Class and More Class

David R.

May 20, 2010 - 9:24 AM

While fall term seems like a year away, students have to plan their fall class schedules early as fall term registration comes in the eighth week of the spring term. I was under the impression that if I took a class this summer I would be able able to take twelve credits from here on out. This would grant me more time to focus on my internship with the athletic department. Unfortunately, I was mistaken and I actually have to take 16 credits next fall. It's kind of annoying but I guess I'll get over it.

While fall registration is upon us it is also time to register for summer classes for those who plan to continue their academic work into the summer months. I am trying to knock out some credits during the summer vacation so I am currently enrolled in geography 451. The class is taught online which is nice because it allows me to take the class while I am at home. I have taken two geography classes while at the U of O and I have found that it is a topic that I am rather interested in. My plan for the summer right now is to do my internship part time so that I have time to work and take this class. My internship is unpaid so I need to make money somehow. I have been talking to my boss with the Colorado Rockies and it looks like I will be able to get some hours this summer.

I really love being a journalism student at the University of Oregon, but I find myself frustrated from time to time with what I feel is maybe an unnecessary work load that comes in the form of excessive requirements. All journalism students are required to take four English classes in order to graduate. This is understandable because English has a lot of relevance to journalism. On the other hand, journalism students are also required to take two history classes and two economics classes. This is the part that I don't understand. Maybe I'm missing something but I don't see how history or economics have any relevance to journalism. College is hard enough as it is. It is frustrating to students to be forced to take classes that don't seem to be that relevant to their major.

Regardless I enjoy the classes that I am taking right now. In my J453 class that involves constructing public relations plans, we just got done completing a project about IndyCar racing. According to the scenario, each team was in charge of creating a pre-race hospitality event for a company who is sponsoring a race team. It was fun to work on a case involving corporate sponsorships because it is very relevant to what I will be doing for my summer internship. The internship is geared highly towards corporate sponsorships and it was good for me to gain some exposure to this aspect of professional sports in a class.

Today is Thursday, which means only one more week until Shasta