Consider a featured online communications program currently taking applications.
| School | Level | Program | Admissions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Johns Hopkins University AAP | Master | MA in Communication
Gain practical and applied knowledge through coursework that explores real-life communication issues. |
Website |
| Concordia University - Saint Paul | Master | MA in Strategic Communication Management
100% online program is designed for working professionals and delivered in a format that allows you to study on your own schedule. |
Website |
| Drake University | Master | Master of Arts in Communication
Develop specialized expertise that enables you to motivate target audiences to act, oversee multimedia initiatives, or lead public policy communications. |
Website |
Click to see more online programs that are taking applications for 2024.
There are four universities in the state of Illinois that provide Bachelor's degrees that are accredited by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC). Three of the institutions have a major in Journalism while Southern Illinois University in Ewardsville offers a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication.
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. Accreditation by the ACEJMC designates that these programs have gone through a rigorous review process and will provide the best education available within their disciplines across the country.
Top Locations for Communications Schools and Job Opportunities in Illinois
Southern Illinois University has two locations in Carbondale and Edwardsville, and the other two major universities accredited by the ACEJMC are in Charleston (Eastern Illinois University) and Urbana (University of Illinois' flagship campus). Of these cities, Urbana is the largest and within the Champaign-Urbana metropolitan area.
In addition to communication and marketing positions at the local university, other organizations to consider are The Carle Foundation, Sinclair Broadcast Group, and the Champaign Multimedia Group. The latter offers the most opportunity in local print media, digital media, and radio broadcasting.
Chicago is easily the largest city in the state and one of the major metropolitan areas across the United States with over 2.6 million people. Therefore, the majority of media positions are available in this location and surrounding suburban areas. This is the third-largest media market in the country and is only behind New York City and Los Angeles.
Major media companies that have headquarters in Chicago include the Tribune Media Company, Tribune Publishing, Sun-Times Media Group, and the WGN America cable network. These organizations typically have communication specialist and marketing opportunities available for both those that are just graduating or experienced professionals in the industry.
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.
Campus-based and online Communications programs in Illinois
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
- B.S. Journalism
- ✔ Online Online B.S. in Journalism and Mass Communication
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville
- B.A. and B.S. in Mass Communications
Illinois Journalism and Communications Careers, Salaries, and Associations
Among the various media positions in the state, reporters and correspondents receive some of the highest pay when compared to the national median according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. They estimate salary figures at over $53,600.
This also holds true in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metropolitan area, which stretches into Indiana and Wisconsin, and is approximately $10,000 higher than the statewide annual mean salary. There are over 850 workers in this field in that metropolitan area alone, only lower than the densely-populated areas of New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington DC.
Over 3,800 editing positions also count toward the workforce in the state of Illinois, which is the fifth-highest employment level on a national scale. The annual mean salary is approximately $62,590, which is higher than all neighboring states – only Ohio compares within the region. When comparing the majority of the Midwest, the state of Minnesota only compares with Illinois in terms of reporting and editing.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has Illinois pegged with the fifth-highest employment for broadcast media analysts with over 260 workers. The annual mean salary falls under the national average at $76,260.
Chicago Journalists Association
The Chicago Journalists Association (CJA) was founded in 1939 to help build a local community of journalists in the area and to highlight excellence in the field. Those working at newspapers, magazines, digital media, and radio and TV broadcasting in the Chicago area or those that have recently graduated from accredited institutions are eligible for membership.
One of the programs and services offered is the annual award dinner that recognizes the best talent in the industry, the CJA Charitable Fund, that gives scholarships to high school and college-level students studying journalism. The Daniel Pearl Award that is given to foreign correspondents.
