CIT FAQ
Posted on December 19, 2008
- Is a foreign language course required in this degree?
No, foreign language courses are optional in both tracks. - Will this degree help me if I plan to go to graduate school?
Yes, some of our students have gone on to Journalism and Mass Communication Graduate Programs; others are in law school; others are pursuing graduate media studies degrees. - What associate degree should I get before entering the CIT program?
Any AS degree will work, but we recommend General Studies. Even if you do not plan to receive an associate’s degree, we recommend that you follow the curriculum outlined in the General Studies degree for your freshman and sophomore years. Always see an advisor to help you stay on track with the program. Remember that there are FOUR prerequisite courses that you need to take before beginning junior level work in the CIT program: JOURNALISM 1135, JOURNALISM 2131, COMM 1110, and ITEC 2215. You should easily be able to work these in as AREA F electives if you are following the General Studies curriculum for freshman and sophomore years. - How do I declare CIT as my major?
As you finish your sophomore year, make an appointment to see Dr. Amy Berke (CIT Coordinator; amy.berke@maconstate.edu) or Dr. Robert Kelly (Chair, Division of Humanities; robert.kelly@maconstate.edu) for an advising session to see if you are ready to begin the program. You will then formally declare your major with the Registrar’s office and send a letter requesting admission to the program to Dr. Kelly. See Admission Policy on this site. Instructions for composing the letter are found on this website. - Will I gain any practical experience in this program of study?
Absolutely! Whether you are planning to go to graduate school or to go directly into the workforce, this degree will work for you. You will receive hands-on newspaper writing, video editing and production, website creation, print and online layout and design, and other IT training. For example, our state-of-the-art CIT classroom houses the latest Mac computers designed for video editing and production, and MSC-TV’s production studio will provide students with a myriad of opportunities to learn television production techniques outside the traditional classroom. CIT students are typically involved with a number of campus activities such as reporting and writing for the campus newspaper, The Matrix, working on closed circuit televised programming through MSC-TV, and editing or working on the campus literary magazine, The Fall Line Review. Some of our current and former CIT students have even been tapped to write for our college publication, MSC Today. Finally, local internship opportunities give students further real world experience in the Middle Georgia job market. - Why are there so many IT courses?
Our primary goal, in accordance with the mission of our college, is for you to get a job after graduating. Employers will expect you to have these skills. - How long will it take for me to get my bachelor’s degree after completing the associate program or my freshman and sophomore years?
At least 2 years: there are 20 upper division courses for a total of 60 semester hours. Students who take 4 courses a semester can finish in five semesters, for example. Most students taking courses at this rate will need to take at least one summer semester. - Is it possible to finish in 1-1 ½ years instead of 2?
No, it’s not possible because of the prerequisites and class scheduling. - Will I have one-on-one contact with my professors?
Yes! It is one of the features of the program. - Do I need to be a good writer to be successful in the program?
Yes, you should be better than average. You should enjoy reading and writing. - Will my advisor make internship contacts for me?
Yes, at least to some extent. It is usually up to the student, however, to make the contact. - How big are the classes?
Generally, classes are around 20 students. - Are there courses I should take before starting the CIT curriculum?
Yes, Communications 1110, Journalism 1135, Journalism 2131, and ITEC 2215. - Will I be permitted to design my own curriculum?
Not exactly. There are set sources we would like to see you take, but we do allow a lot of flexibility and substitutions. - Is the CIT degree offered at the Warner Robins Campus?
There are IT courses offered at WRC, as well as a number of online IT courses, but most of the CIT courses are offered at the MSC campus. - Can I get this degree online?
Some of the IT courses can be taken online, but because of the nature of the curriculum, very few CIT courses are offered online. - Can I get this degree by taking only night classes?
No. We try to schedule as many evening and afternoon classes as possible, but we simply cannot offer all courses in the same timeframe. - Is financial aid available?
Yes, but you must go through the financial aid office located upstairs in the Student Life Center. - Are there scholarships available?
Yes, there are many under-utilized scholarships available. You can find out more about them in the Development Office located in the Administrative Building. We remind students through the CIT listserv of any scholarship and/ or internship opportunities that we know about throughout the year. - What kinds of jobs can I get with the CIT degree?
Some of the jobs appropriate for this degree include (but are not limited to) journalism (print and broadcast), professional and technical writing, website design, advertising, public relations, marketing, layout and design, editing, and video production.
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