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Office: 318 Lawrence Herbert School of Communication
Telephone: 516-463-5215
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The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication Programs  

Hofstra University’s Lawrence Herbert School of Communication, committed to the University’s liberal arts tradition, provides the opportunity to examine the world of humanistic inquiry through the interdisciplinary study of all forms of communication processes and institutions. With courses that explore the theoretical and practical nature of communication, the School provides its students with the opportunity to pursue scholarly inquiry and acquire technical experience. The School’s integrated approach is based on the belief that life in an advanced society demands knowledge of the arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, business, and technology. Therefore, students are required to take a range of courses outside the major. Reciprocally, the School invites students in other university programs to learn about the impact and relevance of communication and communication systems. The curriculum aims to foster critical thinking; to explore aesthetics; to investigate ethics, humanistic values, and cultural diversity; to encourage originality and creativity; to expose students to current and converging technologies; and to provide the training for leadership in a technological age. With the conviction that the media exist to protect the freedoms of our society, the faculty is committed to a scholarly environment in which theoretical, historical, critical, and technological methodologies help students to question, challenge, and improve all forms of communication. The School strives to produce graduates who are active cultural contributors. To achieve this goal, the School emphasizes creative problem solving, responsible decision making and cooperative learning. Together the faculty and students of the School participate in an ongoing exploration of the roles, purposes, and technologies of communication.

Students should view specific course offerings  before registering for their programs.

Departments

The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication is composed of two departments, as listed below:

Journalism, Media Studies, and Public Relations

The Department of Journalism, Media Studies, and Public Relations  offers programs leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree in the areas of Journalism , Mass Media Studies  and Public Relations .

The department is dedicated to a quality liberal arts education and all undergraduate programs are accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. The journalism program teaches critical thinking, research, multimedia presentation skills and effective oral and written expression, emphasizing the ethics, laws and history of the profession. The Department seeks to educate individuals for careers as accurate and ethical media professionals, such as reporters, producers, editors, and broadcasters. The mass media studies program provides students with historical, analytical and critical skills necessary to pursue a media-related career or to conduct scholarly research in the field and is designed primarily for those considering graduate-level education. The Bachelor of Arts program in Public Relations  is designed to equip students with the knowledge, attitudes and skills expected of professionals in the field. The degree curriculum is founded in the liberal arts and incorporates a broad working knowledge of issues that include economics, political science and business.

Radio, Television, Film

The Department of Radio, Television, Film offers programs leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree can major in Audio/Radio Production and Studies  , Television Production and Studies , Film Studies and Production , and Bachelor of Science students can major in Video/Television , Video/Television and Film , and Video/Television and Business . All programs ground the students in the liberal arts, thereby enabling them to pursue a wide variety of careers and further study. The department’s interdisciplinary approach provides the foundations necessary for opportunities in all aspects of the communication and entertainment industries and for pursuing scholarly research. Students take courses in the history, theory, and aesthetics of the media while also learning the practical and technical components necessary to create and produce material for the media. Each area of the department provides opportunities for personal self-expression, scholarly inquiry and technical mastery. With a commitment to prepare students for the rapidly converging communications of the twenty-first century, the Department of Radio, Television, Film  is a site for intellectual inquiry, creative activity, and practical achievements on which liberally educated students can build the future.

Degrees Offered

The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication offers undergraduate programs leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and a dual degree Bachelor of Arts/Master of Arts in journalism . (See each department for a listing of individual majors.) The School also offers a Master of Arts in journalism and public relations; and a Master of Fine Arts in documentary studies and production.

Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements

Candidates for graduation from The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication with the degree of Bachelor of Arts must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Semester Hour Requirement
   The successful completion of at least 124 semester hours and a cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 in work completed at Hofstra. Candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Journalism , Mass Media Studies , or Public Relations  must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher.
2. Liberal Arts Requirement
   At least 94 semester hours (93 hours for the BA specialization in Elementary Education and a liberal arts major) of the total must be in liberal arts. Beyond this minimum, the student may elect either nonliberal arts courses or additional liberal arts courses.
3. There are two requirements that must ordinarily be completed in-residence at Hofstra: 15 semester hours in the major field of concentration, and the last 30 semester hours. Students majoring in the Department of Radio, Television, Film  must complete a minimum of 24 semester hours in the major in-residence. Students majoring in Journalism  must complete a minimum of 33 semester hours in the major in-residence. Students majoring in Mass Media Studies  or Public Relations  must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours in the major in-residence. The semester hours in-residence for the major need not be included within the last 30 hours.
4. The fulfillment of the following seven general requirements for the BA:
   NOTE: Requirements listed below include options whereby a student may apply courses in one discipline toward several different requirements. No student may use any one course to fulfill more than one general requirement. A single course, however, may be used to satisfy both a general degree requirement and a requirement that is specific to a chosen major or minor.
   1. Nine semester hours of distribution courses in the humanities (see Distribution Courses ). The nine semester hours must include at least three from the Literature category (LT) and at least three from either the Appreciation and Analysis (AA) or Creative Participation (CP) categories. No more than three semester hours of Creative Participation (CP) courses may be used to satisfy this requirement.
   2. Nine semester hours of distribution courses in the natural sciences and mathematics/computer science (see Distribution Courses ). At least three semester hours must be chosen from each category.
   3. Nine semester hours of distribution courses in the social sciences (see Distribution Courses ). The nine semester hours must include at least three from the Behavioral Sciences category and at least three from the History, Philosophy, Religion category.
   4. Three semester hours of distribution course credit in the Cross-Cultural category (see Distribution Courses ).
   5. Three semester hours of distribution course credit in the Interdisciplinary Studies/Other category (see Distribution Courses ). A student may satisfy this requirement with three semester hours of Interdisciplinary Studies course credit or with three semester hours in any other category. However this requirement is satisfied, it is an additional three semester hours to the thirty semester hours required by A-D above.
   6. Satisfactory completion of WSC 001  and WSC 002 . Students entering Hofstra with full credit for WSC 001  and WSC 002  must, during their first semester at Hofstra, take the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Test. Students who do not pass the test are required to complete WSC 040  and retake and pass the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Test.
   7. Foreign Language Requirement

The foreign language requirement may be fulfilled by completion of level 3 of a foreign language (Option 1); placement above level 3; or completion of the Alternate Language Option (Option 2).

• Students without transfer college credit in the foreign language studied in high school must take the language placement test (administered by the Language Laboratory) to determine placement in the proper level. No student shall receive credit toward graduation for any course below his or her level of placement in that language.
• Students with transfer college credit in a foreign language should continue in the next level which follows that in which they have received credit, or should follow Option 2 (see below) to fulfill the foreign language requirement.
• International students may satisfy the foreign language requirement either by completing ELP 036  or by placing out of the requirement by taking the placement examination in their native language.

A student may fulfill the Foreign Language Requirement in one of two ways, as specified below:

OPTION 1: Completion of course work through level 3 of one single language OR placement above level 3. (Students who do not choose to complete level 3 of a foreign language must automatically select Option 2, Alternate Language Option.)

OPTION 2: Alternate Language Option: Completion of level 2 of one single language OR placement above level 2, plus one of the following alternatives:

♦ Completion of level 2 of another single language or placement above level 2.

♦ Completion of level 1 of another language or placement above level 1, plus 3 credits chosen from the following options:

• Three (3) credits of CLL, FRLT, ITLT, ITST, LIT, SPLT, related to the culture of the language in which the student completed through level 2 or the equivalent OR 3 credits of linguistics offered in either CLL or RLL.

Students who wish to fulfill the language requirement by completing Option 2 must file the Alternate Language Option Form with the Center for University Advisement. NOTE: The Pass/D+/D/Fail Option is not available for courses taken in fulfillment of any language requirement. No course taken in fulfillment of the foreign language requirement may be taken via Credit by Exam or Credit for Prior Learning. Courses used to fulfill the foreign language requirement may not be used to satisfy distribution requirements. 

NOTE: Students who matriculated prior to academic year 2013-2014 must fulfill this requirement as it is stated in the Bulletin of their first year of matriculation at the University, unless they elect to officially change their bulletin year to 2013-2014, or later.

5. The completion of 9 semester hours of The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication foundation courses, as follows:

MASS 001 - Mass Media: History and Development 
RTVF 001 - Foundations of Radio, Television, Film, and New Media 
RHET 001 - (CP) Oral Communication  or an alternative course designated by individual programs.

6. The fulfillment of major requirements as listed in this Bulletin under each department. Students must receive a grade of C- or better in all courses applicable to the major. Journalism , Mass Media Studies , and Public Relations  majors must maintain a GPA of 2.5 in all courses applicable to majors.
7. All students pursuing a BA In The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication must complete a liberal arts-based minor.

Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements

All students must meet program admission requirements (see majors listed under Radio, Television, Film  ). Candidates for graduation must fulfill the following requirements:

1. The successful completion of at least 124 semester hours and a cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 in work completed at Hofstra.
2. At least 72 semester hours must be completed in liberal arts.
3. There are two requirements that must ordinarily be completed in residence at Hofstra: 24 semester hours in the major field and the last 30 hours. The 24 semester hours need not be included within the last 30 hours.
4. Fulfillment of the following four general requirements for the BS:
   1. Satisfactory completion of WSC 001  and WSC 002  (See University Degree Requirements .) Six semester hours of distribution courses in each of the following three divisional areas (including at least 3 semester hours in each sub-divisional category of each divisional area):
      1. Humanities (6 s.h.)
      2. Natural Science/Mathematics/Computer Science (6 s.h.)
      3. Social Science Distribution (6 s.h.)
5. The completion of 9 semester hours of The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication foundation courses, as follows:
   MASS 001 - Mass Media: History and Development 
   RTVF 001 - Foundations of Radio, Television, Film, and New Media 
   RHET 001 - (CP) Oral Communication  or an alternative course designated by individual programs.
6. Completion of level 2 of a foreign language or placement above level 2. (Note: a student who continues the study of a foreign language begun in high school must take the language placement test (administered by the Language Laboratory) to determine placement in the proper level. No student will receive credit toward graduation for any course below his or her level of placement in the language. For students continuing the same language studied in high school, successful completion of level 2 of that language will satisfy the foreign language requirement. International students may satisfy this requirement either by completing ELP 036  or by placing out of the requirement by taking the placement examination in their native language.)
7. The fulfillment of major requirements as listed in the Bulletin under each department. Students must receive a grade of C- or better in all courses applicable to the major.

Minors

A minor in any program in The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication consists of the successful completion of 18 semester hours of courses, chosen under advisement. At least 6 hours must be taken in-residence. Additional hours in residence in the minor field are required by the departments of Radio, Television, Film  and Journalism, Media Studies, and Public Relations . Please refer to individual department listings.

Advisement

First-year, new transfers, and undecided communication students in The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication are required to meet with their assigned academic adviser in the Dean’s Office, in Room 318 of The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication. All other declared majors and minors are assigned an academic adviser through their major or minor departments respectively. Students are required to meet with their adviser for scheduling of classes for each semester. Academic advisers are available throughout each semester to answer questions, advise with problems, and provide information needed.

WRHU-FM Radio

WRHU Radio Hofstra University broadcasts from the newly renovated state-of-the-art Richard Phillip Cavallaro studio to Long Island and parts of New York City at 88.7 FM, and webcasts to the world at www.wrhu.org. The station is on the air 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and reaches a target audience of almost four million people. With an operating staff of more than 280 people, WRHU is primarily student-operated. As a cornerstone of the School, WRHU exists to provide pre-professional broadcast training to qualified Hofstra University students. Participation at WRHU is recommended as one of the most effective methods of learning the business of radio broadcasting and media production while engaging in a practicum that complements academic classroom learning. Interested students must apply, interview, and be placed into a 10-week, noncredit training class held twice per year. For more information, visit www.wrhu.org. WRHU earned two Marconi Awards in 2017 and 2014 for “Non-Commercial Station of the Year” by the National Association of Broadcasters.

Hofstra Media Productions

Hofstra Media Productions (HMP) is Hofstra’s award-winning corporate and broadcast video production department that resides in The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication’s state-of-the-art facility. High-visibility projects include the production of television and radio ads. In addition to the broadcast work, content is also produced for web distribution; special event programs are produced here as well. HMP provides real-world experience in pre-production, field, and post-production work by working with a professional staff who are often joined by outside industry professionals. Students are given full hands-on opportunities to hone their skills in producing, production coordination, camera work, lighting, audio, digital editing, and various multimedia software. Equipment includes DSLR, Sony FS700, portable GH4, slider, field prompter system, DJI Ronin stabilizer, motion control system, quadcopter, and lighting equipment. Avid and Adobe round out a full complement of broadcast-quality post-production systems. Inquiries may be directed to hvpbdp@hofstra.edu.

Student Activities

Involvement in student and professional organizations and activities serves to enhance the educational experiences of students in The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication. These include:

• Her Campus (online magazine for college women)
• Hofstra Critics
• Hofstra Entertainment Access Television (HEAT)
• Hofstra Filmmakers Club (HFC)
• Lambda Pi Eta (national communication honor society)
• Long Island Report
• Pride Productions
• Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)
• Pulse (student magazine)
• Required Radio (internet radio)
• Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)
• The Chronicle (weekly campus newspaper)
• WRHU 88.7FM Radio Hofstra University
• Zeta Phi Eta (National professional fraternity in the communication arts and sciences)

Distinguished Professorships

For distinguished professorships, see the Academic Chairs and Distinguished Professorships  section of this Bulletin.