School of Global Journalism and Communication

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Dean:  Jacqueline Jones

Associate Dean for Administration:  Carl T. Hyden

Chair, Dept. of Multimedia Journalism:  Benjamin A. Davis

Chair, Dept. of Multiplatform Production:  Carl Hyden (Interim)

Chair, Dept. of Strategic Communications:  Janice Smith (Interim)

Mission

“We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us”

When Samuel Cornish and John B. Russwurm wrote these words nearly two centuries ago in Freedom’s Journal, this nation’s first black newspaper, the voices they wanted to empower belonged to an enslaved people.

Today, the mission of Morgan State University’s School of Global Journalism and Communication (SGJC) is to give voice to a broader group of people – people who struggle to contribute to the public discourse that shapes this nation and the world. We serve this cause with innovative teaching, cutting edge research and exemplary service to Maryland, our nation and the world.

Our goal is to add to the diversity of thoughts, opinions and beliefs by offering students from a wide range of backgrounds the liberal arts education and skills training they need to effectively communicate ideas – to plead their own causes, or to accurately tell the stories of others.

In our global school, students travel the world in their classes and assignments without leaving the campus. They also see the world through their interactions with our partner programs at universities in distant lands – and they are offered opportunities to travel abroad.

Great advances in technology have turned the world into a global village. The goal of our school is to make our graduates effective communicators in every way – and in every corner of this village.

Degree Programs

The School of Global Journalism and Communication offers three degree programs leading to the Bachelor of Science degree.

Students will find specific requirements for these degree programs in the appropriate sections for the departments in the School of Global Journalism and Communication.

Admission to Degree Programs

Students who meet the admission requirements of the university are eligible for admission to degree programs in the School of Global Journalism and Communication. Unless specifically prohibited by university regulations, students should declare their majors as early as possible and should contact the appropriate department for further direction and academic advice.

Retention in Degree Programs

In order to remain in good standing as majors in degree programs in the School of Global Journalism and Communication, students must meet the university’s standards for satisfactory academic progress, as outlined under Academic Policies in the University’s catalog. When students are placed on probation by the university’s standards or attain less than a 2.0 average in the major, they also are placed on probation in the major. Probationary students are limited in the number of credit hours they may pursue in a semester. They must repeat courses that are required for their majors if they have earned grades of D or F, and they may be required by the department to report more frequently for faculty advising and to limit the kinds of courses in which they enroll. Students who are dismissed from the University for unsatisfactory progress also are dismissed as degree candidates in their majors. Readmission to the university constitutes readmission as a degree candidate in the major.

Academic Advising

Academic advising is an important part of students’ undergraduate educations. In the School of Global Journalism and Communication, students must meet regularly with their academic advisers as a requirement for retention in the major. SGJC’s Academic and Career Advising Coordinator has primary responsibility for advising students in their academic programs of study.

Requirements for Graduation

Students earning degrees in the School of Global Journalism and Communication must meet the following graduation requirements:

General Education Requirements:

In order to qualify for graduation, students must complete the courses outlined as “General Education Requirements” and “Requirements for Graduation” in the university catalog.

Major Requirements:

In order to qualify for graduation, students must complete the requirements specified in the programs in which they are majoring.

Required Average:

In order to qualify for graduation, students must have earned a cumulative average of 2.0 or better, must have a major average of 2.0 or better and must have no outstanding grades below “C” in the major (which includes all required and elective courses taken in the major and all required supporting courses).

Junior- and Senior-Level Courses:

In order to qualify for graduation, students must have taken two-thirds of all of their junior- and senior-level (300 and 400 level) requirements in the major at Morgan State University, and must complete their last thirty hours at the University, unless granted prior written permission by the Dean to take courses elsewhere.

SGJC-Wide Policies

Independent Study:

In the School of Global Journalism and Communication, a course shall not be taught by independent study if it is on the schedule for that semester. In addition, a course shall not be offered on an independent study basis to a student who has previously taken that course in the usual manner and who has not earned a passing grade, or if the course is in the student’s major, a grade of “C” or better.

Independent study for a course will be authorized only when the regularity of its being offered does not permit students to complete program requirements in a timely fashion and only when the plan of study proposed for the independent study clearly does not compromise the knowledge and skills that students would attain when taking the course by regular attendance.

Taking Courses at Other Institutions:

Once students have been admitted to disciplines in the SGJC at Morgan State University, they may not take courses at other institutions for the purpose of transferring them to Morgan without prior written permission from the Dean of the School of Global Journalism and Communication. Once that permission has been given, students may transfer credits, but not grades, for those courses to Morgan. As a general rule, the School of Global Journalism and Communication does not grant permission for students to take a course at another institution if they have taken and failed the same course at Morgan, or if the course is in the student’s major, they have not earned a grade of “C” or better. In addition, it does not permit students to take courses at another institution if the same courses are being offered at Morgan during that semester or session.

Excess Credits:

The School of Global Journalism and Communication adheres strictly to the university policy concerning granting permission to take excess credits during any semester. It does not make exceptions for the purpose of enabling seniors to be graduated. The SGJC grants permission to pursue excess credits (maximum of three credits) only to students with cumulative averages of 3.0 or higher at Morgan.

Statute of Limitations on Transfer Evaluations:

Transfer students admitted to a program in the School of Global Journalism and Communication must appeal the evaluation of their transfer credits within one (1) year of the date on which the transfer evaluation is issued to them. After that date, the evaluation becomes permanent, and it may not be challenged later for the purpose of meeting requirements for graduation.

Repeating Courses Transferred to the University:

Students who repeat at Morgan courses for which they have been given transfer credit will automatically lose those corresponding transfer credits. Once the course has been taken at Morgan, it will not be expunged from the record.

Familiarity with Academic Policies:

In the School of Global Journalism and Communication, students are held responsible for being knowledgeable of published policies and procedures at the university. Under no circumstances will ignorance of published policies and procedures be accepted as a reason for making exceptions to them.

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