Department of
Mass Communications

MISSION STATEMENT

The department's mission is to develop productive students in a global society, prepared for careers in mass communications, and to increase cultural diversity in professional media.  The department fosters engaged learning and professional growth through high quality instruction, scholarship, research, service, and prepares students to perform at high levels of excellence in mass media professions and post graduate studies in the 21st century.

The department intends for students to:

• Understand diversity in a domestic society.

• Understand diversity in a global society.
• Understand the historical, theoretical, and applied aspects of their chosen mass media concentration.
• Acquire technical and applied mastery in one or more of the department's areas of concentration- online journalism, audio/video production, and public relations & advertising.
• Internalize the university's and department's core curriculum to provide them with a well- rounded education based on the liberal arts with electives and minors outside their mass communications majors.
• Assistant students in developing a broad interdisciplinary liberal arts perspective inclusive of literature, art, film, philosophy, Afican American studies, music, and history.
• Respect and practice freedom of expression, fairness, truth, and ethical standards of professional media.
• Understand and implement technologies associated with multi-platform media in a converged media educational environment to include all forms of social media applications as they apply to professional media.

Accreditation

In addition to the University of Georgia, Savannah State University's Department of Mass Communications is the only program in the State of Georgia that is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC).  The department has been accredited since 2007.  ACEJMC requires that irrespective of their particular specialization, all graduates should be aware of certain core values and competencies and be able to:

• Understand and apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech and press for the country in which the institution that invites ACEJMC is located, as well as receive instruction in and understand the range of systems of freedom of expression around the world, including the right to dissent, to monitor and criticize power, and to assemble and petition for redress of grievances;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications;
• Demonstrate an understanding of gender, race ethnicity, sexual orientation and, as appropriate, other forms of diversity in domestic society in relation to mass communications;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of peoples and cultures and of the significance and impact of mass communications in a global society;
• Understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information;
• Demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity;
• Think critically, creatively, and independently;
• Conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work;
• Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences, and purposes they serve;
• Critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style, and grammatical correctness;
• Apply basic numerical and statistical concepts;
• Apply tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work.

Contact

Dr. Charles J. Elmore, Interim Chair

Kennedy Fine Arts 214
(912) 358.3378
elmorec@savannahstate.edu

Karen Conner, Administrative Secretary

Kennedy Fine Arts 214
(912) 358.3378
connerk@savannahstate.edu