Chair discusses new curriculum

Chair discusses curriculum

It was the best of times…but mostly, it was just the worst.

The Department of Mass Media is eager to begin our next version of normal, and we are excited to roll out some significant changes to the department’s curriculum for fall 2021.

While the faculty are always keeping their courses up-to-date, sometimes we need to step back and look at the whole picture. Then, we take a deep dive and examine each course individually and start building concentrations that match industry demands.

Alumni might remember some long nights preparing papers for MM400 Media Literacy, but in the new curriculum we have created a hybrid law and literacy class that really brings these topics together in a relevant way for students. You can read more about that class on page 6.

We also decided it was in the best interest of our students to combine the Creative Advertising and Public Relations concentrations into one. The Film and Video concentration will see some course name updates and an improved overall sequencing that will help students easily map out their time at Washburn. The Contemporary Journalism concentration will see a stronger alignment with Washburn’s Student Media, and we’ve also add- Maria Stover, Chair ed a brand-new Department of Mass concentration. Media

The new Sports and Event Media concentration will give students an opportunity to focus specifically on two areas that always seem to have a high level of interest and wide applicability.

Overall, the new curriculum underscores the commitment of all mass media faculty to provide a relevant education that produces prepared media professionals. Our ultimate aim is to create a balanced curriculum that reinforces foundational skills and competencies while giving students the soft skills that would prepare them to be nimble professionals who are able to face whatever the future of mass media brings.

Mass Media Faculty Briefs

Andrew Anglin, Assisant Professor

Anglin taught a new general education this spring, “Sports and the Media” and will be teaching another new course over the summer called, “Mad Men and the Creative Revolution.” This class examines the historical time period in advertising history through the lens of the Emmy-award winning television show. Anglin continued his role as a board director of the Topeka Advertising Federation, overseeing the organization’s scholarship award process and establishing Spark Topeka, a professional development event aimed at college students, which will be held this May. Also, his MM 415 Promotions Writing students assisted in promoting the 2021 WIFI Film Festival through social media. Anglin will also present a paper on Disney travel souvenirs at the Popular Cultural Annual Conference in June.