标题: Understanding Communication, Mass Media and related majors [打印本页] 作者: iamzhangjun 时间: 2005-10-20 01:55:32 标题: Understanding Communication, Mass Media and related majors
I saw a lot of people here talking about applying communication school, mass media program, or J school and other major like advertising or PR.
For those who want to end up with MA and come back to China, I think it waste time to read my point here.
While for those who intend to go further either in PHD program or getting job in U.S., I would have a few words for your consideration.
Communication is pure theory field and you will see many courses like theory building or philosophy is the program like communication. communication mainly study individual behavior in most school here, (correct me if I am wrong). while Mass media is mostly a inter-dicipline program that cover advertisment, Jurl, PR, television, broadcast, and telecommunication. again it is also a pure theory subject. people might do contect analysis on newspaper or television, might do survey or other theory work.
It is hard to get job when you finish you PHD degree in communication and mass media or related. the only way you have to go is to take a teaching position in some small school even you are from top communication or mass media school. this is ture for international student.
I dont want to scare those who want to apply for PHD program in these related areas, but you should think about if I am really interested in doing theory research work in this area. if so, you can come, i think you would enjoy the research enviroment here.
About communication schools. there are some most famous communication and mass media program in U.S., columbia, NYU,USC is top ones for practical training. In pure academia, Michigan state, northwest, is among the top of my mind, because there are so many theories and theories leaders coming from these two schools. there are also some excellent PHD programs like in Indiana, penn state, U of missouri. because each school has their strengths and focus, so you need to make sure which area you are interested in and find the program that fits you well.
hope this information helpful..作者: iamzhangjun 时间: 2005-10-20 02:05:21
one more thing is that the funding in communication or mass media is decreasing in recent years. so people usually do TA or RA for more than one faculty in most of com school or mass media programs, as far as I know.作者: 加菲熊 时间: 2005-10-20 12:52:16
楼主讲的挺好的，只是可能我不是太赞同你说的:For those who want to end up with MA and come back to China, I think it waste time to read my point here.
呵呵，不过你这么一说，倒是对我很有启发
只是这些可能因为每个人将来的个人规划差异有不用的结果吧！作者: 无畏的天使 时间: 2005-10-20 22:09:55
说的挺好的,谢谢楼主的分享！
我想那些一部分要申请media or comm的同学或许都是因为认为us很难申请到JURL，所以出此下策吧。楼主有没有好的建议给他们？比如在专业的选择上。
THAX!作者: iamzhangjun 时间: 2005-10-21 01:24:06
Well, Two issues here I would like to clarify.
I am making a point for those who plan to apply PHD program. For MA, it is different point of view, it is hard for Chinese students to get job with MA degree in U.S. I mean MA in pure social science. So most of MA Chinese students here apply PHD when finishing MA program. While the reality might be a little easier than what I say, I might be wrong to some extend. I know some MA students getting job in U.S.. but i believe it is rare phenomenon.
Applying J school, comm, telecom, advertising, PR, or related major faces the same difficuties for Chinese students to apply. the difference is that J school, or advertising, has limited class scale and it is more professional training. Comm is aiming to provide basic knowledge and method for students to pursue high level of degree, PHD.
I know many Chinese students in comm, telecom, mass media program in U.S.. so take it easy, you will get in. But there is nothing to loose or nothing to win for getting in U.S. school or not getting in. there is also no success or failure with respect to applying U.S. school. Many years later, you might find your choice to come to U.S. is totally wrong. you might be better off. But just you best, whereever you are, which I say you will be sucessful.
i think we are on the same page~~~作者: samluxing 时间: 2005-10-23 17:56:10 标题: Thanks for sharing info: Another question
Is it a viable option to study for MA and have good job market waiting for you in China? (Is any data on that?) thanks作者: iamzhangjun 时间: 2005-10-24 02:28:51
I have no idea of what exactly the number of what percentage of MA in mass communication, mass media, or related field get jobs in China. But from my personal working experience in China, I would say if you get MA from U.S. top school, I think you can get in some top international companies. As media market is opening up, there are great needs for the students with multiculture educated background. But in that sense, getting degree in U.S. , Hong Kong, or other places' top mass media program are the same. Just to notice great deal of excent J-school and mass media program are out of U.S., expecially many research in terms of my area, telecommunication in Europe are cutting-edge research and better than some traditional research in U.S.作者: fatluo 时间: 2005-10-24 16:06:45
thanks for the information !作者: iamzhangjun 时间: 2005-10-25 08:56:23
As far as I know, graduate school seriously lacks fuding recently years, which decreases the room for assistantships. It is also hard to get assistantship even you are here, as most assistantships has already been secured for those students who have already gotten it in the first year. so to make sure you have assistanship when you come here.
for those who dont want to have a assiantship, but still have a little concerns about money, my suggestion is to apply public school, because public shool's tuition will be much lower than private school with still very good education quality.作者: wellington2010 时间: 2005-10-25 18:47:13 标题: 非常感谢搂主的分享
personally, i strongly recommend you to go to J school in Hong Kong or in UK, if you just plan to end up with MA and go for a job. There is always job opportunity around, just have a try....作者: whxyj 时间: 2005-10-27 11:12:21
3，我看到anthropology 的program 里有 media and culture studies，这种科目以本科是新闻传播的申请会容易一些吗？我的意思是传播和人类学本来是跨专业，那申请人类学中的媒介文化研究是否和本科专业有一定的相关性，从而会容易录取一些呢？
尽管这种人类学中的media 是广义的媒介，新闻媒介知识其中一部分。
非常感谢！作者: iamzhangjun 时间: 2005-10-29 01:00:26
this is not trying to let you down, but as I know, some good PHD in communication or mass media in U.S. requires MA as pre.. Besides, as I oberved, all PHD students in our program as other programs (I know) held MA and working experiences.
I know there are some PHD program who recieves student directly from B.A. degree, but that is rare case.作者: iamzhangjun 时间: 2005-10-29 01:06:06
Coco, i guess I did not answer your third question...
Well, there are various groups of scholars are doing research on Mass media, J, communication and others from different perspectives. I know there are many economics professors are working on Mass media economics, many policial professor working on political mass media, many medical professor working on health communication, many technical research working communication technology..... so find the area you are interested, and try to communicate with the professor first to make sure if their research is exactly what you are interested.
for more pratical meaning, I worry that if you go to anthopolgy department, what courses you can learn about mass media... just to make sure that department has a matrure envirorment to work on mass media if you does not choose to go to comm school...作者: coco3263 时间: 2005-10-29 11:00:14
try ohio university comm school, maryland u j school作者: coco3263 时间: 2005-10-30 20:41:06 标题: hi,really appreciate your help!
and I'm also curious that whether or not your status as an internatinal student in your comm program has given you any benefits in choosing research subject ,or etc,or has provided you with an horizon the prof consider unique?
I mean,as an international student,has your background been helping you with your studies, and /or has it been an inspiration to make you think more about commumnition cation between cultures ?like culture shock or something.
the above questions base on my asumption that you're in a us comm school now,and hope I'm right.
many thanks!作者: iamzhangjun 时间: 2005-11-1 02:13:10
i would say any observation in any culture background would be possible contributing to the theory field and pratical field. OS yes, student with multiculture background would work well in some multiculture study in mass media or communication field.作者: twobirds 时间: 2005-11-4 15:23:53
JAMZhangjun:
Thanks very much for sharing your opinions and experices of application to comm. & mass media direction.
May I have your suggestion on my case? Thanks for your kindness in advance.作者: iamzhangjun 时间: 2005-11-5 08:43:05
if you have working experiences and dont want to go to academia finally, go to MBA... PHD is designed for people who really like researching and teaching, expecially in social science.作者: twobirds 时间: 2005-11-8 19:53:44
Thanks for your opinion. I decided to choose social work.作者: iamzhangjun 时间: 2005-11-19 02:47:14 标题: well, go decision.
good luck作者: samonzhang 时间: 2005-11-21 21:13:28
I'm a undergraduate of engineering field. Do you think there is any opportunity to get offer from a University in U.S. or Canada?作者: iamzhangjun 时间: 2005-11-22 23:40:04
sure, one of graduate from our PHD program was from engineering field, she is teaching in OSU now..作者: samonzhang 时间: 2005-11-23 16:01:52
What you think is the most important characterisic of such a student?作者: iamzhangjun 时间: 2005-11-26 13:24:44
combine the strength in understanding communication field from technical perspectives and develop fresh understanding on communication...作者: samonzhang 时间: 2005-11-26 17:43:49
I;ll try to work it out.
Thank you very much.作者: 黔灵叶子 时间: 2006-2-9 19:10:56
HI ,看了你的建议受益匪浅。
我想我是更偏爱实践领域的，如PR,MARKETING ETC.不知您对NYU的情况是否了解，可否介绍一下。包括奖学金，以及具体对GT,RL,PS,GPA的要求，这些我在学校网站上没有明确查到。
我现在还是一名大三学学生，准备明年秋季入学，有过一些社会实践和实习的经历。没有工作经历在申请MA时是否会有影响呢?
如果有在OGILVY实习的经历会申请到好学校德PROGRAM及奖学金吗？
FURTHERMORE,您说MA在美国很难找工作，是置身对中国人而言还是行业的问题？
i am going to MSU pursuing master degree of advertising, how is the job market in US for my major?
If i am going to transfer to PHD or Master of communication, would it be difficult? since i have also applied to master of comm after i applying to master of advertising, yet the grad office asked me to take the admission of advertising if i stil want to apply for ma of comm. At that point, i wantted to play safe , then i withdraw my application to comm. ....alas, i still want to pursue my research in comm....so , my plan was to transfer to ma of comm a year or even soon after i arriving there. is it possible?作者: sophia33 时间: 2006-4-21 22:47:46
看得绝望了。。。作者: irislili 时间: 2006-4-22 01:33:13
UW education有一个教授研究international doctoral student career development的，跟踪500多个样本十多年，最后出来的结果，humanity major的doctoral student理想职业排第一的是government，nonprofit和business related field，第二是research insitute tenure track。
总之，tenure不是PhD的唯一出路，事在人为，正反两方面的信息多多搜集，自己想清楚就好。作者: iamzhangjun 时间: 2006-4-22 02:32:52 标题: good points
well, you obviously make a really good point here. however, it really depends on what you study. if you go to business or management PHD, it could have a better choice than tenure track. also it also depends on your previous background. if you have a couple years background in consulting. you could also go for consulting area.
The issue I am trying to make here. if you dont go for tenure, why you get PHD. A master level student is enough for the position out side of academia. (I can not include all PHD area in this case, but in most case, it is ture.) You will put 2-3 years more than a master did and get the same position and payment with them, and you will probably will be excluded from some of opportunity that is offered to master level.
Also the goal of PHD in most school is to form a strong scholars, so the approach of education is to pursue that goal. it is totally different from practical way. (well, some of area like economics would be a little different case.)
I agree that PHD study could enable you to know more people in this industry, well in most case is the people from academia. of course you will get deeper understanding of certain area, but PHD is to prove your understanding, instead of implement your understanding in the business, which is the crucial different from B school and L school...and master level education.
well, acturally I think I hold a very negative view, and I hope the reality is different from what I perceived so far. Hope my understanding is totally wrong.作者: csulm001 时间: 2007-1-30 02:01:46 标题: 回复 #4 蜗牛爬爬爬 的帖子
i totally agree with u作者: phenix1cn 时间: 2007-1-30 20:33:06
But why?I want travel whole world!I want take a PH.D degree in U.S.