Auburn University School of Communication and Journalism

Degrees offered

The School offers undergraduate degree programs in Communication, Film and Media Studies, Journalism, Journalism-Sports Production, and Public Relations, plus a Master of Arts in Communication covering communication, public relations, journalism, and media studies.

Programs and emphasis

The Journalism major includes a sports journalism emphasis through the Journalism-Sports Production track. Graduate students in the Master of Arts program complete foundational courses in communication theory and qualitative and quantitative research methods, followed by elective coursework and either a thesis or a comprehensive exam paired with an internship. The school's student-run public relations agency, The Oaks Agency, gives students direct client experience.

History

Journalism courses were first offered at Auburn in the 1920s within the Department of English; journalism became an official major in 1964. Professor Emeritus Jack Simms founded a standalone Department of Journalism in 1974. Communication instruction at Auburn traces to a 1948 Division of Speech within the English Department, which became the Department of Speech in 1956 under Dr. Frank B. Davis. The journalism and communication departments were later combined and elevated to school status based on the unit's enrollment, degrees granted, and faculty size.

Key faculty and leadership

Debra L. Worthington: Professor and Director of the School of Communication and Journalism.
Dr. Mike Milford: Associate Director and program head for Communication.
Dr. Justin Blankenship: Program head for Journalism and Journalism-Sports Production.
Dr. Ed Youngblood: Associate Director of Film and Media Studies.

Student-run media

The Auburn Plainsman began publication in 1893 as The Orange and Blue, adopting its current name in 1922. It is one of the most decorated student newspapers in the country, with 27 Regional and National Pacemaker Awards, and moved to an online-only format in 2021 after 127 years in print.

Location and contact info

Address
Tichenor Hall
Auburn University, AL 36849
Phone
(334) 844-2727
Website
https://cla.auburn.edu/cmjn