SJMC Programs

Mission Statement

Drake’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication educates strategic, global thinkers with diverse media and communication skills and a solid ethical underpinning who are prepared to respond to a rapidly changing media culture. The SJMC provides professional experience in a media-rich environment and professional mentors for life.

Undergraduate Programs

Entering first-year-students must meet Drake University’s admission requirements. Transfer students must have a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.25 on a 4.0 scale. For a list of courses required to complete the degree, please see the individual majors pages.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication houses seven undergraduate majors. The school’s undergraduate “three legged stool” includes academics, extracurricular activities and at least one internship.

On Campus Programs

• Advertising – major and minor
• Digital Media Production
• Magazine and Brand Media – major and minor
• Multimedia Journalism
• Public Relations
• Strategic Political Communication
• Open Communications

Students can also choose the Journalism/Law 3+3 program, which allows them to complete virtually all SJMC requirements in the first three years, including requirements for a specific undergraduate SJMC major. If admitted to the Drake University Law School, the student counts Law School courses taken in the fourth year as their SJMC area of concentration. The fourth year also constitutes the student’s first year in Drake Law School.

First-year students need not declare their major right away. During that transition they are listed as Open JMC majors.

Graduate Programs

Given the success of our on-campus Master of Communication Leadership program, where alums have reported increased salaries of more than 50% after graduation, we are excited to announce our new 100% online Master of Arts in Communication Degree program to bring this valuable learning to students around the globe. We offer a 33-credit online degree with three specialized tracks:

• Brand Communication
• Communication Leadership
• Public Affairs & Advocacy