<p>I have heard great things about American’s journalism program–students have landed internships with National Geographic and ABC News. However, I haven’t heard much about their newspaper. One of the top things I’m looking for in a college is a great newspaper–my high school newspaper was ranked nationally, so I want a college paper that will help me build upon my skills. Has anyone majored in Journalism at AU? What did you think of your experience? Where are you now? </p>
<p>I’m also interested in cultural anthropology. How is AU’s deparment? Does it allow for hands on experiences and analysis or is it a lot of regurgiation of information? If I were to major on anthropology and work on AU’s newspaper, would that be sufficient for me to land a journalism job (in place of a journalism degree), especially for a publication with anthropological pieces like National Geographic (or the less prestigious equivalents). If you were an anthro major, what sort of job did you end up with/are you aiming for? I think anthropology is fascinating, however, I want to know I’ll still find it that way after four years of study.</p>
<p>Finally, I’m interested in education. However, I dont’ live in DC, and I would want to teach in my home state. Are ed degrees from AU transferrable to other states? Specifically, what is their history ed program like?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Okay: </p>
<p>The AU Journalism school IS something awesome. Ranked a top 25 journalism school by the most recent rankings. The newspaper however (at least I believe) is not nationally ranked and is not anything special. (View online here: [The</a> Eagle Online](<a href=“http://www.theeagleonline.com/]The”>http://www.theeagleonline.com/)) – because the newspaper is not where prominent journalism majors go. In DC why WOULD you stay limited to the school newspaper when you could write on much more widely read papers. AU excels in their ability to place students in internships that eventually turn into their great jobs – and with AU’s reputation, and with AU alumni around the city. There are quite literally hundreds of journalism internships in the city, whether you want experience as a staff writer or an editor.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about the cultural anthro department. However, as far as jobs go: again it’s all about internships. You could easily major in anthro as long as you had internships on newspapers, and took a few basic journalism classes – I can’t see you having a problem – especially with an anthropology related publication.</p>
<p>Our most famous anthropology alum is probably Kathy Reichs. The show Bones on Fox is based off of her life and the series of books she writes.</p>
<p>There’s also actually serious collaboration between the departments of anthropology and journalism, although they are in different schools in the University. There’s a sequence of courses organized by the Center for Community Voice, which is run by both the School of Communication and anthro department, designed for students from both disciplines to collaborate. These classes include Race, Ethnic, and Community Reporting , and Unseen and Unheard: Documentary Storytelling in the Other Washington. The professor for the first course is a journalist, and I know she started the nation’s first ethnic reporting beat. I’ve taken a class with her although I’m not a journalism major, and she’s an incredible professor. The professor for the Unseen and Unheard course is a filmmaker-in-residence with the anthropology department. </p>
<p>Here’s some links about the professors and courses I referenced, hope it helps:</p>
<p>[Unseen</a> and Unheard Course](<a href=“http://www.american.edu/soc/film/unseen-unheard.cfm]Unseen”>http://www.american.edu/soc/film/unseen-unheard.cfm)
[Students</a> Follow Immigration Debate in Manassas | American University, Washington, D.C.](<a href=“http://www.american.edu/americantoday/campus-news/20091208-community-voice-manassas.cfm]Students”>http://www.american.edu/americantoday/campus-news/20091208-community-voice-manassas.cfm)
[Communities</a> Around the District](<a href=“http://dccommunityreporting.americanobserver.net/]Communities”>http://dccommunityreporting.americanobserver.net/)
[Profile</a> Nina Shapiro-Perl](<a href=“http://www.american.edu/soc/faculty/shapirop.cfm]Profile”>http://www.american.edu/soc/faculty/shapirop.cfm)
[Profile</a> Angie Chuang](<a href=“http://www.american.edu/soc/faculty/chuang.cfm]Profile”>http://www.american.edu/soc/faculty/chuang.cfm)</p>