O yeah...classes

David R.

January 10, 2010 - 1:01 PM

One nice thing about coming back to school is that students are presented with the opportunity to start fresh with a new set of classes. For some, this means the continuation of academic success that was achieved the term before. For others, its the chance to get back on the horse after being knocked off by the books. I can say I have definitely been on both ends of the spectrum.

After completing J203 last term, I was finally bumped to full major status in the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communication. It was nice to finally be done with all of the pre-requisites that I had dreaded for so long. Looking back to my time as a freshman, I remember my jaw hitting the floor when I learned that one of the pre-requisites for the J-school was a class that involved a 100 page research paper. This class, which will soon be eliminated, was appropriately nicknamed "info hell," and is dreaded by all those who hope to enter the journalism school. I have found a certain level of comfort sitting here knowing I will never have to take this class again. It is exciting to finally be allowed to take the upper division courses that are restricted to only those who have been granted full major status.

One of those classes happens to be J440, in which I am currently enrolled. This class is the next one in line behind J350, in which students learn the basic principles of public relations. J440 takes it a few steps further and allows students to create specific documents that are very common within the field of public relations. Currently, we are creating a press release for fictional company called Pivotal Directions Inc. This make believe company is building a new clinic to administer methadone, a medication that is prescribed to those who are battling addictions to heroin. It has been interesting to learn about the technical aspects that are applied to creating a press release that could actually be released.

Additionally, I am enrolled in BA 317, which is the marketing class for the minor. I figured that public relations has some business-like aspects to it, so it couldn't hurt to get a minor. Being a journalism major also requires one to take a grouping of English classes. I hadn't taken any English classes yet, so I decided this term that I would take English 260. This class allows us to explore the history of cinematography, and we get to watch movies every Tuesday for the entire class period. What a blast! The last of four classes I am taking this term is Sociology 345. I have always had an interest in observing societal patterns, and I can use this class as one of the block requirements for the journalism school. This class explores racial identity and the tension that can be formed between those of different races and ethnic groups.

I love the wide variety of classes that one can choose from at the University of Oregon, and it looks like it's going to be a fun term.