Minors & Online Programs

The P.I. Reed School of Journalism recognizes the increasing need for flexibility in student scheduling. We know that students can’t always be on campus for classes and that online programs are an excellent alternative.

Whether you are a WVU student seeking a minor, a student from another university needing transferable coursework or a working professional interested in enhancing your marketability, we have options for you.

Several courses and programs at the School of Journalism are available online – during the regular academic semesters and in the summer – so you can continue your education at times most convenient for you.

Online Minors

The School of Journalism offers two minor programs that are open to non-journalism students enrolled at WVU and are available through online courses. A third minor, offered in conjunction with the WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Science, is a blended minor with online and on-campus courses.

Advertising Minor

Imagine creating a 30-second spot for the Super Bowl or an interactive Internet campaign for a corporate client. The online advertising minor prepares students for a variety of careers in the fast-paced and exciting field of advertising. Typical job areas include advertising sales, graphic design, creative services, copywriting, media buying, account planning and market research. Students in the advertising minor gain an understanding of the complex role of branding and how companies build successful brands through media and creative strategies to persuade a designated target audience. The online advertising minor can benefit students in a variety of academic disciplines, including graphic design, English, marketing, business administration, psychology, communications, sociology and history.

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Public Relations Minor

The online public relations minor prepares students for a variety of careers in the dynamic field of public relations. Typical job areas include media relations, event planning, corporate communications, crises management, publicity and promotion, public affairs and government relations. A professional PR practitioner uses a variety of communication strategies, tactics and media to create a favorable image for his or her client. Building and maintaining positive relationships with external audiences is the core of public relations. A minor in public relations can benefit students in a variety of academic disciplines, including business administration, marketing, communications, liberal arts, medicine, engineering, education and social work. Whatever the field, any professional needs to know how to communicate effectively and persuasively to target audiences.

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Sport Communication Minor

The sport business industry is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the U.S., generating billions of dollars each year. And the sport communication minor can prepare you for a career in this exciting field. As a student in this program, you will gain practical skills in media writing, public relations and strategic communications, as well as an understanding of the issues affecting professional and college sports today. The minor requires 18 hours, nine of which are offered from the WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, and nine of which are offered from the School of Journalism. This blended minor includes both on-campus and online courses.

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Online Courses for Non-WVU Students

The School of Journalism offers a variety of journalism courses available to students from other universities and colleges who may be able to substitute these courses for credit hours at their own institutions.

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Online Master’s and Certificate Programs

The Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) master’s program at the School of Journalism is offered exclusively online, enabling students to earn their degrees in this fast-growing field from anywhere in the world. A degree in IMC equips graduates with the latest strategic communications techniques that differentiate them from others in the field. Our program helps students view marketing as a whole picture and not just as separate entities of public relations, advertising and marketing communications. In addition to the 13-course master’s degree, the IMC program also offers a five-course graduate certificate in IMC.

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The School of Journalism also offers the first exclusively online graduate certificate in Digital Marketing Communications (DMC). The program consists of five courses designed to allow students to explore digital media and their implications for marketers, as well as the evolving connections between advertising, technology, design, society, culture and business.

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