The School of Communication and Journalism (SoCJ) at Stony Brook University has announced the establishment of two new departments: the Department of Communication and the Department of Journalism. This development, effective July 1, 2025, signifies a major step in the school's evolution and dedication to academic growth, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Carl W. Lejuez, executive vice president and provost, remarked on this advancement by stating, “Over the past several years, the SoCJ has grown in student enrollments and the number of programs it offers at the graduate and undergraduate level. I’m pleased to see the School enter into this new phase of its growth.”
The decision follows strategic planning within SoCJ that has seen an expansion in research initiatives, introduction of five new degree programs, and recruitment of high-caliber faculty and students. Dean Laura Lindenfeld expressed her pride in these achievements: “I’m so proud of the work we have done to grow the School to this level. The establishment of these two new departments will strengthen our ability to advance solutions-oriented work with real-world impact.”
The creation of department chairs is expected to bolster faculty development, resource acquisition, and innovative interdisciplinary research. A search for candidates from within Stony Brook University will begin immediately.
Originally founded as the School of Journalism in 2006 and renamed in 2021 to reflect its expanding academic scope, SoCJ continues its mission with distinct focuses for each department. The Department of Communication will cover various fields such as interpersonal communication, health communication, environmental communication among others. It will manage several undergraduate programs including a BA in Communication and a BS in Mass Communication along with graduate offerings like an MS in Science Communication.
The Department of Journalism maintains its BA and MS programs with a focus on solutions journalism — exploring responses to social issues. The BA program holds accreditation from the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication; plans are underway for MS program accreditation.
SoCJ collaborates closely with entities like the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science while hosting centers such as The Center for News Literacy and The Marie Colvin Center for International Reporting.
Despite establishing separate departments with unique identities and leadership structures, SoCJ remains dedicated to fostering intellectual collaboration across disciplines through shared initiatives contributing towards creating a fairer world through ethical communication.