As of last semester, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences is no longer accepting enrollment into the communication disorders concentration, according to Jessica Jameson, associate professor of communication. The concentration will slowly be phased out of the Department of Communication, she said.

This is not the first time in recent years that CHASS has phased out a major concentration, according to John Hall, communication lecturer.

According to Hall, the theatre concentration was also phased out from the communication department. The theatre concentration was removed in the same way that the communication disorders concentration will be removed, through a continual process until all students who have that concentration graduate.

Cory Livengood, a senior in communication with a theatre concentration, said he is the last communication major to graduate from the University with a theatre concentration.

“Now, N.C. State offers an arts applications major with a theatre concentration, but it’s not the same and frankly, doesn’t seem to hold the same credibility as a communication major,” Livengood said.

Students who were enrolled in the concentration before last semester such as Caroline Harrall, a senior in communication disorders, will not be affected by the phasing out of the program.

According to Harrall though, she said she does have concern for others in the concentration.

“This will obviously affect students considering N.C. State for this specific major because it will not be offered [anymore],” she said. “Current students [in the concentration] may be worried that the courses [they need] will not be offered as well.”

According to Jameson though, the communication department is committed to assuring a successful graduation for all those who are enrolled in the concentration until the last class graduates in 2011.

“Current students will get all of the courses they need for admission to graduate school,” Dan DeJoy, associate professor of communication, said. “This phaseout will occur over several years, and the level of instruction and mentoring for [communication disorders] students will remain exceptional.”

Harrall said aside from the worries and the disappointment that CHASS is phasing out the program, she feels the communication disorders concentration is one of the strongest in the communication department.

“Our program, [communication disorders], has an excellent reputation within North Carolina and among graduate programs across the country,” DeJoy said.

CHASS currently does not have a graduate program for the communication disorders concentration, according to Jameson.

“It is simply not feasible and is one of the major reasons for the phasing out,” Jameson said.

Jameson stressed the communication disorders concentration is the only communication concentration that requires a master’s degree.

Other universities in the area such as UNC-Chapel Hill and North Carolina Central University have a graduate program for communication disorders.

“The UNC school systems do not like to duplicate programs that are within the area because of tax money reasons,” Jameson said.

She said most faculty do not want to end their teaching experience with their students at the end of their undergraduate program.

DeJoy agreed the decision to phase out relates to difficulties in staffing.

“It’s very difficult to engage in recruiting faculty when you have no graduate program, especially a 10-year faculty member because they all want the ability to work with graduate students,” Jameson said.

According to Jameson, there will be changes in communication courses, but there will also be additions of faculty to the college.

“A new public relations professor will begin in the fall and will specialize in fundraising and nonprofit development,” Jameson said. “He will teach nonprofit leadership and development.”

“All the changes to CHASS will be progressive, but the college hopes to achieve great things within the communication department,” Jameson said.

CHASS is also currently undergoing a full professor search to continue to further the progress of the department, according to Jameson.