Why Every BU Student Would Benefit From Taking a Class in COM
By Elias Goodman, Account Supervisor
Boston University is regarded by most college publications to be an “elite institution.” Its repertoire of highly-regarded schools, from the the Questrom School of Business in East campus to the School of Hospitality Administration far West, regularly sees students rise to the top of their industries. There’s no denying that BU has made a name for itself in the world, but is it doing enough to ensure its student body will not only be prepared for the working world but outperform and dominate their post-grad futures? The answer is yes, but it becomes the responsibility of the student to recognize the opportunities that lie in front of them on the Commonwealth Avenue strip.
Enter COM, an unassuming beige block of a building in East campus that houses the secrets to success in the professional world. Not only is COM extremely recognized with Public Relations, Film & TV, Advertising, and Journalism programs ranking in the top 10 nationally, but the school provides courses tailored to developing skills graduates need to prosper in whatever industry they decide to enter.
All communication students, save for Film & TV majors, take two additional writing courses on top of the general education (WR) ones. These COM writing courses are more grammar and prose oriented since those studying PR, advertising, and journalism will have to write as part of their jobs. As someone who has taken all four writing classes required of me, I can wholeheartedly say CO201 and CM331 each have done more for my writing development than any class I’ve taken in school. After CO201, using a semicolon will become second-nature.
CM331 is more focused on the practice of writing in different formats. From news releases to op-eds to feature stories, you’ll have ample opportunities to refine your grammar skills and generate an understanding of how writing differs across media. Most importantly, you’ll be introduced to concise writing, which is the no-fluff, to-the-point style of writing that all employers look for when hiring. Learning what it means to be concise will change how you think about writing for the better.
Writing is only one skill the COM school can promise to improve. CM211: Professional Presentation is a course tailored to getting acquainted with public speaking. Students in this course will have the opportunity to train themselves through a slew of in-class presentations including a personal narrative, persuasive presentation, Shark Tank style group presentation, and more. Public speaking is something very few are truly good at. By the end, you’ll have generated your own methods of public speaking you can take with you to the professional world and beyond. Being uncomfortable in a class is one of the best things you can do for yourself; pressure is a privilege.
CM524: PR Career Management is a class everyone at BU should take if they can. This class specializes in helping students craft their own unique narratives which can be used as the basis for cover letters and interviews. This class is taught by Ray Kotcher, former global CEO of Ketchum, an international PR agency. Kotcher has seen incredible personal success throughout his career, so the opportunity to receive his “secrets to success” is one most schools cannot offer. COM is teeming with professors who have succeeded at the very top of their fields; the education you can receive from these professionals is second-to-none.
The BU Hub is the university’s school-wide general education program that emphasizes working across disciplines to prepare for an increasingly complex and diverse world. This is a unique new norm for incoming BU undergrads, and provides an opportunity for more educational freedom than before. This new freedom can be harrowing for students; there are so many academic paths to choose that it can become overwhelming. The structure of the HUB is still not completely defined, so new programs are being added and taken away often. COM may not seem like the most flashy option for HUB learning, but the inherent skills it can provide to those who seek them will be essential to post-grad success. Communication skills are the most in-demand by employers across every industry. It could be a real disadvantage if you do not learn to effectively communicate, so take that first step into 640 Commonwealth Avenue and jumpstart your future triumphs!