<p>I've been looking at Roosevelt University in Chicago. Does it have a good Journalism and Communications department? Are its academics good? and does it have a nice campus, with a nice city feel?</p>
<p>The same for DePaul University</p>
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<p>Roosevelt definitely has a city feel. Whether it’s “nice” is in the eye of the beholder. The “campus” consists of a single classroom building plus a nearby high-rise dorm. The classroom building is a historic architectural landmark that was converted for college purposes 60+ years ago. It’s located in downtown Chicago, right across the street from Grant Park. There’s a view of Lake Michigan from the front side windows. </p>
<p>As at any institution, the academics are what you make of them. I have two Roosevelt degrees, and they have served me well. Would I encourage my kids to go there? Probably not, though if that’s where they decided to go, I’m sure they could get a good education.</p>
<p>Roosevelt is a dump. If you can commute and it is the best financial choice, consider it. Otherwise, look elsewhere. DePaul would be a better choice.</p>
<p>I have spent six years at Roosevelt University. Four as a undergraduate student and two as a graduate student. One of the many things I like about Roosevelt is the family atmosphere. There are small class sizes and great social networking. You’re in the heart of downtown so there are also several stores and places to eat. As for the Communications Department as it pertains to journalism, I can personally say that the program is great! The faculty and staff are very attentive to the students. They know each student by name, and the work that we do is very hands on. There are three areas of study in the journalism program and they are: Print/Broadcasting, Integrated Marketing and Communications, and Online.</p>
<p>During my undergraduate I focused on general journalism so I learned and was very interactive with reporting, writing, shooting and editing video, etc. For my graduate degree, I focused on magazine writing. I did a internship with one of the local magazines here in Chicago. This was very insightful and provided great hands on experience for me because I now freelance/volunteer for two magazines.</p>
<p>Becoming a student at Roosevelt means you have a voice. We focus on subjects that are thought provoking and useful such as Biology, Psychology, and Journalism. Being a student at Roosevelt not only allows you to explore the various academic options we offer, but it allows you to utilize and be hands on with the material you are learning and the degree you are obtaining. Being a part of Roosevelt means feeling comfortable in knowing that the decisions you make today and the degree you will receive will be beneficial to the profession you’ve chosen.</p>
<p>Roosevelt’s history is also one of social activism. It was founded right after World War II to give nontraditional students a path to a college degree - at a time when such paths were few and far between. I’ve had little to do with the school for nearly 30 years, so I can’t say whether that spirit still obtains.</p>
<p>I actually go to Roosevelt and I am a Communications major. I love the teachers that I have had so far. They’re always engaged in what you need as a student and the class sizes are small so learning is very interactive. A couple of my friends are Journalism majors and they love the fact that they are right in the hub of the action such as the NATO summit and the Occupy movement. Chicago also provides so many internship and job opportunities since most of the company’s headquarters or communication branches are located in the city. As for the campus, they just built a new ‘vertical campus’ which has dorms facing both the city skyline and the lake. It’s right behind the Auditorium building. They also still have the University Center and Fornelli Hall. There are many restaurants and venues and also Millennium Park right our front so there is always something to do.</p>
<p>[Review:</a> Roosevelt University Tower | The Chicago Architecture Blog](<a href=“http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info/2012/02/15/review-roosevelt-university-tower/]Review:”>http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info/2012/02/15/review-roosevelt-university-tower/)</p>
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<p>My wife and I went to a student produced play there during the spring semester. Very impressed.</p>
<p>Two first time posters touting the school, one using very PR-style language: “Being a part of Roosevelt means feeling comfortable in knowing that the decisions you make today and the degree you will receive will be beneficial to the profession you’ve chosen.” That’s…odd.</p>
<p>I was thinking the same thing, MommaJ. I think Roosevelt’s PR folks were on google!</p>
<p>Me three, about the one time posters ;)</p>