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American University School of Communication

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School of Communication (SOC)


The McKinley Building, where the School of Communication is housed
TypePrivate
Established1893 as Department of Communication. 1984 becomes School of Communication. Independent of the College of Arts and Sciences in 1993
Parent institution
American University
DeanMarnel Niles Goins
Academic staff
54 full-time[1]
Students1441 (Spring 2024)
Undergraduates1110 (Spring 2024)
Postgraduates331 (Spring 2024)
Location
Washington
,
District of Columbia
,
United States
CampusSuburban
Websitehttps://american.edu/soc
This is an outside view of the newest addition to the McKinley Building

The School of Communication (SOC) is American University's school of mass communication, media studies and journalism, founded originally as the Department of Communication in 1893 with the founding of the university. It is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.

The school offers six undergraduate majors: communication studies, journalism, public relations and strategic communication, photography, and communication, language, and culture (the last two jointly administered with the College of Arts and Sciences) along with a minor in communication.[2] In addition, interdisciplinary degrees such as communications, law, economics and government (CLEG, which is housed in the School of Public Affairs), take classes within SOC. SOC offers 12 graduate programs, including one PhD and one graduate certificate.[3] Undergraduates in any major at AU are given the opportunity to complete a combined bachelor's/master's within SOC.[4]

History

The Department of Communication was founded in 1893 in the College of Liberal Arts, the predecessor to the College of Arts and Sciences. In 1984, it became the School of Communication[5] and in 1993, SOC left CAS to become the sixth academic unit of AU. It is the second-newest school, after the School of Education, which became independent of CAS in 2019.

The School of Communication is headquartered in the McKinley Building, which was built in 1907, making it the second building on campus,[6] and named after President William McKinley. It was completely renovated in 2012 and reopened in 2014. McKinley houses specialized classrooms, multi-purpose learning spaces, computer labs supporting digital imaging, online content creation, motion graphics, multichannel audio, and full HD video editing.[7]

Sam Fulwood III, a journalist, author and public policy analyst, was named dean of SOC on January 11, 2021.[8][9] Fulwood was the school's first Black dean. SOC successes under Fulwood included "the Pulitzer Prize shared by 8 SOC graduate students as part of a Washington Post-winning reporting team, the launch of the student-led integrated communications agency SOC3, and the establishment of an SOC/ESPN fellowship program for investigative and enterprise journalism."[10][11] He left the role in May 2023 for an undisclosed reason.

Leena Jayaswal, professor in Film & Media Arts, director of the Photography BA program and former associate dean for faculty affairs, took over as interim dean for the 2023-24 school year.[12]

Dr. Marnel Niles Goins, a communication scholar who was dean of the College of Sciences and Humanities and professor of Communication at Marymount University, was named dean of SOC on May 7, 2024.[13][14]

Divisions and Centers

SOC has four academic divisions:[15]

  • Journalism, which offers a BA in Journalism, MA in Journalism & Public Affairs and MA in Journalism & Storytelling.[16]
  • Film and Media Arts, which offers a BA in Film & Media Arts, BA in Photography, MFA in Film & Media Arts, MA in Film & Media Production, MA in Producing Film, Television & Video, MA in Game Design, MFA in Games & Interactive Media and Graduate Certificate in Game Design.[17][18]
  • Public Communication, which offers a BA in Public Relations & Strategic Communication, MA in Strategic Communication and MA in Political Communication.[19]
  • Communication Studies, which offers a BA in Communication Studies, MA in Media, Technology and Democracy and PhD in Communication Studies.

SOC houses two nonprofit newsrooms, the Investigative Reporting Workshop (IRW) and the trade journal Current, and five academic centers: the Center for Environmental Filmmaking, Center for Media and Social Impact, AU Game Center, Internet Governance Lab and Institute for Immersive Designs, Experiences, Applications, and Stories (Institute for IDEAS).[20]

Notable alumni

See also: List of American University people

Notable faculty

References

  1. ^ "American University School of Communication Our Story". 7 May 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  2. ^ "SOC Undergraduate Degrees & Programs". American University. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  3. ^ "SOC Graduate Degrees & Programs". American University. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  4. ^ "Graduate Application Information". American University. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  5. ^ "AU History". American University. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  6. ^ "Early Buildings". Eagle Lore: Windows into American University History. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  7. ^ "Facilities". American University. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  8. ^ Rodriguez, Sandra (2021-01-11). "American University Names Sam Fulwood III Dean of the School of Communication". American University. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  9. ^ Solano, Sophia; Johansen, Ben (January 13, 2021). "AU selects policy analyst and journalist as new SOC dean". The Eagle. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  10. ^ Starr, Peter (May 25, 2023). "Leadership Transition in the School of Communication". American University. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  11. ^ Prince, Richard (2023-05-25). "J-Dean Sam Fulwood Agrees to Exit American U." Journal-isms. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  12. ^ "Faculty Profile: Leena Jayaswal". American University. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  13. ^ "Dr. Marnel Niles Goins Named Dean of American University School of Communication". American University. 2024-05-07. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  14. ^ Hatting, Abigail (May 8, 2024). "BREAKING: Marnel Niles Goins announced as new SOC dean". The Eagle. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  15. ^ "Divisions & Centers". American University. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  16. ^ "Journalism". American University. 2022-10-31. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  17. ^ "Film & Media Arts". American University. 2024-01-22. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  18. ^ "Film & Media Arts Master's Degrees". American University. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  19. ^ "Public Communication". American University. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  20. ^ "Divisions & Centers". American University. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  21. ^ "Faculty Profile: Wesley Lowery". American University. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
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