About the Department
The Journalism and Media Communication (JMC) department is accredited by ACEJMC, the leading accreditation body for comparable academic programs. The department offers on-campus and online bachelor's degrees, two master's degrees, and a doctoral degree.
More than 30 faculty members offer a wide range of research and professional expertise. JMC leads academic minors in Music, Stage, and Sports Production, Media Studies, Information Science and Technology, and Technical and Science Communication, and provides advanced writing instruction each year for roughly 3,000 CSU students. In addition, JMC offers a Political Economy certificate program in partnership with Political Science, and contributes to the Film Studies interdisciplinary minor. The department celebrated its 50th birthday in 2018, and resides in the College of Liberal Arts.
More details about the department and its activities can be found on the recent news page; on our Facebook pages for current students and alumni; on our professional LinkedIn networking group; on Instagram, or by following us on Twitter.
For more information about department organization and priorities, see the Department Code and our Diversity Plan.
Mission Statement
The department of Journalism and Media Communication focuses on journalistic and other uses and effects of mass and specialized media. To fulfill this role, the department engages in:
Undergraduate teaching, to examine with students the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for traditional and innovative approaches to professional journalistic and related communication responsibilities.
Graduate teaching, to explore with advanced students communication concepts, theories, research methods, and sophisticated application in academic and advanced professional work environments.
Scholarship and creative activity, to help understand the nature, processes, technologies, effects, and problems of communication, modern media, and journalism/communication education.
Interdisciplinary teaching, research, and outreach, especially as related to science, technical, health, and environmental communication.
Service to the university, professional media, and academic organizations, including outreach to the public and media/communication constituencies.
Undergraduate Studies
The department’s undergraduate B.A. in Journalism and Media Communication offers a contemporary curriculum. Students prepare for careers in a wide variety of media communication professions, including, but not limited to journalism, public relations, advertising, media production, science writing, publication and web design, media management, and media entrepreneurship. Students also participate in a structured internship program with professional media organizations, and/or a tailored student media practicum with professional advisers.
The department maintains a strong relationship with the Rocky Mountain Student Media Corporation. More than 300 students annually work in Student Media to publish an award winning newspaper and website, operate a full-time radio station, produce daily television programming, publish a quarterly magazine, and create video programs for clients.
In addition to the major, JMC offers student groups and clubs including the Public Relations Student Society of America, the Society of Professional Journalists, RamProductions, and a Broadcast Education Association student club.
The department is actively engaged with scores of alumni, who regularly come to campus as guest speakers, participate in curriculum updates, compete in the CSU Media Festival, review the student portfolios of every graduating senior, and host student tours on site in partnership with employers.
Graduate Studies
Approximately 50 master’s students participate in our M.S. program in Journalism and Media Communication as well as our Ph.D. program in Public Communication and Technology. These campus-based programs focus on the role of information in the public’s understanding of contemporary issues and the impact of communication technology in people’s lives. Both programs offer significant financial and tuition support through graduate teaching, and research assistantships.
On average, five doctoral students are admitted each year. They complete advanced coursework and seminars in communication theory, research methods, and technology-related topics, as well as a complementary discipline outside the department. Students demonstrate their proficiency by completing comprehensive written qualifying exams and by conducting a rigorous independent research project that is presented and defended in a dissertation.
A Denver-based, professionally-oriented Master's in Communication and Media Management started in January, 2018, and is growing with each semester.
Colorado State University and the JMC department are committed to addressing practical, everyday problems in society in support of the university’s mission as Colorado’s 21st-century land grant institution. Researchers in the JMC department and across campus are national leaders examining public problems involving science, technology, the environment, health, and other applied human sciences. Our faculty members specialize in research relating to how corporations, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and media can share vital information on these and other topics with various audiences.