School of Journalism and Mass Media

Contact Information

Robin Johnson, School Director: 347 Administration Building 83844-3178; phone 208-885-6458; jamm@uidaho.edu; Website: School of Journalism and Mass Media

Overview

The University of Idaho School of Journalism and Mass Media is Idaho’s only accredited program for the study of journalism, mass communication and related fields. The school offers bachelor’s degrees in five fields: advertising, broadcasting and digital media, film and television, journalism and public relations. It offers an undergraduate academic certificate in social media management. The school offers a master's degree in emerging media and graduate academic certificates in media production and strategic media management.

Students with degrees from the school pursue careers with advertising agencies, radio and television stations and networks, film and video production companies, cable and satellite operations, newspapers and magazines, other print and online media and public relations firms. They also work as public information specialists for non-profit agencies, private corporations and within the government. Many graduates seek advanced degrees in law, public administration, strategic communication and the humanities and social sciences.

The school’s curriculum is based on a premise that journalists, broadcasters, film and television producers, public relations professionals and advertisers should be broadly educated. Accordingly, students must take at least 75 of the 120 credits needed for graduation outside the school. As a unit of the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences, the school also provides conceptual courses to students in other fields of study as well as university General Education core courses related to the role of media in a global society.

Students seeking the B.A. degree are required to demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language; those seeking the B.S. degree must complete an 18-credit minor or area of emphasis.

Students enrolled in a Journalism, Public Relations, Advertising or Broadcasting and Digital Media major may not double major in any of these four programs. Students enrolled in the Film and Television major or the Broadcasting and Digital Media major may not double major in these two programs.

Students enrolled in a Journalism, Public Relations, Advertising or Broadcasting and Digital Media major may not pursue a Journalism, Public Relations, Advertising or Broadcasting and Digital Media minor. Students enrolled in the Film and Television major or the Broadcasting and Digital Media major may not pursue a minor in Film and Television Production or Broadcasting and Digital Media.

Many students in the School of Journalism and Mass Media supplement their academic experience by working for the independent student media outlets on campus, including the Argonaut newspaper, the Blot magazine, KUOI-FM and the University Avenue advertising agency. Students are also strongly encouraged to pursue internships at professional media organizations throughout the region.

The school's undergraduate Advertising, Broadcasting and Digital Media, Journalism and Public Relations programs have been accredited since 2014 by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC), the agency responsible for the evaluation of professional journalism and mass communications programs in colleges and universities. The council found the School of Journalism and Mass Media in full compliance with all standards dealing with governance, faculty qualifications, the development of a culturally proficient workforce, curriculum, facilities, and student services. Visit ACEJMC's statement on the value of accreditation for more information on the benefits of meeting standards of excellence through accreditation.