COMMUNIcATION DEPARTMENT

ROCK SOLID EDUCATION

www.sru.edu

ABOUT Us
The Communication Department is one of the fastest growing hot spots on Slippery Rock Universitys campus. As one of the largest departments here at the university, we offer two degree programs, the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. Our Bachelor of Science degree has three exciting emphasis areas for which you may choose: Emerging Technology and Multimedia Journalism Public Relations We have more than 17 faculty with a diverse array of expertise. Additionally, we have five student organizations that will provide you with practical hands-on experience in a major area of study. We offer several communication scholarship opportunities. Our students have won various national and international competitions within every scope of study offered by our department. Some facts about us: Primary Class location: 2nd Floor Eisenberg Classroom Building (ECB) Number of Majors: 400 Number of Faculty: 17 Average Class size: 27 Average Size of lab-based courses: 21 Lab-based courses utilize both the Mac and PC platforms Mac Lab for graphics, audio, video and publication production PC lab for journalism, media writing and web design Video Editing lab with Final Cut Pro editing stations Digital television studio, located in Maltby The opportunities are endless! To find out more about us, keep looking, you wont be disappointed! Or just contact us at: 724-738-2032

B.S. EMERGING TEcHNOlOGIEs & MUlTIMEdIA

The emergence and impact of technology is felt everyday in print, on television and online. This impact is not only noticeable in the main and business sections of the nations newspapers, but perhaps more noticeably on the Help Wanted Pages. Furthermore, the emergence of online job postings has grown significantly as employers try alternative venues in search of qualified employees. There is a noticeable increase in job searches performed online - nearly 82% of those graduating from college. The common thread between various forms of want ads is the search for individuals with a background in IT, networking, web design, desktop publishing and communication skills. Increased global competition and the impact of eCommerce will further expand opportunities for skilled workers. The Pittsburgh Regional Alliance website (www.pittsburgh-region.org) recently conducted a survey of employers in the region. Employers indicated that the demand for multimedia developers would grow in the short term by 33% (placing multimedia in the top 10% of growth fields), while the median for job growth of the region was set at 6%. Sixty percent of the employers responded that they had some or great difficulty in finding experienced applicants for multimedia developers. The need for the Emerging Technology and Multimedia program at Slippery Rock is best made by former Governor Tom Ridge when he noted Technology creates choices. Technology creates options. Technology is not the answer it is the solution it is the driver, the enabler. It empowers and equips those who harness its potential to succeed and achieve goals. The commonwealth is currently experiencing an acute shortage of workers in these fields. Graduates will gain proficiency in the use of the latest production software available including: Adobe CS Dreamweaver Adobe CS Flash Apple Garageband Apple Final Cut Pro Adobe CS Photoshop Adobe CS Illustrator Adobe CS InDesign These software packages are industry current and there is a high demand within the industry for trained, software savvy employees as eCommerce continues to expand.

PROGRAMs
As a field of study, communication offers the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to begin careers in the fields of journalism, broadcasting, public relations, communication technology, and many other related areas. SRU offers a bachelor of arts degree with an emphasis on building a liberal arts foundation and developing both critical thinking and professional skills. We also have a bachelor of science degree, with tracks in journalism, public relations, and emerging technology and multimedia. Anyone watching the internet expand understands the need for multi-talented writers and designers with the technical expertise to successfully communicate in an environment of increasing media convergence. SRUs comprehensive communication program prepares you as a writer with journalism courses, while those interested in visual communication study layout, design and the computer technology that can be incorporated to help deliver information.

B.A. COMMUNIcATION
Our Bachelor of Arts is a flexible program allowing students to choose from courses in Public Relations, Speech and Communication Studies, Broadcast and Electronic Media, Journalism and Emerging Technologies and Multimedia. The central mission of the Department of Communication at Slippery Rock University is to foster our students abilities to be socially competent citizens and to find meaningful employment through high quality educational experiences. In keeping with this mission, the department offers courses that serve the needs and goals of all students from across the university. The Bachelor of Arts degree is an integrated program of study which maintains the traditional study of communication as a liberal art, recognizing the oftenblurred boundaries among communication specialties. In addition to completing a core of three courses: (Communication Concepts, Communication Research Methods, and Communication Law), students are able to complete a general program of communication studies or to pursue an emphasis in one of the following areas: Public Relations, Speech and Communication Studies, Broadcast and Electronic Media, Journalism, Emerging Technologies and Multimedia. Also in keeping with the liberal studies tradition and recognizing the global environment in which graduates will live and work, Bachelor of Arts students are required to be proficient at the 103 level of a modern language.

Majors and Minors

ORGANIZATIONs
Lambda Pi Eta is the official honorary for the Department of Communication SRU. Zeta Phi Eta

Major (B.A.) Communication Emphasis areas: Journalism Public Relations Emerging Technology Major (B.S.) Communication Emerging Technology & Multimedia Journalism Public Relations Minor: Communication

CAREER OPPORTUNITIEs
Graduating with a degree in communication opens a world of possibilities for a dynamic and rewarding career in what some have described as the Communication Age. All students develop the basic and essential communicative skills in both writing and oral media. Communication graduates pursue careers in the fields of journalism, broadcasting, public relations, corporate communication, emerging technologies such as interactive multimedia and web design, and digital, audio, and visual design. Communication graduates also learn to create messages and assist and advise others in the creation of messages across a wide array of professional settings, helping to utilize the whole range of modes and media of communication. Once you graduate from Slippery Rock University, you become a part of an elite group of alumni, representing various fields of study and career choices.

Slippery Rock University is an Equal Opportunity Employer (E.O.E.)

B.S. PUBlIc RElATIONs

Listed as one of the top 110 college public relations programs in the United States, the Communication Departments public relations program is one of three tracks in the 60-credit-hour Bachelor of Science degree in communication. This track focuses on specific abilities we expect our students to demonstrate upon graduation, and is designed to equip our students with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills expected of beginning professionals who will be well-prepared to obtain an entry-level position in public relations. Beyond the basic skills of being able to write and speak effectively, our students also learn and apply graphic design and electronic media technologies. Our majors graduate with a strong career awareness and proficiency in career/jobsearch skills. Public relations helps an organization establish and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with a variety of important audiences. It is a term used to describe both a way of looking at an organization's performance and a program of activities. The public relations function takes many forms in different organizations, including public information, investor relations, public affairs, corporate communications, employee relations, marketing or product publicity, and consumer service or customer relations. Basic to all public relations, however, is communicating. Well planned, effectively- handled communication is essential to the success and existence of organizations in today's changing world. Every organization, be it governmental, business, labor, professional, health, cultural, financial, recreational, educational or public service, depends on people. Public attitudes, attention, understanding, and motivation can be critical to the success or failure of an organization or idea.

B.S. JOURNAlIsM
Whether reporting for newspapers, magazines, broadcast or online outlets, journalists are fundamental to a democratic society. This notion is enshrined in the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which establishes a clear connection between freedom of expression and political freedom. Unlike other mass-media genres, journalism is founded on the idea that a truthful, accurate and comprehensive presentation of ideas is essential to maintaining an informed and free society. Journalists also provide entertainment content in the form of coverage of the arts, of sports, and of everyday lifestyle matters, and serve an important opinion-formation function on editorial pages. Though new and exciting occupational opportunities are expanding with the fairly recent emergence of online journalism, competition for journalism jobs nationwide is expected to remain stiff through at least the middle of this decade all the more reason why a well-trained journalism graduate will be a plus in a highly competitive market. The Bachelor of Science degree track in journalism at SRU will provide the graduate with the essentials needed to secure his or her first reporting job, regardless of the medium. The Rocket is Slippery Rock Universitys own student-run weekly newspaper.

Slippery Rock University is a member of the PASSHE system (P.A. State System of Higher Education)

AlUMNI EXPERIENcEs
Some experience that has definitely helped with public relations is programs that Ive had to help put on through PRSSA (Public Relation Student Society of America). Learning the difficulties and some of the benefits of public relations and actually having the practice to do real public relations has greatly helped to prepare me for this career. -Jeff Milliner, B.S. Communication

I am an on-line security analyst. I work with large corporate clients to search for and investigate highvolume spammers. After concluding my investigations I create detailed reports on the span activity and present my cases to our corporate clients, as well as the law firms that take my cases and pursue legal action. -Keith E. Tagliaferri, B.S. Comm.

CONTAcT INFORMATION
Admissions Office:
146 North Hall Welcome Center Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, PA 16057 Phone: 724-738-2015 E-mail: admissions@sru.edu Campus Tours: 1-800-929-4778 Web site: http://www.sru.edu/ pages/5259.asp

Department Contact:

Thomas Flynn, Chairperson Department of Communication 223 Eisenberg Classroom Building Slippery Rock, PA 16057 Department Phone: 724-738-2032 Fax: 724-738-4547 E-mail: Thomas.flynn@sru.edu Web site: http://academics.sru. edu/communication/