SOC Centers and Institutes
The Center for Media and Social Impact (CMSI), formerly the Center for Social Media, analyzes and promotes cutting-edge strategies for media that matters, and generates codes of best practice that facilitate participatory public media. In addition to film series, workshops, and research, the center has resources on social documentaries and public media practices. Reports, studies, white papers, film profiles, filmmaker interviews, and case studies of successful outreach and audience engagement strategies and new media practices are available at www.centerforsocialmedia.org/.
The Center for Environmental Filmmaking (CEF) was founded on the conviction that films and new media are essential educational and policy tools in the struggle to protect the environment. The center’s mission is to train students to produce films and new media that focus attention on the need to conserve the environment in a way that is effective as well as ethically sound, educationally powerful, and entertaining. The world faces unprecedented environmental challenges, from climate change to species extinction, but powerful images and films can capture our attention and alert millions to the value of protecting the natural world. With the right combination of creative thinking, enthusiasm, practical knowledge, altruism, and a commitment to the natural world, today’s students will become tomorrow’s environmental stewards. For more information, go to www.american.edu/soc/cef.
The Investigative Reporting Workshop is the only university research center in the world that specifically examines new models for enabling and disseminating investigative reporting. The Workshop undertakes significant, original, national and international investigative reporting projects for multimedia publication or broadcast in collaboration with others, and serves as a laboratory “incubator” to develop new economic models and techniques for conducting and delivering investigative journalism. For more information, go to http://investigativereportingworkshop.org/.
The AU Foreign Correspondence Network (FCN) provides students tools and guidance needed to work overseas, through coursework and AU alumni living abroad. The FCN is a platform for discussion about the coverage of international issues affecting the United States, and is maintained under the guidance of a former foreign correspondent for UPI and Newsweek. For more information, go to: www.american.edu/soc/partnerships/foreign-correspondence-network.cfm.
The Backpack Journalism Project is mapping the landscape of emerging techniques and technologies for visual storytellers and educating the next generation of video journalists in the spirit and tradition of photojournalism and documentary filmmaking. The project promotes the highest standards and showcases best practices in the effort to train, equip, and inspire backpack videomakers. For more information, go to www.american.edu/soc/backpack/.
Student Opportunities and Programs
Career Development
All students are supported through their stages of career development including learning about personal skills, values and personality; exploring majors and careers; selecting coursework to align with academic and career goals; learning about the internship and job search and application process; successfully complete and learn from internship experiences; and in seeking jobs post-graduation. Many students utilize formal assistance in these areas provided by the AU Career Center as well as more informal assistance from SOC professors.
SOC Dean’s Internship
These are special internships designed and reserved for a select group of students who are paired with SOC’s media partners for an educational internship experience. Previous Dean’s Internship sites have included The Associated Press, The Washington Post, Smithsonian’s National Museum of History, Gannett, National Geographic, Discovery Communication, and USA Today. More information is available at: http://www.american.edu/soc/resources/deans-internship.cfm.
SOC Alumni Mentor Program
SOC’s alumni mentor program bridges the gap between the classroom and the professional world as students prepare for future careers in communication. Each year SOC students who are admitted to the program are paired with top SOC alumni for career advice through a partnership between the School of Communication, AU Career Center, and SOC Development Team. Whether it is helping mentees meet short and long term career goals, sharing tips to improve resumes and portfolios or helping students network their way into the communication field, professional mentors are an invaluable source of knowledge and experience for students.
SOC Student Ambassadors
The SOC Student Ambassadors are a select group of current undergraduate students in the School of Communication are leaders in recruitment, assisting new students in the transition to college, and in community building. They serve under a three part mission:
(1) To serve as a recruitment team, sharing personal experiences and insights with prospective SOC students;
(2) To serve as mentors for new SOC first year and transfer students, aiding in the successful transition to AU and SOC;
(3) To serve as a community building team, bringing together current students in the School of Communication.
SOC Week
SOC Week is an annual tradition held during the spring semester for the purpose of gathering as a community in a spirit of celebration, education and growth. The SOC Student Ambassador team leads the coordination of this week filled with events and activities sponsored by members of our AU, SOC and communication community. All are welcome to participate and/or contribute to the creation of a week that celebrates the excellence of the AU School of Communication. More information: http://www.american.edu/soc/resources/soc-week.cfm.
Involvement in Student Clubs and Organizations
The School of Communication is committed to creating involvement experiences that engage students through college transitions, traditions, leadership development, and community building opportunities. Involvement and integration both inside and outside of the classroom help students develop life skills that will bring success during the collegiate career and into the future.
Though not officially governed by any academic unit, student-run organizations are an important method of engaging with the AU community outside of the classroom. Involvement in these organizations provides peer support, utilizing skills learned in the classroom, personal and professional development, and development of the ability to critically evaluate information in order to make good decisions.
Many students in the School of Communication seek out AU Student Media organizations such as The Eagle, ATV, AmLit, and more. Other student organizations popular in the School of Communication include the Public Relations Student Society of American, AU Association of Black Journalists, Social Media Club, and more. More information: http://www.american.edu/soc/resources/soc-student-organizations.cfm.
Study Abroad (AU Abroad)
AU Abroad offers the opportunity for students to study abroad and gain full American University course credit. All students are encouraged to learn and work in another culture. For more information on AU Abroad programs, call 202-885-1320 or 866-313-0757, e-mail auabroad@american.edu or go to: www.auabroad.american.edu.
Visions Awards
Now more than twenty years old, the School of Communication’s Visions Awards celebrates outstanding visual student work at American University. Students and work from all skill levels receive recognition for the best work in documentary, fiction, digital/new media production, screenwriting, and photography and more. More information: http://www.american.edu/soc/visions/index.cfm.
Public Communication Awards
Students are encouraged to submit work and accomplishments for recognition during the annual Public Communication Awards where undergraduate and graduate level work is celebrated. Award categories include Best Communication Plan, Best Digital Campaign, Best Campaign, Best Speech, Outstanding Contributions to SOC Community, and more.
SOC Professional Partnerships
American Forum The School of Communication collaborates with WAMU, American University’s public radio station, to produce The American Forum, one-hour panels that bring together AU students with politicians, lobbyists, journalists and communication strategists to talk about media and public affairs.
Washington Post Semester Consortium Students are chosen in a competitive process each spring to spend a semester learning about the newspaper industry from the inside out as part of the Washington Post Semester Consortium, a weekly one-credit hour class at the paper’s downtown office. SOC also works closely with The Washington Post to bring editors and reporters to campus as part of a regular speakers’ series.
Named Fellowships SOC graduate students may apply for a number of named fellowships.
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