Public Communications Studies Minor

Coordinator:

Brad Stalter, Academic Advisor
316 Newhouse 3, 315-443-4722, bcstalte@syr.edu

College:

The S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications oversees this minor.

Goal

The goal of this minor is to permit students to examine how the process of public communications affects society. Students will learn how the various media, including newspapers, magazines, books, radio, television, film, advertising, public relations, photography, graphics, online journalism, social media, and new media influence specific audiences and shape society in the United States and globally.

Audience

This minor is intended for Syracuse University students who are not enrolled in the School of Public Communications. Students choosing this minor should have an interest in learning more about the social, political, economic, ethical, and legal effects of public communications on their lives as citizens, professionals, and leaders in our society.

Entrance Requirements

Applicants are admitted on a space-available basis depending upon cumulative GPA. To be eligible, a student must have completed 30 credits at Syracuse University in courses graded A-F and must submit an application to the Newhouse Undergraduate Advising Office (316 N3). Students must declare the public communications minor no later than the first semester of their junior year.

Curriculum Requirements

Students must complete 18 credits of which 12 credits must be 300-level or above.

Two required courses

Additional Courses

Four additional courses from the following list. No more than one course may have a number lower than 300. Admission to these courses is based on space availability.

NOTE: Students may not take more than one of COM 346, COM 348 or COM 350 as part of the minor requirements.

Total: 18 Newhouse credits required

Additional Information

To declare a minor, students must file a declaration form indicating specific courses selected. The form must be approved by Minor Coordinator Brad Stalter (316 Newhouse 3) and by the student’s home college.

Los Angeles Semester Option

Students who have been accepted into the Public Communications Studies minor may choose to complete half the minor by participating in the SU in Los Angeles program. To complete the minor and include the LA option, students must be a junior or a senior. See the requirements listed below.

Before studying in LA, students complete:

Apply and be accepted into the LA program

While in LA, students take:

TRF 475 - Entertainment Industry Practicum
Six credits of TRF coursework at the 300-level or above

Note: To be a full-time student in LA, you must be registered for no fewer than 12 credits. Students, therefore, must choose an additional course to study in LA with the advice of their home college. This course may be offered online or in person by any SU college.

Students may choose to complete the law requirement on campus sometime during this senior year, or in LA if there is space available.

Additional Information

Application deadlines for the Los Angeles program are in September (for spring) and in January (for fall). For more information, contact Shelly Griffin, Associate Director of Off-Campus Programs, in 370 Newhouse 2 at 443-4004, migriffi@syr.edu.