The UK text as a link to the UK homepage.
The Registrar text as a link to the ISP homepage.

Communications and Information Studies

Visit the UK College of Communications and Information Studies Web site.

Two students leaning on a table

"'College will be the best four years of your life!' Whenever I heard this from friends or family members, I always wondered how college could beat my four years of high school or even middle school, for that matter. Well, it is true. As my undergraduate experience seems to be ending ever so quickly, these words ring very true to me. I could not have imagined a more perfect university to attend. The University of Kentucky is full of opportunities and knowledge that is unrivaled by many other institutions. As an undergraduate, I was privileged enough to be a part of the Greek system, the Emerging Leaders Institute, and various honors societies. I am also currently one of the Ambassadors to the College of Communications. The faculty in the college and the research I have done have helped me to 'find my way in the world' and have inspired me to continue my graduate education. I started my graduate work in January in the University Scholars' Program and am extremely confident that I have made the right choice. With a supportive staff and aspiring scholars, the University of Kentucky should be proud of what it accomplishes everyday. Though it is sad to think that my college years are over, I know they could not have been better."

-- Molly Longenecker

Communication major 2000-2004

Beginning Masters degree in Fall 2004

J. David Johnson, Ph.D., is Dean of the College of Communications and Information Studies.

Application Deadlines for Communications and Information Studies

All Applicants, Premajor and Major (Students who have completed 45 semester hours of course work):

Application, Transcripts, Courses in Progress:

  • Fall -- August 1
  • Spring -- Oct. 1
  • Summer -- April 1

The College of Communications and Information Studies consists of the Department of Communication, the School of Journalism and Telecommunications, and the School of Library and Information Science. The Department of Communication educates its students in interpersonal, small group, mass, health and organizational communication, and communication theory and research. Graduates pursue a variety of career paths in areas such as corporate communication, health communication, personnel, education, media, and government. The journalism area within the School of Journalism and Telecommunications educates its students for professional careers in the media as writers, editors, and broadcasters. The integrated strategic communication area within the School prepares students for careers as professionals in the allied areas of advertising, public relations, and direct response communication. The telecommunications area within the School of Journalism and Telecommunications educates its students in telecommunications technology, management, programming, research, audio-video production, and the societal consequences of electronic media. The School of Library and Information Science provides students with the basic knowledge and skills required to function effectively in beginning professional positions in various types of libraries and information-providing agencies.

Accreditation

Majors in the School of Journalism and Telecommunications have national accreditation from the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC).

Undergraduate Programs in Communications and Information Studies

The University of Kentucky grants the following degrees in the College of Communications and Information Studies:

  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Bachelor of Science

Students pursuing either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science select from these majors:

Students may also select a Minor in Communication and a Minor in Telecommunications. Students may not double-major within the School of Journalism and Telecommunications. University requirements for a double major stipulate that each major be in a separate department (see Academic Requirements section of this Bulletin). No student may take more than 40 hours within the School to complete a degree.

And, the College of Communications and Information Studies offers a Master of Science in Library Science.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

The College of Communications and Information Studies has several opportunities for students to obtain scholarship funding. The college awards four scholarships to incoming freshmen and two scholarships each to rising juniors and seniors each academic year. The School of Journalism and Telecommunications awards nearly $16,000 in aid from various scholarship funds annually. The Department of Communication also has funding available for students. Generally, the deadline for scholarship applications is early in the spring semester to award funding for the following academic year. For specific information on scholarships, contact the department office, or the Office of Student Services in 105 Grehan Building.

ADMISSION POLICY

Admission to the University is sufficient for admission to the College of Communications and Information Studies as a premajor for students who have completed less than 45 semester hours. An application must be filed with the college in order for a student to be considered for admission as a premajor or major. However, admission as a premajor does not guarantee admission as a major in one of the degree programs in the College of Communications and Information Studies. In general, admission as a major depends upon the qualifications and preparation of the applicant, as well as the availability of resources for maintaining quality instruction. Additionally, depending on the timing of admission into the major program, students may not have access to major classes until subsequent semesters.

Upper-division admission into a degree program is necessary in order to be granted a baccalaureate degree from the College of Communications and Information Studies.

Transfer Students

The School of Journalism and Telecommunications is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC). Under ACEJMC guidelines, no more than 12 hours of journalism and mass communications courses from a student's previous institution(s) may be counted toward a degree in journalism, integrated strategic communication or telecommunications at the University of Kentucky.

Admission to Degree Programs

In order to be admitted to any of the four undergraduate majors (communication, integrated strategic communication, journalism, and telecommunications) offered by the College of Communications and Information Studies, an applicant must fulfill the following requirements:

  1. Enrollment in the University of Kentucky (Students are considered for acceptance by the college only after acceptance by the University.);
  2. Completion of 45 semester hours of course work;
  3. Minimum of 2.6 cumulative grade-point average;
  4. Completion of premajor requirements of the program to which application is made. Students must attain a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 on all premajor courses*;
  5. Completion of the University Studies Program requirements I (Math), II (Foreign Language), III (Inference), IV (Written Communication) and VII (Social Sciences), plus six more hours from VI (Natural Sciences) and/or VIII (Humanities);
  6. Submission of an application form.

*For the journalism premajor requirements, the student's grade in JOU 204 counts double in figuring the premajor grade-point average.

Students meeting these requirements will be designated as majors or as students with upper-division standing in the program to which admission is granted. Any student not meeting one or more of these requirements may be granted pre-major status.

In the admission considerations, when personal, academic, professional, or intellectual circumstances tend to discount lower academic scores, admission may be granted if there is other persuasive evidence of both the capability and motivation to undertake successfully a program in the College of Communications and Information Studies.

Annually, the College of Communications and Information Studies faculty will review the minimum standards required for admission to the college. Any change in requirements will be implemented at the beginning of the academic year (fall semester) and will be in effect for the entire academic year. If the standards are to be changed, the Dean of the College of Communications and Information Studies will submit the proposed change by February 1 to the University Senate Council for approval, with prior circulation to the University deans and directors.

Admissions Process

Application for admission to the College of Communications and Information Studies, whether premajor or major, must be received no later than April 1 for the summer session, August 1 for the fall semester, and October 1 for the spring semester. Normally such application will be made prior to the satisfactory completion of 60 semester hours of college-level courses. Subsequent transfer between majors will be permitted only upon application to and acceptance by the academic unit offering that major.

Each applicant bears the responsibility to see that the application contains all the requested materials.

Automatic acceptance

Assuming all else is in order, applicants with a 2.6 or above undergraduate grade-point average will be accepted. Once accepted, each student will be assigned a major advisor by the appropriate department office.

Admission based upon departmental review

Students who do not meet one or more of the requirements for admission, but who feel that this is due to extenuating personal, academic, professional, or intellectual circumstances, must describe these circumstances in detail in a separate letter of appeal. These circumstances will be considered by the Admissions Committee of the appropriate program. The applicant will be informed in writing of the committee's decision, which also will be forwarded to the college's Office of Undergraduate Studies.

Enrollment in Upper Division Courses

Enrollment in College of Communications and Information Studies courses numbered 300-599 will be limited in order of priority to:

  1. majors and minors in College of Communications and Information Studies degree programs;
  2. non-College of Communications and Information Studies students who are registered for specific programs requiring College of Communications and Information Studies courses;
  3. other students or categories of students with the express permission of the department offering the course (departments may choose to declare certain courses as open enrollment courses).

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

To earn either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Communications and Information Studies, each student must (1) complete 120 hours of course work (excluding courses lower than the 100 level, courses with an R designation, physical education service courses, and/or EXP 396 credits) with a grade-point average of at least 2.0 and (2) complete at least 42 hours in upper division courses (300 or above). No more than 60 hours may be taken within the college.

Other requirements include University Studies, premajor requirements, field of concentration (24 hours of major work and 15-18 hours of cognate courses earned outside the college as defined by the units), and a minimum of six hours of free electives.

Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements

Students who pursue the B.A. within the College of Communications and Information Studies must fulfill the following requirements.

University Studies: Students must complete all areas of the University Studies Program. (See University Studies Program section in this Bulletin for a detailed explanation of requirements.)

College Requirements

  1. Language. Complete one of the following sequences:
    • Option A: Successful completion of the fourth college semester of one foreign language. (Note: This may be accomplished by scoring at this level on a placement test for previous work in the foreign language.)
    • Option B: Complete the University Studies Requirements in a foreign language and a set of two courses dealing with the nature and structure of language, language behavior, or comparative languages. This set shall be comprised of one course from Group I below, and one course from Group II. (Courses counted as meeting this option may not be counted in the major or field of concentration.)
    • Group I: LIN/ENG 211.
    • Group II: ENG 210, ENG/LIN 212, ENG/LIN 310, LIN 317, LIN 318, ANT/LIN 319, ENG/LIN 512, ANT/ENG/LIN 515, ANT/ENG/LIN 516, LIN 517.
  2. Statistics. Complete one course in statistics (e.g., STA 200, 291, 370)

Major Requirements

Students must complete the departmental requirements for one of the four majors (communication, integrated strategic communication, journalism, and telecommunications).

Subtotal: College B.A. Hours 15

Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements

Students who pursue the B.S. within the College of Communications and Information Studies must fulfill the following requirements:

University Studies: Students must complete all areas of the University Studies Program. (See University Studies Program section in this Bulletin for a detailed explanation of requirements.)

College B.S. Requirements

  1. Mathematics, statistics and computer science: Complete nine credits in mathematics and/or computer sciences beyond the University Studies requirement. At least three hours must be in statistics.
  2. Science Courses. Complete a minimum of 60 hours of science courses, with not more than 12 hours within the College of Communications and Information Studies. These courses must be approved by an advisor in the College of Communications and Information Studies and may be from the areas of mathematics, statistics, computer science, physical sciences, biological sciences, social and behavioral sciences, as well as from appropriate professional fields.

Subtotal: College B.S. Hours 69

Academic Advising

Premajor (freshman and sophomore) advising in the College of Communications and Information Studies is under the jurisdiction of the Office of Student Services, 105 Grehan Building. Premajor advisors are Cathy Hunt, Director of Student Services, and Mimi Haley, Assistant Director of Student Services. Either can be reached at (859) 257-4839.

During advance registration periods, the college will advise premajors through individual advising sessions with college and department staff. Between advance registration periods, including registration at the beginning of each term, one faculty or staff member from each academic unit will be available to advise premajors.

When students are admitted to the upper-division of the college, they are assigned a faculty advisor from their major program.

« Table of Contents

WARNING: Some Web sites to which these materials provide links for the convenience of users are not managed by the UK's Office of Registrar. The UK's Office of Registrar does not review, control, or take responsibility for the contents of those sites.