Fort Valley State University

The Department of Fine Arts, Humanities and Mass Communications offers courses in communication, music, art and humanities that are included in the University System Core Curriculum options. In addition, the department offers elective courses in speech communication, mass communications, drama, music and art, which are open to all University students. The major goal of the department’s curriculum is to educate and expose university students to the many facets of the arts, humanities and mass communication disciplines and provide the depth and breadth of exposure to culturally diverse styles, periods, techniques, methodologies, and technologies that will allow them to apply their training in future vocational endeavors. Currently there are three majors in the department; Commercial Design, Music and Mass Communications. Each program of study has made tremendous progress academically through technology and laboratory enhancements along with curriculum changes validated by industry and national accrediting standards.

The Commercial Design program provides majors with on-the-job training at design studios, public relations firms, television stations, newspaper and magazine publishers, publishing companies, the film industry, print shops, department stores and governmental agencies. Student interns must receive a satisfactory performance evaluation from the external internship supervisor in order to complete this requirement. Many of the graduates are hired permanently with these companies after graduation. These experiences reflect a much needed collaboration with the Mass Communications major at the university. Most of the internship agencies involve the same type of work experiences that are needed for both majors, thus creating a collaborative resource for our students with technical expertise.

The Mass Communications program prepares students for future graduate degrees and professional careers in communication, law, human relations, journalism, public relations, television and radio. The field of mass communications is constantly changing. The changes are the results of technological innovations which are challenging both the traditional methods of delivering information to the public and the methods used by journalism and mass communications educators to prepare future media professionals. Therefore, the challenge for educators is to use new technologies creatively to teach those critical skills that enhance employment opportunities for students. To this end, our program is committed to: (1) attracting and training a diverse student population for successful careers in print media, public relations or broadcasting, (2) providing practical hands-on opportunities for students to become efficient in the essential communication skills of writing, announcing and interviewing and to hone their skills in production and visual communications, while understanding the legal and ethical parameters in which they will deploy these skills in the marketplace, and (3) providing a broad theoretical framework for analyzing and understanding societal issues. Graduates of the program should be able to gain employment and internships in various media industries such as radio, newspapers, magazines, television, cable, public relations and new media firms. Producers, news directors, copy editors and managing editors will find the Mass Communications graduate to be suitably qualified for employment with little or no supervision.

The Music program is designed to educate and to prepare teacher candidates capable of demonstrating success in bringing students from diverse groups to high levels of learning in music. The professional roles of our graduates will be in the areas of vocal and/or instrumental music at the elementary, middle and secondary levels. Unlike programs in other comparable institutions, the program includes courses such as Computer Applications in Music with special reference to computer-based instruction to introduce students to contemporary computer and recording techniques associated with music education. The program is also responsive to multicultural perspectives by the inclusion of courses to educate students not only in their respective ethnic traditions, but in cross-cultural interactions for better understanding and appreciation of various peoples. In that sense, the program is unique. The music program is designed to produce artist-teachers who have skills, knowledge, and positive attitudes to be successful teachers of music in a variety of settings.

Bobby Dicky
Founders Hall
Bishop Hall/Patton Hall
Phone: (478) 825 6387
Fax: (478) 825 6132
dickeyb@fvsu.edu
Admin. E Mail: lindseye@fvsu.edu

Major and Degrees

• Commercial Design - Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree.
• Music - Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree
• Mass Communications - Bachelor Arts (B.A.) degree in, with concentration in Broadcasting, Print Journalism or Public Relations.

Minor programs of study are offered in Commercial Design, Mass Communications, Music (with concentrations in Jazz, Instrumental Music, Piano Performance and Vocal Performance) and Speech Communication.

Scholarships

• Band and Music Scholarships - The University awards scholarships to selected members of the FVSU Marching Band.
• Art and Music scholarships are highly competitive and are awarded to students of superior ability. These scholarship programs are administered by the Music Directors and the Department Head.
• Carlos Mookie Gardner Garcia scholarship; HOPE, and FVSU Foundation

Faculty

• Mr. Bobby Dickey - Associate Professor of Art, Head, Department of Fine Art
• Mr. Rickey Calloway - Assistant Professor of Art
• Dr. Hope Mauzerall - Assistant Professor of Art History
• Dr. Glenn Garrido - Associate Professor of Music
• Mr. Leonard Giles - Assistant Professor of Music
• Dr. Dawn DeVeaux - Assistant Professor of Speech
• Dr. Andrew Lee - Associate Professor of Speech
• Dr. Carlos Morrison - Assistant Professor of Speech
• Mr. Justice Yorke – Assistant Professor of Mass Communications
• Mr. Dan Archer – Adjunct Professor of Mass Communications
• Ms. Tracye Jackson – Adjunct Professor of Mass Communications
• Mr. Victor Kulkosky – Adjunct Professor of Mass Communications
• Mr. Allen Stripling - Adjunct Professor of Music
• Mr. Randolph Lindsey – Adjunct Professor of Music
• Mr. William Moultrie – Adjunct Professor of Music
• Mrs. Barbara Williams – Adjunct Professor of Music

Staff

• Ms. Shirley Ellis – Director of FVSU Television (TV21)and Radio Station (FM 103.4
• Mrs. Phyllis Stripling - Assistant to the Director
• Mr. Ervin Williams – Radio and Television Technician
• Mrs. Eula Lindsey – Office/Clerical Assistant
• Mrs. Geraldine Davis – Secretary

Student Organizations

• The Blue Machine Marching Band
• Jazz Ensemble
• Concert Band
• Concert Choir
• Male Glee Club
• Women’s Ensemble
• Gospel Choir
• Joseph Adkins Players
• J.C. Hill Forensic Debate Team
• Designers’ Guild
• Mass Communications Club
• The Pawprint student newspaper