Important Reminders for Spring 2017

Dear Communications students and faculty,

I hope this update finds you well. I know it’s a busy time of the year for everyone at Penn State Greater Allegheny, but I wanted to briefly share some important reminders as we look toward the Spring 2017 semester. Please take a few minutes to carefully read the info below.

ADVISING AND SCHEDULE PLANNING

If you haven’t met with your faculty advisor already to discuss your spring schedule, please do so ASAP. Your advisor is there to help answer questions and make sure you are on track in terms of completing your degree requirements in a timely fashion. Also, make a point to chat with your advisor if you are getting ready to enter your major, graduate, or transfer to another campus (2+2 students).

REQUIRED COURSES OFFERED IN SPRING 2017

Some required courses are only taught during the spring semesters, so please be sure to sign up for any or all of the following classes if you need them:

  • Communications Research Methods (CAS 204)
  • Business & Professional Communication (CAS 252)
  • Public Relations Media & Methods (COMM 471)

OTHER COMMUNICATIONS COURSES OFFERED IN SPRING 2017

Beyond required courses, there several 3-credit course options available to Communications students this spring, including:
  • Introduction to Media and Politics (COMM 292) – taught by Dr. Furness
  • Gender, Diversity & Media (COMM 205 / WMST 205) – taught by Dr. Tachoir
  • Communication Ethics (CAS 426W) – taught by Dr. Vicaro
  • Basic Video/Filmmaking (COMM 242) – taught by Dr. Hepner. NOTECOMM 242 is being taught for just the second time at our campus and we encourage folks to sign up. The course will not only teach you valuable skills in video/filmmaking, it also gives you the opportunity to utilize our new 4K (super high-definition) cameras throughout the semester. Please remember that this course will count for credit as part of the Communications major – your faculty advisor will make sure it ends up in the right place on your degree audit. Also, Dr. Hepner said that she will ignore the course prerequisite (The Art of Cinema – COMM 150) if you haven’t taken it already.

GET INVOLVED WITH THE NEWSPAPER & RADIO!

  • We want students on our campus to have a collective voice, as well as the opportunity to hone their skills as writers. For those reasons (and many more), we strongly encourage folks to get involved with the campus newspaper, Greater Allegheny NewsYou can sign up for credits as a contributor (COMM 001) or editor (COMM 002), and anyone interested in taking a more active editorial role in the paper can earn up to 3 credits in one semester. Email Dr. Signorella for details: msignorella@psu.edu.
  • WMKP Radio is always looking for new DJs and people who want to get involved in the station. You can earn one credit each semester for hosting a radio show (COMM 003) but signing up for the course is not required – anyone at our campus, or in the community, can be on the air. Email me or the WMKP Station Manager, Alex Fagin, for details: alexander.fagin1@gmail.com.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT OUR COMMUNICATIONS MINOR!

If you have friends who are considering a minor in Communications, tell them to sign up for one or two of our spring classes! They can find out more info here and by emailing me for details.

THE COMMUNICATION PROGRAM WEBSITE

Don’t forget that this website is extremely useful for Communications students and faculty. There’s a ton of information accessible on the Degree Guides page (linked through the menu above), including an easy-to-read list of the degree requirements and a handy checklist of courses. So, please bookmark this website and take a look around while you are here. You can also follow us on Twitter for occasional news and updates: @PSUGAComm.

Good luck with the rest of the semester and enjoy Thanksgiving break next week! Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

Dr. Zack Furness, Communications Program Coordinator
zackfurness@psu.edu

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