2009-2008

News Release

REF NO.: 100

SUBJECT: Green light for new program

DATE: February 17, 2009

The recent approval of a major in Communications Studies is a telling example of the Faculty of Arts’ strong commitment to offer innovative and attractive programs to students.
In the global landscape where information is a prime currency, communications has emerged as the central tenant of all disciplines. The study of communications addresses questions such as: Who controls the media and why? What shape does communication take in today’s global world? What are the different media technologies and to whom are they targeted? The major in Communication Studies will address these questions and others as it critically examines the role and development of communication in modern society.
This interdisciplinary nature of the program allows students and faculty alike to draw on a variety of approaches, theories, methods and other resources for analyzing communication in social, economic, political and cultural environments that are rapidly changing and becoming increasingly complex.
“This has been a gap in our program offerings that has been long been identified by both recruiters and faculty. I believe there is a definite need for a major in Communications Studies here at Memorial and am confident that we can expect to see an increased number of students from Newfoundland and Labrador, other parts of Canada and international students registered in the Faculty of Arts as a result,” said Dr. Reeta Tremblay.
The major in Communications Studies will be available to students in the 2009-2010 academic year.
“This is definitely a growth area in Canadian scholarship. And it is of particular importance in Newfoundland and Labrador due to the number of institutions that focus on communications and knowledge exchange such as The Rooms, NIFCO, Memorial’s own Harris Centre and many others,” said Dr. Jennifer Dyer, a member of the nine-member committee. “We are living in an information age and our society needs highly literate graduates with an advanced knowledge of the nature, function and development of communication.”
For further information on the new major in Communications Studies, please contact Dr. Erwin Wartenkin on ejwarken@mun.ca or 737-4767.

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