Public relations
The master's degree in public relations attracts
the new and older, associate professor Jeanette Drake said.
Those interested are either students straight from the bachelor's
program or professionals who have been in the field anywhere from
three to 15 years, she said.
One aspect of way the program works that interests professionals
is that it doesn't mean they have to stop what they are doing to
take the classes, she said, if they take classes part-time. A full-time
student could finish the program in 18 months she said. Part-time,
it would only take two to three years.
The program is ideal for someone who wants to focus his or her skills.
"Public relations is such a broad field," Drake said.
"For someone who'd like to specialize, they can do that. (There's)
crisis communication, financial relations or any number of relations."
The bachelor's studies don't go very far in-depth, she said. The
graduate program gives that depth, as well as develop skills with
new technology.
Online courses are also available for the PR grad program. Drake
said there are even podcasts, called "Podcasts with the Pros,"
which are lectures by PR professionals, for students to learn from.
"They hear about strategy, working with the media, hearing
it from the horse's mouth," she said. "It's like bringing
in a guest speaker."
International
Relations
Both graduate and undergraduate students
will have the chance to learn from international students through
the partnership between JMC and Al-Ahram Canadian University in
Egypt.
Assistant professor Max Grubb has been working
to develop a master's degree with the relatively new university.
They are still working out the details of the program, he said,
but the staff at Al-Ahram Canadian University is excited to work
with JMC.
The joint master's program would give the Egyptian students a Kent
State degree, he said. Students would first study at their home
university and then come to Kent State for another third. Finally,
they would complete an online portion of the degree.
"It enhances our program," Grubb said. "Students
would get another perspective on events, particularly the Middle
East. That helps American students broaden their horizons."
The
professional view
Ed Esposito is the news director of Rubber City Radio Group in Akron.
He has received a number of journalism awards for his work throughout
his career in radio and television news.
Esposito also worked in politics for about six years. He does not have a master's degree, nor does he have a bachelor's degree. Esposito attended classes at Kent State for one year before getting his start in radio broadcasting at a radio station in Virginia. He said there have been times when he's thought about going back to college, but he said nobody has ever asked him if he has a degree.
"College
doesn't teach you to do a job," he said. "It teaches you
to think. It teaches you to be a leader in your profession, so you
can have an impact on the industry."
The industry is changing fast. Many professionals are going back
to college to "catch up" and learn skills that weren't
available before convergence.
Howard Fencl is the assistant news director for WKYC-TV in Cleveland.
He said he looked at a number of programs before deciding to get
a master's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Sociology
and Creative Writing. He has nearly completed his master's degree
and plans to graduate in May 2008 from Hiram College.
"A master's degree puts the corners and edges on life experience,"
he said. "Without it, my approach to challenges would not be
as broad or as rich."
Fencl said the experience he gained from higher education directly
benefits him as a news manager. When he's talking to a reporter
about a story assignment, he may ask questions that provoke the
other person to think about how to tell the story a different way.
"You've got to take knowledge and weave it into life experience."
Fencl balances a career, family and school by riding the bus to
and from work. In fact, he said he's done most of his grad school
reading on the bus.
"Using public transportation is a great opportunity to read
and to listen to others," he said.
As a news manager, he said he doesn't put more weight on a master's
degree than work experience when he interviews job applicants.
"Passion is more important. If the person is energetic and
bright and excited by challenge, I look at that first," he
said.
Some professionals in television, radio and public relations say
they don't need a master's degree to advance in their careers.
"I believe professional development serves as a form of education,"
said Leigh Greenfelder, vice president of Highland PR.
Greenfelder graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ashland University with
a bachelor's degree in Public Communications. She said getting that
first work experience is "key" whether it's volunteering
to help a non-profit write a pitch letter, a brochure, a press release
or developing a marketing plan.
She said membership in professional associations and attending
seminars are both great ways to gain practical experience.
Greenfelder said she would consider hiring someone with work experience,
before she considered hiring someone who had two degrees of higher
education with no previous work experience. She did say, however,
that she would consider someone with a master's degree and work
experience first.
"Experience trumps a master's degree to a certain level."
Mark Williamson is the City of Akron Director of Communications
and the mayor’s press secretary. He's also worked as a TV
news anchor and news director. Williamson received his bachelor's
degree in communications from the University of Akron.
"Those who work in PR or marketing can't get by on natural
talent -- school is essential," he said. "College teaches
you the 'why.'"
-- Evan Bailey, Kim Graves and Bryan Wroten for The Co-Lab
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