The information on this page pertains to program requirements for students who matriculated in the 2024-2025 academic year. View requirements for previous catalog years here.
This online journalism and communications degree is focused on honing communication skills, but also provides a comprehensive and balanced approach that encourages you to tailor your education to your career goals. Drake’s customizable curriculum includes core online journalism courses in addition to public relations, advertising, social media, multimedia, and digital courses. You will graduate with in-demand expertise that will allow you to fast-track your career in a wide variety of fields, such as marketing, PR, advertising, journalism, and even non-profit or public policy.
Students should work with their advisers to ensure selection of courses best-suited to their educational and career objectives. Please see sections of the catalog for additional information.
Required courses for the Communication major are as follows:
| Course | Credits |
| School of Journalism and Mass Communication Core Courses | |
| JMC 030 - Mass Media in a Global Society | 3 |
| JMC 040 - Pre-Professional Workshop | 1 |
| JMC 041 - Financial Fundamentals for Communication Professionals | 1 |
| JMC 054 - Reporting and Writing Principles | 3 |
| JMC 055 - Digital Media Strategies | 3 |
| JMC 104 - Communication Law and Ethics | 3 |
| Area of Concentration - All SJMC majors must complete a 21-credit block of courses not offered within the SJMC. This block must be approved by the student's adviser and dean. At least 12 of these credits must be in courses numbered 100 or higher. Courses taken to satisfy requirements in other areas may also count toward this requirement. | 21 |
| Digital Communication Major Courses | |
| JMC 059 - Visual Communication Methods | 3 |
| Writing and Creation Elective (Choose Two) | |
| JMC 070 - Media Editing | 3 |
| JMC 161 - Magazine Staff Writing | 3 |
| JMC 107 - Persuasive Writing | 3 |
| Multimedia Elective (Choose One) | |
| JMC 068 - Video and Photo Storytelling | 3 |
| JMC 087 - Advanced Reporting for Print and Audio | 3 |
| JMC 105 - Web Page Design | 3 |
| JMC 137 - Applied Communication Capstone | 3 |
| JMC 144 - Cases in Ethical PR Practice | 3 |
| JMC 159 - Online Communication Capstone | 3 |
| Strategy and Execution Elective (Choose One) | |
| JMC 149 - Strategic Communication Planning | 3 |
| JMC 151 - Advanced Strategic Communication | 3 |
| JMC Total | 44 |
| TOTAL | 120 |
The information in this catalog does not constitute a contract between the university and the student. The university reserves the right to make changes in curricula, admission policies and processes, tuition and financial aid, academic standards and guidelines, student services and any other regulations or policies set forth in this catalog without giving prior notice.