FAQ: How do I switch concentrations in the Spring semester?
Q: How do I switch concentrations in the Spring semester? (M.S. only)
A: Your M.S. degree from the J-school will only say “Master of Science.” The concentration is an internal designation you can choose to highlight in resumes and elsewhere. Your concentration is actually is determined by workshop assignment, so in some cases, it is possible to switch concentrations midstream. Here’s a quick rundown of the procedure for switching. Keep in mind we do not guarantee switches - there are enrollment caps in all the classes. We plan our hiring and courses well in advance of the semester, based mainly on what students indicated they wanted to concentrate in when they were were accepted to the school. More info to come at various briefing sessions in the weeks ahead.
SWITCHING INTO NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE: When you fill out your Spring ballot, rank the newspaper or magazine workshops as your top choices. Please note that all magazine concentration students are required to take the Delacorte Lecture class (a series of lectures with 0.5 credit) and will be enrolled automatically in it.
SWITCHING INTO DIGITAL MEDIA: Priority for the Digital Media workshops are given to the original Digital Media concentration students. If spaces allows, those who have the required digital media skill set will be considered. Please see Prof. Tu, if you are interested in being considered. You must ballot for workshops in your original concentration. If space allows non-concentration students may try (with Prof. Tu’s approval) for spots in these classes via Add/Drop.
SWITCHING INTO TV BROADCAST: Generally one cannot make this switch as the broadcast workshops are dependent on your having acquired the requisite skills in either Broadcast RWI or the PT Intro to Television News Reporting & Writing class. In rare instances special permission is granted to students with comparable real-world experience. Permission for non-Broadcast students to attempt to take TV workshops via Add/Drop must be granted by the professor of the course of interest. The professor can e-mail his/her consent to Dean Huff.
SWITCHING INTO RADIO BROADCAST: Although broadcast students are given preference, all students are eligible to rank this class as a workshop option.
CONCENTRATION NEUTRAL: There are a number of workshops open to students from all concentrations. They will be labeled as such in the curriculum letter and on the ballot.
