Communication and journalism majors at San Diego State may consider graduate school in the future, but one thing might be standing in their way.
As two of the most popular majors in the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts at San Diego State, more than 1,000 communication and journalism students receive an education from faculty members who hold doctorate degrees and have extensive experience in their fields.
However, the SDSU School of Communication, and its journalism program, remains unaccredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.
Most graduate programs require undergraduate degrees from accredited universities, such as the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Communication, Columbia University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and The Graduate School at Northwestern University.
In an e-mail, Diane Borden, interim director of the SDSU School of Communication, stated that the journalism, public relations and advertising faculty are interested in seeking re-accreditation.
When the journalism and communication departments merged 12 years ago, the standards of the ACEJMC retention of national accreditation, she stated.
Now ACEJMC standards will allow SDSU to receive this accreditation.
“Accreditation through the ACEJMC is vital to students, faculty and alumni,” Borden stated. “Alumni in journalism, advertising and public relations gain additional prestige and career edge after graduating from a nationally accredited program.”
The accreditation requires a strict assessment of student learning outcomes, which is a desired goal and increasingly significant requirement in all SDSU academic plans, Borden stated.
California State University schools including Chico State, Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Northridge have accreditation.
Communication junior Sarah Jonis said she thinks it is important for SDSU to be held accountable for certain standards.
“If our school is accredited, it just shows that we are up to par with other schools,” Jonis said. “It will prove that this is a good school and we are capable of maintaining higher standards.”
However, ACEJMC stated that accredited schools are not necessarily better than non-accredited schools. In fact, several prominent schools do not seek accreditation. Susanne Shaw, ACEJMC executive director, said accreditation is voluntary, but accredited programs may offer scholarships, internships, competitive prizes and other activities not available in non-accredited programs.
Journalism sophomore Barbara Hurshel said she would be concerned about accreditation if it affects her chances of finding a job.
“If there aren’t really any big disadvantages to not being accredited, then I guess it doesn’t matter,” Hurshel said. “I just want to be sure that my degree here at SDSU is worth as much as anywhere else.”
ACEJMC standards state that accreditation “is intended to ensure continued improvement in the quality of instruction in journalism and mass communications through re-evaluation, including a thorough and useful self-study, at six-year intervals.” ACEJMC uses a specific set of guidelines to judge schools on the basis of their programs. The council assesses a university on several standards including administration, curriculum, diversity and resources.
Students in an accredited university are eligible for candidacy in the Hearst Journalism Awards Program funded by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. The foundation awards more than $400,000 in scholarships and grants.
