Welcome to AnnenBlog!

So, um, how's it going?

I know everybody is the throws of final projects and papers as the downhill race toward the end of semester draws upon us. But! As we plan/register for next fall, I'm wondering if anyone wants to give a "thumbs up" to a course they would recommend, in sort of a recapping-spring-semester-salutation-kinda-way.

Myself, I am in two courses (not the brightest move while working fulltime, mind you) this semester, Interpreting Pop Culture seminar and Ad Strategy & Promotion (through Marshall). They've played off each other nicely, like two flip sides of the same coin. On the one hand, with the Marshall course, it has been challenging in that: A.) I am so not a business student and taking this class has made me fully aware of that fact - meaning: there's math involved (I know!) B.) There's a lot of terrain covered, so each class session is totally worth its time. Even having worked in Marketing for a spell I am learning a ton and trying to absorb it at what feel like an accelerated rate.
On the Pop Culture front - I am so glad I took this course - I saw it before I entered the program and was excited for it, and it has indeedy lived up its anticipations. It covers a lot of terrain as well, lectures are lively and use a variety of very relevant and engaging examples that we all know and love, such as Sex in the City, Dave Chapelle - and if you were in class last week, the classic Reality Show, "Are you Hot?" - to highlight different theories of cultural progression. The challenge (for me anyway) haven never taken a proper theory course is that I had to dust off the cobwebs in my crackled old head and start the wheels in motion toward a deeper level of analysis. That's right! Grad school is paying off! I'm hoping to get my professor on here, Christopher Smith, to introduce himself and give a little background on some of his intriguing work.

Which brings me to my next point - if anyone would like to invite their Teach or guest speaker on here to say a thing or two on their course de jour, by all means, let us know. And, once again, if anyone can give the scoop or insight on a course that made them tickled, spill the beans!

Let your voice be heard!

Read this message from our friends at room207*online

Sign this petition @ room207*online

"There has been some discussion about early afternoon classes and how most of us would have a hard time making it to Annenberg for a 3:45 class once a week for a whole semester.

Things could get a whole lot harder if the trend of offering required, core courses in the daytime continues without much comment from those of us who are working and interning. The required course for Global Comm is scheduled in the daytime next semester, as is Cody’s 510 course. What if that was the exact course you needed to graduate, as it is in the Globals case?

We would like to make it known to the administration that we would like at least one required course be taught in the evening every semester so that working students are able to finish their degrees on schedule.

We have an opportunity to present this directly to the Dean in one week, so we need your virtual "John Hancock" fast! Please “sign” your name (please use a real name) and the program you are in by making a comment to this post  and we will present our “petition” to the Dean when he comes to our Comm 599 class on Nov. 28th.

This isn’t confrontational in any way…we just want the administration to know that this is an issue many of us care about, and that working students who can’t be on campus all day need to have options to get through the program and keep our jobs.

-The room207*online team."

Sign this petition @ room207*online

"There has been some discussion about early afternoon classes and how most of us would have a hard time making it to Annenberg for a 3:45 class once a week for a whole semester.

Things could get a whole lot harder if the trend of offering required, core courses in the daytime continues without much comment from those of us who are working and interning. The required course for Global Comm is scheduled in the daytime next semester, as is Cody’s 510 course. What if that was the exact course you needed to graduate, as it is in the Globals case?

We would like to make it known to the administration that we would like at least one required course be taught in the evening every semester so that working students are able to finish their degrees on schedule.

We have an opportunity to present this directly to the Dean in one week, so we need your virtual "John Hancock" fast! Please “sign” your name (please use a real name) and the program you are in by making a comment to this post  and we will present our “petition” to the Dean when he comes to our Comm 599 class on Nov. 28th.

This isn’t confrontational in any way…we just want the administration to know that this is an issue many of us care about, and that working students who can’t be on campus all day need to have options to get through the program and keep our jobs.

-The room207*online team."

Choosing a Master's Thesis

Anyone who is putting together their thesis, how did you come to choose your topic, what helped you, how long did it take you to research???

What to Take in Spring?

I cannot believe it, but I only have two more classes to go before laying claim to my Comm Mgmt. degree! Hard to believe.

I'm trying to decide between taking one of the following this Spring:

COMM 540 Uses of Communication Research, or

COMM 587 Audience Analysis

COMM 540 is taught by "Resnick", while COMM 587 is taught by Sheila Murphy. I've had Prof Murphy, and she is good. But...I'm thinking it might be better to take a different professor for this next-to-last class of mine. However.....I know NOTHING about Resnick. Who is he? Who is she? I checked this list at the Annenberg web site, but...no Resnick there. I am reduced to using Google and typing in "USC" and "Resnick" for help. But...what I get are disjointed, random links and I'm left to try to piece together a vague sense of who the professor is and what he/she is all about.

• If anyone knows anything about Prof Resnick please let me know!
• If anyone knows any "inside information" about the difference between these two courses, please let me know (I know mainly that they are both options for satisfying the research class requirement of the Comm Mgmt. degree)

I think it would be great if AnnenBlog would evolve into an online, open, honest discussion forum where we can all share insights into classes and professors, so we know who and what to take based upon our interests. I think we're paying way too much $$ to feel okay with rolling the dice on a class based only on what the catalog has to say about it.

Anyone's opinions about any or all of this would be highly appreciated!

Thanks in advance,
Eddie West

How to register for Marshall courses?

Am I the only one who is confused about the registration process for Marshall courses? Well if there are more of people like me...read on.

Thanks to Alison who gave really good tips in another post, I finally emailed Marshall school (registration@marshall.usc.edu) and got the registration process straight from the horse's mouth. This is how it works.

"Any non-Business USC graduate student who would like to take a Marshall graduate elective must apply for the specific course they are interested in taking...Marshall electives are available for non-Business students if certain qualifications are met and there is space left in the class. Attached is a non-Business student application that outlines all the eligibility rules and minimum qualifications you must meet in order to take a Marshall course.  You may fill out the application and email it back to our office (registration@marshall.usc.edu) at your earliest convenience. You may also fax the form in at (213) 740-8936 or walk in to our office in BRI 207.

Non-Business students may apply for a Marshall course and will be registered on a first-come first-serve basis beginning November 22, 2005 after all Marshall students have had a chance to register for these courses. There is no departmental (D) clearance for Marshall graduate classes - all non-Business students must go through the application process."

Here are a couple of minimum qualifcations that I felt were more significant (please see the complete list in the atttachment):

• You cannot be previously denied admission to the Marshall School of Business or the Leventhal School of Accounting.
• You must have a USC graduate GPA of 3.20. For students who have just done your first semester at Annenberg and do not have your USC graduate GPA yet, your undergraduate GPA must be at least 3.40. Otherwise, you could also get your professors to email Marshall school your results as soon as they have graded you.

As Alison mentioned, don't forget to fill out the cognate form and submit to Gail by the end of the Drop/Add period.

Well, I hope this helps.  I plan to take a Marshall course next sem, either Service Marketing or Global Marketing. What are you all interested in taking?

- Tze Wei

Prepping for the Overload

I entered into the Comm Mangement program, thinking if would be fabulous to work full time and take two classes per semester. After a hectic schedule this semster with working full time in Orange County and commuting two nights a week for one CM class and one Art Center class, I am wondering if I can endure two CM classes for spring. Anyone have any advice on this?

Thanks!
Johanna

Who's planning to take 541 Integrated Comm Strategy (Prof Hollingshead)

I've been lamenting that there isn't enough marketing comm classes this fall...i want more!!! So I'm really excited to take Comm 541 Integrated Comm Strategy in spring. I remember that Prof Hollingshead said during orientation that  this course was really relevant to marketing comm but I forgot what it was about. Anyone remember? Anyone planning to take it?

-Tze Wei

How is Prof Weintraub's 502 online class conducted?

Next Spring, the Strategic Corporate Communication Course by Prof Weintraub is conducted online. How is the class run? Is it tough?

How can I take a Marshall class?

I am a first year CM student and I see that spring reg is fast approaching. I am interested in taking a Marshall marketing course (btw - does any one recommend one in particular? I was thinking the one on pricing...) but I am fearing the red tape  - what exactly is the process? Is it a headache?

Who has taken Comm510 (Prof Cody)

510 Communication, Values, Attitudes, and Behavior by Prof Cody

Can anyone share what's this class about? I'm interested to take it during Spring term.

- Tze Wei