When I chose to major in Communications at Springfield College in Illinois I expected I would graduate with a Bachelor's degree and be ready for the workforce. I hope that is the case. However, right now it would be hard to be prepared to have a career in the Communications field with the computer software knowledge and experience I have gained thus far from Springfield College/Benedictine University.
Springfield College in Illinois has recently changed its name to Benedictine University. Our sister school in Lisle seems to make most executive decisions for both campuses. One thing that has not been changed or updated recently is the equipment we use every day to try and get an education. I am sitting here typing on a table with a Dell desk top that took six minutes to turn on. According to the sticker on the side of the machine, it is more than seven years old. The programs on this computer consist of Microsoft Word, Windows Media Player, and Adobe Player. I've used these programs since typing class in the 4th grade.
Our Communications class is requesting that we get some help to upgrade our equipment. If we are expected to learn and graduate with the necessary classes to have a bachelor's degree, we need to have the necessary equipment to do so.
There are several arts schools in the country and the most well-known is Savannah College of Art and Design. There, Film and digital media students work with equipment found at major production and postproduction facilities, and use digital technology, nonlinear editing systems, digital audio workstations and comprehensive labs for screenwriting, scheduling and budgeting. Production facilities and equipment include Steadicam EFP, Super Panther and Fisher dollies, chroma key/green studio and sound stage. Students have access to high-end Avid Media Composer Nitris DX and Symphony Nitris DX editing suites. Cameras include Red One digital 4k cameras, Panavision Panaflex G2 cameras, Ariflex 416 and 35 mm Ariflex and 35 mm MovieCam.
http://www.scad.edu/
I am more interested in the Photography area of communications and at Savannah they use high-tech equipment and Macintosh computers as well. More locally, The University of Illinois at Springfield offers many different degrees in the Communications field with the assistance of more advanced software and technology.
Mary, a Communications student at University of Illinois- Springfield says, "We have a great program here. The equipment we use is high-speed, up to date, and capable of teaching us what we need to learn."
After contacting the Communications/Design program at Robert Morris I found out they use MAC computers as well.
When students and faculty members showed interest in using MAC computers, a faculty member reported taht we would not be using them because "sister school" in Lisle does not use MAC computers. OK, so it doesn't seem like we will be able to use MACs. The school needs to figure out a way to bring in extra money to boost our department. It is important that we (current students) and future students have the opportunity to make the school proud. How would we make them proud if their graduates cannot even find a job in the workforce due to their lack of education?
For the past two years I have been very happy with Benedictine University. The staff and instructors are wonderful, everybody is up-beat, and I have felt like the education I've received has been adequate, and I love that the class sizes are small.
It would be really nice to use the programs that our future employer's use such as Adobe Premier for movie making, Video Studio Pro X3, Avid, and Final Cut Pro- just to name a few.
I was able to talk to a recently hired employee at the Illinois Times who has a Bachelor's degree in Marketing with a minor in Communications. When I asked about the experience he had to help him get the job, Jonathon told me, " I had recently graduated college and had been working for an Advertising Agency in Missouri. There I was able to learn how to work with, design, and even sell advertisements. In college, we were educated on several different computer softwares both for MAC's and PC's. I feel like Macintosh provides better software to work with in this field." Jonathon attended St. Louis University for four years.
With the technology upgrade we hope for, and experience we wish to build, it would be nice to find myself working happily in a local company in less than two years. Some prospective employers that have recently hired people with communications degrees include, the State of Illinois, City of Springfield, the State Journal Register, Horace Mann Insurance Companies, WICS Channel 20 & WAND, and the FBI.
I hope to one day have a career in one of these companies, or somewhere similar. I am very interested in photo journalism because I like to take photos and I like to write. I hope that I am prepared by the time I graduate to have a career like one of these. Let's make our school proud by doing so!
http://www.uis.edu/communication/about/degree.html
Above is a link that goes to the University of Illinois at Springfield's web site concentrating on their Communications department. By looking around, you are able to see their class requirements, prospective careers and employers, and much more.
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