Kirby Hall’s vocal chords might be getting plenty of exercise in her voice classes this quarter, but her fingers aren’t burning any calories typing articles for journalism classes.
Hall, a Music freshman, is one of three participants in a new five-year, double-degree program allowing students to earn both a bachelor of music or a bachelor of arts in music degree from the School of Music and a master of science in journalism degree from the Medill School of Journalism.
As part of the curriculum, participants must complete four undergraduate journalism courses before they can begin their fifth year as a Medill graduate student.
“I’m in the School of Music for four years, so I figured each year I would take one (journalism) course,” Hall said. “It’s just a systematic organization thing for me.”
Hall said she wanted to take editing and writing the news — the prerequisite for many other Medill classes — this Winter Quarter. Hall was unable to enroll for the class because there were no open spots — a situation Medill Assistant Dean Roger Boye said is common.
Boye said most spots are reserved for Medill students, who can preregister for the class. Other students can usually enroll in editing and writing during Spring Quarter of their freshman year or Fall Quarter of their sophomore year.
“They aren’t Medill students, they are School of Music students,” he said. “We are absolutely, 100 percent committed that they will get all the courses they need.
“They may not get them the quarter they want them, but they are going to get the courses they need.”
Boye said that although students should not have a problem fulfilling their requirements, the Medill administration will handle any issues.
Linda Garton, director of student affairs for the School of Music, agreed with Boye that students should not worry about their inability to register for Medill classes this year.
Garton said students receiving a certificate in music criticism, another joint program between the schools, have not had problems completing the four Medill courses they need.
Hall said she is not worried about completing all of her required classes before her fifth year. Rather, she is frustrated that she and other Music students who need to take journalism classes to graduate are not given the same preference as Medill students.
“Essentially we are Medill students in a way,” Hall said, “so I think they should give us as much priority as the next Medill student.”
