PDF version - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Social Science
MC410 Media Law 3 credits
This course provides students with an understanding of legal and ethical issues involving print and
broadcast media and the Internet, including libel, obscenity, invasion of privacy, shielding of sources,
freedom of the press, copyright, and government regulation. This course must be taken in the junior or
senior year. Offered fall semester only. Prerequisites: MC111 and MC201.
MC443 Case Studies in Public Relations 3 credits
Public relations case studies in various organizations including the application of public relations techniques
to representative problems and communication materials for various media are planned and prepared.
Offered spring semester only. Prerequisites: MC111, MC230, MC314, and junior or senior standing.
MC488 Contemporary Issues in Mass Communication 3 credits
An examination of contemporary ethical situations regarding the media professional’s role in
determining guidelines to provide the public with relevant contextual material. Emphasis in this course
is placed upon an understanding of the limits and guarantees of the First Amendment, the four major
theories of the press and the practice of communications as part of a community. Offered fall semester
only. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing.
MC497 Internship: Media Communications 1-17 credits
An opportunity for qualified juniors or seniors to participate in a field experience under the guidance
and supervision of competent professionals. Prerequisite: consent of mass communication coordinator.
MC498 Special Topics in Media Communications 1-3 credits
Examinations of specific media-related issues and practices; such courses, when offered, are offered on
the basis of student and faculty interest and availability of appropriate faculty to teach those courses.
Political Science Program
David Lynch, Ph.D., Coordinator
Political science is devoted to the study of the individual as a political being acting in association with
others to accomplish public ends. As an academic discipline, it deals primarily with the description and
analysis of political systems and political behavior.
General Goals for Learning
Students:
• Develop the ability to think critically and write clearly about important political questions or crosscultural
and global issues;
• Enhance their global citizenship through an awareness of the global dimensions of personal choices
and public policies;
• Enhance an active democratic citizenship through the development of practical political awareness
and experience at political activism; and
• Enhance their analytical and presentation skills devoted to political and global topics through class
presentations.
Global Studies Major (38-39 credits + language and either study abroad or internship credits):
Global studies focuses on global and cross-cultural issues, trends and relations. The major does so by
using numerous academic disciplines’ approaches from both the social sciences and the humanities. In
order to enhance cross-cultural skills and global awareness, majors are required to either study abroad
for a semester or complete an internationally orientated internship. The global studies major prepare
students for careers requiring cross-cultural and global awareness, including careers in international
organizations, internationally focused government agencies, charities, schools, or businesses through a
factual understanding of global issues, trends and relations.
193 193