Our Mission
The mission of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications is to improve and strengthen the societal roles of the professions of journalism and mass communications through teaching, research and service. See our complete mission statement.
Diversity and Inclusiveness
The school is committed to the university’s mission to foster a diverse and vibrant academic environment in the university. Toward that end, the school recognizes the importance of embracing diversity in its various forms and creating a welcoming environment that encourages all to excel. See our complete Diversity and Inclusiveness Plan.
Faculty
The School of Journalism and Mass Communications seeks to have a balance of faculty experience, bringing to the students a variety of scholarship and perspectives from focused researchers, work experiences, and scholarly work from creative specialists. The faculty includes nationally renowned scholars, photojournalists, creative directors, media planners, broadcast managers, reporters, editors, and graphic designers. In Fall 2023, students have access to 41 full-time faculty.
Students
We have an interesting and diverse group of students from all over the United States
and abroad.
In Fall 2023, we have 1741 undergraduate students and 73 graduate students.
Undergraduate Enrollment By Major
Advertising - 364
Broadcast Journalism - 238
Journalism - 139
Mass Communications - 347
Public Relations - 330
Visual Communications - 223
Social Media
The school has an active and engaging social media outreach to students and alumni.
Retention and Graduation Rates
Our faculty and student services staff do an excellent job helping students to reach their goals and succeed in our program. The percentage of freshman students returning to the School of Journalism and Mass Communications as sophomores is among the highest at the university. These numbers demonstrate the personal attention and commitment extended to every student.
Undergraduate Students
Typically, half of the students at the School of Journalism and Mass Communications graduate in four years with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications.
Of those who do not, some take five or six years, some transfer out of the school to another major in the university, and some leave the university.
Three-quarters of our students return to the school as a sophomore. Of those we lose, more than half transfer to another department within the university. We view this as good advising and helping 18-year-olds understand proper educational paths.
The overall graduation rate listed in the Undergraduate New Student Retention and Graduation Rates is the official graduation rate as monitored and reported by the SC Commission on Higher Education.
|
Students' Cohort Year |
Freshman-Sophomore Retention |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 78.37% |
| 2020 | 87.77% |
| 2019 | 91.63% |
| 2018 | 76.34% |
| 2017 | 71.74% |
| 2016 | 78.7% |
| 2015 | 83.9% |
| 2014 | 83.9% |
| 2013 | 78.6% |
| 2012 | 80.8% |
| 2011 | 85.1% |
| 2010 | 65.4% |
| 2009 | 71.68% |
| 2008 | 78.46% |
| 2007 | 75.47% |
| Students' Cohort Year | Who Graduated from the SJMC in Four Years? |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 71.18% |
| 2017 | 60.87% |
| 2016 | 73.66% |
| 2015 | 73.66% |
| 2014 | 73.4% |
| 2013 | 71.05% |
| 2012 | 74% |
| 2011 | 73.2% |
| 2010 | 69.1% |
| 2009 | 61% |
| 2008 | 66.9% |
Master of Mass Communication Students
Our Face-to-Face Master of Mass Communication program has an outstanding record of student retention and graduation rates.
| MMC Cohort Year | How Many Students Began the MMC Program? | Who Came Back for Second Year? | Who Graduated within Two Years? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 34 | 97% | 97% |
| 2020 | 36 | 96% | 100% on schedule to graduate within two years |
| 2019 | 17 | 95% | 100% on schedule to graduate within two years |
| 2018 | 12 | 92% | 92% on schedule to graduate within two years |
| 2017 | 16 | 100% | 82% |
| 2016 | 7 | 100% | 100% |
| 2015 | 11 | 100% | 100% |
| 2014 | 11 | 100% | 73% |
| 2013 | 16 | 94% | 82% |
| 2012 | 9 | 100% | 89% |
| 2011 | 11 | 91% | 82% |
| 2010 | 18 | 89% | 78% |
| 2009 | 20 | 90% | 83% |
| 2008 | 19 | 89% | 88% |
| 2007 | 14 | 93% | 85% |
Online Master of Mass Communication Students
| MMC Cohort Year | How Many Students Began the MMC Program? | Who Came Back for Second Year? | Who Graduated within Two Years? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14 | 79% | 64% |