The Department of Journalism & Creative Media (JCM) was formed after a 2016 merger of the Department of Journalism and the Department of Telecommunication & Film. Home to award-winning faculty with significant professional media experience and advanced academic training, the department empowers students to be analytical storytellers who use a diverse array of media to reach various audiences.
The united department emphasizes a combination of advanced writing, technological and production skills in an academic framework to ensure graduates are media professionals who understand the social and critical underpinnings of their work, along with developing the technical and managerial skills to adapt to the professional landscape. JCM graduates work in all media, including film production, broadcast news, news design, documentary filmmaking, newswriting, and video editing.
Programs
The Department of Journalism & Creative Media offers undergraduate degrees in news media and creative media, as well as three minors open to students from all academic colleges across the University. JCM also has one master’s of arts degree in Journalism which can be completed either online or on-campus. On-campus students have an option of a two year thesis track or a one year professional track focusing on community journalism, which partners with the Anniston (AL) Star and WVUA 23/Alabama Public Radio in Tuscaloosa.
The field of journalism is about gathering, analyzing and communicating important information in a meaningful way. News Media majors can take classes in areas including electronic reporting, visual and multimedia journalism, and specialized writing classes. These students can also declare a concentration in sports media.
The major of Creative Media focuses on the film industry, examining how to write, produce, edit and critique fictional and non-fictional material. Creative Media majors can take classes in media production, production management, critical studies in film and television, and fiction/nonfiction filmmaking.
For more information about the specific programs, click the links below or visit jcm.ua.edu.
- Majors
- Minors
Extras
Minors, Second Majors and Electives
Popular minors and second majors are found in the following areas: American Studies, Anthropology, Art, Classics, Communication Studies, Consumer Sciences, Creative Writing, Criminal Justice, Dance, Economics, English, Foreign Language, General Business, History, Human Development and Family Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religion, Sociology, Theater and Women's Studies. The department encourages second majors where possible, especially within the College of Arts & Sciences.
Grades
To receive credit toward graduation, a student must receive a C- or higher for all courses in the College of Communication & Information Sciences. Students must have an overall grade point average of 2.0 to enroll in upper division courses in the College.
Major Status
Students should declare their major and minor as soon as possible by completing the Change of Major/Minor Application online under the Student tab of myBama.
Advising Assistance
Freshmen and sophomores (students with 60 hours or less) will be assigned professional advisers in Tisch Student Services, and upperclassmen will be assigned individual faculty advisers who will be listed in DegreeWorks. Students should use DegreeWorks to check their progress and make academic plans to help them graduate on time. The formal advising period occurs during registration each semester; however, if questions or special problems arise, students may make appointments with their academic adviser or contact the departmental office at any time during the semester.
Faculty
Professors
- Billings, Andrew C.
- Bissell, Kimberly
- Bragg, Rick
- Evans, William
- Lowrey, Wilson
Associate Professors
- Bruce, Michael D. (Chair)
- Bragg, Dianne
- Panek, Elliot
- Britt, Rebecca
- Daniels, George
- Parrott, Scott
- Roberts, Christopher
Assistant Professors
- Barnidge, Matthew
- Bauer, AJ
- Clark, Chandra
- Colvin, Brandon
- Haley, John
- Maddox, Jessica
- Miller, Kaitlin
- Palmer, Landon
- Vesey, Alyxandra
Instructors
- Anderson, Lars
- Arenberg, Tom
- Champion, Maya
- DeBose, Camille
- Gawrych, Teresa
- Mayfield, Mark
Lecturers
- Brantley, Chip
- Grace, Andrew B.
Professors Emeriti
- Brown, James A.
- Bryant, Jennings
- Mullins, Edward
- Singleton, Loy
- Sloan, W. David
- Zillmann, Dolf
Courses
Introduction to story introduces students to narrative structure across a variety of media including film, television, news, documentary, and emerging media.
This introductory survey course gives students a first look at the history and professional practices of journalism and electronic news by examining both legacy and contemporary media.