The University of Maryland
Fall 2006
JOUR 800
Introduction to Doctoral Study in Journalism and Public Communication
Wednesday, 11:00 a.m. – 1: 45 p.m.
Journalism 1102
Instructor: Carol L. Rogers
Director of Doctoral and Research Studies
Office: 4117 Journalism Building
Phone: 301-405-2430 (o); 202-966-6904 (h)
E-mail: crogers@jmail.umd.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., and by appointment
Introduction
This course is designed to acquaint new Ph.D. students with scholarly activities in journalism. In a seminar format, we will consider what journalism researchers do and why they do it. Students will learn how to formulate questions for research and will become familiar with the research literature and its use. Students will have the opportunity to meet faculty members from the Philip Merrill College of Journalism and learn about their research and professional activities. In addition, students will become familiar with university and college requirements and be guided in acclimating themselves to the academic setting.
Course Objective
At the end of the course, each student should be launched into both the practical and intellectual world of academic pursuits, eager to work on his/her Ph.D. study according to a systematic plan.
Required Texts
Barbie Zelizer. 2004. Taking Journalism Seriously. ISBN 0-8039-7314-4 (pbk). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Ph.D. in Journalism and Public Communication, 2006-2007 Handbook (provided in class)
Selected articles from scholarly journals (provided in class or online)
Suggested Text
Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition. 2005. University of Chicago Press.
or
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fifth Edition. 2001. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Assignments
During the semester, you will be expected to participate actively in the seminar, including serving as discussion leader for one chapter from our text, and to produce the following three written assignments:
1) Research Proposal. Drawing on your experiences and interests, prepare a short proposal for three different research projects. Each proposal should run approximately one page, double-spaced, typed, at least 10 point type, with standard margins. In principle, the research should be sufficiently “important” that you could carry it out for your dissertation. The proposal should begin with a brief orientation/contextualization of the topic, followed by more details about the project, its significance, the issues it raises, and the goals of your project. For our purposes here, you need not describe the research methods that might be appropriate. Due in class: 11 October.
2) Literature Review. Based on my comments and your preferences, you will choose one of the three proposals for further elaboration. Specifically, you will begin a literature review of the topic. Your lit review should begin to answer these questions: a) what does previous research reveal about this subject; b) what theories are germane to the topic; c) what research questions emerge from the literature. For this assignment, you must find at least ten different research articles and/or book chapters from at least four different scholarly journals. The review should be approximately five pages, typed, double-spaced. Due in class: 15 November.
3) Final Paper. Your final paper will build on your proposal and your partial review of the literature. It should provide an introduction to your topic, elaborating on the points you raised in your proposal. In addition, it should include an expanded literature review, ending with a list of three to five research questions for your study. For each question, write a 2-3 paragraph elaboration and justification of the question. Research questions should be theoretical, conceptual, general, and provocative. Due: 18 December, Noon.
Grading
Your semester grade will be based equally on the quality of your participation in the seminar and of each of the three assignments.
Students with Disabilities
If you have a specific need or disability that might affect your participation in this seminar, please make an appointment with me to discuss it at the beginning of the semester.
Academic Integrity
Along with certain rights, students also have the responsibility to behave honorably in an academic environment. Academic dishonesty, including cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, and plagiarism, will not be tolerated. Any abridgment of the University of Maryland’s standards of academic integrity standards will be referred directly to the assistant dean of the College and forwarded to the University’s Office of Judicial Affairs. Confirmation of such incidents can result in expulsion from the University. Students who are uncertain as to what constitutes academic dishonesty should consult the university publication titled Academic Integrity, available online at http://www.union.umd.edu/GH/academics/academic_integrity.html#.
Class Schedule
(Note: Readings should be completed before the class session for which they are assigned.)
30 August Introduction
Guest: Dean Thomas Kunkel
6 September Navigating the Doctoral Program, 2006-2007 Handbook, Ph.D. in Journalism and Public Communication
Guest: Professor Michael Gurevitch
13 September Library Research Methods
McKeldin Library 2109
Librarian Robert Garber
20 September Examining the Discipline through Scholarly Research
Guest: Professor Maurine Beasley
27 September Regarding Journalism: Inquiry and the Academy, Ch. 1, Zelizer
Guest: Joanne DeSiato, Ombudsperson for Graduate Students
Guest: Associate Dean Don Heider
4 October Defining Journalism, Ch. 2, Zelizer
Guest: Professor Linda Steiner
11 October Class Discussion of Research Proposals
Guest: Associate Professor Susan Moeller
Research Proposals Due
18 October Sociology and Journalism, Ch.3, Zelizer
Guest: Professor Carl Sessions Stepp
25 October History and Journalism, Ch. 4, Zelizer
Guest: Dr. Alice Bonner
1 November Preparing a Literature Review and Developing Research Questions
Guest: Associate Professor Chris Hanson
8 November Language Studies and Journalism, Ch. 5, Zelizer
Guest: TBA
15 November Political Science and Journalism, Ch. 6, Zelizer
Guest: Professor Lee Thornton
Literature Review Due
22 November Cultural Analysis and Journalism, Ch. 7, Zelizer
23-26 November Thanksgiving Break
29 November Taking Journalism Seriously, Ch. 8, Zelizer
6 December Concluding Discussion
Class Discussion of Final Papers
18 December Final Paper Due in Rogers’ Mailbox by Noon
(Note: Any changes to this schedule will be announced in class and/or via e-mail.)
Selected Journals
American Journalism
http://www.berry.edu/ajha/journal.html
Critical Studies in Media Communication
http://www.natcom.org/nca/Template2.asp?bid=204
Journal of Communication
http://www.oxfordjournals.org/jnls/list/jnlcom/about.html
Journal of Communication Inquiry
Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media
http://www.beaweb.org/jobem/info.html
Journalism
http://www.sagepub.co.uk/journal.aspx?pid=105704
Journalism and Mass Communication Educator
http://www.aejmc.org/JMCEfolder05/JMCE/index.html
Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly
http://www.aejmc.org/pubs/jmcqsubmis.html
Journalism Studies
http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/1461670X.asp
Mass Communication and Society
http://www.leaonline.com/loi/mcs
Newspaper Research Journal
https://umdrive.memphis.edu/g-journalism/nrj/
Selected scholarly organizations
American Journalism Historians Association
Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
International Communication Association
National Communication Association