The Daily Plan-it / Dean of Students Blog, Columbia J-school

SPRING SEMESTER PREP (updated several times a week)
Here’s the schedule for Spring Semester Prep - events and dates to help you prepare for the Spring Semester. All the information will be available electronically, but you are encouraged to attend any events/briefing sessions you can. Please note we are offering events on a variety of dates and times. All this is subject to change, so please check back often. Most of this is aimed at M.S. students, but others are welcome to attend. M.A. students (who typically have more of a fixed set of courses) will receive their own, specialized briefings.

Dean Klatell’s in-depth Spring Curriculum Guide, with course details and timings is at http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/students/courses/spring2007/index.asp. If you want to check out evaluations of past spring classes, go to http://www.columbia.edu/cu/journalism/evaluations/ (please note that the new evaluation system has the evaluations of last spring’s classes.

[The photo below is from our first briefing, on Oct. 30 - about 40 students stopped by.]

• Mon, Oct. 30, 12:30-1:30 p.m., room 601B: Brown Bag Lunch with the Deans - focus on Spring Semester questions and dealing with Fall RWI mid-semester and final evaluations. *Bring your lunch; cookies, chips, soda and water will be served.
• [NON SPRING PREP EVENT: Thurs, Nov. 2, 8:15-9:15 a.m., room 601B: M.S. students learn about the M.A. program]
• Thurs, Nov. 2, 12:30-2 p.m., room 601B: Brown Bag Lunch with the Deans - focus on Spring Semester questions and dealing with Fall RWI mid-semester and final evaluations. *Bring your sandwich; cookies, chips, soda and water will be served.
• Monday, Nov. 6: Spring Curriculum letter live at
  http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/students/courses/spring2007/index.asp
• Monday, Nov. 6, 6-7 p.m., Lecture Hall: Covering Religion Seminar Briefing . See last year’s class site: http://www.CoveringReligion.org.
  See application info and more details.
• Tues, Nov. 7, 6 p.m., room 601B: Spring Briefing session (aimed at Part-time students, but all are welcome). *Light refreshments served.
• [NON SPRING PREP EVENT - Wed, Nov. 8, 4-5 p.m., 601B: M.A. Tea with the Deans (M.A. students only)]
• Fri, Nov. 10, 8:15 a.m., room 607B:Book Writing Seminar Preview & Application Instruction session with Prof. Sam Freedman. See application instructions.
• Friday, Nov. 10: 11:30-12:15 p.m., room 607B: Producing a Magazine Preview and Application Instruction session with Professors Navasky and Shapiro. See application instructions.
• Fri, Nov. 10, 3 p.m., room 601B: Literary Journalism Preview & Application Instruction session with Prof. Helen Benedict
  See application instructions.
• Monday, Nov. 13, 9 a.m.: Applications due for Covering Religion; Literary Journalism; Personal & Professional Style;
• Tues, Nov. 14, 8:15-9:15, room 601B: Bronx Beat Preview (8:15-8:45) and Covering Education Preview (8:45-9:15). *Light breakfast served.
• Wednesday, Nov. 15, 9 a.m.: Applications due Producing a Magazine A and Producing a Magazine B
• Thurs, Nov. 16, 8:15-9:15 a.m., room 607B: Breakfast with the Deans - focus on Spring Semester questions. *Light breakfast served.
• Thurs, Nov. 16, 6-7 p.m., room 601B: Spring Briefing session (aimed at Part-time students, but all are welcome). *Light refreshments served.
• Friday, Nov. 17: Students notified of MOST application results for Book Writing; Covering Religion; Literary Journalism; Personal & Professional Style; Producing a Magazine A & B
• Tuesday, Nov. 21, 4:30-5:30 p.m., 502: Spring overview of television news magazine with Mel McCray and George Rivera
• Tuesday, Nov. 21, 5:30-6:45 p.m., Lecture Hall: Spring Preview Session - an evening when professors who teach Spring seminars and workshops are invited to present three- or five-minute previews of their classes. Typically, most professors present and all M.S. students gather for this session. Please note that only a handful of classes have individual briefing sessions (as listed above), so it is critical that you attend this large gathering.
• TBA: Spring Ballots go live; close Wednesday, Nov. 29, 10 p.m. at 10 p.m. You can submit ballots any time during that period - NOT first come, first served.
• Wednesday, Nov. 29, 10 p.m.: Spring Ballots close.
• [NON SPRING PREP EVENT - Mon, Dec. 4, 12:30-1:30 p.m., room 601B: Brown Bag Lunch M.A. info session (M.S. students learn about the M.A. program0]
• [ And don’t forget Lucille’s Ball, the annual J-School Holiday Party & Faculty Roast on
  Thursday, Dec. 14. You absolutely have to be there! Details coming from
  Aaron Cahall , SPJ events director. ]

• Late December: Students will be registered for their Spring courses.
• December 22-Jan. 15: Winter Break; work on Master’s Projects for M.S. students (first draft due Tuesday, Jan. 16)
• January 5-January 26: Add/Drop period
• Wednesday, Jan. 17, 9:30-noon: ALL-CLASS EVENT: “Surviving & Thriving in the Spring Semester: Making the Best Use of Your Remaining Months at Columbia” - Mandatory for FULL-TIME M.S. students; others welcome. Presented by DOS Office and Career Services.*Light refreshments served.
• Tuesday, January 16: M.A., and other University classes begin
• Thursday & Friday, Jan. 18 & 19: M.S. Workshops begin
• Monday & Tuesday, Jan. 22 & 23: M.S. Seminars begin
• Wednesday, Jan. 24: M.S. Electives begin

Here are the six classes for which there is an application process:

Book Writing
Covering Religion
Personal & Professional Style
Literary Journalism
Producing a Magazine (sections A & B)

See application instructions.
You will know the results of the application process before the balloting begins.

Also see:

FAQ: How do I switch concentrations?
FAQ: How do I take an outside elective?

TIP: In the Spring semester at J-School, I wish I had… (alumni tips)

Deans Sreenivasan and Huff are available throughout November to discuss your options and help you plan for the Spring, as are your RWI professors, who serve as your advisers the rest of your time here.