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

June 18, 2008

MEMO: Diploma Applications

Degrees are awarded in October, February and May. Every candidate, regardless of graduation date, is invited to participate in the May Commencement ceremony.

In order to be considered for a degree or certificate, you must file an application with the Journalism School.

IMPORTANT: This form CANNOT be submitted electronically. Please type in the required information, print, sign and bring it to the box outside of Dean Huff’s office [207C] marked “Diploma Applications.”

Alternately, you can mail it to:

Dean Huff
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
2950 Broadway
New York, NY 10027

Application Deadlines
Graduating in - Apply by
October - August 1
February - November 1
May - December 1

Please Note The Following:

  • When a deadline for application falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
  • Doctoral students must deposit their dissertation at least a week before the conferral date in order to graduate.
  • May 5, 2008

    MEMO: End-of-Year Manual

    End-of-Year Manual

    May 2008
    TO: All Students
    FROM: Melanie Huff, Assistant Dean of Students

    In order to help you plan for Graduation and beyond, we have prepared some documents for you - please make sure you read both carefully.

    Journalism Day, the Journalism School graduation ceremony and the University graduation are covered in detail on the graduation page.

    Post-graduation use of the building/equipment and alumni benefits/services are covered here.

    Please keep in mind that this summer extensive construction work is taking place along with work to repair and prepare the building and equipment for the next academic year. Therefore, it is necessary to establish dates after which graduating students will no longer be able to access and use the facilities. Outlined below is the schedule for the coming summer.

    Part of the reason for the tight deadlines is that the two new summer Part-time RWI classes begin on Friday, May 23.

    Use of Journalism Building Facilities After May 21
    Use of Building:
    Members of the Class of 2008 will have access to the building and its facilities through June 30, 2008.

    Exceptions include: any area under construction, and any classrooms and computer rooms being used for summer classes or special programs. If you are in one of these rooms when a class is scheduled to begin, please leave immediately. Refusal to cooperate may result in the termination of your access to the building.

    Broadcast students may use the broadcast equipment, as available, until June 30. Please remember that scheduled summer school classes and members of the part-time class working on their master’s projects, as well as necessary equipment maintenance upgrades, have priority for equipment and editing rooms.

    Please be aware that individual computer rooms will be closed at different times for maintenance and upgrading. Though it is likely, it is not guaranteed that there will always be a computer room or terminal available. Due to maintenance schedules, summer class schedules and the part-time students’ master’s projects, it is possible that you will be unable to use a computer at a specific time.

    Student Lockers:
    In order to get ready for the construction and the incoming part-time students, all May graduates must empty their lockers by noon, Friday, 23.

    Continuing part-time students and News 21 fellows may keep their lockers. Graduates who will be working on a demo tape or other approved projects during the month of June may also keep their lockers. To request such a locker extension, please send e-mail to cc2964@columbia.edu with your name and the reason for your request.

    Graduates’ lockers that have not been vacated by noon on Friday, May 23, will be have their locks removed and contents moved to a storage bin and eventually discarded. All locker questions should be directed to Melanie Huff.

    Student Mailboxes:
    The mailboxes of graduating students may be used until noon, Friday, May 23 as well. All items remaining in boxes after that date will be discarded. Continuing students (& News 21) will be able to access their mailboxes on the first floor hallway over the summer.

    Computers:
    Graduating students will retain access to computer resources through June 30, 2008. Afterwards you will be unable to use the computer labs, print, or access your network storage. Please be sure to backup all of your files to external media (CDs, DVDs, flash media, iPods, etc.) before your account is deactivated.

    E-mail:
    Please see the alumni services/benefits section below for full details.

    University Services After May 21

    Health Services
    Access to Health Services at the University expires on August 31 for all graduating students. For those with major medical health insurance through Columbia (Chickering), coverage ends on July 31 for M.S. students. Coverage for all other students ends on August 31. You do have the option of purchasing an extention on this policy. Please see http://www.health.columbia.edu/index.html for details.

    University Libraries
    Recent alumni will retain full library privileges, including borrowing privileges and access to licensed electronic databases, for a period of three months beyond the degree conferral date. Access information can be found at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/services/lio/access/. Library Services for alumni can be found at http://www.alumni.libraries.columbia.edu/

    Dodge Physical Fitness Center (aka the Gym)
    You may use the gym over the summer with your current CUID. However, you will have to pay the $91 gym use fee. Beginning in September, you will be eligible for alumni gym use. Please see http://alumni.columbia.edu/visit/s5_1.html

    Alumni Benefits and Services

    A variety of benefits and services are available to Journalism School graduates. This page answers most of your most questions and concerns, from auditing a class at Columbia to updating your address information, from obtaining a transcript of your time here to using Columbia’s recreational facilities - http://snipurl.com/cugsj_alumni

    Please note that you will automatically be subscribed to your class list serve using the real world e-mail address supplied in your graduation survey (more details en route from Career Services). Your Columbia e-mail will remain an actual e-mail account through the summer, but then you will have to convert it to an alias to which your e-mail is sent and then forwarded to your real world account. Instructions are available at http://alumni.columbia.edu/access/s2_2.html.

    May 4, 2008

    GRADUATION: Ticket Distribution

    READ CAREFULLY - Graduation Tickets

    Graduation tickets are now available.

    Each graduate receives four tickets for the Journalism School Graduation Ceremony & four for the University Commencement. If you need more tickets, please arrange to trade with other students. Graduates don’t have to use a ticket for themselves.

    To receive your tickets you MUST do TWO things.

    1. Complete the graduation survey at http://fs7.formsite.com/cu_jschool_careers/gradsurvey2008/

    The survey is used to create a class directory (both your class list serve and the alumni database), employment statistics and a database of employment information indicating the types of position openings in which you are interested. This is very important in determining how we can better help graduates find the best jobs as quickly as possible, and how the school can help make that happen by also collecting feedback on career services.

    You willingness to allow career services to circulate your resume is also indicated on the survey.

    2. Submit a NEW copy of your resume electronically with the survey. The resume should indicate that you have graduated and include up-to-date contact information. It will be used by the Career Services Office to assist you in your employment search.

    You may pick up your tickets from Claudia Castillo in room 2M07A (mezzanine) once you have completed your online graduation survey AND submitted your updated resume. Ms. Castillo will verify receipt of the survey and have you sign for your ticket envelope containing both sets of tickets.

    The survey can done 24/7, but Ms. Castillo is available for ticket pick-up/resume submission from 9 am-5 pm only. If you are a part-time student and it is impossible for you to come in, you may contact her (cc2964 or 212-851-0246) about having tickets mailed. Survey receipt verification is still required.

    April 28, 2008

    MEMO: Spring 2008 Evaluations of Professors/Courses

    Dear Journalism Students,

    The evaluation system (https://courseworks.columbia.edu/) for students to provide feedback about their classes will be live for the Spring 2008 semester on Thursday, May 1, 2008. PT January RWI, MA Seminar in Discipline, and MS Workshop and Seminar professors will be scheduling lab time for you to complete these. If you are not enrolled in any of these courses, please complete all your evaluations on your own. The deadline for completion is Tuesday, May 27 , 2008, at 9 p.m.

    Your role in providing feedback via course evaluations is of vital importance to the Journalism School. The information is used by faculty to evaluate their syllabi and to refine their practices and by the administration to make curriculum decisions and assess professor performance.

    Course evaluations are one element in tenure, promotion and contract decisions; they can affect professors’ careers at Columbia.

    Future students also use the information to make informed balloting choices.

    We ask that you take your time and seriously reflect on your learning experience as you provide an honest answer to each question. You do not have to complete all the forms in one sitting. However, once you begin working on the form for a given class you must complete and submit it before exiting the system. Partially completed forms are not stored.

    Please be aware that professors won’t have access to your evaluations of them until after they have submitted their evaluations of your performance.

    Please note, we have no control over the system once the deadline has passed. Every semester students contact us after the deadline asking to fill in the form or to make edits to their evaluations, and there is nothing we can about those situations. Please be certain to complete all evaluations by the, Tuesday, May 27, 9 p.m. deadline.

    Between Thursday, May 1 and Tuesday, May 27, you will receive reminders every two days for each evaluation that you have yet to complete. These automatic reminders are generated by the CourseWorks system.

    Thank you for your assistance.

    Questions to dos@jrn.columbia.edu

    April 25, 2008

    MEMO: M.A. Master’s Thesis Submission Guidelines

    FROM: Dean Cornog
    RE: Master’s Thesis

    Your completed Master’s Thesis is due in the Dean of Students office by 10 a.m. on Monday, April 28. You will be required to sign your name in the thesis submission log.

    Your submitted thesis must conform to the following requirements, so follow these instructions carefully:

    • 1. Print your manuscript, or broadcast (verbatim) script, double-spaced on one side of white paper, leaving an inch-and-a-half margin on the left-hand side and at least an inch on the other three margins. Photographic paper does not meet preservation guidelines for library materials, and theses on photo paper will be returned to the author in exchange for a plain-paper copy.
    • 2. You should be aware that source lists (and your entire thesis, including the P.S. portion, described below in point number 6) will be available for all library users. If there are confidentiality issues with sources (i.e. phone numbers, personal addresses, etc.), students are responsible for removing the source list BEFORE submitting the library copy. If you are not certain about the best way to cite a source, consult with your advisor.
    • 3. Do not put any sort of binding on the thesis, and do not staple the pages. The pages must be numbered.
    • 4. Include a separate title page with the following information: Your name, class year, the title of your thesis, the name of the faculty member(s) who supervised it and, at the bottom of the page, add:
      Submitted in partial fulfillment of the degree of Master of Arts in Journalism
      Copyright
      (Name of Student)
      (Year)
    • 5. Hand in five copies–the original and three copies. One copy will be returned to you with your instructor’s reactions; another copy will be reserved for the library, the third and fourth will be kept by your inside and outside advisors, and the fifth copy will be used in judging the M.A. thesis prize. (Please put the outside adviser’s mailing address on the envelope you use to submit that copy.) Students submitting a broadcast thesis should hand in two copies of the script and two copies of the thesis on DVD for the library, plus videotape copies if your advisors request one. The school can assist you in making the DVDs from the final, edited tape. (See #9 for special broadcast thesis instructions.)
    • 6. You will need to submit a short, first-person account of how you discovered, researched and reported your story. This “P.S.” should run no longer than 1,000 words. The narrative will help students in the future see what goes into the making of a successful Master’s Thesis. (Include a copy of the narrative with all copies.)
    • 7. Put each copy in a new 9 x 12 envelope. Label the front of each envelope with your name, your class year, the title of your thesis and the name(s) of your advisor(s) for the Master’s Thesis. Please be certain to clearly label the library copy.
    • 8. New media theses: the library cannot store computer disks, and does not have the facilities for viewing their contents. The paper copy of the thesis should include a printout of the media presentation (and any source code, if applicable) and also the way to access it (thesis URL). A hyperlink will be made from the Master’s Thesis Index web page to the thesis itself.
    • 9. Theses on audio tape, CD or DVD: please make two copies, label the tapes, the covers and the cover spines with complete thesis information (author(s), title, advisor).
    • 10. If you are submitting your Master’s Thesis earlier than the deadline, you still have to submit the copies to the Dean’s Office. You must also inform your advisor and the office of the Dean of Students of the date you submitted the thesis.
    • 11. Keep a copy of your thesis for yourself. Neither the Journalism School nor the Journalism Library is able to provide on-demand copies of your work. You are expected to keep usable copies of your Master’s Thesis for future reference. For print theses and transcripts, a hard copy is the best option.

    April 22, 2008

    GRADUATION: The Year-end Awards & Grading

    [Most of the information below is for M.S. students only. M.A. students are eligible for a separate award, the Arthur Harris Prize for best Master’s Thesis.]

    We received the following question from a student:

    Today in RW1 we had a guest speaker whose bio mentioned that she received the “Pulitzer Traveling Fellowship, won for graduating first in her class…”

    Since we don’t receive grades, I’m wondering how this designation of “first in class” is decided.

    Good question. Here’s the answer, from the Grades section of Academic Dean’s letter about the Fall 2005 curriculum.
    The Journalism School has a Pass-Fail system of formal grading. It aims at encouraging students to perform as well as they can, without competing with classmates. In most courses (some electives excepted), students receive written evaluations of their work from the instructors. Copies of these evaluations are kept in the DOS Office.

    In RWI, written evaluations are issued at midterm and at the end of the semester. These preliminary evaluations indicate students’ early progress and, if necessary, serve as a warning if any students are in danger of failing. Students who are not doing passing work are placed on probation. If a student’s work is passing at midterm but deteriorates after the midterm evaluation, the instructor will give written notice of possible failure and inform the faculty.

    RWI is the most important fall course. The decision to pass or fail a student in that course is determined solely by the instructor(s.) No grades of incomplete are allowed in RWI. Other required courses-such as Journalism, the Law and Society-are important, too. Inattention can result in failure. Students also should note that the “Skills” mini-courses are meant to be taken very seriously. The faculty reserves the right to dismiss a student who fails the same course twice or two courses, regardless of the credit points of the courses.

    Deadlines for the Master’s Project drafts are strictly enforced. The Faculty retains the right to fail or place on probation a student who fails to meet deadlines for the Master’s Project.

    No student is permitted to graduate while still on probation.

    At graduation, the honors list is announced, recognizing approximately 15 percent of the students for superior performance in multiple courses; the faculty determines the honors list by comparing and discussing each student’s complete record. The faculty also awards more than a dozen special prizes at graduation, including five Pulitzer Traveling Fellowships for overall performance during the academic year. These decisions are based in part on an informal system of grading, which permits each instructor to designate one or two students as having completed a course “with honors.” Students are informed of the honors designation.

    That designation, in the individual classes, is “honors in class,” and you will see it - if you get it - in the written evaluations you receive. If you receive two or more “honors in class” in our six-credit courses (RW1, Master’s Project, seminar, workshop) AND one or more in three-credit elective, you are likely to “graduate with honors.”

    Except for a few prizes for which students can submit stories to be judged, the rest of the prizes are decided by faculty, without input from the students.

    We hold briefing sessions close to Graduation to explain the procedures.

    Part-time students are eligible for the awards and are tracked during their entire academic career here (though the prizes are typically given out the year they graduate).

    Please direct all questions to Deans Sreenivasan and Huff.

    April 18, 2008

    NEW STUDENTS: Prepping for the J-school

    Dear newly-admitted students:

    As you prepare for the school, here are some resources you should check out.
    1. WEBCASTS: We are hosting several webcasts which will allow you to listen live anywhere in the world, or to listen to an archived recording. The ones we have already scheduled are below. COMING SOON: Technology at the school + other topics (send in your suggestions to dos[at]jrn.columbia.edu (subject line = webcast suggestions). Stay tuned. Scroll down.

    2. FAQs: Frequently asked questions - and their answers below. Scroll down.

    3. SURVIVAL TIPS: Alumni tips on surviving the school - and prepping for it are at
    http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/01/17/tip-surviving-the-school-tips/

    4. TRANSCRIPTS OF OLD CHATS: In 2006 and 2007, we did more than 20 chats on various topics via moderated chatroom. While some of the information will be out of date, of course, reading through the transcripts might still be useful. See them all here: http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/07/06/chats-online-chats-about-the-school-3/

    5. WELCOME VIDEOS: The international students in the Class of 2006 and 2007 created welcome videos for their successor classes. They are available on YouTube and continue to be relevant to all our students. Take a look:
    http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/08/01/video-new-j-school-international-welcome-video/

    6. FACEBOOK GROUP: There’s already a Facebook group for the Columbia Journalism School Class of 2009. It was created by Rebecca Castillo, former class president, who serves as the staff adviser for extracurricular activities via the campus chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. It’s a closed group, so once you have decided to come, let Rebecca know via
    http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10497300901

    7. NEW STUDENTS PAGE: See all the resources, forms and critical information (including dates) that we have gathered for you on the main school site on the New Students Page.

    WEBCAST SCHEDULE & RECORDINGS
    > full lineup: listen live or to a recording
    Using a new service called BlogTalkRadio.com, we are able to connect the Journalism school with people around the world. They can listen live on their computers (or by dialing the listener phone line at 646-915-9583) as we highlight various aspects of the school (PCs or Macs; no downloads required) or tune in later to listen to an archived recording. These webcasts are also available as downloadable MP3 files for your personal collection. [If you want to subscribe to this as a podcast on iTunes, go to “Advanced” within iTunes, then select “Subscribe to podcast” and type in http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ColumbiaJournalism/feed and hit OK.] See full lineup at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ColumbiaJournalism

    (more…)

    March 5, 2008

    MEMO: M.S. Master’s Project Submission Guidelines

    FROM: Dean Cornog

    RE: M.S. Master’s Projects, March 2008

    The deadline for submitting your finished Master’s Project is Monday, March 24, at 10 a.m.

    Only those who have received a formal extension from your faculty adviser and the Dean of Students Office have permission to miss this deadline. All projects must be submitted to the DOS Office team who will be stationed in the Stabile Student Center that morning. You will be required to sign your name on the Master’s Project submission log when you turn in your final project.

    For those of you with an early deadline or who wish to submit your final project early, the DOS office will begin accepting final Master’s Project submissions as of 9 a.m., Monday, March 10 (with Yahaira Alonzo at the desk outside the offices of Deans Sreenivasan and Huff). Ms. Alonzo will be taking submissions during spring break ( 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., M-F).

    Your submitted project must conform to the following requirements, so follow these instructions carefully:

    1. You must write a first-person narrative of how you discovered, researched and reported your story. This will help future students see what goes into the making of a successful master’s project. This “P.S.” should be included with all copies of your Project, and should run no longer than 1,000 words. If confidentiality is a concern, before submitting the library copy, your narrative may be redacted or disguised to conceal specific, identifying information about individuals. For example, you may use “my main character” or “the protagonist” (or similar) instead of someone’s name. Include a copy of this narrative with all copies. If confidentiality is a concern and the above suggestion does not work, then withhold the “P.S.” from the library copy.
    Note: the true identity and contact information for all of your sources must be disclosed to your adviser and included on the source list that you submit to your adviser.

    2. Print three copies of your manuscript, or a verbatim broadcast script, double-spaced on one side of white paper, leaving a 1½- inch margin on the left-hand side and a 1-inch margin on all other sides. Do not use photographic paper as it does not meet preservation guidelines for library materials. Projects submitted on photo paper will be returned to the author in exchange for a plain-paper copy.

    3. You should submit a complete source list for your project. If you are not certain about the best way to cite a source, consult with your adviser. Be aware that source lists and your entire project, including the “P.S.” portion, will be available for reading and copying by all Journalism School library visitors. (Columbia University Libraries does not provide copies of master’s projects or theses via its interlibrary loan service.) As noted above, if you have confidentiality concerns with sources (i.e. names, phone numbers, personal addresses, etc.), you are responsible for removing the source list from the library copy.

    4. Pages must be numbered. Do not put any sort of binding on the project, and do not staple the pages.

    5. Include a separate title page with the following information: Your name, class year, the title of your project, the name of your master’s adviser, and, at the bottom of the page, add:

    Copyright
    (Name of Student)
    (Year)

    6. Put each copy in a new 9 x 11 ½ envelope. Label the front of each envelope with your name, your class year, the title of your project and the name of your adviser for the Master’s Project. Please be certain to clearly label the library copy.

    7. Submit all three copies to the DOS Office team in the Stabile Student Center on March 24. One copy will be returned to you with your instructor’s comments; another copy will be reserved for the library, and the third copy will be kept by your adviser.

    * Students submitting a Radio or Television/Video Project should
    include
    :

    • Two copies of your script
    • For Television, two copies of your project on DVD, plus a
      videotape copy if your adviser requests one
    • For Radio, two copies of your project on audio CD. In addition,
      provide your adviser a copy of the .wav file (i.e. the final mix
      “bounce,” on a data CD.

    For all projects, please make two copies, labeling all DVDs, CDs, tapes, and accompanying materials with complete project information (author(s), title, adviser). Indicate whether CDs are data or audio. The Technical Staff can assist television projects in making the DVDs from the final, edited tape. Be sure to give them plenty of advance notice if you need their assistance.

    * Students submitting a New Media project should include:

    • A cover page with your names, topic and URL, and a copyright statement.
    • A printout of each of your individual pages (even if some go beyond the margins - and black-and-white only, please).
    • A printed essay about how you approached your story, with tips for future students. In most cases, your “about us” should suffice (print it out separately if it does work as the “P.S.” described above).

    The library cannot store computer disks, and does not have the facilities for viewing their contents. A hyperlink will be made from the Masters Project Index web page to the project itself.

    You will be expected to submit the materials above AND upload your final websites to the servers by 10 a.m. on Monday, March 24.

    8. If you are submitting your master’s project earlier than the deadline, you must submit all copies to the DOS Office (to Yahaira Alonzo at the desk outside the offices of Deans Sreenivasan and Huff). You must also inform your adviser of the date you submitted the project.

    9. Keep a copy of your project for yourself. Neither the Journalism School nor the Journalism Library is able to provide on-demand copies of your work. You are expected to keep usable copies of your Master’s project for future reference. For print projects and transcripts, a hard copy is the best option.

    Please note, the DOS Office is closed from Friday at 5 p.m. till Monday at 9 a.m. If you cannot come to the school during business hours, you may mail your three copies to: Melanie Huff, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, 2950 Broadway, Room 207C, New York, NY 10027. Please note that they must arrive by Monday, March 24.

    February 18, 2008

    EVENT: Planning for Summer 2008

    Dear Continuing Students:

    For those of you NOT graduating this semester, we are hosting two summer information sessions:

    • Wednesday, February 27, 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Stabile Student Center
    • Tuesday, March 11, 6-7 p.m. in the Stabile Student Center.

    We will discuss what classes might be offered in the summer and how you can plan for your Master’s Projects (if you are thinking of doing it during the summer).

    It’s early enough that we haven’t finalized everything and this gives us a chance to get a sense of what you are interested in as well.

    We realize not everyone will be able to attend one of these events, so we will circulate via e-mail the information discussed in person.

    We will also be conducting an online survey.

    February 12, 2008

    GETTING THINGS DONE: Validation Stickers

    To pick up your CUID validation sticker for the new semester, please go to the 5th floor equipment room.

    Equipment room hours are Monday – Friday 8am to 8pm; Saturday 10am – 5pm

    February 11, 2008

    ASSISTANCE: Help for work/writer’s block

    Work Block Group Available

    Location: Counseling and Psychological Services: Lerner Hall 8th Floor

    Day and Time: Monday 1-3PM

    For 6 sessions: February 25, March 3,10,24, 31 and April 7

    To register or for more information contact Dr. William Sommer at 212 854
    2878 or email wgs2@columbia.edu

    December 14, 2007

    MEMO: M.S. Electives & Skills for M.A. Students

    Dear M.A. Students,

    As you know, you have the option to attempt to take one of your two spring electives at the Journalism School (list below; full course descriptions at
    http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/11/19/memo-spring-2008-curriculum/ )

    Please note that classes marked with “space available” are classes that are not yet at maximum enrollment. Entrance to the rest will require that a currently registered M.S. student drop the class.

    You are also eligible for the spring skills courses.

    To request these classes please use the Add/Drop process described beneath the elective list.

    Advanced Computer Assisted Reporting – Tom Torok [space available]
    Advanced Photojournalism - Sara Barrett
    Broadcast News Management - David McCormick and Lloyd Siegel [space available]
    Feature Writing A - Alexandra Peers [space available]
    Feature Writing B – Hugh Eakin [space available]
    Graphics in the Newsroom - Hannah Fairfield Wallander [space available]
    The International Newsroom – Ann Cooper
    Magazine Editing – Elizabeth Pochoda [space available]
    Narrative Writing A - Kevin Coyne
    Narrative Writing B – Jacob Levenson
    New Media Elective – Jennifer Brown & Jennifer Johnson
    News Editing – Nancy Sharkey
    Opinion Writing – Gwenda Blair [space available]
    Politics and the Press in America - Evan Cornog [space available]
    Radio Documentary – Alex Blumberg
    Sports Journalism – Sandy Padwe
    Tough Choices: Decision-Making in Journalism – Michael Shapiro
    Covering Ideas – Alexander Stille

    To request Journalism electives or skills courses, you must complete an Add/Drop form at http://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/AddDrop/

    The form will be active as of 7 a.m. on Tuesday, January 8.

    Please note that this is only a REQUEST and we cannot guarantee your request will be accommodated.

    On each Add/Drop request form you may request to add one class AND drop one class.

    M.A. students may complete just the “add” portion to request a skills or 3-point elective class.

    The Add/Drop request form will be available here as of 7 a.m. on Tuesday, January 8. Additional information on the Add/Drop request process is listed below. Please read it carefully before submitting a request form.

    IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ADD/DROP REQUESTS:

    The Add/Drop period Tuesday, January 8, at 7 a.m. to Friday, February 1, at 7 a.m.

    Add/Drop forms are processed on a first come, first served basis.

    If your form is submitted correctly you will receive a request confirmation e-mail within 24 hours. Please remember to include the @columbia.edu after your UNI.

    You will NOT receive an e-mail from our office saying that your request was granted or not granted.

    To learn if your request was granted, you must keep checking your class schedule on the web using https://ssol.columbia.edu/. All requests remain on file during the Add/Drop period.

    You do not need to submit multiple forms for the same Add/Drop request. If I am able to grant requests I do it as soon as possible but sometimes it takes days for a space to open in a class. Sometimes the space never opens up. In most cases, if you want to add a class I have to wait to see whether someone else wants to drop it.

    Please remember that you are submitting an Add/Drop REQUEST. There is no guarantee that I will be able to approve your request. Until you see a change reflected on your class schedule on STUDENT SERVICES ONLINE (https://ssol.columbia.edu/), your request has not been approved.

    If you have more than one preference, you may for a given course, in the notes section of the Add/Drop form, indicate so. Simply complete the add portion of the form with your first preference and in the notes section give me the same info about your second, third, etc., choices. You must include the call and course numbers if you indicate other preferences in the notes section.

    Also, please be certain that you are not requesting a class that conflicts with any of your other classes.

    The only way I will be able to approve most requests is by knowing which courses will be dropped by students. SAMPLE FORM BELOW (information is fictional)

    Sample Form

    Program/Contact Information (information below is fictional)

    Your Name: SUSIE J-SCHOOLER

    PID: C000000000

    E-mail: sjs2009@columbia.edu

    Phone: 917-123-4560

    Program: FT Master of Arts

    Please enter the details of the course you would like to add: (information for completing this section is at the Directory of Classes - see instructions at the top of the Add/Drop form)

    Class Number: J6987; Section Number: 20; Call Number: 81350

    Title: Journalism and the Grinch

    November 20, 2007

    MEMO: Spring 2008 Ballots

    Ballots go live at 7 a.m on Wednesday, November 21

    Welcome to the Spring Ballots for M.S. and Knight Bagehot Students

    Please carefully follow the instructions below.

    • First, please read the Fall Curriculum thoroughly (http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/11/19/memo-spring-2008-curriculum/). Some information has been added and some changed since the document became available.
    • You may read students’ evaluations of many of the classes and professors at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/journalism/evaluations/. You will have to log in using your UNI and password.
    • To complete the ballot you will need your Columbia e-mail address and PID (If you have lost your PID, please refer to http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2005/11/14/faq-how-do-i-find-my-pid/)
    • The ballots are NOT handled on a first-come, first-served basis. As long as you make the deadline (Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 7 a.m. ) you have equal standing with all other students.
    • If your ballot is received after the deadline, you will be placed in classes on a space available basis.
    • If you made a mistake or changed your mind, please resubmit your ballot. Your most recently-submitted ballot as of the deadline (Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 7 a.m.) will be the one processed.
    • If you experience any problems using the ballot, please send e-mail to dos@jrn.columbia.edu
    • Please note we cannot promise students they will gain a seat in any specific class.

    Spring 2008 Ballot

    November 19, 2007

    MEMO: Spring 2008 Curriculum

    Please note that this document is updated regularly! Last updated 12/13, 2:48 p.m.

    12/13/2007 Updates

    • Producing a Magazine B with Jim Kelly will meet on Fridays, 2:30-5:30 pm

    12/12/2007 Updates

    • Second section of Business Reporting added - Prof. Paul Ingrassia

    11/27/2007 Updates

    • Literary Journalism will meet Fridays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

    11/26/2007 Updates

    • Christopher Lehmann-Haupt will teach the Literary Journalism workshop
    • Elizabeth Pochoda will teach the Magazine Editing elective

    M.S. Spring 2008 Curriculum Guide

    TO: All M.S. Students
    FROM: David A. Klatell, Vice Dean
    RE: Spring Curriculum

    Here is the program of instruction for the spring term. Full-time M.S. students are required to take a 6-credit Reporting and Writing Seminar, a 6-credit Media Workshop, the Master’s Project and fulfill the requirement for a 3-credit journalism elective or an approved 3-credit graduate course outside the school.

    In addition, all full-time magazine concentrators will be automatically enrolled the Delacorte Evening Lecture Series (one-half credit). Part-time students concentrating in magazine may elect to take the lecture series in spring 2008 or 2009.

    Students should read this material thoroughly and, after discussing the options with their advisers and the various instructors, rank their preferences on the online ballot (available as of November 21, 7:00 a.m. from the DOS Blog).

    Enrollment in classes may be subject to the consent of instructors and most course enrollments are necessarily limited. As a result, some students may be assigned to classes that may not be among their top three picks. This is done as fairly and equitably as possible. If circumstances warrant, it may be possible to add a second section for certain classes, with different instructors. However, we cannot guarantee that we will add sections to any course, no matter the demand.

    The curriculum reflects the best judgment of the faculty and administration, based on our many years of experience, and is not a popularity contest. We reserve the right to add, delete or move courses (though we try to keep this to a minimum) and sometimes have to change instructors if schedule conflicts become intractable. Students are required to rank their preferences for seminars, workshops, and electives.

    Students should be aware that evaluations of courses by students in previous years are available for your perusal; they are available at www.columbia.edu/cu/journalism/evaluations/.

    The on-line ballot will be activated at 7:00 a.m., November 21. Your completed ballot must be submitted on line no later than November 28, 7 a.m. All ballots received during this time will be considered equal – this is not a “first-come, first-served” process.

    The Journalism School’s spring semester begins Tuesday, January 22, when the first draft of Master’s Projects must be submitted to your adviser by 10 a.m. Students completing broadcast or new media projects should consult with their advisers regarding the format of the first draft. Deadlines for subsequent master’s drafts have been set for February 25 and March 24, both days at 10 a.m. You will receive detailed instructions as those dates grow closer.

    Please Note: Wednesday, January 23 there will be a full-day of mandatory programming for full-time M.S. students; all others are welcome. Workshops begin Thursday, January 24 or Friday, January 25. Seminars begin either Monday, January 28 or Tuesday, January 29. Journalism School electives start Wednesday, January 30.

    Classes taught elsewhere in the University begin the week of January 22 (except for Law & Business School courses which may begin earlier). Be sure to check with your instructors for exact dates and times.

    Required courses for full-time students:
    1. Advanced Reporting and Writing Seminars (J6002y), 6 credits
    2. Media Workshops (J6011y), 6 credits
    3. Master’s Project II (J6041y), 3 credits
    4. Spring term electives (J6010y), 3 credits

    How a Week Looks in the Spring:

    • Monday and Tuesday: Reporting and writing Seminars
    • Wednesday: Most Electives and time for Master’s Projects
    • Thursday and Friday: Most Workshops
    • Saturday and Sunday: Some Electives and Workshops

    Note: Many courses require special class meetings (field trips, editorial meetings, etc.) in addition to the listed class time. All students, particularly those in the part-time program, should check with the faculty to ascertain if their course has such additional requirements. Many faculty members have posted these on the school web site, linked to their name on the faculty page or to the course description in this document.

    Advanced Reporting and Writing Seminars
    J6002y (6 credits)
    The disciplines of reporting and writing are structured around specialized subject areas or style techniques. These seminars usually require two full days each week on Monday and Tuesday - you should carefully check the schedule of each course by consulting the faculty or their class schedules posted on the web site.
    They are listed below with the instructors (see later pages for fuller course descriptions). Because accommodating all first choices is unlikely, students must indicate six choices. In filling out the ballots, students should list specific seminars in order of their preferences.
    Note: Admission to some seminars requires the instructor’s approval in advance (see course descriptions below). If you have been selected by Judith Crist, Sam Freedman, or Ari Goldman you will be asked to indicate so on your ballot. These classes will be filled prior to the ballot, so if you have not been pre-selected by the professor, you will not be able to submit a ballot requesting those classes.

    All professors are allowed to select 10 of the students who ballot for their class as a first choice; the remaining seats are filled by the Dean of Students office in a manner that is intended to equalize students’ success in getting at least some of their first-choice classes.

    The Seminars (J6002y):

    Workshops
    J6011y (6 credits):
    Media workshops include a number of options: broadcast (TV — Nightly News, Documentary, Magazine Production, and Radio), newspaper (Bronx Beat, Columbia News Service), magazine (Producing a Magazine, Magazine Writing, Literary Journalism) and New Media. Students devote at least two days each week, usually Thursday and Friday, to the workshop. Note: schedules vary widely, so you should check with the faculty member for details or his/her posting on the web site.

    All professors allowed to select 10 of the students who ballot for their class as a first choice; the remaining seats are filled by the Dean of Students office in a manner that is intended to equalize students’ success in getting at least some of their first-choice classes.

    The Workshops (J6011y)

    Master’s Project II
    J6041y (3 credits) — a continuation of Journalism J6040x

    Master’s Project Deadlines:

    • Jan. 22: First draft of all Master’s Projects (for audio/video projects, the “work cut”) will be handed in to your advisor by 10 a.m.
    • Feb. 25: Second draft of all Projects (for video projects, a “rough cut”) will be handed in to your advisor by 10 a.m.
    • Mar. 24: Final versions of all Projects handed to the Academic Dean’s office, in Room 701, by 10 a.m. No changes are allowed after this deadline. This copy is ultimately filed in the library.

    Note: These deadlines are strict and must be met. Your adviser may require additional deadlines and drafts.

    Electives
    6014y (3 credits)
    All full-time M.S. students are required to take an elective for at least three credits at the graduate level in the spring term — either inside or outside the school. Most Journalism electives meet once a week for lectures and/or seminar discussions, and require reading as well as written assignments. Outside electives must be approved by the Dean of Students office.

    For outside course information, please see: http://snipurl.com/1tn6z

    The Electives (6014y)

    Delacorte Evening Lecture Series
    J6050y (1/2 credit)
    Thursday 7pm - 8:30 p.m.
    FT magazine concentrators are automatically enrolled in the Delacorte Magazine Lectures, to be offered Thursday evenings 7-8:30 p.m. from February 7 through April 24. All other students are invited to attend. Part-time students concentrating in magazine may elect to take the Lecture Series in spring 2008 or 2009.

    InternshipJ6099y (1/2 credit, optional)
    Internships must be pre-approved by the Office of Career Services and the Dean of Students office. A student who undertakes an internship at a media organization can earn an additional academic one-half credit if the work consists of serious journalistic enterprise. At the conclusion of the internship, the student must submit a written description of what he or she has accomplished and learned in the internship, and an official of the media company must send a separate letter corroborating that and evaluating the student’s performance.

    SEE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS AFTER THE JUMP.
    (more…)

    October 18, 2007

    FAQ: When does Winter Break Begin?

    Q: When does winter break begin?
    A:
    The optimistically named “Winter break” officially starts Dec. 21 and ends on Jan. 21. But when you should leave and when you should return should be decided after you consult with your various professors, especially your Master’s Project/Thesis advisers.

    Please note that “Lucille’s Ball,” the annual SPJ holiday party and faculty roast is on Thursday, Dec. 13 - you will want to stay AT LEAST through that.

    Typically, students tend to leave the week following the party and return in the first few days after the New Year, so they can work on their Master’s Projects/Theses. Just FYI, I am encouraging my MP students to be back no later than the 4th.

    You can find the academic and DOS calendar by going to http://snurl.com/columbiacalendar

    October 17, 2007

    Getting it Fixed

    Please use the following e-mail addresses and links to report problems you encounter.

    • Building Problems: building@jrn.columbia.edu
    • Technical Problems (printers, computers, etc.): http://help.jrn.columbia.edu/helpdesk/WebObjects/Helpdesk
    • To reach the AV staff: av-request@jrn.columbia.edu
    • To reserve a room (primarily SPJ): room-request@jrn.columbia.edu

    August 31, 2007

    MEMO: Fall Academic Schedule

    Dear Students:

    A reminder about the Fall Academic Schedule.

    Please be sure to check your schedules at least once a day on SSOL for a couple of weeks - days, rooms, times, etc., may have changed.

    Highlights - when certain classes begin:
    (more…)

    August 13, 2007

    MEMO: SUMMER Master’s Project Guidelines - M.S.

    Please note, this memo is for PT students taking the Master’s Project during Summer 2007 only.

    FROM: Dean Klatell

    RE: M.S. Summer Master’s Projects, September 2007

    Unless you have received a formal extension from your faculty adviser and the Dean of Students Office, the deadline for submitting your Master’s Project is Friday, September 7, at 10 a.m. All projects should be submitted to the Dean’s Suite, 701, on the 7th floor. You will be required to sign your name on the Master’s Project submission log (at the reception desk outside of Dean Klatell’s office) when you turn in your final project.

    For those of you with an early deadline or who wish to submit your final project early, the Dean’s Office will begin accepting final Master’s Project submissions as of 9 a.m., Monday, August 20.

    Your submitted project must conform to the following requirements, so follow these instructions carefully:

    1. You must write a first-person narrative of how you discovered, researched and reported your story. This will help future students see what goes into the making of a successful master’s project. This “P.S.” should be included with all copies of your Project, and should run no longer than 1,000 words. If confidentiality is a concern, before submitting the library copy, your narrative may be redacted or disguised to conceal specific, identifying information about individuals. For example, you may use “my main character” or “the protagonist” (or similar) instead of someone’s name. Include a copy of this narrative with all copies. If confidentiality is a concern and the above suggestion does not work, then withhold the “P.S.” from the library copy.
    Note: the true identity and contact information for all of your sources must be disclosed to your adviser and included on the source list that you submit to your adviser.

    2. Print three copies of your manuscript, or a verbatim broadcast script, double-spaced on one side of white paper, leaving a 1½- inch margin on the left-hand side and a 1-inch margin on all other sides. Do not use photographic paper as it does not meet preservation guidelines for library materials. Projects submitted on photo paper will be returned to the author in exchange for a plain-paper copy.

    3. You should submit a complete source list for your project. If you are not certain about the best way to cite a source, consult with your adviser. Be aware that source lists and your entire project, including the “P.S.” portion, will be available for reading and copying by all Journalism School library visitors. (Columbia University Libraries does not provide copies of master’s projects or theses via its interlibrary loan service.) As noted above, if you have confidentiality concerns with sources (i.e. names, phone numbers, personal addresses, etc.), you are responsible for removing the source list from the library copy.

    4. Pages must be numbered. Do not put any sort of binding on the project, and do not staple the pages.

    5. Include a separate title page with the following information: Your name, class year, the title of your project, the name of your master’s adviser, and, at the bottom of the page, add:

    Copyright
    (Name of Student)
    (Year)

    6. Put each copy in a new 9 x 11 ½ envelope. Label the front of each envelope with your name, your class year, the title of your project and the name of your adviser for the Master’s Project. Please be certain to clearly label the library copy.

    7. Submit in all three copies to the Dean’s Suite (701) on the 7th floor. One copy will be returned to you with your instructor’s comments; another copy will be reserved for the library, and the third copy will be kept by your adviser .

    Students submitting a Broadcast Project should include:

    • Two copies of your script
    • Two copies of your project on DVD, plus a videotape copy if your adviser requests one.
      The Technical Staff can assist you in making the DVDs from the final, edited tape. Be sure to give them plenty of advance notice if you need their assistance. For all Projects on audio tape, CD or DVD: please make two copies, labeling all DVDs, tapes, and accompanying materials with complete project information (author(s), title, adviser).

    Students submitting a New Media project should include:

    • A cover page with your names, topic and URL, and a copyright statement.
    • A printout of each of your individual pages (even if some go beyond the margins).
    • A printed essay about how you approached your story, with tips for future students. In most cases, your “about us” should suffice (print it out separately if it does work as the “P.S.” described above).
      The library cannot store computer disks, and does not have the facilities for viewing their contents. A hyperlink will be made from the Masters Project Index web page to the project itself.

    8. If you are submitting your master’s project earlier than the deadline, you must still submit all copies to the Dean’s Office. You must also inform your adviser of the date you submitted the project.

    9. Keep a copy of your project for yourself. Neither the Journalism School nor the Journalism Library is able to provide on-demand copies of your work. You are expected to keep usable copies of your Master’s project for future reference. For print projects and transcripts, a hard copy is the best option.

    Please note, the Dean’s Suite is closed from Friday at 5 p.m. till Monday at 9 a.m. If you cannot come to the school during business hours, you may mail your three copies to: Melanie Huff, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, 2950 Broadway, Room 703, New York, NY 10027. Please note that they must arrive by Friday, September 7

    ***

    July 23, 2007

    REGISTRATION: Balloting Closed for Fall 2007

    The deadline to submit a course preference ballot for Fall 2007 has passed.

    Full-time M.S. students who missed the deadline will be placed in classes on a space available basis. They may attempt to change these classes via the add/drop process that begins on Monday August 27, 10 a.m.

    Part-time and M.A. (skills only) who missed the deadline will be placed in classes via the add/drop process only.

    July 16, 2007

    MEMO: Fall 2007 Ballots Go Live

    Fall Ballots go live at 10 a.m., Monday, July 16.

    Please carefully follow the instructions below.

    First, M.S. students please read the Fall Curriculum thoroughly (http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/07/03/fall-2007-curriculum/).

    You may read students’ evaluations of many of the classes and professors at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/journalism/evaluations/. You will have to log in using your UNI and password.

    Please select from the two options below the appropriate ballot for you.

    To complete the ballot you will need your Columbia e-mail address and PID (If you have lost your PID, please refer to http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2005/11/14/faq-how-do-i-find-my-pid/)

    The ballots are NOT handled on a first-come, first-served basis. As long as you make the deadline (Monday, July 23, 10 a.m.) you have equal standing with all other students.

    NOTE: Ranking the same class as your first choice repeatedly DOES NOT increase your likelihood of getting into that class. Rather it means that we will randomly select your class (or adviser) if we are not able to give you your first choice.

    Those who miss the ballot deadline will be placed in classes on a space available basis. If you made a mistake or changed your mind, please resubmit your ballot. Your most recently-submitted ballot as of the deadline (Monday, July 23, 10 a.m.) will be the one processed.

    If you experience any problems using the ballot, please send e-mail to dos@jrn.columbia.edu Please note we cannot promise students they will gain a seat in any specific class.

    The ballot for FT M.S. students is at http://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/FT_MS_Ballots

    The ballot for PT M.S. students and M.A. students is at http://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/MA-PTBallot/

    Please answer all questions carefully.

    July 3, 2007

    CURRICULUM: Fall 2007

    Fall 2007 Curriculum

    TO: All M.S. Students
    FROM: David A. Klatell, Vice Dean
    RE: M.S. Instructional Program

    Note: The Fall 2007 Ballots will be live linked from the DOS blog as of Monday, July 16, 10 a.m. The deadline for submission is Monday, July 23, 10 a.m. Students are automatically registered for the following courses: RWI, Critical Issues, Journalism, the Law & Society, U.S. as a Foreign Country (international students). Courses for which students are allowed to express preferences (depending on concentration/Stabile) via the ballot include Skills, RWIIs and the Master’s Project.

    To all of you who are new, welcome to the Graduate School of Journalism. The faculty, administrators and staff are glad that you have chosen to study with us, and we look forward to working with you and our continuing part-time students. You are joining a community of teachers and learners who are dedicated to the highest ideals and aspirations of journalism. We believe that journalism is an integral part — the glue, really — of a free, open and well-informed society.

    By choosing to attend the school, you have entered into what amounts to a contract with us. It binds us together in pursuit of a shared goal: to give you the finest opportunity to understand and master the craft of journalism. The school will do its part by providing faculty members who are accomplished professional journalists and educators, offering a curriculum that is varied and flexible, setting and upholding the highest standards of ethics, nurturing in you the core principles of the professional journalist, and serving as an example to working professionals. Your responsibilities include a devotion to achieving and sustaining excellence in your work, always behaving in an honorable and professional manner, whether with faculty, peers, sources or the public and above all, to telling the truth. The school works best when we work together in an atmosphere of mutual trust, respect and professionalism.

    The school cannot, however, be all things to all people. We cannot, for example, promise students they will gain a seat in any specific class, no matter how ardently they seek entry, as some classes and instructors receive many more applications than can be accepted. What we do promise, however, is that the great breadth of our offerings and the strength of the teaching faculty will permit all students access to outstanding classes and teachers. Similarly, we cannot promise students a job upon graduation. Many factors beyond our control will influence the relative success of each graduate. A Columbia degree does not — nor should you expect it to — guarantee immediate professional success or placement in “the job you’ve always wanted.” If you come to the school with such unrealistic expectations, it will diminish your appreciation for your own progress, strengths and weaknesses, as well as damage your relationship with faculty and colleagues.

    You will be participating in a unique form of self-guided education. The skills of the interviewer, reporter, writer and producer develop differently and at a different pace in every person, so you will have to rely on your intellect, dedication, motivation and creativity to solve the problems journalists frequently confront. In addition, you will spend many hundreds of hours in the lesser-known residential communities throughout New York City, trying to understand and report about people quite unlike yourself. We immerse students in all aspects of community reporting, so you will be finding and developing stories almost from your first day. Be prepared to open your mind, eyes, ears — and heart — to the successes and failures of residents new and old, as they struggle to cope with this metropolis.

    To help you make appropriate decisions, I have prepared this detailed letter. It describes the instructional program for the Fall semester for full-time and part-time M.S. candidates and answers many questions about the school. Candidates for the M.A. will receive a separate communication detailing the academic program, and they are to ignore this document. You should also carefully consult the school’s Bulletin, available on the Web or in hard copy. It contains much valuable information about courses, faculty, academic regulations and other important matters. You are responsible for reading and obeying our policies related to academic discipline and professional conduct.

    You may read students’ evaluations of many of the classes and professors at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/journalism/evaluations/. You will have to log in using your UNI and password, about which you’ve already received information.

    You can help to determine your own schedule by the preferences you indicate, based on what’s in this letter. Assistant Dean of Students Melanie Huff must receive the preference ballot by July 23, 10 a.m. The ballot must be submitted online (the ballot link will appear in the DOS Blog). Please note: if you are submitting writing samples to apply for Judith Crist’s course, these, too, must be received by Dean Huff by July 23; you should e-mail them to her (mailto:mgh2@columbia.edu) as the body of your document - not as an attachment. If you are sending a hard copy of your writing samples, address it to Melanie Huff, Assistant Dean of Students, Graduate School of Journalism, 2950 Broadway, Mail Code 3800, New York, NY 10027.

    The academic year for all new, full-time M.S. candidates who are broadcast or new media concentrators begins promptly August 6, at 9 a.m. The formal orientation for all M.S. students is August 16 & 17. All students are expected to be in the Lecture Hall on the third floor of the Journalism School by 9 a.m. You should plan to arrive early (check-in and the distribution of I.D. cards begins at 8:15 a.m.), as we will begin on time. A packet of information with your name on it, containing schedules for orientation and classes will be available in the lobby. Members of the school’s staff will be on hand to answer questions and offer help.

    Orientation will be short, and real work begins the first day. It is extremely important that you are prepared to begin classes and writing assignments immediately. You will be required to attend classes, work on assignments and participate in seminars and other activities five days and several evenings per week. You will be busy, so plan accordingly.

    Full-time M.S. students will be placed in each required course: Reporting and Writing I (RWI); Critical Issues in Journalism; Journalism, the Law and Society; U.S. as a Foreign Country (for internationals), so these do not appear on your ballot. You may indicate a preference for a RWII 3-credit Elective (print students only); and the Master’s Project, but there is no assurance that you will be placed in that instructor’s section. Please be certain to fill out the correct ballot completely, and to submit it by the deadline to be considered for the course(s) you request; seats are assigned on a space-available basis. We cannot promise that you will get your first choice.

    In addition, each student must take at least one of the Journalism Skills 5-week mini-courses: Radio, Television, New Media, Photojournalism or Computer-Assisted Reporting (CAR). Stabile investigative students will automatically be enrolled in a special, 10-week Investigative Skills taught by Professor Coronel.

    Part-time Broadcast students may opt to take Radio skills on a non-credit (free) basis (please contact Dean Huff for instructions; do not request the class on your ballot).

    The Skills courses all meet in the evening or on Saturday. Students may try to add an additional skills course during the add/drop period provided they do not exceed 19 credits during the term. However, this should be undertaken with extreme caution, as the total work load of your courses will be far greater than most students anticipate. The “Skills” mini-courses cannot be used as a substitute for the RWII Elective.

    Remember that you must fill out the ballot (the ballot link will appear on the DOS Blog - http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/ - as of 10 a.m. on June 16). Assistant Dean of Students Melanie Huff must receive your ballot by 10 a.m., July 23. All ballots meeting the deadline will be treated equally. If your ballot is received after the deadline, you will be placed in classes on a space-available basis in the order in which late ballots are received.

    In September, we will welcome the arrival of candidates for the Ph.D., as well as the Fellows of the Knight-Bagehot Program in Business and Economic Journalism, and students enrolled in the M.A. program. You will also get to meet and share classes with the nearly 100 members of the part-time M.S. program. As second or third-year students, they are a valuable resource for information about courses, instructors and coping with the school and city. When everyone is assembled, we - faculty, adjuncts, fellows and students - will be a community of more than three hundred fifty journalists, one of the largest in the nation.

    The Program of Instruction and Related Information

    Overview

    Following is the program of instruction for candidates for the Master of Science in Journalism. Each student, either full-time or part-time, is required to take the courses listed below. Limited variations may be authorized by Dean of Students Sreenath Sreenivasan or Assistant Dean Melanie Huff. For full-time students, the minimum credit load per term is 16 credits, with the maximum being 19 (the loads of part-time students vary; they should consult with Bruce Porter, their program coordinator.) To graduate, students must complete all required courses, accumulate at least 30 graduate credits (most will earn more,) and pass the four “core” courses: Reporting and Writing I, the Master’s Project, the Spring Reporting/Writing Seminar and the Spring Media Workshop. A student who fails any two courses, or the same course twice, will be dismissed.

    The Faculty of the School of Journalism reserves the right to withhold a degree from any student it deems unworthy because of poor performance or unprofessional behavior. Faking a story, making up quotes, or plagiarizing constitute grounds for instant dismissal. Professors and adjuncts have the authority to check on your sources and source material. All deadlines must be met. Students may not turn in the same assignment in two different courses without the prior knowledge and approval of the instructors of both courses.

    We expect students to read newspapers and magazines, watch newscasts and listen to the radio so that they are familiar with issues, ideas and people making news. Spot news quizzes will be given during the school year. Poor performance can result in faculty review, and ultimately, dismissal.

    Students must act professionally at all times, on and off campus. They are expected to attend all classes and complete all assignments. If unable to do so, they must notify the Assistant Dean of Students and their instructors prior to the scheduled meeting of each class or assignment.

    Students who fail to adhere to the school’s policies may receive an official “academic warning.” If the problem persists, the student may be placed on “probation,” or ultimately, dismissed from the school.

    While most courses are required of all students, flexibility within the requirements enables students to determine a specific emphasis or direction, e.g., urban or international reporting, print or broadcast, for their individual programs. Thus, students should look at the possibilities for the year as a whole when considering their goals. Most courses, such as the specialized seminars, have limited enrollments to assure optimum teaching conditions. Occasionally these courses are oversubscribed; while every effort is made to satisfy first choices, some students will, at times, have to accept choices they have ranked lower on their ballot, or a second section of a chosen course taught by a different instructor.

    For guidance in achieving their objectives, students should consult early and frequently with their RWI professors, who will serve as their principal adviser for the school year, or with the Dean of Students Office. Each student also will have an adviser for the Master’s Project. The school assumes that the student seeking advice will initiate contact with his/her adviser.

    The schedule is busy and tight throughout the year and involves much coming and going, both inside and outside the school. Full-time students should expect to be occupied with schoolwork most of the time Monday through Friday and during many weekends. Some missed class work may be made up on weekends. (Note: Many courses require frequent use of subways, buses and cell phones. Some courses require substantial amounts of long-distance telephoning, an additional expense that students have to assume; such a consideration might affect course selections.)

    To request additions or changes to your schedule, you must submit an online add/drop form (the add/drop link will appear in the Academic Links section of the Student Resources page as of Monday, August 27, 10 a.m.). The add/drop period runs from Monday August 27, 9 a.m. to Friday, September 14, 9 a.m. Add/Drop requests ARE handled on a first-come, first-served basis and we are not able to guarantee that we will be able to accommodate your request.

    Grades

    The Journalism School has a Pass-Fail system of formal grading. It aims at encouraging students to perform as well as they can, without competing with classmates. In most courses (some electives excepted), students receive written evaluations of their work from the instructors. Copies of these evaluations are kept in the Dean of Students Office.

    In RWI, written evaluations are issued at midterm and at the end of the semester. These preliminary evaluations indicate students’ early progress and, if necessary, serve as a warning if any students are in danger of failing. Students who are not doing passing work are placed on probation. If a student’s work is passing at midterm but deteriorates after the midterm evaluation, the instructor will give written notice of possible failure and inform the faculty.

    RWI is the most important Fall course. The decision to pass or fail a student in that course is determined solely by the instructor(s). No grades of incomplete are allowed in RWI. Other required courses-such as Journalism, the Law and Society-are important, too. Inattention can result in failure. Students also should note that the “Skills” mini-courses are meant to be taken very seriously. The faculty reserves the right to dismiss a student who fails the same course twice or two courses, regardless of the credit points of the courses.

    Deadlines for the Master’s Project drafts are strictly enforced. The Faculty retains the right to fail or place on probation a student who fails to meet deadlines for the Master’s Project.

    No student is permitted to graduate while still on probation.

    At graduation, the honors list is announced, recognizing approximately 15 percent of the students for superior performance in multiple courses, as measured by the number of instances each student has been designated for “honors in class.” Students are informed of the honors designation. The faculty determines the honors list by comparing and discussing each student’s complete record. The faculty also awards more than a dozen special prizes at graduation, including five Pulitzer Traveling Fellowships for overall performance during the academic year

    Summer Reading and Preparation

    Upon arrival you will be given The Elements of Style and The Associated Press Stylebook. We also suggest you review a grammar handbook and bring it with you. Poor grammar and usage are unacceptable. So is poor spelling. We have noticed a decline in skills in these areas during the past several years and we urge you to work hard this summer to improve your mastery of the language.

    We also urge you to get into the habit of reading daily newspapers and following important news events in other media. Most new organizations in the city maintain excellent web sites, which offer a convenient way to begin learning the neighborhoods, issues, officials and personalities likely to be important to your reporting in all classes. If you have a foreign language skill, you’d be wise to brush up. For example, even a little conversational Spanish can be helpful in street reporting.

    Students should know about the City of New York, and about the reporting and writing techniques they will use to cover the city. Each professor decides whether or not to use one or more textbooks.

    To assist students in arriving with a basic understanding of the twists and turns of the city that will serve as their laboratory for the subsequent 10 months, we recommend that you read most of Robert Caro’s The Power Broker (New York: Knopf, 1974). E.B. White’s short work, Here Is New York, (Harper & Brothers Publishers, New York, 1949), also is recommended. It can be found in most libraries and in his collected essays.

    Additional Suggested Reading

    Students may wish to deepen their knowledge of the history and dynamics of New York City — the complex laboratory they will explore for the academic year. Here are some books recommended by the faculty:
    • American Institute of Architects: AIA Guide to New York City (New York: Macmillan, 1968)
    • Jervis Anderson: This Was Harlem: A Cultural Portrait 1900-1950 (New York: Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 1991)
    • Meyer Berger: The Eight Million, Journal of a New York Correspondent (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1942)
    • Samuel G. Freedman: Small Victories: The Real World of a Teacher, Her Students and Their High School (HarperTrade, 1991)
    • Alex Haley: The Autoboigraphy of Malcolm X (Mass Market/Paperback, Reissue 1989)
    • Pete Hamill: Snow in August (Little Brown, 1997)
    • Clifton Hood: 722 Miles: The Building of the Subways (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1993)
    • Thomas Kessner: Fiorello H. LaGuardia and the Making of Modern New York (McGraw-Hill, 1989)
    • A.J. Liebling: Back Where I Came From (North Point Press, 1990)
    • Willie Morris: New York Days (Little, Brown, 1993)
    • Jack Newfield and Wayne Barrett: City for Sale (Harper & Row, 1988)
    • Diane Ravitch: The Great School Wars of New York City 1805-1973 (Basic Books, 1974)
    • David Rogers: 110 Livingston Street: Politics and Bureaucracy in the New York City Schools (Random House, 1968)
    • Luc Sante: Low Life (Vintage, 1992)
    • Jim Sleeper: The Closest of Strangers: Liberalism and the Politics of Race in New York (W.W. Norton, 1990)
    • Lloyd Ultan: The Beautiful Bronx 1920-1950 (Arlington House, 1979)
    • Elliot Willensky: When Brooklyn Was the World, 1920-1957 (Harmony Books, 1986)
    • Tom Wolfe: Bonfire of the Vanities (Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1988)
    • The WPA Guide to New York City: The Federal Writers’ Project (Pantheon Books, 1982)

    Specialized Curriculum Concentrations

    The school offers four media concentrations: Newspaper, Broadcasting, Magazine and New Media, as well as the Stabile Investigative Journalism specialization. Although the choice of a Spring-term workshop is the primary factor in determining a concentration, some concentrations include Fall-term requirements. Students are assigned to concentrations based on their original applications to the School.

    Before completing a ballot, all new FULL-TIME M.S. students must double check their concentrations at the concentration website; URL to be distributed shortly. The only switches possible are for those who want to leave broadcast or new media for print, ie, newspaper/magazine. If you are a broadcast or new media student who wants to move to print, please send e-mail to dos@jrn.columbia.edu and we will approve you to fill out a print ballot. For those with an interest in switching to broadcast or new media, we have a waitlist you can join by sending e-mail to dos@jrn.columbia.edu. Those who complete a ballot for a concentration other than the one to which they are assigned will have their classes assigned randomly in the correct concentration.

    Newspaper
    Students with a newspaper concentration take the regular, 6-credit version of RWI in the Fall and a Newspaper Workshop in the Spring, either the Bronx Beat or the Columbia News Service.

    Broadcast
    Full-time students who concentrate in this discipline must take the 8-credit broadcast version of RWI in the all and one of the broadcast workshops offered in the Spring. Some broadcast students choose to take Broadcast Management as their spring elective. Part-time students take a separate print RWI, followed by TV Reporting and Writing, offered in the fall.

    Magazine
    Magazine journalism cour