Communication studies students searching for classes are finding it nearly impossible to enroll in courses they need to graduate.

Like many other departments on campus, communications studies is feeling the pinch created by a swelling enrollment trend which is expected to hit 30,000 students within 2 years, up from about 27,000 today.

The enrollment increase hits the communication studies department particularly hard because so many of its courses, such as public speaking, debate and interpersonal communication, are General Education courses in high demand by students in other majors.

“I need Coms 123 to graduate this December and there is only one offering at night when I work. My only hope now is to pray that it will be offered in the fall,” said Steve Love, a senior majoring in Digital media.

“There just aren?t enough P.R. classes offered during the day,” said Louis Gagnon, a senior majoring in public relations.

Summer Rowley, another communications senior echoed the same lament. “They need to offer more required classes like 170 and 171,” she said, referring to the research classes that all communications majors need to graduate.

Students, faculty and management disagree as to why the problem exists.

Communications studies professor Tom Knutson believes the problem lies with the administration. “If Nordstroms ran their company like CSUS does, they would be out of business,” he said.

Val Smith, chair of the communications studies department, blames the inclusive admissions policy at CSUS. “The growth of the student population is outstripping the ability of the school to meet it.

“If it was up to me, I would be less inclusive and a little more competitive in admissions policies,” Smith said. “I believe there are students enrolled in this campus who don?t belong here.”

Smith does not blame the Sac State administration.”I don?t think President Gerth can do much to address this issue as admissions policies are set at a much higher level,” he said, referring to the fact that it is state lawmakers who make policy regarding inclusion.

Smith said his department is taking steps to ease the class crunch by offering more weekend and night classes and hiring more instructors.

“We?re going out for four more full time hires this semester,” Smith said.

Still, according to a Feb. 7 memo from Sheila Orman of the Office of Faculty Affairs, Smith?s department must hire 21 part-time instructors to meet anticipated need for the 2002-03 academic year.

Regardless of what is being done to solve the problem, some students, like Rowley, still don?t think it?s enough.

“I could have graduated this May but I?m stuck here until fall because it?s the only time the class I need is offered. The department needs to do more.”