Bulletin--Broadcast & Electronic Communication Arts Program

Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts

College of Creative Arts
Dean: Keith Morrison

Department of Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts
CA 34
415-338-1787
FAX: 415-338-1168
Chair: Ronald Compesi
Graduate Coordinator: Betsy Blosser

Faculty

Professors—Barsotti, Berger, Compesi, France, Hewitt, Houlberg, Kaplan, Kipper, Smith, C., Whitney, Wolf, Zettl

Associate Professor—Blosser, Reist

Assistant Professors—Guy, Shrivastava

Lecturers—Eyal, Gutierrez, Khani

Programs

B.A. in Radio and Television

M.A. in Radio and Television

Program Scope

The Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts (BECA) Department offers course work leading to the B.A. and M.A. in Radio and Television. The curriculum is designed to provide extensive educational experience for those who intend to use the modern media of electronic communication to serve the artistic, cultural, educational, informational, and social needs of society. The program involves both theory and practice, and students are expected to work successfully in both types of courses and activities. Graduating students are fully prepared to enter broadcasting, cable, and related industries, as well as to pursue advanced (graduate) degrees in the field of electronic communication.

The B.A. program includes a core requirement drawn from classes in the history and structure of electronic media in the United States, media aesthetics, media research, audio and video production, media ethics and regulation, mass communication theory and criticism, and writing and performance for the electronic media. In addition, students may elect to pursue one of the eight areas of emphasis within the department: audio production, broadcast news production, business aspects of the electronic media, educational and instructional media, mass communication theory and criticism, radio production and programming, television/video production, and writing for the electronic media, or they can design an individualized area of emphasis in consultation with a department adviser.

The M.A. program reflects a comprehensive view of the communication disciplines with an integration of theory and practice. Interested students will find emphases in media aesthetics, production, writing, management, and mass communication theory and criticism. Equal emphasis is placed upon creativity and scholarship and all candidates are expected to achieve distinction in both of these areas. The faculty and staff consider the master's candidate a colleague in the pursuit of knowledge, and a mature partnership is a key goal of the program.

Two important co-curricular activities are open to students of the BECA Department. KSFS, the campus radio station, is carried to campus and dormitory locations by wire and is distributed in San Francisco on stereo cable. The Television Center produces newscasts, dramas, interviews, musical performances, and other productions for campus distribution through closed-circuit television and for distribution to the San Francisco community through SFSU's cable television channel 49. Collegiate chapters of the Audio Engineering Society, College Students in Broadcasting (an affiliate of American Women in Radio and Television), International Students in Broadcasting, and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers provide opportunities for service and fellowship in the department and in the professional community. The San Francisco Bay Area provides a wealth of media organizations that cooperate with the Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts Department in a large, active internship program.

Centers and Institutes

The Institute of International Media Communication, housed in the BECA Department, offers training and educational opportunities for television professionals from around the world through production workshops and seminars. The Center for Graduate Opportunity in Broadcast and Electronic Media provides academic support to minority and international students enrolled in the department's M.A. program.

Facilities

The department's instructional laboratories include some of the most extensive audio and video production facilities in Northern California, including three color television studios (the largest measures 4,700 square feet), videotape editing laboratories equipped with off-line and broadcast quality on-line editing systems, a digital post-production "new media" laboratory for computer-based audio and video editing, an audio recording studio, a radio station, and audio practice laboratories. These facilities are dedicated exclusively to the support of the instructional programs in Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts and afford students exceptional opportunities for "hands-on" media production experience.

Career Outlook

Although the availability of jobs in any area of interest varies with the economic climate of the country, the long-range outlook on jobs in electronic communication is positive. Most graduates of the department ultimately will seek work in audio and video production facilities, radio and television broadcasting stations, cable television companies, educational institutions and media departments of agencies, institutions, and businesses.

The sheer interest in and attraction to recent advances in media technology and how such technology can be used to solve communication problems in the information age in which we now live has expanded the job possibilities in the field. With the continued convergence of audio, video, and computer technologies, graduates of the department are finding increasing job opportunities in the areas of telecommunications, interactive video, and multimedia.

Many graduates of the department continue their education and pursue advanced degrees in mass communication or related fields. Students with the appropriate credential or graduate degrees in Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts may teach in elementary and secondary schools, community colleges, or universities. A significant number of the department's M.A. graduates have competed successfully for admission to the leading doctoral programs in the field of mass communication.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN RADIO AND TELEVISION

Application Filing Periods

Applications for admission to the Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts Department are accepted by the university's Office of Enrollment Services only during the application filing periods of November 1-30 (for admission the following Fall) and August 1-31 (for admission the following Spring). Applications received outside of these two filing periods will not be considered.

Change of Major Applicants

Undeclared majors and students enrolled in other disciplines at San Francisco State University who seek to change their major to Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts must complete nine units of prerequisite core classes prior to applying for a change of major. (The prerequisite core classes and minimum performance standards are listed below.) In recent semesters, the BECA Department has not been able to accommodate the large number of students who seek admission to the program, and consequently, enrollment priority is given to BECA major students in the prerequisite core courses, as well as in many of the other departmental classes. Information about change of major application deadlines and additional screening criteria can be obtained from the BECA Department Office.

Degree Requirements

The liberal arts major includes a core requirement of twenty-five units that must be supplemented by no fewer than twenty units of electives in an area of emphasis drawn from the Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts curriculum. Enrollment in some departmental courses is restricted to BECA majors, and courses numbered 300 and above are not open to freshmen. Enrollment in courses requiring "departmental permission" is contingent upon satisfactory completion of nine units of prerequisite core courses.

Students majoring in radio and television are encouraged to take additional course work in other disciplines related to their program of study in Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts.

Prerequisite Core Courses

The prerequisite core courses will normally be taken during the sophomore year. Transfer students admitted to San Francisco State University as Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts (radio and television) majors should plan to complete the prerequisite core no later than the first semester of the junior year. Courses in this group must be completed before taking any additional core or elective courses in the BECA Department with a prerequisite of "departmental permission."

Courses for this program are listed in alphabetical sequence (see Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts discipline in the Announcement of Courses section).

Core Courses

All Broadcast Communication Arts majors must satisfactorily complete a block of nine units of prerequisite core courses with a grade of C or better in each (C– is not acceptable) and a minimum grade point average of C+ (2.3) for the nine units before taking any additional core or elective units in the BECA Department. A minimum of six of the nine units must be completed while in residence in the BECA Department; in other words, no more than three of the prerequisite core units may be transfer units from another college or university.

Prerequisite Core								Units
BECA 200	Introduction to Electronic Communication			 3
BECA 300	Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts Research		 3
BECA 340	Media Aesthetics						 3
		Total for prerequisite core					 9

Core Foundation Areas
Units selected from the following areas. At least one course or course 
sequence must be taken in each of the four areas:				16
Audio and Video Production
BECA 230	Audio Production and
	BECA 231	Audio Laboratory (1)
BECA 240	Video Production and
	BECA 241	Video Laboratory (1)
Regulatory, Economic, and Ethical Perspectives
BECA 324	Law and Regulation of the Electronic Media
BECA 423	Economic Aspects of Electronic Media
BECA 460	Introduction to News on Broadcast and Electronic Media
Mass Communication Theory and Criticism
BECA 321	Analysis of the Public Arts
BECA 422	Social Aspects of Electronic Media
Writing and Performance for Electronic Media
BECA 350	Media Performance
BECA 370	Writing for the Electronic Media
		Total for core							25

Electives in an Area of Emphasis						20
Units chosen from courses in BECA or other allied departments 
with approval of a BECA faculty adviser. Units from core courses 
not used to fulfill core requirements in any of the areas listed 
above may be counted as electives in an area of emphasis with the 
approval of a BECA faculty adviser.
		Minimum total for the major					45

Areas of Emphasis

The area of emphasis consists of a minimum of seventeen units of related courses, chosen with the purpose of developing depth in one area of interest to the student. Major students may choose to take elective courses in one of eight areas of emphasis offered in the BECA Department, or they may design an individualized area of emphasis in consultation with an adviser. With departmental approval, each student should choose an area of emphasis by the end of the junior year. Upon the approval of a departmental adviser, units used to fulfill the area of emphasis requirement may include transfer units from another college or university, as well as units taken in other departments in this university. BECA Department courses identified as core classes, but not used to fulfill core unit requirements, may be included in an area of emphasis. The Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts Department regularly offers a number of variable topic, experimental, and senior seminar courses (BECA 495, 595, 600, and 677) which may be included in an appropriate area of emphasis.

Audio Production

BECA 230, 231, 330, 335, 430, 433, 530, 533, 535, 576, DAI 332, and/or other courses by advisement

Broadcast News Production

BECA 460, 462, 550, 560, 561, 562, 576, 660, 661, 665, and/or other courses by advisement

Business Aspects of Electronic Media

BECA 324, 415, 423, 427, 523, 576, 623, and/or other courses by advisement

Educational and Instructional Media

BECA 370, 425, 426, 487, 526, 546, 576, 580, 625, 626, 630, 642, and/or other courses by advisement

Mass Communication Theory and Criticism

BECA 322, 324, 421, 422, 460, 485, 487, 490, 500, 526, 576, 600, and/or other courses by advisement

Radio Production and Programming

BECA 230, 231, 310, 320, 410, 415, 510, 576, 665, and/or other courses by advisement

Television/Video Production

BECA 240, 241, 348, 370, 415, 425, 426, 440, 462, 515, 541, 545, 546, 547, 555, 562, 576, 580, 640, 645, 646, 647, 648, 655, and/or other courses by advisement

Writing for the Electronic Media

BECA 370, 470, 560, 561, 570, 576, and/or other courses by advisement

MASTER OF ARTS IN RADIO AND TELEVISION

Admission to Program

Graduate students are accepted once a year for fall semester admission only. Students wishing to enter the master's program must apply to both the university and the Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts Department during the period from November 1 through March 1. Both university and departmental files must be complete by March 1. Student applications to the BECA Department are evaluated during the month of March. Applicants are notified of departmental recommendation regarding admissions by mid-April. The official notice of admission status is forwarded to the applicant by the Office of Admissions.

While students are not normally considered for spring semester admission, in unusual circumstances exceptions may be considered by the BECA graduate council. Requests for a waiver of the Fall only admissions policy should be made in writing to the BECA graduate coordinator, together with supporting materials.

Applicants must meet all university requirements for admission, and must also submit to the BECA graduate coordinator: (1) BECA Department graduate application; (2) applicant's statement of purpose in pursuing the M.A. degree; (3) three letters of recommendation, preferably from former teachers; (4) transcripts of all previous college work; (5) current Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Students who have English as a second language and whose formal education was in a language other than English must supply the department and the university with the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) in lieu of GRE scores.

Before applying to either the university or the department, send for descriptive materials about the program and details on how to apply. Write to: Graduate Coordinator, BECA Department, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132.

Although undergraduate preparation in Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts is desirable, students from other academic disciplines who have demonstrated interest in the electronic media may apply. In most cases, these students are required to take up to fourteen (14) units of the following undergraduate courses as prerequisites: BECA 200, 230, 231, 240, 241, and 340. These courses may not be used as part of the Graduate Approved Program. Students admitted to the program are admitted in conditionally classified status. Students must advance to classified status by: (1) completing or demonstrating knowledge of the content of the prerequisite courses; (2) completing BECA 700 with a grade of C or better; and (3) passing the Graduate Essay Test (GET), thus completing the first level written English proficiency requirement.

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Each graduate student must demonstrate the ability to write standard American English correctly and effectively. To assure that each graduate student has the desired proficiency in written English, two distinct assessments are made by the Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts Department during each student's program of study. Level One: newly admitted students are required to take the Graduate Essay Test (GET) administered by the Testing Center, before enrolling in their first semester in the M.A. program. If the student does not pass the GET, remedial work in appropriate writing classes will be required. Students must pass the GET or complete the required remedial work before enrolling in 700- or 800-level courses other than BECA 700. Level Two: in the process of completing the master's degree, the student will demonstrate an advanced level of writing proficiency by successfully completing the master's written comprehensive examination, the master's thesis, or the creative project.

Advancement to Candidacy

In order to be advanced to candidacy, applicants must: (1) meet all university requirements for advancement to candidacy; (2) have advanced to classified graduate student status; (3) submit an approved Graduate Approved Program to the graduate coordinator, who then forwards it to the associate dean of the College of Creative Arts and to the university's Graduate Division.

Upper division courses not used to satisfy undergraduate deficiencies are acceptable as electives on approval.

Core Requirements								Units
BECA 700	Introduction to Graduate Study (taken in first semester)	 3
BECA 702	Ethics and Responsibility in the Electronic Media		 3
One of the following courses							 3
	BECA 701	Formula and Creativity in the Public Arts
	BECA 703	Seminar in Theory and Research
	BECA 706	Seminar in Media Aesthetics and Production Theory
Other Requirements
Electives: upper division (300 and above) or graduate courses in BECA 
or other departments as approved by the graduate adviser			 6
One of the following options:							15

Thesis Option
Three graduate-level courses, excluding BECA 700, 702, 894, 896, 897, 898, 
and the 700-level course used to fulfill the theory and methods requirement 
within the core, as approved by the graduate major adviser (9);
BECA 897	Research for Thesis and Creative Project Proposals (3); and
BECA 898	Master's Thesis (3)

Written Comprehensive Examination Option
Four graduate-level courses, excluding BECA 700, 702, 894, 896, 898, and 
the 700-level course used to fulfill the theory and methods requirement 
within the core, as approved by the graduate major adviser (12);
BECA 896	Readings for the Written Comprehensive Examination (3); and
Master's Written Comprehensive Examination

Creative Project Option
Three graduate-level courses, excluding BECA 700, 702, 894, 896, 897, 898, 
and the 700-level course used to fulfill the theory and methods requirement 
within the core, as approved by the graduate major adviser (9);
BECA 897	Research for Thesis and Creative Project Proposals (3); and
BECA 894	Creative Work Project (3)
		Minimum total							30

Thirty credits are a minimum for graduation. Because of individual student background, needs, interests, and adviser recommendations, the graduate student may be required to complete more than 30 credit units.

The culminating experience may be completed through one of three options, described below. Students must consult with an adviser before determining which of the three options they will pursue.

Master's Thesis

Students who pursue the master's thesis option must complete a written master's thesis, a scholarly document that reports on some kind of research. The research builds upon theory, and addresses one or more research questions or tests one or more hypotheses. Research questions or hypotheses reflect a scope appropriate for M.A.-level work. Research methods are selected for their appropriateness to the question or problem at hand.

Master's Written Comprehensive Examination

Students who pursue the examination option must complete a written comprehensive examination. The examination consists of two questions. The first is a general question, drawn from these categories: aesthetics and production; criticism and analysis; history and structures; models and processes; and ethical issues. The second is a question tailored to the student's individual interests and expertise by the student's three-member faculty committee. A candidate who fails the written comprehensive examination may re-take it once.

Master's Creative Project

Students who pursue the creative project option must execute a project, the scope of which is defined by the student in collaboration with a committee of three faculty members, and prepare a written document to accompany the project. The project may take the form of a production created for the broadcast or electronic media, a script for such a production, or another type of product that employs the broadcast or electronic media. The accompanying document provides an introduction; a statement of the project's significance, value, and objectives; a literature review; a description of the creative methodology employed; a discussion of the completed project; a conclusion; and a production appendix.

Bulletin 1994-96 Table of Contents, SFSU Home Page

last modified June 27, 1995