant for admission to our program. We appreciate your professional assistance in this important activity. Please put the letter in an envelope, sign it across the seal and send it to the applicant, who will include it in an admissions packet to the school. If you have any questions, please call Dr. Stan Ketterer, graduate coordinator, at (405) or send to stan.ketterer@okstate.edu.

9 PREPARING FOR THE GRE Get familiar with the test: Learn about the content, times, structure, how the test is scored, etc. Begin study 2-3 months in advance. This approach gives you time to study at your convenience. Get a GRE prep book several books come with a CD-ROM that has helpful practice tests. Take a GRE prep course you can learn test strategies, including time management techniques Use practice tests available on Web sites: o The GRE Web site ( offers several practice tests, Click on Test Preparation in the right sleeve and you can download the tests to your computer. Also try which has a free GRE tutorial. Time your practice tests. It is easy to run out of time. Make flash cards for the vocabulary words. You can find these words in the GRE study books. Brush up on your math formulas. You can find books specifically for the math sections. Go over your old basic algebra book and work out simple formulas During the test: Pace yourself so you have enough time. Use a process of elimination eliminate answers you know are wrong.

10 GRADUATE FACULTY Jami Fullerton, Professor and Peggy Welch Chair B.A. and M.A. Journalism, Ph.D. Higher Education, University of North Texas. Research Interests: Advertising education, cross-cultural communications, portrayal of women in the media. Derina Holtzhausen, Professor and Director of the School of Journalism and Broadcasting. B.A. and M.A., Afrikaans-Dutch Literature, Ph.D. Communication Science, Rand Afrikaans University, South Africa. Research interests: Strategic communication, cross-cultural communication, post-modernism in public relations, public relations management. Bobbi Kay Hooper, Assistant Professor B.S. Advertising and M.A. Mass Communications, Oklahoma State University. Research Interests: Advertising, Communication and Religion. Stan Ketterer, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies B.A. Political Science, M.Ed. Education, Ph.D. Journalism, University of Missouri-Columbia. Research interest: Computer-assisted and crime reporting, journalism education, new media, media convergence, newspapers. John McGuire, Associate Professor. B.A. Broadcast-Business; M.A. History; Ph.D. Communication, University of Missouri-Columbia. Research Interests: Political communication, sports journalism and sports broadcast distribution systems, television genres. Lori Melton McKinnon, Associate Professor. B.A. Broadcast Journalism and M.A. Mass Communications; Ph.D. Journalism, University of Oklahoma. Research Interests: Mediated political communication: campaign communication, political advertising and "Ad Watch" coverage, political public relations, presidential debates. Joseph Senat, Associate Professor B.A. and M.A. Journalism, Ph.D. Mass Communication, University of North Carolina. Research Interests: Media Law and the Internet, Public Affairs Reporting.