Kentucky Communications Degrees

School Level Program Admissions
Campbellsville University Associate AS Business Administration
100% online, offers a range of study areas.
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Campbellsville University Bachelor BS in Business Administration: Marketing Emphasis
Gain an understanding of integral marketing concepts, including audience targeting and creating compelling messaging.
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Campbellsville University Bachelor MBA Marketing
Learn powerful marketing techniques to help your organization stand out with our online marketing MBA program.
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Click to see more online programs that are taking applications for 2024.

The Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC) has accredited programs at Murray State University, Western Kentucky University, and the University of Kentucky that have an emphasis on broadcasting, advertising, public relations, and journalism. There are no opportunities for education at the graduate level, such as a Master's degree or PhD, but there are multiple Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees available at each institution.

Having this accreditation makes the program stand out among similar disciplines at other institutions across the country with just over 100 of them being included. Part of the accreditation process includes establishing a strong mission statement for students and faculty members to follow, and creating a curriculum that is up to date and provides plenty of education within the skill sets needed to succeed in a digital media career.

Top Locations for Communications Schools and Job Opportunities in Kentucky

Louisville is the largest city in the state of Kentucky with over 620,000 people, and it offers some of the best opportunities within digital media and communications. The Courier-Journal, owned by Gannett, is the main daily newspaper in the city. Weekly publications include Business First of Louisville and Louisville Eccentric Observer, and Louisville Magazine is a monthly feature that gives the latest information on the lifestyle and entertainment scene.

Scoppechio, an advertising agency that helps develop company brands and the relationship between them and the consumer, has multiple locations across the United States and Canada. One of their office locations is in the Louisville business district.

Lexington is the next largest city with numerous communications opportunities and is where the University of Kentucky is located. The Lexington Herald-Leader is the main daily newspaper in the city, an online alternative for the latest news is KyForward.com, and there is the monthly business newspaper, Business Lexington. Similar to Louisville, there are numerous broadcast and radio companies to find media opportunities, such as WKYT (CBS), WDKY-TV (Fox), and radio stations under Cumulus Media.

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.
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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.
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University of Texas Permian Basin Bachelor Online BA in Communication
Multiple tracks: Communication Studies, Strategic Messaging, Professional Communication, Sports Media.
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Drake University Bachelor BA in Journalism & Mass Communication
2 specializations in Digital Communication or Public Relations.
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American University Master Master of Arts in Strategic Communication
Program teaches you to connect creatively and strategically with audiences through targeted campaigns.
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Click to for more online communications degrees that are taking applications for 2024.

Campus-based and online Communications programs in Kentucky

Murray State University

  • B.A.; B.S. Advertising, Journalism, Public Relations and Television Production

University of Kentucky

  • B.A. or B.S. Journalism

Western Kentucky University

  • B.A. Broadcasting; B.A. Photojournalism; B.A. Journalism

Kentucky Journalism and Communications Careers, Salaries, and Associations

There are over 740 reporters and correspondents in the state of Kentucky according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Across the state, the annual mean wage for reporters is $50,190, and those living in the Louisville-Jefferson County metropolitan area see a significantly higher average of $68,420. This is one of the top 10 metropolitan areas in terms of salary for this occupation, beating out two locations – New Orleans, Louisiana, and Los Angeles, California.

The Kentucky Press Association (KPA) has a goal of expanding and promoting local journalism. They also provide advertising opportunities to organizations that are looking to gain traction across members in the KPA and have expertise in legal information for publications.

It also provides an avenue for media companies to post job openings and provides workshops and events to develop professional skill sets in the industry. The nonprofit organization was founded back in 1869, making it one of the oldest and most experienced in the United States.

Public relations also sees a significant amount of employment in the state of Kentucky with over 2,200 employed, and the biggest concentration of those workers are located in the central region. The annual mean wage is approximately $50,580.

This figure is lower than the national average and many surrounding states, including West Virginia, Tennessee, and Illinois. Some of the top public relations firms in the state include Blue Sky Communications, Brian Wright Consulting, and Klindling Public Relations.