The Department of Journalism & Strategic Media at the University of Memphis offers preparation for careers in advertising, broadcast news, multimedia journalism, public relations, sports journalism, social media, and creative media. Students are required to take career-oriented skills courses to enhance skills in writing, multimedia, media literacy, professionalism, and critical thinking as they relate to careers in the media. The undergraduate programs of the Department of Journalism & Strategic Media are fully accredited by the Accrediting Council For Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. The public relations major is certified by the Public Relations Society of America.

The Department of Journalism & Strategic Media embraces the value of a liberal arts and sciences curriculum as the essential foundation for professional education in its field. Professional education applies the knowledge and perspectives of arts and sciences disciplines to the understanding of the modern world and to the evolution and workings of diverse communities within society. As such, the requirements for a degree from the Department of Journalism & Strategic Media embrace a curricular balance of theory and practice within the discipline as well as a broad understanding of the liberal arts and sciences.

Program objectives for a B.A. in Advertising, Journalism or Public Relations are for students to:

• Apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech and press, both in a global context and in the United States
• Demonstrate an understanding of the multicultural history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications
• Demonstrate culturally proficient communication that empowers those traditionally disenfranchised in society, especially along racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation and ability differences.
• Present images and information effectively and creatively, using appropriate tools and technologies
• Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve
• Demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity
• Apply critical thinking skills in conducting research and evaluating information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work
• Effectively and correctly apply basic numerical and statistical concepts
• Critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness;
• Apply current tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work.

To achieve these program objectives, students must complete the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree from the University, which include competency in a foreign language, the general education program and a minimum total of 120 credit hours, in addition to the requirements for the selected program of study. 

All students majoring in the Department of Journalism & Strategic Media complete a first-year core of JRSM 1700, JRSM 1750 and JRSM 2121, as these courses are prerequisites for many advanced courses in individual programs of study.

Prerequisite courses must be completed with a minimum grade of “C-” before moving on to any course in the program to which the prerequisites are applied; students must earn a minimum grade of “C” in JRSM 2121 to move on. Majors and minors who fail to earn the minimum passing grade (“C-” or “C” in JRSM 2121) in a class required by their program of study in the Department of Journalism & Strategic Media more than three times will be dropped from the program.

A grade point average of 2.0 is required to declare and maintain a major in the Department of Journalism & Strategic Media. Additionally, students must have a 2.0 grade point average in journalism and strategic media classes to graduate.

Students who fail to comply with the above criteria may be permanently dropped from the program.

Programs

• Advertising (B.A.)
• Journalism (B.A.)
• Journalism - Broadcast Journalism, (B.A.)
• Journalism - Creative Mass Media Concentration, (B.A.)
• Public Relations - (B.A.)
• Public Relations - Strategic Social Media Concentration, (B.A.)

• Advertising Minor
• Creative Mass Media Minor
• Journalism Minor
• Public Relations Minor
• Strategic Social Media Minor

• Advertising-Journalism and Strategic Media (Accelerated BA/MA)
• Journalism-Journalism and Strategic Media (Accelerated BA/MA)
• Public Relations-Journalism and Strategic Media (Accelerated BA/MA)