The College of Communication and Information Science’s degree programs are accredited by nationally recognized accrediting agencies. Accreditation is a voluntary process that includes an external review of the college’s ability to provide quality programs to ensure students are learning relevant material the right way. The rigorous accreditation process includes assessment of curriculum, faculty, administration, students, facilities and resources. Our programs are accredited by ACEJMC, NASAD and ALA/ALSDE.

ACEJMC

The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication is dedicated to excellence and high standards in professional education in journalism and mass communications.  The Council endorses professional education that recognizes and incorporates technological advances, changing professional and economic practice, and public interests and demands. 

NASAD

The National Association of Schools of Art and Design is an association of approximately 346 schools of art and design, primarily at the collegiate level, but also including postsecondary non-degree-granting schools for the visual arts disciplines. It is the national accrediting agency for art and design and art and design-related disciplines.The Association also provides information to the public.

ALA & ALSDE

The American Library Association accredits master’s programs in library and information studies across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Accreditation is achieved through a review process conducted by an external review panel of practitioners and academics that verifies that the program meets the Standards for Accreditation of Master’s Programs in Library and Information Studies.

The Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication

The College of Communication and Information Sciences includes three departments — Advertising and Public Relations, Journalism and Creative Media and Communication Studies — and the School of Library and Information Studies. Undergraduate programs in two units (Advertising and Public Relations and Journalism and Creative Media) are accredited by the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC). One and two-year master’s programs in journalism and advertising and public relations are also reviewed by ACEJMC.

Since August 15, 2016, the former Department of Journalism and the Department of Telecommunication and Film have been the Department of Journalism and Creative Media. Up until the 2016-2017 academic year, the newly merged unit offered majors in Journalism and Telecommunication and Film. In addition to these majors, the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC) also accredits majors in advertising and public relations. One and two-year master’s programs in journalism and advertising/public relations are also reviewed by ACEJMC.

The College’s undergraduate and master’s programs were fully re-accredited in May 2023.

Updated annually, the following data are provided as part of ACEJMC’s Public Accountability requirement:


*First-Year Retention Rates of First-Time Undergraduate Students by Cohort

Year Public
Relations
Advertising News Media All UA
Students
2021 94.6 95.9 87 86.7
2020 94.2 84.6 91.9 88.6
2019 90.3 93.2 92.5 87.2
2018 89.2 88.2 87.3 86.9
2017 88.8 86.5 90.4 87.9
2016 85.6 89.2 78.5 87.1
2015 87.2 91.1 85.5 86.3
2014 88.1 84.1 84.1 86.5
2013 88.9 90.9 79.2 86.7
2012 90.2 83.7 85.2 87.0
2011 85.1 89.3 78.0 85.4
2010 84.4 87.5 82.2 86.5
2009 82.7 81.5 82.1 84.8
2008 80.2 85.7 81.1 83.5

This table shows students retained Fall to Fall, with the latest data available on the percentage of the cohort who returned in the Fall 2020 semester.

*Six-Year Graduation Rates for Full-Time, First-Time Undergraduates, Fall 2016 Cohort

C&IS Major Head Count Cont. 2nd Year (%) Cont. 3rd Year (%) Cont. 4th Year (%) Grad in 4 Years or Less (%) Grad in 5 Years or Less (%) Grad in 6 Years or Less (%)
Advertising 37 89.2 83.8 75.7 62.2 75.7 78.4
Journalism 79 78.5 70.9 62.0 53.2 62.0 63.3
Public Relations 125 85.6 83.2 77.6 66.4 76.0 77.6
Telecommunications and Film 154 85.1 79.2 72.1 62.3 70.8 72.7
C&IS Total ** 514 85.4 79.7 73.3 63.5 72.5 74.1
University Total ** 7,541 87.1 79.9 74.6 54.8 70.2 72.8

**Students are counted by first or second major in C&IS. If a student has two majors in C&IS they will be included in the rates for both majors. However, the ‘C&IS Total’ and ‘University Total’ rows are unique headcounts.

*Average Time to Degree (in Calendar Year) for Master’s Students (JN)

Year Journalism (Count) Journalism Mean Years
2023 63 2.00
2022 24 1.85
2021 19 2.18
2020 10 2.23
2019 13 2.1
2018 9 2
2017 10 2.36
2016 7 1.24
2015 10 1.47

Time to degree is calculated on a calendar year basis as the actual time between entrance (the first term a student is enrolled at the graduate level) and graduation.
The count includes students in both one-year and two-year master’s programs.
*Updated July 25, 2023


Assessment Plans for ACEJMC Accredited Programs

Advertising and Public Relations programs

Journalism and Creative Media BA program

Journalism and Creative Media MA program