2008 Woodie Awards
Communications dept. makes changes
Keith Arias, Staff Writer
Issue date: 3/5/08 Section: News
Starting in the Fall 2008 semester, the Mass Communications department in the College of Professional Studies will see some changes in the way courses are laid out for students.
Those who are interested can join new programs that St. John's will offer in Digital Photography, Public Relations and Advertising Communications.
There is also a Master's program for International Communications that is pending approval by the University and New York State.
Danny Kost, a junior, cannot wait to take the new courses that will be available.
"Personally, I find it exciting since you don't hear a lot of other colleges offering something like that," he said. "I think it's good step in the next direction."
Another change taking place is the way classes are labeled.
For instance, Advertising Communications will have to adjust to the new course lettering, which is ADV. Television and Film will now be known as TVF and Public Relations will be PRL. General Communication Arts and Journalism courses will not be affected, however.
Antoinette Durso, a communications professor at St. John's, said that the conversion of the courses is a good thing and that the department is showing that they are concerned for the programs as well as the students who are taking them.
"I've been at SJU for over 27 years and I'm going to miss the old CAS course listing, but we'll shed no tears," she said.
"It's time to look forward and hopefully this change will not only help students prepare their courses in a more logical pattern but also help advisors recommend appropriate courses."
For the past year, department officials have been trying to figure out a way to distinguish the areas of concentration and the intensity of the courses.
Not only will there be changes to the abbreviations, but the course numbers will affect how students will pick classes.
Dr. Judith Cramer, director of the Mass Communication Program at the Queens campus, is certain that the restructuring will benefit both current and incoming students.
Those who are interested can join new programs that St. John's will offer in Digital Photography, Public Relations and Advertising Communications.
There is also a Master's program for International Communications that is pending approval by the University and New York State.
Danny Kost, a junior, cannot wait to take the new courses that will be available.
"Personally, I find it exciting since you don't hear a lot of other colleges offering something like that," he said. "I think it's good step in the next direction."
Another change taking place is the way classes are labeled.
For instance, Advertising Communications will have to adjust to the new course lettering, which is ADV. Television and Film will now be known as TVF and Public Relations will be PRL. General Communication Arts and Journalism courses will not be affected, however.
Antoinette Durso, a communications professor at St. John's, said that the conversion of the courses is a good thing and that the department is showing that they are concerned for the programs as well as the students who are taking them.
"I've been at SJU for over 27 years and I'm going to miss the old CAS course listing, but we'll shed no tears," she said.
"It's time to look forward and hopefully this change will not only help students prepare their courses in a more logical pattern but also help advisors recommend appropriate courses."
For the past year, department officials have been trying to figure out a way to distinguish the areas of concentration and the intensity of the courses.
Not only will there be changes to the abbreviations, but the course numbers will affect how students will pick classes.
Dr. Judith Cramer, director of the Mass Communication Program at the Queens campus, is certain that the restructuring will benefit both current and incoming students.
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