12/10/2019 - Jackson, Miss.

Strategic communication between an organization and its target publics plays an integral role in the success of the organization, whether the organization is a small non-profit or a large, global corporation. According to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security's Labor Market Information, "Employment of public relations and fundraising managers is projected to grow 10 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations."

Mississippi Public Universities offer a variety of programs that prepare students to enter the communications and public relations field.

The University of Mississippi offers a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) designed to teach students how to understand, engage, persuade and activate consumers. It includes the study of advertising, public relations, brand management and research into consumer insights, enabling students to build a customized toolbox of professional skills.

The University of Mississippi School of Business is offering a new major within its Marketing program called a BBA in Marketing and Communications Strategy (formerly Marketing & Corporate Relations). This major prepares students for careers in marketing, advertising, public relations or brand management. By blending skill sets from marketing and journalism, students develop expertise in communicating across a variety of multimedia platforms, analyzing market trends to build strong brands and engage consumers, and developing integrated campaigns.

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) proudly brings together educational opportunities in all areas of communication and media by providing theoretical and practical coursework in undergraduate programs such as communications studies, journalism, media entertainment and arts, and public relations and advertising, in addition to graduate programs in public relations and communication.

Through its School of Communication, USM has been recognized as providing the state's only comprehensive mass communication program that provides the full breadth (print and broadcast journalism, broadcast production, photojournalism, film, advertising and public relations) and depth (baccalaureate to doctoral degrees) of mass communication education. The school's curriculum also has a long-standing international orientation, including numerous study-abroad opportunities.

Through its Division of Management, Marketing, and Business Administration, Delta State University offers a B.B.A. in marketing to prepare students for a successful career in a dynamic, thriving field. The program sponsors a marketing club that provides networking opportunities, discusses relevant trends in the industry, and gives students opportunities to interact with marketing professionals.

Recent Statesmen alumni who have landed impressive marketing jobs include Rachel Stephens, a December 2018 graduate who serves as a ticketing sales representative for the Memphis Redbirds, the Triple-A Minor League Baseball affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals; and Brian Jones, a spring 2018 graduate who completed an internship with Walmart in Cleveland, Miss., and was hired as an assistant manager there.

Agriculture is an important part of our communities and our lives. From the food we eat, to the clothing we wear, agriculture sustains our lives. Technology and urbanization have disconnected individuals from the land and more people do not fully understand where their food and fiber originate.

Mississippi State University's Department of Communication offers a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with concentrations in Broadcast and Digital Journalism, Broadcasting, Communication Studies, Journalism, Print and Digital Journalism, Public Relations, and Theatre. The mission of the Department of Communication is to prepare students to be effective and ethical consumers and producers of personal and public communication. To that end, the department serves all students in the development of basic communication skills and of an appreciation for mass media, public communication, and theatre. Students graduate with skills and connections that will help them land an immediate job or a spot in a top graduate program.

Mississippi State University also prepares students to inform and engage individuals about agriculture through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences major in Agricultural Education, Leadership, and Communications in the School of Human Sciences. The major provides practical knowledge and hands-on experiences in agricultural communication across various media platforms, preparing students for careers in business and industry, education, production, and communications.

Mississippi University for Women's convergence-based communications program ensures that all our students have opportunities to practice their skills across multiple media and in multiple formats. At The W, students learn and practice the skills of video and audio production, media writing, layout and design for print and digital to become a communications professional.

Instructors with real-world experience teach all communication courses. Graduates have experience across all aspects of communication and media from the valuable internship experience offered at The W.

W graduates work at TV and radio stations, newspapers, branding and design firms, video production studios, universities and the armed forces. Career paths include advertising, public relations, video production, audio production, journalism, web design, print layout and design, and sports communication.

Mississippi Valley State University is the only university in the Mississippi Delta that offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communication. The Department also offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech communication, a minor in Theater, and Master of Arts in Convergent Media. The mission of the Department of Mass Communication is to prepare students for rewarding careers in the field of communication through its curricular offerings in the areas of broadcasting, journalism, public relations and speech communication. Upon graduating, students are ready to assume effective roles in professional communication careers or proceed to graduate school for advanced degrees.

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The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning governs the public universities in Mississippi, including Alcorn State University; Delta State University; Jackson State University; Mississippi State University including the Mississippi State University Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; Mississippi University for Women; Mississippi Valley State University; the University of Mississippi including the University of Mississippi Medical Center; and the University of Southern Mississippi.

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