Student advice
For Students, By Students
Need help finding a topic idea, don't know how to register or wondering how to get around Philadelphia? On this page current BTMM master’s students and recent grads offer tips on everything from comprehensive exams to transportation and innovative suggestions for generating paper or project topics.
Registration
Don’t worry about registering immediately, many courses are often added later.
Do a search for all grad courses across the University to see if there are other classes that interest you.
If you get closed out from a class, work with the professor directly.
Register online using OWLnet.
Refer to the handbook for course requirements and limitations.
For your first semester, register for BTMM 9845, BTMM 5011 and BTMM 5114.
The remaining core classes are BTMM 5021 or BTMM 5041.
Research
Get familiar with the library’s online databases.
Research ahead of time in case you need to order books from another Temple campus or another university. Complete an online borrow request.
Ask professors for good leads and places to start with researching your topic.
Find articles that are similar to what you envision your paper to be like to help you get started and give you some ideas.
Learn APA style.
You can use your ID card/Diamond Dollars to make copies at the library.
Comprehensive exams
Make annotated bibliographies of everything you read; it will help when writing your comps.
Schedule them for a time when you can focus – early in the semester or during a break.
Refer to handbook for timelines and procedures, and forms.
While taking other courses, think about which professors you’d like on your committee.
Remember to take them in time to graduate.
Reaction papers are a pain, but they’ll probably be your saving grace when writing your Comps.
Choose topics you have already studied so you don’t have to start from scratch.
Comps aren’t meant to confuse you, they’re meant for you to showcase what you’ve learned.
Meet with your advisor/close professor if you’re having trouble deciding what areas to be tested on.
Things to do in Philadelphia
Suggestions for live music: TLA, Trocadero, Wachovia Center, Mann Music Center, First Unitarian Church (for alternative), Kimmel Center
Sports centers: Citizens Bank Park, Lincoln Financial Field
First Friday: Every first Friday in Philly the art galleries (near Old City) stay open late for the general public--a lot of them have free wine!
BYOBs abound here; Citysearch is a good way to find places. Some good choices are: Chloe, Effie’s, Lolita, El Azteca, Porcini, Friday Saturday Sunday, Ava, Django
Happy hour options: Noche, Drinker’s (Old City and Rittenhouse), Vintage, Oscars (always cheap), Lucky Strike, Fox and the Hound
Regular restaurant choices: White Dog, Cuba Libre, Continental, El Vez, Maggiano’s, Pod, DiBruno Bros.
Bar hopping: The Plough and the Stars, Loie, Drinker’s, Noche, Kildare’s (South St. and Manayunk)
Other activities: Ritz movie theaters, Art Museum (student membership is cheap), Franklin Institute, Philly film festival (April), Philly Shakespeare festival; venture out to Manayunk, West Philly, and Northern Libertie; take an afternoon and walk around the city to find places that suit your tastes
General advice
Ask Denise Lannon for graduation registration deadline.
Get to know your classmates; it makes it easier to get through the program.
Don't be afraid to ask questions.
Get to know the graduate faculty; their experience and guidance will help you get through your classes, your comps and even a job search or Phd application.
Financial Aid
Get it!
Be aware of FAFSA deadlines, but don’t freak out if you miss it because deadline is mostly for undergraduates.
The office is in Conwell/Carnell Hall – don’t be afraid to go in and asks lots of questions, Repeatedly.
Graduate students are eligible for summer work-study.
Manage your information using OWLnet.
You can apply for additional loans aside from the federal ones, ask at financial aid about student signature loans and other options.
Consider taking out an outside loan to live on if you're in school full time and your loans cover your tuition with little left over.
Transportation
Parking can be difficult, you can pay for a spot in a lot. Parking services is located in the basement of the Student Center.
SEPTA is a good alternative to parking.
OWLoop shuttle bus is free, but fills up fast.
Getting to know the campus
Don’t be afraid of the lunch trucks. The crepe truck near Annenberg Hall at 13th and Norris next to Boyer is phenomenal and affordable!
If you need a beer, go to Maxi’s (on Liacouras Walk) or the Draught Horse on Cecil B. Moore (near Broad St.)
You have $50 of printing each semester on your Temple ID.
Financial Aid and the Bursar’s office are both in Conwell Hall on Broad St. (FYI: Conwell, Carnell, and Wachman Halls are all connected).
Always have your ID on you.
The Bagel Hut has good bagels as well as salads for lunch, but get there early because they sometimes sell out of salads.
If you’re not registered for at least full-credits on Main Campus, you will have to pay approx $30/semester to use the gym facilities. You’ll probably have to go to the Rec Center to get a voucher and then actually pay the fee at the Bursar’s office.
Use OWLnet to check the status of your classes, financial aid award, grades, etc.
The TECHCenter is 24-hrs except on the weekends. There is a Starbucks in the lobby.
Book buying alternatives: Amazon and Half.com.
Be alert when on campus, especially at night, and/or if parked on street far from campus Liacouras Center holds sports and entertainment events.
Internships
Look for something in the field you would like work in.
Be proactive and start early.
Make a list of potential organizations and contact them for information.
Dr. Betsy Leebron Tutelman is the Intern program coordinator; you will work with her for the specific requirements for your internship.
Your internship does not have to be in Philadelphia.
A good option for the production track.
Refer to the handbook for requirements.
Coordinate your internship a semester in advance.
Thesis
This is good to do if you’re interested in pursuing the Ph.D.
It’s a complicated and time-consuming process – try to free up your last semester to allow the time.
Try to build off previous work (start your literature review/write a proposal as a final paper for another class).
If you need IRB approval, submit paperwork as soon as possible b/c it is a long process.
Refer to the Graduate School website for all Grad School requirements for final submission and deadline requirements. Follow directions carefully.
Select your committee based on their research interests and how they align with your paper.
In addition to the time you spend researching and writing the paper, there is also time spent on administrative tasks and coordination that you should account extra time for.
This is a good option if you want to conduct a full, scholarly study.
Independent study
A good option to research something specific if a class doesn’t cover it.
Must have a solid idea before approaching the professor.
Think about which professors you would like to work with when developing your ideas.
A good option if you have an uneven number credits you need to fill.
Refer to the handbook for how many credits you may take under this listing.
A good option if you’re working and need to work on your own time.
Recommended courses
BTMM 8252: Regulation and Public Policy
BTMM 4497: Mass Media and Children
BTMM 5701: Television Production
BTMM 9787: Television Practicum
BTMM 5788: TV production workshop. It’s 8 credits and offered in the summer.
MMC 9605: Visual Communication
Tips for academic track
Take BTMM 5041.
Build relationships with faculty for recommendations as well as for figuring out if you want to pursue the Ph.D.
Look for opportunities to teach, either as a TA or an adjunct.
Submit papers to conferences.
Tips for production track
Take BTMM 5021.
Look for opportunities to work with faculty on projects.
Do an internship in the industry.
Take the intensive BTMM 5788 summer course.
Volunteer for Temple Update (BTMM 9787).
Look for ways to learn new technologies and software.
Funding
Apply for the assistantship; it's usually due in February.
Make yourself available for adjunct positions.
Ask administration and faculty for research and/or teaching positions.
Tips for Generating Ideas
Need a topic? Following are suggestions for ways to begin formulating ideas for papers or projects.
Abilities: Do you have production skills? How can you use those skills to explore a topic? What kind of project can you create that will build on your interests and talents that fits into the scope of the assignment?
Association Inspiration: Visit communication association websites and look at their calls for papers. Often, these sites have specific categories that can serve as a starting point for a paper topic.
Communication Genres: Think about the different areas of communication: institutions, organizational, interpersonal, new media, visual communication, media effects, popular culture, etc. If you pick a general topic, it is easier to narrow your focus later.
Consume Media Content: Watch television, read newspapers, magazines and books, browse the Internet and listen to the radio. Sometimes your favorite show can become the focus of a paper.
Content Availability: Think about media content that you have at your disposal. Does your DVD collection have a theme? Is there a certain genre of music that appeals to you? Why? Have you read a book that influenced you in some way? Do you regularly watch a television program? What communication theories can you apply to this content?
Coursework: Do the other classes you are taking offer any overlapping ideas? Can you advance research that you have already started in another course?
Faculty Resources: Ask BTMM graduate faculty about their areas of interest or projects they are currently working on. You may be able to supplement their research or identify a similar area of interest.
Personal Experience: Think about social context. What is happening in your life that could be explored on a broader scale? For instance, how has emerging communication changed the way you communicate?
Perspectives: Think about media from different standpoints such as text, audience, context and institution. Which area interests you most? Why? How can you explore your interest further?
Quick Search: If you are trying to hone your topic, try typing in general search terms in databases such as Academic Search Premier. This will reveal articles that can help you decipher what areas have already been covered and where there are gaps in research.
Student Resources: Talk with other graduate students about their areas of interest.
_______________________________________________________________________TA Resource Center
BTMM Master’s students who have earned an assistantship work as teaching assistants (TA). Additionally, there are occasional opportunities for other graduate students in the program to teach courses as adjuncts. The following links provide valuable information about being a TA in the BTMM department.
TA Resource Center
Courses
BTMM graduate students who have the opportunity to serve as teaching assistants or adjuncts are usually requested for the following courses:
- BTMM 1011: Mass Communication Theory
- BTMM 1021: Mass Media and Society
- BTMM 1041: Media and Everyday Life
- BTMM 1701: Introduction to Media Technology
- BTMM 2701: Introduction to Television Production
This list is not comprehensive and is subject to change.
TA Resource Center
Expectations
Each professor has his or her own set of expectations for teaching assistants. However, most courses will require TAs to perform the following:
- Creation of quizzes or exams
- Grading papers, exams, or projects
- Independent teaching of lab or recitation sections
- Creation and maintenance of attendance rosters and grade book
- Creating a Blackboard site
- Presenting a lecture
- Attendance
- Communication with students regarding questions, performance, etc.
- Communication with professor regarding class progress, concerns, etc.
- Acquiring skills necessary to teach the course (such as learning new software, etc.)
- Holding office hours
TA Resource Center
General Advice
It can be daunting to teach for the first time, and there may be times you are overwhelmed. However, you have numerous resources at your disposal--use them. Following are more tips:
Always stay at least a week ahead of your students.
If you are unsure about how to grade an assignment, ask the professor to grade an assignment with you or provide a rubric.
Contact the professor at least a week before classes begin; try to schedule a meeting to go over the syllabus, outline responsibilities, and learn necessary skills (especially for production courses).
Don’t let the students overwhelm you; remember that they look to you as a resource. If you don't k now an answer, let them know you don't know, but you will find out and tell them during the next session.
If you are teaching a production class, assess the technological level of your students in the first class. Often, many of them will be able to help you and their fellow students
Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
TA Resource Center
Resources
If you have questions about your position, meet with the professor that you are assisting. If you need additional guidance, the following resources may be of help:
Denise Lannon, administrative coordinator, graduate office
dlannon@temple.edu
Dolores Stanley, administrative coordinator, graduate office
dstanl02@temple.edu
Jan Fernback, Director, Master's program
fernback@temple.edu
Kimberlee Johnson, BTMM office manager
kbj@temple.edu
Rick Beardsley, studio director (production courses)
beards@temple.edu
Equipment office (production courses): Equipment available; reservations
Teaching and Learning Center Staff
Teaching at Temple An Introductory Handbook for Teaching Assistants
Temple University Graduate Student’s Association (TUGSA)
TA Resource Center
Teaching & Learning Center
Temple ’s teaching and learning center holds a two-day conference at the beginning of each school year that TAs will be required to attend. The conference explains the nuts-and-bolts of working as a teacher at Temple and provides seminars ranging from using Blackboard to syllabus planning to help TAs become better educators.
For more information, visit the Temple ’s Teaching and Learning Center.
TA Resource Center
TUGSA
TUGSA is the first and only recognized graduate student employee union in the state of Pennsylvania. In affiliation with the American Federation of Teachers and the AFL-CIO, we at TUGSA work to effect real changes in our jobs, our lives, and our university. TUGSA negotiates contracts relating to pay, working hours, health insurance, and more.