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SUNY Buffalo State

Communication Department

Buckham Hall B119
1300 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14222-1095



Academic Year Represented

2020

Mission Statement

Mission Statement The Communication Department of SUNY Buffalo State is: ... a faculty of scholars serving the communication disciplines by creating new knowledge and effectively sharing existing knowledge within a community of scholars and media professionals. ... a faculty of educators preparing students to think analytically and creatively, communicate clearly, act ethically, and succeed professionally.

Technology/Equipment/Facilities

Five full computer labs with 17-20 stations, two audio editing and mixing suites, five video editing suites; and two smaller labs (an audio lab and a one-button studio). TV studio, control room, edit suites, main equipment room, and a viewing room.

Undergraduate Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (accredited) Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Advertising (formerly Public Communication; accredited) Bachelor of Arts in Media Production (accredited) Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies (not accredited)

Graduate Degrees Offered

Master of Science in Public Relations (not accredited)

Majors

Journalism Public Relations & Advertising Media Production Communication Studies Public Relations (master's degree)

Tracks within Majors

not applicable

Internships Accepted for Credit

The department strongly encourages students majoring in Journalism, Public Relations & Advertising, or Media Production to complete at least one three-credit internship as part of their degree. The department has a list of past internship locations and accepts information from local organizations that are offering internships.

Internships Facilitated

We have literally several dozen possible internship opportunities, too numerous to encapsulate here. But the majors ones are with broadcast outlets and newspapers in the Buffalo area (a top 50 market with affiliates with major networks), as well as public elations and advertising firms. We also can offer summer internship opportunities in a student's hometown, whether from New York to smaller towns, by working with a news or other organization through the internship coordinator.

Experiential and/or Immersion Programs for Credit

In addition to internships, many Communication courses are designated as service learning courses; faculty work with Buffalo State's Civic and Community Engagement Office to locate service learning clients, primarily nonprofits in Buffalo, for their courses.

Online Options

Our Master of Science degree in Public Relations (not accredited) is offered exclusively online.

Study-Abroad Options

Not applicable

Graduate Programs

M.S. Degree in Public Relations (online)

Department Budget

$1,362,768


Amount Spent per Student


Undergraduate Students

Undergrad Student Fees

$701


Undergraduate Student Fees Exclusive of Housing and Meal Plan

$701


Undergraduate Student Fees for Housing and Meal Plan


Undergrad In-State Tuition

$3,535


Undergrad Out-of-State Tuition

$8,490


Average Undergraduate Financial Aid

$16,024


Average Undergraduate Student Debt

$26,263


Graduate Students

Graduate Student Fees

$416


Graduate In-State Tuition

$5,655


Graduate Out-of-State Tuition

$11,550


Average Graduate Financial Aid

$18,916


Average Graduate Student Debt


Enrollment Numbers

Total Accredited Unit Enrollment

449


Undergraduate Enrollment

431


Graduate Enrollment

18


Number of In-State Students

442


Percentage of In-State Students

98


Number of International Students

3


Percentage of International Students

1


Number of Students by Gender

Male

266


Female

258


Not Specified


Number of Students by Ethnicity

White

223


Black

199


Asian

6


Hispanic/Latino

64


Pacific Islands or Native Hawaiian

3


Native American or Native Alaskan

3


Other

1


Class Sizes

Average Size of Skill Based Classes

16


Average Size of Non-Skill Based Classes

25


Retention and Graduation

First Year Student (Freshman) Retention Rate at University

61


Four Year Completion Rate

32


Six Year Completion Rate

50


New Graduate Employment

Full-Time Employment within Six Months of Graduation


Full-Time Employment Within Field of Study


Part-Time Employment Within Field of Study


Full-Time Employment Not In Field of Study


Part-Time Employment Not In Field of Study


Attending a Graduate Program


Unemployed


Unknown Status


Faculty Appointments

Full-Time Faculty

11


Part-Time Faculty

23


Faculty with Tenure

8


Faculty on Tenure Track

1


Untenured Part-Time Faculty

23


Untenured Full-Time Faculty

2


Percentage of Faculty within Scholarship or Research Field

100


Number of Faculty by Gender

Male

3


Female

8


Unspecified

0


Number of Faculty by Ethnicity

White

9


Black

1


Asian

1


Hispanic/Latino

0


Pacific Island or Native Hawaiian

0


Native American or Native Alaskan

0


Other

0


Faculty-to-Student Ratio

Faculty-to-Student Ratio for All Classes

22


Faculty-to-Student Ratio for Skill Classes

16


Comments on Quantitative Numbers

Percentages rounded up to the nearest whole number. The undergraduate student fees for housing and meal plans vary and depend on the dorm one lives in, as well as one lives in a single, double or suite in those dorms. The meal plan also varies. The department does not have any data on new graduate employment.We do not have a dedicated person who can take o that task when the college already employs such a person.