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Communication.IllinoisState.edu

SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION

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Why study communication at Illinois State University?

The School of Communication offers a

variety of majors and sequences to help

students focus on their specific passion.

With about 1,000 undergraduate and

graduate students, the school

is the largest unit in the

College of Arts and

Sciences. It offers

students small classes

with plenty of

individual attention

from highly qualified

instructors and unique

hands-on experiences outside the

classroom through student organizations.

The School of Communication has built a legacy of

excellence in teaching, research, and service:

• In 2013, the public relations program was the first and

only one in Illinois to earn a Certification in Education

for Public Relations (CEPR) from the Public Relations

Society of America (PRSA).

• The school’s Chicago Alumni Pipeline connects current

students to working alumni, showing a multitude of

career paths they can pursue.

• Student organizations such as the Forensics Union,

WZND, TV-10, and The Vidette have won numerous

awards and scholarships from prestigious organizations

such as the Student in the Illinois News Broadcasters

Association (SINBA) and the Broadcast Educators

Association.

• Award-winning and distinguished faculty members have

real-world experience, boasting numerous accolades

such as Emmys, Edward R. Murrow national awards,

and Associated Press awards.

In 2014, the School of Communication was named the top undergraduate program by the Central States Communication Association, recognizing curriculum development, program quality, and course design.

OUR GRADS: THE FILMMAKERMASS MEDIA | Griffin Hammond ’07, M.S. ’09Freelance filmmaker and video producerGriffin discovered his passion for documentary filmmaking at Illinois State thanks to one of his professors. He cut his teeth shooting news stories for TV-10 and through the ISU Documentary Project student organization. “Without those

things, I wouldn’t have realized this was a possible career path for me,” Griffin says. Griffin produced PR videos for State Farm Insurance, and then created tutorials for aspiring filmmakers for YouTube Next Lab. Last year, Griffin crowdfunded and then directed his most ambitious project, Sriracha, a documentary about the trendy hot sauce.

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School of Communication programsCOMMUNICATION STUDIES

Students discover the many strategies that demonstrate how to effectively communicate with different groups of people in varying situations. Communication studies offers three sequences:

• Interpersonal communication

• Organizational and leadership communication

• Political communication

Each sequence allows students to focus on a particular field of practice within the broader spectrum of communication studies.

JOURNALISM

Journalism is changing rapidly, with stories moving across a range of platforms—from newspapers and magazines to Web and social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook. Students considering the journalism program should have a talent for writing and an insatiable curiosity about the world around them.

Students will be encouraged to achieve a wide range of skills across media. The journalism major will prepare students to work in newspapers, magazines, and on the Web; train students for TV and radio news; and teach skills in photo journalism, design, and layout, both for print and online.

MASS MEDIA

The mass media program offers students the opportunity to study the developing communication of the 21st century. This program is designed for students who are interested in studying the theory and practice of media, especially radio, television, and the Internet. The major offers four sequences:

• Interactive media

• Media management, promotion, and sales

• Radio

• Television production

PUBLIC RELATIONS

The public relations program prepares students to research, plan, execute, and evaluate communication between an organization and its most important audiences, monitor the organization’s environment, and counsel management on policies and programs. Students will see how public relations complements advertising and marketing, and will understand the importance of managing organizations’ images and reputations.

COMMUNICATION EDUCATION

The communication education program provides students with the opportunity to pursue a professional career in teaching oral communication, journalism, and media. This undergraduate program leads to licensure to teach high school English language arts with a focus on oral communication and speech.

The program is the only one of its kind offered at a state institution in Illinois, and our graduates have nearly a 100 percent career placement rate.

GRADUATE PROGRAMThe School of Communication master’s degree program provides rigorous critical, theoretical and practical breadth and depth across the convergent fields of communication education, communication studies, journalism, mass media, and public relations. Through a culture of collaboration and collegiality, the program strikes a dynamic balance linking the scholarship and practice of communication.

The community of students and faculty develops relevant professional and scholarly skills, empowering students to be leaders in industry and academia, thriving in globally competitive and culturally diverse environments. In fact, in recent years, master’s level students in this program have produced more research than many Ph.D. programs!

In addition, the graduate program was recognized in 2013 by the National Communication Association with the Outstanding Master’s Degree Program Award. This prestigious award follows a recent report by the Communication Institute for Online Scholarship (CIOS) indicating that graduate faculty in the School of Communication are amongst the most productive communication scholars in the nation.

This graduate program is also recognized as a leader in civic engagement, creative productivity, scholarship, and teacher training. The program develops professionals, scholars, and teachers, while promoting a passion for intellectual and theoretical discovery that transcends and heightens career objectives and program expectations.

OUR GRADS: THE TEACHERTEACHER EDUCATION | Lazaro Lopez ’98Associate superintendent for teaching and learning, Township High School District 214Lazaro is recognized as a national leader on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. He has testified before Congress and was selected as the 2013 Illinois Principal

of the Year. During his time at Illinois State, Lazaro completed his Illinois secondary education teaching certification requirements and served as an assistant residence hall coordinator. As a secondary career educator, he began his career as an English teacher at Hersey High School, was associate principal at Jacobs High School, and principal at Wheeling High School.

The graduate program was recognized by the National Communication Association with the 2013 Outstanding Master’s Program Award.

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Supporting your passionACADEMIC ADVISING

The School of Communication’s Academic Advising Center is a resource available to all communication students who have earned 24 credit hours or more. Advisors guide students in all communication majors and are able to assist students by answering frequently asked questions, recommending plans of study, encouraging student involvement, and more.

Academic advisors provide one-on-one attention to students and are available year-round to meet with undergraduates.

HONORS PROGRAM

The mission of the Honors Program at Illinois State is to recruit, challenge, and stimulate academically talented, culturally and ethnically diverse, and highly motivated students from all academic disciplines. The program provides opportunities for scholarships, unique academic experiences, and research mentorships. Students interested in earning departmental and university honors should contact the Honors Program at Honors@IllinoisState.edu and contact a School of Communication advisor at com_advisement@IllinoisState.edu.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Civic engagement at Illinois State prepares students to be informed and engaged global citizens who will promote and further the goals of society. The School of Communication promotes active learning experiences through which students will gain an awareness and understanding of civic engagement as a lifelong responsibility.

SOCIAL MEDIA ANALYTICS AND COMMAND CENTER (SMACC)

The School of Communication recently completed construction on a Social Media Analytics Command Center (SMACC). The first of its kind in the Midwest, the SMACC is a specialized lab designed to analyze public conversations from social media outlets, popular discussion forums, and major blogs. Students use customized software to identify social media conversations and display them as dynamic charts, graphs, word clouds, and other visualizations. These visualizations help students analyze social media trends, sentiment, share of voice, and geo-location. The School of Communication’s SMACC prepares students to strategically utilize social media and better understand its significance in the 21st century.

Student involvementThe School of Communication provides students with the necessary resources, opportunities, and experiences to develop and advance their communication skills. Students generally possess the following qualities:

• Ability to effectively collaborate with others

• Exceptional oral, interpersonal, and written communication skills

• Hardworking and organized; motivated and dedicated to learning

• Avid consumer of news and media trends as well as current events

The School of Communication is home to a variety of registered student organizations and co-curricular experiences that will help you build the skills necessary for success in the workplace and beyond.

COMM CLUB

Communication Opportunities for Majors and Minors (COMM) provides professional and interactive experiences for students. COMM offers opportunities for learning through hands-on experiences and guest speakers. Members understand the importance of communication in the world and strive to develop skills through knowledge and practice.

FORENSICS UNION

As the oldest student organization on campus, the Forensics Union offers Lincoln-Douglas debate as

well as individual speaking events, competition in interpretation, public speaking, and limited

preparation genres. The team is nationally recognized and has won multiple national titles. The Forensics Union will give students the opportunity to travel to other universities to compete and provides scholarship opportunities.

THE ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN IN COMMUNICATION STUDENT CHAPTER

The Association for Women in Communication Student Chapter (AWC)

is a subset of the national organization that champions the advancement of women

across communication disciplines and provides professional development opportunities. AWC

recognizes excellence, promotes leadership and positions its members at the forefront of the evolving communication era. Student members benefit from a local professional network, involvement in the community, access to professional mentors, civic engagement, and job shadowing opportunities. The AWC student chapter is open to all students at Illinois State University.

OUR GRADS: THE PHOTOGRAPHERJOURNALISM | Alex Reside ’10Photo editor of InStyle.com at Time Inc.When Alex first came to Illinois State, he wanted to be a traditional journalism major, but he quickly learned that he was more visually creative than he was a writer. So he applied for a job at The Vidette, Illinois State’s student-run newspaper,

and then dedicated his four years to becoming the best photographer he could be. It led to a Rolling Stone internship and a career out of college as a photographer and photo editor in New York City. “I have worked my way up to the top of my field in less than three years and cannot wait to see what else is in store for me,” he says.

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COM WEEK

COM Week is a tradition in the School of Communication that provides networking opportunities and educational growth. COM Week boasts a week-long experience that enables students to engage in professional presentations and hear from inspirational speakers. The School of Communication welcomes panelists to Fell Hall to share their experience, knowledge and advice.

INTERNSHIPS (FIELD EXPERIENCES)

The School of Communication has a tradition of helping students begin their professional careers before they complete their degrees through professional practice opportunities. The internship staff helps students find and develop internship opportunities in locations throughout the state. Internships provide students with the opportunity to enhance their communication skills, build a stronger portfolio and develop valuable networking connections. Internships are offered during the fall, spring and summer terms on and off campus. Since 2011, more than 75 percent of SoC graduating seniors have completed at least one internship for credit; 39 percent have completed at least two.

ISU DOCUMENTARY PROJECT

The ISU Documentary Project empowers students through video production and cross-disciplinary instruction on social, educational, medical, and political issues that affect citizens of Illinois and the U.S. The ISU Documentary Project also sponsors the Documentary Project Socio-Political Film Festival and a film festival that screens documentaries addressing political and social issues.

LAMBDA PI ETA

Lambda Pi Eta (LPH) is a national honor society affiliated with the National Communication Association. Members have the opportunity to participate in academically focused and civic engagement activities with other motivated students in the School of Communication. LPH encourages members to be prepared to take on challenges that involve leadership and professionalism.

PUBLIC RELATIONS STUDENT SOCIETY OF AMERICA

Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is an organization expressly created in 1968 and devoted to cultivating favorable and mutually advantageous relationships between students and professional public relations practitioners. PRSSA plans special events and operates as a student-led PR firm.

STUDENT TELEVISION WORKSHOP

Student Television Workshop (STW) produces many entertaining programs that air on campus cable. Students participate in various areas of pre- and post-production, including writing, editing, acting, and photography. STW productions include comedy shows, talk shows, game shows, and sports programs.

STUDY ABROAD

Study Abroad provides students opportunities that they cannot find at home, including firsthand exposure to international business practices, foreign languages and cultures. Studying abroad allows students to take courses for Illinois

State credit and can cost less than studying on campus, allowing

students to travel the world without delaying their graduation or increasing

their costs. The School of Communication boasts three study abroad opportunities

specific to communication majors in Paris, France, the Netherlands, and Seoul, South Korea:

• Studying abroad in Paris offers each student an opportunity to attend Novancia, a state-of-the-art business and communication school, which prepares students from all over the world for today’s global market. Students complete senior level coursework in both intercultural communication and global marketing during the summer semester. This opportunity is targeted toward public relations and communication studies majors.

• In addition, the School also offers a summer study abroad program in the Netherlands and is hosted at Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen. The program explores intercultural competence and communication; the legal, financial, and political aspects of the Eurozone; and the diverse European cultures from a business perspective, including visits to large, multinational companies in the Netherlands and Germany.

• Lastly, the school also offers an opportunity specific to mass media students at the Dong-Ah Institute of Media and Arts (DIMA) in South Korea. DIMA offers state-of-the-art broadcasting equipment that rivals major broadcasting stations. Students learn from distinguished instructors and experience hands-on opportunities to further their knowledge in mass media.

THE VIDETTE

The Vidette provides Illinois State students with professional journalism experience and serves as the university community’s newspaper. The Vidette highlights news, sports, features, opinions, events, and provides advertisements for local organizations.

TV-10

TV-10 provides students with outstanding opportunities to practice television production and journalism. TV-10 produces a live and local daily newscast, which airs on campus cable and Comcast in Bloomington-Normal.

WZND (103.3 FM)

WZND provides practical experience and training for all students interested in radio broadcasting. WZND operates as a complete on-air student radio station. In addition to music, WZND features promotions, news, and provides live Illinois State sports coverage. Students can gain experience in public relations, sales, Web design, reporting, promotions, script writing, production, and management.

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Points of pride2014 TOP UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM BY THE CENTRAL STATES COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATION

The School of Communication was awarded the Top Undergraduate Program Award by the Central States

Communication Association (CSCA). The CSCA is one of the top regional organizations promoting all levels of scholarship in the discipline. The School of Communication was recognized for its excellence in undergraduate programming with an emphasis on curriculum development, program quality and course design.

2013 OUTSTANDING MASTER’S PROGRAM AWARD BY THE NATIONAL COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATION

The School of Communication’s graduate program was awarded the Outstanding Master’s Program Award by the National Communication Association (NCA). NCA is a highly recognized organization that acts to advance communication as a discipline. The School of Communication was recognized as the top program that demonstrated excellent quality in developing research and teaching and mentoring students in their personal and professional growth.

Your careerA communication degree is versatile because you learn the skills and theories that help you create and express messages to generate meaning within and across various contexts, cultures, channels, and media. Following are some of the doors that can open for you with a degree in communication.

COMMUNICATION EDUCATION

Graduates of the communication education program have pursued careers in the following:

• High school English language arts teacher, allowing you to teach speech, journalism, media, literature, or composition

• School administration

• Training and development

COMMUNICATION STUDIES

Graduates of the communication studies program have pursued professional careers in training, development, fundraising, and similar fields including:

• Communication consultant

• Corporate communication analyst

• Corporate executive

• Political activist

• Speech and debate director

• Training specialist

JOURNALISM

Graduates of the journalism program gained skills that allowed them to pursue a multitude of professional careers in the industry including:

• News producer

• Photojournalist

• Sports writer

• TV/radio news director

• TV/radio news reporter

• Web and graphic design

MASS MEDIA

Graduates of the mass media program have pursued professional careers in entertainment, promotion, technology, and a variety of media outlets, including:

• Media director

• Media event planner

• News and/or sports reporter

• On-air personality

• Producer

• Website creator

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Graduates of the public relations program have found professional careers in agencies, corporate communication, public service, development, fundraising, and human resource management, including:

• Advertising/marketing integration

• Community relations director

• Executive speech writer

• Media relations

• Publicist

• Social media coordinator

OUR GRADS: THE PR PROPUBLIC RELATIONS | Beth Esler ’10Manager of corporate communications, Chicago BullsBeth made the most of her time at Illinois State, serving as the student sports information director for the Redbird women’s tennis team. Beth joined United Way of Metropolitan Chicago after graduation, where she was responsible for

media efforts in six counties. In 2014, Esler joined the Bulls, where she works on internal and external communications strategy to support and amplify the Bulls’ business and community efforts. “At ISU I was encouraged from day one to get involved in the program. I worked hard, built a solid network, and took advantage of every opportunity that came my way.”

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How to applyStudents can apply to Illinois State University at IllinoisState.edu/Welcome2ISU.

Your Welcome2ISU account will be used to submit forms, check the application status, and provide further information regarding financial aid and housing. When applying, students need to know basic information, including their social security number, courses taken before attending Illinois State, and their intended major or program.

For more information, visit Admissions.IllinoisState.edu.

ScholarshipsIllinois State University offers numerous scholarship opportunities, all of which can be found at ScholarshipFinder.IllinoisState.edu. Here are some specific scholarships for communication students:

COMMUNICATION EDUCATION

• Communication Education Scholarship

COMMUNICATION STUDIES

• Lloyd and Mary Watkins Endowed Communication Studies Scholarship

• Dr. John R. Baldwin Endowed Leadership Award

FORENSICS: SPEECH AND DEBATE

• Marvin D. Kleinau Endowment in Forensics

• Edwards Medal Speech Contest

• Speech Scholarship

• Debate Scholarship

JOURNALISM

• Doris Dungey Endowed Scholarship

• Iola Stoops Juarez Endowed Journalism Scholarship

• Martin F. Duffy Scholarship in Communication

• The Pantagraph Endowed Scholarship

MASS MEDIA

• Illinois Broadcasters Association Endowed Scholarship

• Randy Salerno Endowed Memorial Scholarship

• Vicki Lynn Kelley Broadcast Journalism Scholarship

PUBLIC RELATIONS

• Caterpillar Scholarship

• Scott Harrison Scholarship

About Illinois StateIllinois State University was founded in 1857 as the first public institution of higher education in the state. Illinois State offers degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.

The University enrolls students from throughout Illinois, across the country, and around the world. Students are mentored by a faculty that includes numerous teacher-scholars recognized at national and international levels, and all are dedicated to superior teaching.

Conveniently located in Central Illinois, the University is situated at the intersection of three major interstate highways, as well as along the Chicago-St. Louis Amtrak line.

YOUR NEW HOME

Fell Hall is home base for the School of Communication and remains one of the original buildings on campus. It is home to

University College advisement, School of Communication advisement, the Study Abroad Office, and the school’s student organization broadcast stations: WZND and TV-10. The small classroom atmosphere gives students and professors the opportunity to collaborate closely.

Milner Library is an active partner in the teaching, learning, research, and service activities of Illinois State. Milner librarians provide research assistance and library instruction customized to meet the needs of the students and faculty.

The Bone Student Center serves as the hub of student life at Illinois State and as a landmark resource to the Bloomington-

Normal community. With outstanding shows, great service, and reasonable rental rates, the campus and local community turn to the Bone Student Center for social, recreational, cultural, educational, and professional activities.

The Student Fitness Center is a state-of-the-art, 170,000-square-foot facility that provides recreational opportunities for the

campus community with over 22,000 square feet of cardio and weight training space, four fitness studios, multiple sport courts, an indoor track, swimming pool, climbing wall, and much more.

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Rockford131 miles2 1/2 hours

Chicago137 miles2 1/2 hours

St. Louis164 miles3 hours

Quad Cities137 miles2 1/2 hours

Bloomington-Normal

OUR GRADS: THE EVENT EXPERTCOMMUNICATION STUDIES | Abe Lopez ’12Events assistant, Project Angel HeartAt Illinois State, Abe was involved in various leadership organizations including University Program Board and Students Today Leaders Forever. He received various awards for his involvement on campus, including Outstanding

Student Leader of the Year and Homecoming king. After college, Abe has led various teams at Target Corp. as an executive team leader. He is working in nonprofit development, producing large-scale fundraising events for an organization in Denver, Project Angel Heart, whose mission is to deliver nutritious meals, at no cost, to Coloradans coping with life-threatening illnesses.