2020 Gumbo Final - Book - Page 93
Out with the old
Story: Taylor Landry
Photo: Bella Biondini
Design: Chloe Bryars
T
The Manship School of Mass Communication
has changed its degree curriculum
he Manship School of Mass Communication
has changed its degree curriculum. Notably,
challenging classes, such as accounting and
economics, will be removed from the upcoming
2020-2021 course catalog.
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies for
the Manship School of Mass Communication
Josh Grimm confirmed the removal of
Accounting 2000 and Economics 2030 from the
mass communication degree program.
“Those changes [the removal of Accounting
2000 and Economics 2030] have been
approved and will go into effect this fall,” Grimm
said.
The need to reevaluate course requirements for
mass communication students has been around
for some time, Grimm said.
“One of the first things I did was try to see
what we have done in the past and see what
needs to be addressed,” Grimm said. “I noticed
these requirements for Economics 2030 and
Accounting 2000. I looked into it, and it turns
out that the last time they were looked at was
the year 1976 for accounting and 1986 for
economics.”
Although the courses have been taken out of
future degree requirements, Grimm said, the
Manship School still encourages students to take
what classes interest them.
“We looked into it and looked at what other
colleges were requiring and ultimately
determined that these classes should not be
a requirement,” Grimm said. “That being said,
students are still allowed and encouraged to
take those classes.”
Students who previously had to take Economics
2030 will now have to take a general education
social science class, and students who had to
take Accounting 2000 will now be required to
take another mass communication elective.
Mass communication sophomore Emmaline
Peneguy knew about the changes and is grateful
that she now has the opportunity to take more
classes relevant to her studies.
“I am so grateful because those classes are
not something I would be very interested in,”
Peneguy said. “Now I can take another elective,
which I’ll use to count towards my minor.”
Changing degree requirements is a lengthy
process. First, the proposal goes to the Manship
School’s course of the curriculum committee
and must pass a faculty vote. From there, it
goes to the University’s course of the curriculum
committee, which must approve the vote. Finally,
the change has to be approved by Academic
Affairs.
Political communication freshman Nathalie
Tardiff is glad the requirements are changing
because it has given her a chance to take a class
taught by the dean of the Manship School of
Mass Communication.
“In replacement of Econ, I’m actually taking
Mass Communication 2030,” Tardiff said. “I can
honestly say that I am happy to take this class,
especially since the dean of the Manship School
is the professor.”
Students enter the University with the catalog
that has been approved for that given year.
Students can adopt a new catalog, but must
adopt all course changes made to the new
catalog. Most students can opt into the new
catalog, Grimm said.
The changes will go into effect in fall 2020, and
students registered for the affected courses
have been notified.
“We do look at our curriculum pretty often,”
Grimm said. “We are trying to encourage
students to take a variety of classes that will
prepare them for the job of their dreams.”
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