The number of New York University students majoring in journalism has nearly doubled in the past four years, reflecting a nationwide surge of interest in undergraduate journalism, according the Washington Square News, N.Y.U.’s student newspaper. A side effect is that the journalism department is struggling to find classroom space.
The department’s enrollment has risen to 725 students pursuing majors and 109 pursuing minors, from 396 majors and 53 minors in spring 2000.
The journalism department planned on moving from 10 Washington Pl. into newly renovated space in the Puck Building on Houston St., but plans fell through.
Recently, space became available at 20 Cooper Sq., a seven-story building N.Y.U. bought last spring. The journalism department is vying for the space with the yet-to-be-formed cultural studies department.
The department will try to alleviate crowding by hiring three full-time professors next year.
Some attribute the heightened interest in journalism to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which gave reporting a deeper meaning for many students.
