U Magazine, Winter 1987

ALCALA PARK Communication studies degree added By Tim Durnin '87

U SD·s new bachelor of arts degree program in communication studies - which was just added to the curriculum in September - is a hit with students. Some 60 students already have declared communication studies as their major. "The program is taking off like an Atlas rocket," according to C. Joseph Pusateri, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences , who is recruiting a third full-time com– munication faculty member to help shoulder the teaching load. The new department is headed by Dr. Larry Williamson, who has taught speech and communication courses at the University since 1982. ASan Diego native, Dr. Williamson earned his doctorate at Purdue University after completing master's and bachelor's degree work at San Diego State University. The other department member is Dr. Linda Perry, assistant professor of speech. "The job market is open for communica– tion majors and the scope ofjob pos– sibilities makes the degree attractive to students ," according to Dr. Williamson. He lists management, public relations and broadcasting careers as examples of the range of career options. The emphasis in USD 's program is on th eory and general knowledge about the field, Dr. Pusateri notes. He says profes– sionals in the field would rather hire graduates who understand communica– tion theories and who are able to com– municate well orally and in writing instead of a person well-trained in a specific communication discipline. A student who majors in communica– tion studies chooses one of two areas within the discipline : speech communica– tion or mass media studies. Speech Fall enrollment tops 5,400 mark U SD's fall semester enrollment totaled 5,445 students - a record. The total is 180 more students than were enrolled fall semester 1985. Most of the growth occurred among graduate students. Law enrollment increased to 1,155 students , up 4. 7 percent, and other graduate enrollment climbed to 899 students, an increase of 11 percent. Undergraduate enrollment totaled 3,391 , a 1.2 percent increase. The steady undergraduate and increased graduate enrollment are goals ofUSD's Long Range Plan, which s ets an enrollment ceiling of6,000 students until 1990. •

communication focuses on interpersonal and public communication skills and theory. Mass media studies concentrate on the theory, history and criticism of mass communication. In addition to completing communica– tion courses, each student must complete more than the usual number of classes required for a minor in another field - making the communication program requirements close to a double major, according to Dr. Pusateri. This aspect of the program provides students with in-depth knowledge about business or political science or another area in addition to communication skills. Dr. Williamson's hopes for the new program are high. "I want to offer the best degree in town. Right now we 're looking into the possibility of some interdiscipli– nary programs on both the undergraduate and graduate level. The possibilities are tremendous." • Alessio, Brown join trustees T wo San Diego business leaders - Frank D. Alessio Jr. and C. Terry Brown - recently were named to USD 's Board ofTrustees. Alessio, a La Jolla resident, has been president ofDan Mar Investment Co. since 1983, the same year his family sold the Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. in San Diego. Alessio was president and chief executive officer of the company, which the family owned for almost 50 years. Brown was named chairman of the board for Atlas Hotels, which owns the Town and Country Hotel, about two years ago. He had been president of the San Diego-based company since 1967. The 34-member Board of Trustees is chaired by the Most Reverend Leo T . Maher, bishop of the San Diego diocese. Ernest Hahn is vice chairman. •

Dr. Larry Williamson

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