Department of Communication
102 Communications; Box 353740
Seattle, WA 98195
Academic Year Represented
2021
Mission Statement
The mission of the program is to teach students the public-service ethic of journalism and the contributions all media professionals must make if a democratic and equitable society is to survive and flourish. To do this, we will teach our students to think critically, to communicate effectively, and to develop professional values dedicated to serving the public, its many diverse communities, and society at large. Our goal is to foster analytical and storytelling skills that will enable students to perform successfully in their journalism and public interest communication careers and to work in the public interest by producing content in ethical, creative, innovative ways, and by demonstrating a commitment to professional excellence in all that they do. Central to achieving these aims is providing students with foundations in writing, curiosity, adaptability, collaboration, and a grounding in difference and equity as part of their ethical framework.
Technology/Equipment/Facilities
The Department of Communication operates two media labs, a news lab, and a video lab, along with a recording studio and speaking center. Each lab contains software equipped for video editing, sound editing, web design, and statistical analysis. The recording studio has software for audio and video recording. The Department also has media equipment available to check-out for students enrolled in the Department.
Undergraduate Degrees Offered
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Communication Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Communication: Journalism and Public Interest Communication
Graduate Degrees Offered
None in Journalism and Public Interest Communication MA/PhD in Communication MC in Communication Leadership
Majors
Communication Communication: Journalism and Public Interest Communication
Tracks within Majors
No separate tracks within Journalism and Public Interest Communication
Internships Accepted for Credit
COM 395: Internship (1-2 credits, 4 credits max)
Internships Facilitated
Premier Internship (1-2 credits, depending on internship) International Reporting Internship (12 credits)
Experiential and/or Immersion Programs for Credit
State Government Reporting class (12 credits)
Online Options
Study-Abroad Options
Communication Spain: Exploring Spanish Culture Through Storytelling and Social Inquiry Communication Rome: Roman Communication and Culture International Reporting Internship
Graduate Programs
None in Journalism and Public Interest Communication Professional Master’s Degree program in Communication Leadership; one MA/PhD program in Communication Studies.
Department Budget
$1,350,747
Amount Spent per Student
Undergrad Student Fees
$11,847
Undergraduate Student Fees Exclusive of Housing and Meal Plan
$1,477
Undergraduate Student Fees for Housing and Meal Plan
$13,877
Undergrad In-State Tuition
$10,010
Undergrad Out-of-State Tuition
$36,288
Average Undergraduate Financial Aid
$19,090
Average Undergraduate Student Debt
$21,012
Graduate Student Fees
$None
Graduate In-State Tuition
Graduate Out-of-State Tuition
Average Graduate Financial Aid
Average Graduate Student Debt
Total Accredited Unit Enrollment
83
Undergraduate Enrollment
83
Graduate Enrollment
Number of In-State Students
47
Percentage of In-State Students
57
Number of International Students
9
Percentage of International Students
10
Male
23
Female
60
Not Specified
White
34
Black
5
Asian
19
Hispanic/Latino
12
Pacific Islands or Native Hawaiian
1
Native American or Native Alaskan
1
Other
11
Average Size of Skill Based Classes
19
Average Size of Non-Skill Based Classes
103
First Year Student (Freshman) Retention Rate at University
94
Four Year Completion Rate
73
Six Year Completion Rate
84
Full-Time Employment within Six Months of Graduation
Full-Time Employment Within Field of Study
Part-Time Employment Within Field of Study
Full-Time Employment Not In Field of Study
Part-Time Employment Not In Field of Study
Attending a Graduate Program
Unemployed
Unknown Status
Full-Time Faculty
27
Part-Time Faculty
20
Faculty with Tenure
14
Faculty on Tenure Track
4
Untenured Part-Time Faculty
20
Untenured Full-Time Faculty
9
Percentage of Faculty within Scholarship or Research Field
67
Male
20
Female
27
Unspecified
White
Black
Asian
Hispanic/Latino
Pacific Island or Native Hawaiian
Native American or Native Alaskan
Other
Faculty-to-Student Ratio for All Classes
68
Faculty-to-Student Ratio for Skill Classes
17
Comments on Quantitative Numbers
Enrollment data: Please note that the Journalism and Public Interest Communication (JPIC) program is a degree-bearing option with in the larger UW Communication Department. In the Winter 2022 enrollment snapshot offered here, the department had a total of 589 undergrads (Communication and accredited Journalism and Public Interest Communication). Of those numbers, 83 students were in the JPIC program and 506 were in the general Communication program. All other data in the chart are from 2021. In the area of faculty diversity, Washington State law requires voluntarily submitted demographic information to be decoupled from individual faculty members. The University’s Office of Academic Personnel lists any ethnic or racial group with fewer than six people as “5 or less.” In each of the categories represented in this chart, the UW Journalism and Public Interest Communication program's data are as follows: White: 29; Black: 5 or less; Asian: 5 or less; Hispanic/Latino; 5 or less; Pacific Island or Native Hawaiian; 0; Native American or Native Alaskan: 0; Other (two or more races); 5 or less.