Polytechnic University of the Philippines College of Communication

Polytechnic University of the Philippines College of Communication
Kolehiyo ng Komunikasyon Politeknikong Unibersidad ng Pilipinas
College of Communication
Established	1979 (as program in communication) 2001 (as College of Communication)
Type	public college, school of journalism
Undergraduates	Bachelor's degrees in journalism, broadcast communication, and communication research
Location	Santa Mesa, Manila, Philippines
Campus	Mass Communication Center, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Manila
Website	[1]

The PUP College of Communication is one of the independent constituent colleges of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, a state university in Manila, Philippines. It was formerly the Department of Mass Communication until its separation from the then College of Languages and Mass Communication in 2001. The PUP College of Communication is considered as the largest communication school in the Philippines. COC bears the distinction of being the first communication school in the country to have achieved Level III Accredited Status as awarded by the AACCUP. This recognition was achieved by the College in 2008 for its two programs - Broadcast Communication and Journalism. Its Communication Research program, initially offered in 2006, is equally competitive as it responds to the needs of the media and communication industry.

College Officials

Dean, College of Communication : Prof. Angelina E. Borican

Chairperson, Department of Broadcast Communication : Dr. Anna Ruby Gapasin

Chairperson, Department of Journalism : Prof. Cherry Pebre

Chairperson, Department of Communication Research : Prof. Racidon Bernarte

Vision, Mission, & Objectives

Vision: A premier College of Communication that is globally competitive.

Mission: The PUP College of Communication is committed to provide quality communication education for the development of globally competitive communication professionals.

Goal: Establish academic leadership in the study and practice of communication responsive to the changing needs of information society.

History

A year after the proclamation of Presidential Decree 1081 or Martial Law (1973), the Philippine College of Commerce conceived the Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication (ABMC). It was a degree program initiated by Mr. Antonio Uy, who was then the Administrative Assistant to the President of PCC, and Prof. Isabelo T. Crisostomo.

In the mid-70s when development communication was on its peak, then PCC President Pablo T. Mateo Jr. formed a group of educators to design a commerce-based AB Development Communication Program.

When PCC was converted into the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in 1978, a ladderized curriculum was designed by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS).

In 1979, Prof. Samuel Fernandez, Mr. Leonardo Garcia and Mrs. Norma Martinez designed Bachelor in Business Journalism Curriculum (BbuJ) under the deanship of FAS Dean Dr. Fe M. Duque. Further curriculum studies were conducted by the committee composed of Prof. Segundo Dizon, Prof. Fe Lina M. Salting, Prof. Maria Victoria G. Red and Film Director Maryo J. Delos Reyes. The said committee proposed Bachelor in Broadcast Journalism, a separate curriculum program for Broadcasting.

In the same year, BBRJ was renamed Bachelor in Broadcast Communication or BBRC when FAS turned into the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). Bachelor in Business Journalism became Bachelor in Journalism or BJ in 1984 during the term of CAS Dean Dr. Zenaida A. Olonan, who was then the Chair of the Communication Program.

Dr. Nemesio Prudente, upon his assumption to office as the University President in 1986 implemented the Department of Mass Communication (DMC) together with the Department of Filipino and Department of English and Foreign Languages were pulled out from the College of Arts and Sciences. The three departments were housed in a separate College after the PUP Board of Regents approved the creation of the College of Languages and Mass Communication or CLMC in 1987. Dr. Rustica C. Carpio became the first Chairperson of DMC. She also initiated the revision of the DMC Curriculum program.

In 1988, Dr. Carpio proposed the establishment of the National Mass Communication Center and spearheaded the conversion of DMC to an Institute of Mass Communication. Dr. Carpio’s position paper was submitted to then Senator Orlando Mercado and the latter authored Senate Bill Number 583 or “An Act Creating the Mass Communication Center of the Philippines.”

Dr. Carpio was designated as the first Dean of the CMLC and concurrently served as DMC Chairperson in 1989. She likewise started Master in Mass Communication program in the PUP Graduate School and became the Program Chair for a decade. She also instituted the Non-Traditional Study Program of the DMC.

Prof. Ma. Victoria G. Red became Dr. Carpio’s successor as Chair of the DMC in May, 1991. After a year, Dr. Leonida N. Tuazon was designated as the third DMC Chair under the deanship of Dr. Wilfredo L. Alberca. Chair Tuazon created the curriculum enhancement committee to review the DMC Curriculum.

On April 25, 1991, Senate Bill No. 583 was changed into Senate Bill No. 1791 by the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media chaired by then Senator Agapito Aquino. Without amendment, with Senator Mercado as author, SB 1971 was approved. Thus, an edifice was put up at the NDC Compound along Anonas St., Sta. Mesa, Manila to serve as the Mass Communication Center which is also attached to PUP for administrative purposes.

In October, 1993, the Department moved to its new home, the Mass Communication Center. It was inaugurated and blessed on December 13, 1993 with the then PUP President Dr. Zenaida A. Olonan leading the University officials.

The First Level Accreditation Status was achieved by the Bachelor in Broadcast Communication and Bachelor in Journalism programs as recommended by the Accrediting Agency for Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP) during the second term of Prof. Ma. Victoria G. Red as Chair in 1996. In the same year, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) recognized the PUP Department of Mass Communication as Center of Excellence in the discipline of communication for Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program or ETEEAP.

PUP-DMC created various affiliations with other communication agencies and organizations. Two training institutes were launched in 1996 through the collaborated efforts of PUP, International Organizations of Journalists (IOJ), National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) and International Institute of Journalism – Berlin (IIJB). The said training institutes were the Willie Vicoy Institute of Photojournalism for Asia (VIPA) and Asian Center for Broadcast Journalism (ACBJ). PUP – CLMC hosted the training while NUJP and IIB provided the professional and technical expertise, and the IOJ supported the training program through its equipment and other resources.

In November, 1997, Prof. Ma. Lourdes DP Garcia was appointed as the fourth Chairperson of the Department of Mass Communication while Prof. Wlihelmina N. Cayanan was designated as the CLMC Dean in 1998.

Through the initiative of Prof. Jose Reuben Q. Alagaran II, faculty of DMC and president of the Faculty Club, the PUP Open University offered Bachelor in Broadcast Communication and Master in Mass Communication in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and Public Relations Organization of the Philippines (PROP). Prof. Alagaran was appointed as the Chairperson for both programs in the PUP-OU System.

In May, 1999, Dr. Divina Pasumbal became the successor of Dr. Carpio as Chair of the Master in Communication Program of the PUP Graduate School.

The turn of the century ushered in significant changes and development in the history of the Department of Mass Communication.

DMC Chairperson Maria Lourdes DP Garcia revived the proposed conversion of DMC into an Institute of Mass Communication. Then PUP President Ofelia M. Carague instructed the Vice President for Academic Affairs Samuel M. Salvador to create a committee. Thus, in October 1999, a working committee was commissioned to develop a proposal. The Committee was composed of CLMC Dean Wilhelmina Cayanan as Chair, Prof. Maria Lourdes DP Garcia and Dr. Divina T. Pasumbal as co- chairs, with Prof. Ma. Victoria Red and Prof. Joey Alagaran as members. Dr. Rustica Carpio, who is the original proponent, was also involved in the preparation of the position paper for the separation of DMC from CLMC.

After a month, in November, 1999, the BBRC and BJ programs were granted the Level II Status by the AACCUP. With its performance, AACCUP strongly recommended the conversion of DMC not into an Institute but into a College of Mass Communication. Consequently, the proposed separation of the Department from CLMC was pushed through and submitted to the PUP Administration. During the process of the Administrator’s study on the proposal, Dr. Robert F. Soriano was designated as Chairperson of the Department in November 2000.

It was in May 2001 when the Department of Mass Communication realized its dream to stand as a College. The PUP Board of Regents approved the separation of DMC from CLMC and the College of Communication was born. Dr. Divina Pasumbal became the first Dean of the College with Dr. Maria Lourdes DP Garcia as Chairperson of the Department of Broadcast Communication and Dr. Robert Soriano as Chairperson of the Department of Journalism.

Thereafter, the College continued to grow and soar high as it earned significant achievements and recognition inside and outside the University. It has undergone challenges and changes in the succession of its administrators.

In 2006, the College grew with the introduction of a third program – Bachelor in Communication Research. With the offering of this program, PUP COC became the second communication school to have offered the BCR program.

In March 2008, COC gained the distinction of being one of the first Colleges in the University to have achieved Level 3 Accreditation Status for its two programs – BBRC and BJ. It was through the collective efforts of the faculty members and students, and the leadership of the administrators that the College surpassed this challenge.

Today, the College of Communication continues to mirror the “Total University” vision towards competence and excellence. Being one of the biggest communication schools in the Philippines, COC upholds its commitment in providing quality communication education to a great number of economically-challenged Filipinos.

Programs

• Broadcast Communication ( BBRC ) Department of Broadcast Communication

The Bachelor in Broadcast Communication is a program designed to prepare the students for careers as media practitioners. Specifically, it intends to provide training in radio, television, film, research and other forms of audio-visual communication with the end in view of inculcating the desired values of the professions.

• Journalism ( BJ ) Department of Journalism

The Bachelor in Journalism Program is a degree which critically emphasizes the central role of communication, particularly the field of journalism, in the understanding and appreciation of contemporary issues affecting the society in its macro and micro perspectives.

With the changing global environment that is largely influenced by technology, Journalism education today is viewed as an essential preparation for the profession. It requires specialized skills not only in writing for the print medium but also online. It needs communication professionals who are equipped not only with the necessary skills and competencies but also those who are morally and ethically responsible. Thus, the program is designed to produce graduates who are trained in this aspect.

This program is designed to prepare students for careers as media practitioners. Specifically, it intends to provide training in the field of journalism with the end in view of inculcating the desired values of the profession.

• Communication Research ( BCR ) Department of Communication Research

Communication research is a wide and diverse field that includes inquiry by humanists, social scientists and scholars of critical and cultural studies. The range of communication research and its implications for improving the world are breathtaking. Leading universities, colleges and tertiary education institutions in the world promote the importance of communication research by providing/including communication research education in their academic programs. This is because communication research seeks to broaden the domain of inquiry by exploring the concepts of various forms of communication that have been formulated in promoting a greater degree of understanding of the human interaction. It is an integral groundwork of any successful institution for decision-making, action planning and policy formulation, which will result to higher degree of competitiveness.

The Bachelor in Communication Research is designed to train students to become competent, critical and responsible practitioners with high level of ethical awareness in the area of communication research study and practice.

The program is geared to develop communication research specialists trained in conducting communication research within the context of theories and effects, and by grounding these with practical experience through fieldwork and internships; the program ensures that its graduates are equipped to contribute to the practice of communication research in the academic, industrial, governmental, and non-governmental sectors.

• Graduate Program in Communication (housed at the P.U.P. Graduate School)

http://www.pup.edu.ph/COC/