The first stages of the formation of the new Comparative Media Studies program at Miami University have begun and, if successful, would offer students new curriculum for the 2011-12 academic year.
Keith Tuma, associate dean of the College of Arts and Science (CAS), said the potential for a new interdisciplinary program involving the study and practice of media literacy has numerous departments and programs around Miami interested - mass communication, interactive media studies, film studies, English, business, journalism, political science, psychology and fine arts.
Tuma said a group of nearly 30 faculty members formed the original committee that met in fall 2008 to discuss the creation of a new program. Tuma said a group of eight people - already invested in media studies - was then formed as a sub-committee responsible for writing a report on the study of media and the recommendation for a new program and collaboration within the current programs involved in media studies.
"It was just a report," Tuma said. "It is now being discussed with various departments and personnel as we are seeking feedback."
Tuma said there will be a meeting Tuesday, April 28 to discuss the next steps.
Tuma said media studies departments at other universities sparked the original interest for this new program. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of California Riverside and University of Virginia are all universities that Miami is looking to use as models.
According to a report from Tuma, four criteria rationalize the addition of a new comparative media studies program at Miami.
Overlap in curriculum within a number of programs, a growing presence of competitive media studies at other universities, a shift in emphasis in higher education to interdisciplinary study and opportunities with new faculty lines supporting comparative media studies were all cited in the report.
Tuma said if this recommendation for a new program were to come to fruition, existing faculty would have the opportunity to participate. Tuma said there is a possibility the hiring of new faculty would begin during the 2009-10 academic year.
Tuma added building of curriculum for this program would begin next academic year.
According to the report, "Media communication is increasingly central to the socio-politics of the global economy ... universities must develop new forms of literacy that enable students to reflect upon their sometimes contradicting roles as media consumers, media producers and media-aged citizens."
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Tuma said it is still to be determined the effect this new program would have on the existing majors dealing with media.
"We don't want to put at risk what is already doing well," Tuma said.
Glenn Platt, sub-committee member and director of interactive media studies, said this new program is necessary because the media landscape has changed so dramatically in the last 10 years.
"We need to think about, as an academic institution, how to prepare students for how media affects our lives," Platt said. "Everything about media - sociology, business, theory, history - creates potential for a new academic structure with broad roots."
Platt said this new program would act as a meta-program by connecting and enhancing the existing programs.
"This could be very exciting," Platt said. "Miami needs to define its relevance in the 21st century and this program would connect the curriculum in a cohesive way."
Ron Becker, sub-committee member and assistant professor in the department of communication, added the new program will facilitate a new way for faculty and students to talk about and study media in innovative ways.
"Lots of programs are doing a good job on it and it would be valuable to bring them together," Becker said. "We are looking at how to connect (these programs) through curriculum and administrative structures to exploit our resources."
Becker said this new program would benefit Miami students by creating a higher profile of unified programs working and collaborating together.
"More students need to take media seriously and this program would create flexibility and visibility for students to tap into our resources," Becker said.
Becker said the next key step is coming up with the best way to integrate all the existing programs and take advantage of how they overlap.
Tuma said Karen Schilling, dean of CAS, is intent on updating the curriculum surrounding the changing media.
"Media is exploding," Tuma said. "That is the reality driving this. The university can't be left in the 20th century."
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