The Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) is offering communication professionals a new way to get post-graduate education through its ladderized masters program. The first ladderized graduate program in journalism and communication to be offered in the country, it leads to the master in journalism (MJ) or master in communication management (MCM) degree. Under the program, the student can obtain a Graduate Certificate after completing the first 15 units, and a Graduate Diploma after an additional 12 units. Adding 12 units more will earn the student the MJ or MCM degree.

AIJC has been providing graduate education in communication to professionals in the mass media, corporate, academic, and government sector for 25 years. A total of 54 professionals have obtained their masters degrees from AIJC since 1983. The ladderized option was developed to help graduate students respond to the time demands of graduate studies and a fulltime job.AIJC recently celebrated its 25th anniversary in simple ceremonies at Club Filipino. Among the highlights of the silver anniversary was the investiture of its fourth president, Dr. Rogelio V. Cuyno, and the graduation of 17 students from AIJC’s MJ and MCM programs. Dr. Nona S. Ricarfort, newly installed commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) was the graduation speaker. The medal of academic excellence was awarded to Pamela Pascual for obtaining the highest grade average among the graduates.

The first batch of students taking the ladderized option begins their program in the first trimester of school year 2005-2006. Classes started last week for the 35 new and old students of AIJC.