Policies and Standards for Bachelor of Arts in Journalism

June 11, 2010

CHED MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 014-10

 

In accordance with the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) No. 7722, otherwise known as the "Higher Education Act of 1994", by virtue of Commission en banc Resolution No. 338-2009 dated September 9, 2009 and for the purpose of making relevant the general principles and guidelines for the operation of Bachelor of Arts in Journalism program in all higher education institutions, this set of Policies and Standards (PS) is hereby adopted and promulgated by this Commission.

ARTICLE I

Introduction

SECTION 1. Rationale and Background. — Competent and ethical professionals constitute the bases for the development of a free and responsible press in the Philippines. A free press is one of the hallmarks of a strong and working democracy. Philippine journalism education must therefore address these imperatives.

ARTICLE II

Authority to Operate

SECTION 2. Authority. — All Private Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs) intending to offer the Bachelor of Arts in Journalism program must first secure proper authority from the Commission on Higher Education. State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Local Colleges and Universities (LCUs) should likewise adhere strictly to the provisions of this set of policies and standards. CAHaST

ARTICLE III

Program Specifications

SECTION 3. Degree Name. — The degree name shall be Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (AB in Journalism).

SECTION 4. Program Description/Objectives. — This program aims to graduate students equipped with the knowledge and skills, attitude and values, ethics and competence that professionals need, as well as the capacity to anticipate and respond to the need of rapidly developing media.

SECTION 5. Specific Professions/Careers/Occupations that Graduates of this Program May Go into. — Graduates of this program may pursue the following career paths but not limited to:

a. Broadcast journalists

b. Corporate communicators

c. Editors

d. Media relations specialists

e. Media researchers

f. News analysts

g. News organization representatives

h. Public broadcasting agents

i. Public relations practitioners

j. Photo journalists

k. Proof readers

l. Program directors

m. Reporters LLjur

n. Website developers and writers

ARTICLE IV

Competency Standards

SECTION 5. n Competency Standards. — Upon graduation, students must have acquired the requisite knowledge and skills, attitude and values, and a commitment to uphold professional ethics and standards in the practice of journalism.

ARTICLE V

Curriculum

SECTION 6. Curriculum Description. — The AB in Journalism program has a total of 140 units, of which 63 units are General Education Courses, 21 units are Core Courses, 33 units are Required Courses, 9 units are Electives, 8 units are Physical Education, and 6 units are National Service Training Program (NSTP).

However, the subjects listed under the General Education courses shall automatically be considered as revised once a new CMO on General Education is issued by CHED, without the need for additional action on the part of the concerned Technical Panel. An amendment to this CMO will be issued by OPS at such time to show the revised curriculum.

SECTION 7. Curriculum Outline. —

					Equivalent
				No. of	Units Per	Total
				Courses	Course	Units
1.	General Education (GE) Courses				63
	Language and Literature			24
		English	3	3
		Filipino	3	3
		Literature	2	3
	Mathematics and Natural Sciences			15
		Mathematics	2	3
		Natural Sciences	2	3
		Science Elective	1	3
	Humanities and Social Sciences			18
		Humanities	2
			Arts		3
			Philosophy		3
		Social Sciences	4
			Basic Economics (with Taxation and Agrarian Reform)		3
			General Psychology		3
			Politics and Governance (with Philippine Constitution)		3
			Society and Culture (with Family Planning)		3
	Mandated Subjects	2		6
			Life and Works of Rizal		3
			Philippine History		3
2.	Core Courses	6			21
	Introduction to Communication		3
	Introduction to Communication Theory		3
	Introduction to Communication Research		3
	Communication and Society		3
	Thesis or Special Project		3
	Internship			6
3.	Required Courses	11			33
	Journalism Principles and Practices		3
	News Writing		3
	Feature Writing		3
	Newspaper Editing and Design		3
	Broadcast Journalism		3
	Editorial Management		3
	Media Law and Ethics		3
	Research in Journalism		3
	Investigative Journalism		3
	Photojournalism		3
	Online Journalism		3
4.	Elective		3	3		9
	The Community Press
	Business and Economics Reporting
	Science Reporting
	Environmental Reporting
	Reporting the Arts and Culture
	Sports Writing
	Technical Writing
	Special Problems in Journalism
	Opinion and Commentary
	Magazine Publishing
Electives may also be taken in other programs (e.g., Communication or Broadcasting) or in other departments (e.g., Humanities, Social Sciences).
5.	Physical Education (P.E.)	4	2		8
6.	National Service Training Program (NSTP)	2	3		6
7.	Summary of Units
	General Education Courses	21		63
	Core Courses	6		21
	Required Courses	11		33
	Electives		3		9
	Physical Education	4		8
	National Service Training Program (NSTP)	2		6
						––––
	Total No. of Units			140
						====
8.	The maximum allowable load per semester is 24 units.

SECTION 8. Sample Program of Study. —

YEAR I

First Year
First Semester		Second Semester
Course	Units	Course	Units
English 1	3	English 2	3
Filipino 1	3	Filipino 2	3
Math 1	3	Math 2	3
Life and Works of Rizal	3	Philippine History	3
Introduction to Communication	3	Introduction to Communication Theory	3
PE	2	Journalism Principles and Practices	3
NSTP	3	PE	2
		NSTP	3
	––––		––––
Total	20	Total	23
	====		====

 

YEAR II

Second Year
First Semester		Second Semester
Course	Units	Course	Units
English 3	3	Literature 1 (Filipino)	3
Filipino 3	3	Natural Science 2	3
Natural Science 1	3	Science Elective	3
Basic Economics (with Taxation and Agrarian	3	General Psychology	3
Reform)
Introduction to Communication Research	3	Communication and Society	3
News Writing	3	Feature Writing	3
Photojournalism	3	Broadcast Journalism	3
PE	2	PE	2
	––––		––––
Total	23	Total	23
	====		====

YEAR III

Third Year
First Semester		Second Semester
Course	Units	Course	Units
Literature 2 (Foreign)	3	Humanities/Philosophy	3
Humanities/Arts	3	Society and Culture (with Family
		Planning)	3
Politics and Governance (with Philippine	3	Investigative Journalism	3
Constitution)
Newspaper Editing and Design	3	Online Journalism	3
Media Law and Ethics	3	Elective 1	3
	––––		––––
Total	15	Total	15
	====		====

SUMMER

First Semester

Subject	Units
Internship	6

YEAR IV

Fourth Year
First Semester	Second Semester
Course	Units	Course	Units
Research in Journalism	3	Thesis or Special Project	3
Editorial Management	3	Elective 3	3
Elective 2	3
	––––		––––
Total	9	Total	6
	====		====

SECTION 9. Research/Project Requirements. — Students enrolled in the program shall be required to undertake individual or group work on a research project or applied project in journalism and should satisfy the following:

Number of contact hours per week: 3 hours

Prerequisite: Research in journalism; senior standing

SECTION 10. Internship Requirements. — Students enrolled in the program shall undertake internship in newspaper offices, radio or television stations, online publications, with a minimum of 200 hours and comprising all aspects of newspaper, radio, television, online publication, public relations or advertising work and should satisfy the following:

Number of contact hours per week: 6 hours

Prerequisite: Junior standing

ARTICLE VI

Description and Specification of Courses

SECTION 11. For description and specification of courses, please refer to Annex A. HDICSa

ARTICLE VII

Other Requirements

SECTION 12. Program Administration. — The AB in Journalism program shall be administered by a full-time Dean/Department Chair, Head/Coordinator with appropriate qualifications specified below.

12.1 Qualifications

The Dean/Department Chair Head/Coordinator of a college/program (department or unit) to which the journalism program belongs to shall have at least a master's degree with ten (10) years of teaching and administrative experience.

12.2 Functions/Responsibilities of the Dean/Department Chair

a. Provides over-all directions in the attainment of the objectives of the program.

b. Recommends qualified faculty members to teach in the program, on the recommendation of the Department Chair, Head or Coordinator.

c. Provides administrative support to the Department.

d. Sits in department meetings upon invitation of the Chair, Head or Coordinator.

e. Other functions as may be required by the institution.

12.3 Functions/Responsibilities of the Head/Coordinator

a. Ensures that the syllabus of each course in the program is fully implemented within the term.

a. n Reviews and updates the curriculum in consultation with the department faculty.

b. Recommends the appointment of qualified faculty members.

c. Convenes regular and special departmental faculty meetings.

d. Schedules classes and assigns faculty-teaching load. aTDcAH

e. Ensures that student grades are submitted on time by the faculty.

f. Supervises student evaluation of faculty.

g. Monitors the progress of students.

h. Designs and supervises programs for training, research and extension of the department.

i. Performs other functions as may be assigned by the Dean.

SECTION 13. Faculty. —

13.1 Qualifications

The faculty handling professional courses should possess any of the following:

a. A baccalaureate degree in journalism and a Master of Arts degree in the discipline or allied programs.

b. A baccalaureate degree in journalism and a Master of Arts degree in any field related to communication from a recognized HEI, with at least five (5) years of part-time teaching experience; or

c. Media Practitioners in the field of communication with demonstrably distinguished practice who do not meet the above degree requirements.

Demonstrably distinguished practice:

• Minimum 5 years of active practice

• Must have an outstanding track record (awards received)

• Must have held senior positions (i.e., managers and up)

13.2 Percentage of Full-time Faculty

There shall be at least three (3) full time faculty members all of whom must have M.A. degrees. Moreover, the three (3) full-time faculty members should have advanced learning in the specialization or major area being offered and at least one (1) of the three (3) full-time faculty members should have a doctoral degree. TDCaSE

13.3 Teaching Load

For full-time faculty, the maximum teaching load is 24 units in one academic year.

For part-time faculty, the maximum teaching load is 12 units in one semester.

SECTION 14. Library. —

14.1 Librarians

The library shall be administered by a registered librarian with a valid PRC license. The librarian shall be assisted by one or two library assistants depending on the student enrolment.

14.2 Library Holdings

Library holdings should conform to existing requirements for libraries.

a) For the AB in Journalism program, the libraries must provide five (5) book titles per course found in the curriculum. These titles must have been published within the last five years (5) years.

b) The HEI is likewise required to subscribe to at least two peer reviewed or international refereed journals and periodicals in journalism and allied programs that are published locally and internationally. The subscriptions may be for hard or electronic copies of the journal.

c) At least 100 audio-visual materials in the forms of tapes, films, records, CDs and DVDs. Fifty percent of the collections should have been published/produced within ten (10) years. The audio-visual materials must be stored in an air-conditioned facility.

d) The library must provide internet terminals to allow faculty members and students to undertake research and other academic activities.

e) The library must provide access (with capability to read or print) to electronic library materials such as CD-ROMS and electronic subscriptions: These are considered as additional library holdings beyond the minimum requirements.

SECTION 15. Facilities and Equipment. — DIHETS

Classroom/laboratory requirements

a. Computer laboratory — 1:1 computer-to-student ratio; printer

b. Photography laboratory — Dark room with 1:2 computer-to-student ratio; printer

c. Newspaper production laboratory

d. Broadcast editing equipment/facilities

e. Newsroom with 1:2 computer-to-student ratio; printer

SECTION 16. Admission and Retention. —

16.1 Admission

Admission into the AB in Journalism program requires a high school diploma from a government-recognized institution, passing the particular college/university's required admission examinations, as well as meeting all other requirements (an interview and/or written examination) the admitting institution may impose.

16.2 Retention

Students admitted into the AB Journalism program must maintain a grade weighted average of at least 2.25 (or its equivalent) for major subjects.

ARTICLE VIII

Transitory Provisions

SECTION 17. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that have been granted permit or recognition for Bachelor of Arts in Journalism degree program are required to fully comply with all the requirements in this CMO, within three (3) years after the date of its effectivity. State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Local Colleges and Universities (LCUs) shall also comply with the requirements herein set forth.

Students currently enrolled in the AB in Journalism program shall be allowed to graduate under the old curriculum. However, students enrolling for the above-mentioned program beginning school year 2010-2011 shall be covered by this CMO. aHcACI

ARTICLE IX

Sanctions

SECTION 18. Sanctions, Persons/Officers Liable. — Any HEI found violating the provision of this CMO shall be subjected to the appropriate criminal and administrative proceeding including the imposition of sanctions, but not limited to, the withdrawal or revocation of authority to operate the educational program, phase-out of program or program termination, recommendation for the withdrawal of accreditation and closure of the HEI/program.

If the act is committed by a school corporation, the school head together with the person or persons responsible for the offense or violation shall be equally liable.

ARTICLE X

Separability and Repealing Clause

SECTION 19. All issuances including but not limited to CMO No. 44, s. 1997 entitled, "Policies and Standards for Humanities, Social Sciences and Communication Education" and/or any part thereof inconsistent herewith are deemed repealed or modified accordingly.

ARTICLE XI

Effectivity Clause

SECTION 20. This CMO shall take effect starting 1st semester of SY 2010-2011, after 15 days following its complete publication in an official gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

An educational institution applying to offer AB in Journalism program shall likewise comply with all the provisions of this CMO (refer to Article II — Authority to Operate).

Quezon City, Philippines, June 11, 2010.

For the Commission:

(SGD.) EMMANUEL Y. ANGELESChairman

n Note from the Publisher: Copied verbatim from the official copy. Duplication of Section "5".

n Note from the Publisher: Copied verbatim from the official copy. Duplication of Leter "a".

Attachments available upon request.