TITLE OF PROPOSAL:
Media and Information Technology (Revised)
INITIATING DEPARTMENT/UNIT: Media
and Information Technology Curriculum Board (see below)
DATE OF DEPARTMENT/UNIT ACTION: October 30, 2000
CONTACT PERSON: Dr. Darla Germeroth
PHONE: 4131
EMAIL: germerothd1
TYPE OF PROPOSAL: NEW MAJOR
LEVEL: UNDERGRADUATE
HOME DEAN'S CONFERENCE: CAS
TO BE CONSIDERED IN ABOVE DEAN'S CONFERENCE IN November 2000
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL:
Revision: Change "Phil 214" to "Phil 214 or equivalent course in Philosophy
or Theology/Religious Studies."
(Approved:December 1, 2000 curriculum meeting)
Introduction
The fields of computers
and communication have come together in a synergy that has created the
need for a new type of educational preparation. Businesses use electronic
commerce as a major tool both in sales to individuals and in business-to-business
transactions. The University has recognized this need by creating a new
major in Electronic Commerce in the Kania School of Management. While business
usage is growing rapidly, we see this commercial aspect as only a small
part of the Internet’s effect on society. We are proposing a new major
that addresses the need for people knowledgeable in both the technical
aspects and the communication aspects of this new paradigm.
While there are programs
that are based in Communication departments (usually called New Media)
and programs in Computing Science departments (with titles including
Information), these programs reflect the strengths of the department
housing them. We propose to build on the strengths of several departments
at the University to produce a program that has strength in all its parts.
Starting with Physics/EE to provide a careful look at the hardware and
at the science of communication, we add the technical support of the computing
sciences to provide programming tools and network expertise and the practical
and theoretical skills of the communication department to produce effective
communication specialists. In addition, the student may choose to add additional
writing skills since many of the technical documents today are electronic
and must be effective on the web or in multi-media.
We feel that there are major opportunities
for interdisciplinary research in this area and the cooperation between
the concerned departments bodes well for the future success of the program.
We see many further directions as we develop more expertise in multi-media
and the integration of technical and communication skills.
Committee
The
Media
and Information Technology Curriculum Board consists of
Dr.
Darla Germeroth, Communication, chair
Dr.
Andrew Berger, Physics/EE
Dr.
Mary Engel, English
Dr.
Dennis Martin, Computing Sciences
Dr.
Kevin Nordberg, Philosophy
Dr.
Matthew Reavy, Communication
Dr.
Joyce Simitus, English
These
people will constitute the original curriculum board for the program.
Requirements for Major
Catalog Description of Program
Electronic communication
has significantly changed the world in many ways. Every field has adopted
the computer and the Internet as basic tools. Virtually all aspects of
communication within and between institutions and corporations are affected
by the need to provide information in multiple media. The fields of computers
and communication have come together in a synergy that has created the
need for a new type of educational preparation. No longer do we look only
to print documents and to oral presentations as the ways to convey information.
There is a great need for people who are knowledgeable in both the technical
aspects and the communication aspects of this new paradigm.
Our program builds on
the strengths of several departments at the University to produce a program
that has strength in all its parts. Starting with Physics/Electrical Engineering
to provide a careful look at the hardware and the science of communication,
we add the technical support of the computing sciences to provide programming
tools and network expertise and the practical and theoretical skills of
the communication department to produce effective communication specialists.
The student may add additional writing skills as many of the technical
documents today are electronic and must be effective on the web or using
multi-media. In addition, the student will develop a content area in another
discipline. Each student will be required to produce a major project whose
subject matter is from this support area. This culminating project will
demonstrate practical experience as well as theoretical knowledge.
The World Wide Web provides a major source
of information today, yet not all information is of equal value. Few organizations
can “get their message across” without a strong, high-quality Web presence.
There are significant opportunities for people who want to work in this
area provided that they have the preparation to foster the constant improvement
in what can be accomplished. The further directions that the Web will entail
are unknown today but they will be accessible to the person who has the
right combination of technical skills and effective written, oral, and
multimedia skills.
Major Courses
Fourteen courses required
in major: ten required by name and four electives.
|
Courses
|
|
Description
|
|
Comm
317 Digital Audio and Visual Production
|
Required
|
|
Comm
318
Multi-Media Presentations
|
Required
|
|
Comm
329 Graphics
|
Required
|
|
Cmps
134 Computer Science I
|
Required
|
|
Cmps
136 Computer Programming II
|
Required
|
|
Cmps
311 Computer Networks and Security
|
Required
|
|
MIT
490 Projects
|
Required
|
|
Phil
214 Computers and Ethics
|
Required
(PHIL area)
|
|
Phys
104 Introduction to Consumer Technology
|
Required
(NSCI area)
|
|
Phys
204 Information Technology
|
Required
|
|
Cmps
376 Rapid Prototyping
|
Elective
|
|
Cmps
312 Web Technology (or Cmps 202)
|
Elective
|
|
Comm
310 Mass Communication Law
|
Elective
|
|
Comm
324 Computer Assisted Reporting
|
Elective
|
|
Phys
103 Seeing the Light
|
Elective
|
|
Phys
108 New York Times Physics
|
Elective
|
|
Phys
113 Science of Photography
|
Elective
(NSCI area)
|
|
Wrtg
218 Writing for the Web
|
Elective
|
|
Wrtg
211 Technical & Business Writing
|
Elective
|
|
Wrtg
318 Technical Documentation
|
Elective
|
We note that several of these courses
may be used in GE areas allowing this to be even more suitable as a double
major.
The committee strongly feels that this
major would be enhanced by at requiring least one appropriate writing course,
but we respect the view of the English Department that they cannot guarantee
such a course at this time due to their current staffing situation.
Cognate
To provide a context
to utilize most effectively the skills developed here, a content area is
needed. Therefore each student will complete either
(a) another
academic major; or
(b) an
academic minor (or concentration) and take a course in Statistics (Quantitative
Reasoning area).
For the full proposal, see the linked document.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: Link
here