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    University of Tennessee, Knoxville

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    • COMMUNICATION & INFORMATION SCIENCES PROGRAMS

    Are you interested in journalism and media, communications, information science, or public relations? You might want to pursue a communication and information sciences program at UT! Our students learn from experienced professors and gain the practical skills they need—from creating documentaries to writing for magazines—to be successful after graduation.

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    Peyton Manning speaks to a class

    What you can do with a degree from a
    communication and
    information sciences program:

    Communication &
    information sciences careers

    Cataloging / taxonomy

    Copywriting, technical writing, and grant writing

    Data analysis

    Education

    Fundraising / development

    Information Technology (IT)

    Journalism

    Law

    Legislative, executive, or judicial services

    Librarian

    Marketing

    Risk and crisis communication 

    Sales

    Social media

    User experience design (UX)

    Potential employers

    Academic journals

    Advertising agencies

    Colleges and universities

    Government agencies

    Healthcare and pharmaceutical firms

    Hospitality and tourism

    Nonprofit organizations

    Online app development start-ups

    PR departments in large corporations

    Publishers

    Research centers

    Sport and athletic organizations

    Television and radio

    Trade and professional associations

    Studying at UT

    Iconic professors

    Our professors are invested in student success and their own experiences as professionals are some of their greatest teaching tools. Alumnus and retired NFL quarterback Peyton Manning now teaches in the College of Communication and Information, sharing his industry knowledge with students. And in our School of Journalism and Media, alumna and Assistant Professor of Practice Brittany Tarwater is a winner of multiple Emmy awards for her storytelling with local news station WVLT for the documentary A Tennessee Waltz: Ray Blanton’s Last Dance.

    Real-world experiences

    Opportunities to gain skills needed to be successful in your future career exist in the classroom, through extracurriculars, and out in the world.

    In the classroom, you’ll get experience with technologies used by Fortune 100 companies and be knowledgeable in advanced instruments such as the Noldus FaceReader and TechSmith Morae, for example. 

    You could write for The Daily Beacon or Phoenix Literary Magazine. Or perhaps you’ll create documentaries with Land Grant Films. Past projects such as The Library That Dolly Built, allowed students the opportunity to work with Dolly Parton and is available to stream on Amazon Prime. If you’re interested in radio you could join WUTK, UT’s award-winning student radio station, or work at our NPR affiliate, WUOT.

    Our students also go out into the world to gain practical experience. In 2024, journalism students traveled to Paris to help cover the Summer Paralympic Games through a partnership with the USA TODAY network.

    Learn around the globe

    We believe that there is great value in learning about diverse perspectives. In Dublin, Ireland, you can explore how everyday cultures impact the ways in which we communicate on a global scale, and when you’re not in class, you can explore places on the Emerald Isle. In Prague, you can produce news reports influenced by the teachings of guest instructors from Reuters, which you can add to your portfolio! Or maybe you’d rather go to Italy to study advertising while touring Rome’s historic locations.

    Where you’ll study

    You can find communication and information sciences programs in three of UT’s colleges. As a student in the College of Communication and Information, you’ll have the opportunity to study sports communication, advertising, user-experience design, and more. In the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music, you might choose to study music advertising and public relations or music journalism. The Herbert College of Agriculture offers programs under the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication that will prepare you for careers in business and industry, like agricultural communications.

    College of Communication and Information

    Natalie L. Haslam College of Music

    Herbert College of Agriculture

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    A student is interviewed during a campus event
    a student sits on campus working independently on a laptop

    I’ve gained hands-on experience with campaign management, navigated digital advertising platforms, and developed a deeper understanding of measuring and analyzing campaign performance. These practical skills not only enhance my grasp of theoretical concepts but also prepare me for future roles in the industry, enriching my contributions to both academic projects and professional endeavors.

    Katie
    Class of 2025
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