Semester of Graduation

Spring 2018

Degree

Master of Mass Communication (MMC)

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

This quantitative content analysis uses course descriptions to find changes in journalism education at the University of Missouri, Louisiana State University, and the University of North Carolina over 100 years. This study found that there are two influencing factors that are inherent to the journalism profession: advances in technology and the maturity of the profession itself. These two influencing factors produced changes in technology used in curriculum, course focus (e.g. skill, theory, general knowledge, and history), and course topics (e.g. advertising, broadcasting, public relations, etc.) This study also found that leadership is the most influential factor of change in journalism education. In this study, leaders with positive leadership traits (e.g. a professional background coupled with experience in academia, steadfast attentiveness to administrative duties, attentiveness to accreditation standards, preparation and application of vision, and an ability to raise funds) greatly influenced curriculum changes within their program.

Date

3-27-2018

Committee Chair

Hamilton, John

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.4635

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