Department of Mass Communication and Theatre

Chair and Associate Professor: J. Gale (MA), 450-3162
Distinguished Professor Emeritus: J. Anderson (PhD)
Associate Professor: K. Browne (PhD), J. Dull (MFA), B. Hutchinson (PhD), Sh. Meador (MFA), Wm S. Meador (MFA)
Assistant Professor: G. Blakey (EdD), C. Fritzges (MFA), M. Gunter (MFA), , D. Lampkin Stephens (PhD), P. Walter (EdD)
Lecturer: C. Churchill (MFA), D. Keith (MA), R. Scallet (MFA)

Jump to a section of this page: BA/BS Digital Filmmaking | BA/BS Journalism | BA/BS Theatre

[1] Purposes

The Department offers professional training in the areas of filmmaking, mass communication, and theatre. It also seeks to educate interested non-professionals who seek to become participating members of a knowledgeable audience. Additionally, through broadcast, print, cinematic, and theatrical productions, students and faculty of the department share their work with the people of Arkansas.

[2] Facilities

State-of-the-art facilities support each program of the department. Mass Communication is housed in a new facility that includes two television production studios, audio studios, Final Cut Pro, Avid, and Discreet editing suites, 2 computer labs, production areas, and a darkroom. Theatre facilities include a well-equipped technical area, a CAD laboratory, a 150-seat studio theatre, a 300-seat proscenium theatre, and the new 1200-seat Reynolds Performance Hall.

[3] Honors in Mass Communication and Theatre

[Jump to Recognition of Academic Achievement for general information about Honors in the Majors.]

Students may be invited by the faculty of the department to enter the Honors in the Majors program in the first semester of the senior year. To earn honors, students must major in one of the areas offered by the Department of Mass Communication and Theatre and enroll in MCOM 3322. In addition, students submit a final honors project paper or performance no later than February 1 for May graduation, October 1 for December graduation, or June 1 for August graduation.

[4] Baccalaureate Degrees

[4.1] Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Digital Filmmaking

The degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science with a major in digital filmmaking requires the successful completion of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using designated courses; (2) specific degree requirements; (3) the digital filmmaking core courses FILM 1305 and FILM 1310; (4) major requirements and electives as described below; and (5) a minor as arranged through the student’s minor advisor.

[4.1.1] Major in Digital Filmmaking (44 hours)

Undergraduate Core courses are used to satisfy the lower-division UCA Core requirement in Diversity, Critical Inquiry, Responsible Living, and Effective Communication and Journalism and Mass Communication courses are used to satisfy the upper-division UCA Core requirements in Diversity, Critical Inquiry, Responsible Living, and Effective Communication. Students will take FILM 4357, Digital Filmmaking 4, as the required UCA Core capstone.

Required digital filmmaking courses (32 hours):

Electives (12 hours, chosen from the following):

[4.1.2] Minor in Digital Filmmaking (22 hours)

Students must complete a minor declaration form to enroll in the program.

Students seeking a minor in Digital Filmmaking are required to complete the following:

Required (16 hours):

Electives (6 hours, chosen from the following):

[4.2] Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Journalism

The degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science with a major in mass communication requires the successful completion of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using designated courses; (2) specific degree requirements; (3) the core journalism courses; (4) required, elective, and application courses for one of the mass communication emphasis areas as described below; (5) JOUR 3321 (internship); and (6) a minor as arranged through the student’s minor advisor.

[4.2.1] Major in Journalism (43 hours)

Undergraduate Core courses are used to satisfy the lower-division UCA Core requirement in Diversity, Critical Inquiry, Responsible Living, and Effective Communication and Journalism and Mass Communication courses are used to satisfy the upper-division UCA Core requirements in Diversity, Critical Inquiry, Responsible Living, and Effective Communication. Students will take JOUR 3321, Internship, as the required UCA Core capstone.

Journalism core (24 hours):

Electives (6 hours, chosen from the following):

Application courses (4 hours):

All students are to complete 1-hour credit at each level for a total of 4 hours. (Each level many be repeated for a maximum 2 hours of credit). Broadcast Journalism students must take Electronic Media Applications. Online Journalism students must complete at least one hour of Print and one hour of Electronic Applications among the four hours. Print Journalism students must take Print Media Applications.

Internship (3 hours):

[4.2.2] Emphasis Areas

Required (6 hours): Must complete both courses in at least one of the four options:

Broadcast Journalism Emphasis:

Online Journalism Emphasis:

Print Journalism Emphasis:

Mass Communication Research

[4.2.3] Minor in Journalism (26 hours)

Journalism Minor Core (8 hours):

Electives (18 hours, chosen from the following courses):

Prerequisite courses for all other courses – except Media Applications, MCOM 1300, and JOUR 2300 – may be taken concurrently.

[4.3] Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Theatre

The degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in theatre requires the successful completion of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using designated courses; (2) specific degree requirements; (3) requirements for the major as described below; and (4) a minor as arranged through the student’s minor advisor.

[4.3.1] Major in Theatre (43 hours)

Undergraduate Core courses are used to satisfy the lower-division UCA Core requirement in Diversity, Critical Inquiry, Responsible Living, and Effective Communication and Journalism and Mass Communication courses are used to satisfy the upper-division UCA Core requirements in Diversity, Critical Inquiry, Responsible Living, and Effective Communication. Students will take THEA 4320, Directing, as the required UCA Core capstone.
Required (27 hours):

Note: A minimum grade of “C” is required for Major credit or for a course to be used as a prerequisite for a Major course.

Electives (9 hours, chosen from the following):

Application (4 hours):

Optional:

[4.3.2] Minor in Theatre (20 hours)

Students seeking a Minor in Theatre are required to complete the following:

Required (6 hours) (Minimum grade of “C” for Minor credit):

Electives (12 hours – at least 9 hours to be Upper Division) from the following:

Application courses (2 hours):

All students are required to complete 1 hour credit at any two levels. (Each level may be repeated once for a maximum 2 hours credit.) Minimum grade of ‘B’ for Minor credit.

Notes:
Note 1: Prerequisite THEA 2325 Fundamentals of Theatrical Design
Note 2: Prerequisite THEA 2390 Acting I
Note 3: Prerequisite THEA 1360 Text Analysis
Note 4: Prerequisite THEA 2331 Stagecraft

[5] Course Links

[5.1] Courses in Digital Filmmaking (FILM)

Follow this link for FILM course descriptions: course link.

[5.2] Courses in Journalism (JOUR)

Follow this link for JOUR course descriptions: course link.

[5.3] Courses in Mass Communication (MCOM)

Follow this link for MCOM course descriptions: course link.

[5.4] Courses in Theatre (THEA)

Follow this link for THEA course descriptions: course link.