School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Our Mission

To create a learning environment that encourages intellectual inquiry and critical analysis and to educate ethical communications professionals who understand the essential role of the First Amendment to robust communication in a global society.

“Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech or of the press…"

What role does such high-minded language contained in the U.S. Constitution play in these dizzying times of exploding technology of instant messaging, multimedia, convergence, Internet advertising strategies, digital production, satellite delivery, global positioning, cell telephone reporting?

We have the means to communicate from anywhere to everywhere. But WHAT do we communicate? What’s the effect on the individual or common good?

Drake’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication strives to educate tomorrow’s leaders in the exciting world of journalism and mass communication. Our graduates have mastered basic skills common to all media: writing, gathering information and effectively communicating information to others. They work around the world in a variety of professions that involve planning, message or program production, publication and evaluation. We welcome students from other Drake majors who want to take a class or two to sharpen their critical thinking skills as media consumers.

Think, learn and enjoy!

We base our program around a series of core competencies that we expect our students to have.

Our students will:

  1. Understand and apply First Amendment principles and the law appropriate to professional practice.
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of groups in a global society in relationship to communications.
  4. Understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information.
  5. Work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity.
  6. Conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work.
  7. Think critically, creatively and independently.
  8. Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve.
  9. Critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness.
  10. Apply basic numerical and statistical concepts.
  11. Apply tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work.
  12. Take ownership of their own academic experience.
  13. Be engaged with the community: the University, the local community and professional groups.
  14. Cope and thrive in the workplace.

The Drake University School of Journalism and Mass Communication awards the Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication. The school is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. In all its programs, the school is committed to a philosophy of professional education that emphasizes liberal arts studies.

Majors in SJMC:

Excellent students may want to consider enrolling in SJMC’s "3+3" program that combines a B.A. in Journalism with a law degree over six years. Students in "3+3" may select any SJMC major.

Journalism/Mass communication electives and course substitutions approved by a faculty committee provide flexibility to develop specialized programs. Students who have not yet chosen a major may enter the school with an open major.

The city of Des Moines is a laboratory offering many resources to Drake students. The metropolitan area is home to award-winning newspapers, magazines, broadcast stations, advertising and public relations companies. The media, state government and area businesses provide students with manifold internship and part-time employment opportunities.

Practical Experience Opportunities

In addition to employment opportunities in the community, students can work on such publications as The Times-Delphic campus newspaper, Drake Magazine and Periphery, a literary magazine. Similar opportunities for experience and leadership are available through the Drake Broadcasting System and in the magazines major through specialized publications of the Des Moines Magazine Group.

Equipment and Facilities

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication resides in Meredith Hall, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and dedicated in 1965, in the center of campus. The building includes all SJMC faculty offices, the Meredith Electronic Writing and Editing Laboratory, the Kragie Newell Interactive Media Lab, radio and television production and editing studios, computer publications and graphics laboratories, the Digital Media Center, the Center for Magazine Studies and student media.