Consider a featured online communications program currently taking applications.
| School | Level | Program | Admissions |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of West Alabama | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts/Science Integrated Marketing Communications
Gain hands-on multimedia experience in several areas as you study web design, social media, news writing, photography, graphic and interior design, video, and event planning. |
Website |
| University of West Alabama | Master | Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communications
Graduates of this program are prepared for management-level work with clients in advertising and communications settings. |
Website |
| Winthrop University | Master | Master of Business Administration - Marketing
AACSB Accredited, 100% online. |
Website |
Click to see more online programs that are taking applications for 2024.
There are three institutions that have accreditation from the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC) in the state of Alabama. All of the universities provide a Bachelor's degree in the field of communications. The largest among the schools in the state, the University of Alabama, also offers a Master of Arts in both Journalism, and Advertising and Public Relations.
The University of North Alabama provides a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science for their Mass Communication program. Differences between the two include an emphasis in influence and persuasion and the impact course topics have socially with the BA degree, and studies will be more applied toward business and public affairs with the BS programs.
Top Locations for Communications Schools in Alabama
All three of these universities are at different locations in the state of Alabama. Tuscaloosa is the fifth-largest city in the state and hosts the largest institution, the University of Alabama, that features a Bachelor's degree and Master's degree in journalism and communication.
There are multiple degrees available by institutions in the state of Alabama that focus on public relations, and it is the largest major within the College of Communication and Information Sciences at the University of Alabama.
Consider a featured online communications program currently taking applications.
| School | Level | Program | Admissions |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of West Alabama | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts/Science Integrated Marketing Communications
Gain hands-on multimedia experience in several areas as you study web design, social media, news writing, photography, graphic and interior design, video, and event planning. |
Website |
| University of West Alabama | Master | Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communications
Graduates of this program are prepared for management-level work with clients in advertising and communications settings. |
Website |
| University of Texas Permian Basin | Bachelor | Online BA in Communication
Multiple tracks: Communication Studies, Strategic Messaging, Professional Communication, Sports Media. |
Website |
| Drake University | Bachelor | BA in Journalism & Mass Communication
2 specializations in Digital Communication or Public Relations. |
Website |
| American University | Master | Master of Arts in Strategic Communication
Program teaches you to connect creatively and strategically with audiences through targeted campaigns. |
Website |
Click to for more online communications degrees that are taking applications for 2024.
Florence and Jacksonville are the other locations with the accredited institutions, which are significantly smaller than Tuscaloosa. While they have a handful of opportunities available, there is more variety of public relations and digital media in Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, and Mobile - all of which have a population around 200,000 or higher.
Media Groups in Alabama
Newspapers that are active in the Birmingham location include The Birmingham News, Alabama Messenger, and Birmingham Business Journal.
Sinclair Broadcast Group frequently has a number of digital marketing and content producing positions available, with many of them in the Birmingham area. Responsibilities for digital content producers include creating news articles and posting important information onto Sinclair-owned websites and posting content on various social media sites.
Campus-based and online Communications programs in Alabama
University of Alabama
- B.A. Communication & Information Sciences;
- M.A. Journalism; M.A. Advertising & Public Relations
University of North Alabama
- B.A. or B.S. in Mass Communication with concentrations in Journalism and Digital Media Production; Public Relations
Alabama Journalism and Communications Careers, Salaries, and Associations
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, public relations specialists get a median salary of $49,460 annually and there are around 2,000 employees in the sector statewide.
Southern Company, which is a gas and electric utility company that covers multiple states in the Southeast – as well as Illinois and Virginia – and they hold executive offices in Birmingham. A communications strategist maintains communication among the various utility locations and is responsible for managing communication materials and events. This includes employee or customer gatherings, company presentations, employee memos, and observes other competitors to gain an advantage.
Alabama Media Group is both a digital publisher and marketing agency in the state, and operates various news outlets like AL.com, The Huntsville Times, and It’s A Southern Thing. The state has around 500 reporters and correspondents in the area with an annual average salary of just over $37,000.
The Birmingham-Hoover metropolitan area holds the majority of this employment, which is no surprise considering the amount of opportunity in this location. There are frequently reporting, editing, and producing job opportunities through the Alabama Media Group.
Alabama Press Association (APA)
One of the most popular associations in the state is the Alabama Press Association (APA), which connects numerous newspapers and publication services and has over 100 members. They offer a press release service, advertising media kits for both print and digital formats, and hosts various summits and conventions for those in the media industry.
The APA also holds an award ceremony on an annual basis that recognizes top editorial work, advertising, and magazine publication. Prospective work candidates can find various openings through the association’s website.
