Department of Communications and Theater Arts

Student Experiences

Hannah Fritzman, Communications Major, BA '03

In four short years, majoring in Communications has not only taught me a lot about myself, it has taught me a lot about the world around me.  I have completed many courses and hours in the field of Communications.  Each class has opened my eyes.  Theater gave me culture, Speech gave me confidence, Public Relations gave me insight, Journalism gave me creativity, and Interpersonal Communications gave me humanity.  I am currently President of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), Secretary of Lambda Pi Eta, the Communications Honor Society, and Public Relations Manager for all of the on-campus theater productions.  In addition, this is my forth year working as a work/study student in the office of the department.  Every co-curricular has given me a different perspective of my field, while also contributing to my education and career goals.  I can honestly say every class and co-curricular has made a lasting impression on my life, each for a completely different reason.  I cannot believe four years have passed since I first walked onto John Carroll's campus.  I treasure the memories and the gifts this department has given me.

The John Carroll Communications Department is a land of opportunity.  When I first arrived in 1999, I didn't have a clue where I wanted to specialize.  I just knew the best way to figure it out was to get involved.  I starred in two One-Act plays my Sophomore and Junior years and ended up winning a $500 scholarship for acting silly on stage.  There are four One-Acts and two main stage plays per year to audition.  Even if you don't get a part, there are crew positions that allow you to work with lighting, sound, props, set design, and other possibilities.  If you stay eagerly involved you might get to see your own production on stage.  My Senior year, I received the chance to write and direct my own play, Strange Condition.

The class selection is excellent.  During my four years, I have taken classes such as Playwriting, Screenwriting, Broadcast Writing, Debate, Interviewing Principles, Journalism, Directing for the Stage, Television Production, and Audio Production.  Most teachers strive to get their students to apply the knowledge in the courses through the use of presentations and projects.  You can even get credit to intern!  Last year, I interned at Q104 and WEWS News Channel 5.

If you love college radio, John Carroll has one of the best college stations in the U.S. according to Rolling Stone Magazine.  Talk about the coolest thing in the world.  You have almost unlimited freedom to express yourself as you please (of course you can't do those 4 letter words).  With only five minutes of news and announcements, you have creative control to play any song you want (local artists, b-sides, rare stuff), do comedy bits, talk whenever you want, and even sing along with a song (although that might get annoying after awhile).  But you get the point.  Not only that, but there are always giveaways to pass out and local artists will gladly come to the show to play live.  With the new Triple AAA format, new alternative artists like Howie Day have been dropping by the studio to record live tracks for the station.  I even had Matt Sharpe, the ex-bassist of Weezer, call my show and I interviewed him for over twenty minutes.

There are other exciting surprises in the Communications Department at John Carroll, but I don't want to spoil all of them.  To top it off, the class sizes average out at about twenty leaving you a ton of one-on-one attention.  The JCU Communications Department is a great thing because it shapes well-rounded individuals who are prepared to tackle the real world.  And you have a ton of fun in the process.