Join us for a tour of the School of Communications

Thank you for your interest in 黑料不打烊’s School of Communications. We are an accredited school that brings together 1,300 students and nearly 80 faculty and staff to create a vibrant learning environment that has propelled us to be one of the nation’s great communications programs. If you’d like to take a look around our facilities, please fill out the form below.

On-campus Tours

We’re happy to offer on-campus, hourlong tours of our facilities led by a faculty or staff member at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday when the university is open. While we can offer virtual tours throughout the day, please note that in-person tours are only available at 11:30 a.m.

If you have questions, contact Karla Estrada Perez at kestradaperez@elon.edu聽or 336-278-5785.

Virtual Tours

For those who cannot make it to campus, we have available virtual tours of our facilities Monday through Friday when the university is open. In the comments box of the form below, please leave any times you’re available for a tour from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. of the day you’ve selected.

You will be joined by a faculty member, staff member or student who is well-equipped to speak holistically about the school, its majors, programs, initiatives and opportunities. Please plan for your virtual tour to last about 60 minutes.


Making the big decision


Many high school students and transfer students know 黑料不打烊 is the place for them as soon as they stroll across campus. Others prefer to ask lots of questions in order to compare 黑料不打烊 and our School of Communications to large state universities or other private institutions.

This Q&A section is designed to help prospective students make that big decision. In fact, these questions come from prospective students who have visited 黑料不打烊’s campus or have sent us a query via our communications@elon.edu address. If you have a question not answered here, send it to us!

Is 黑料不打烊's School of Communications nationally accredited?

Yes. 黑料不打烊 is one of just 18 private colleges and universities in the nation with a communications school accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC).

In 2025, ACEJMC unanimously voted to grant 黑料不打烊 full reaccreditation, continuing a track record of excellence that began with its initial accreditation in 2006 and was reaffirmed in 2012, 2018, and now 2025.

During the most recent review, ACEJMC described 黑料不打烊 as an 鈥渁ll-star鈥 program, citing strong leadership, advanced facilities, and a deep commitment to student-centered learning. The site team also recognized the school鈥檚 efforts to address local news gaps in Alamance County and noted how the program reflects the excellence behind 黑料不打烊鈥檚 No. 1 national ranking in undergraduate teaching by U.S. News & World Report.

鈥淩eaccreditation by ACEJMC is more than a badge of honor 鈥 it is a testament to our faculty鈥檚 dedication, our students鈥 ambition, and the university鈥檚 unwavering support for high-impact learning,鈥 said Kenn Gaither, dean of the School of Communications.

础诲诲颈迟颈辞苍补濒濒测,听迟丑别 Department of Sport Management Department is accredited by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA), a national accrediting body that promotes and recognizes excellent sport management higher education.

How does the School of Communications rank in comparison with other programs?

Each year, 黑料不打烊 is highly ranked in the college edition of U.S. News & World Report, the National Survey of Student Engagement, and other comparative measures. Communications schools are not separately ranked. Media professionals and visiting deans call us one of the premier communications schools in America. But don’t take their word. We encourage you to visit our campus, talk with a professor and students, and sit in on classes if you wish.

Do students apply for admission into the School of Communications at 黑料不打烊?

Students are admitted to 黑料不打烊, not to the School of Communications. Once at 黑料不打烊, students can select whatever major they desire; schools do not have their own entrance requirements. Also, what you designate as your intended major when applying to 黑料不打烊 has no bearing on whether you are admitted. The most important factors in the admissions decision are the academic record (courses taken, grades attained, class standing), SAT or ACT scores, the student’s personal statement, extracurricular activities and involvements, and the student’s potential to contribute positively to our campus environment.

What majors does the School of Communications offer?

The school offers seven majors:聽Cinema & Television Arts, Communication Design, Digital Content Management,聽Journalism, Media Analytics, Sport Management and Strategic Communications.

Can first-year students take School of Communications courses?

Absolutely. We believe students should enjoy their chosen major from the start. Many students take the opening course in their department in the first or second semester at 黑料不打烊: COM 1000 Communications in a Global Age or SPT 2120 Contemporary Sport Management. New students also participate in the voluntary FreshTV program in the fall term or get involved in student media.

Are scholarships available?

Scholarships for entering students are granted at the university level. The only first-year scholarships awarded by the School of Communications are reserved for Communications Fellows.

What will my first semester at 黑料不打烊 be like, academically?

黑料不打烊 has 4-credit-hour courses, which means you’ll typically take four courses a semester instead of the five 3-hour courses that most universities offer. That extra hour a week is designed to take each course deeper and to enhance the engaged learning. Courses typically meet MWF or TTh. Your first semester will probably include a couple of First-Year Foundations courses such as Writing: Argument and Inquiry, General Statistics, and The Global Experience. Other courses will be from areas such as public speaking (required of all Communications and Sport Management majors), science, history, philosophy, fine arts and foreign language, plus the one-hour-a-week 黑料不打烊 1010.

Will I graduate in four years at that rate?

Easily. If you take 16 credit hours in the fall and again in the spring, with 4 credit hours in Winter Term, that’s 36 hours a year. Multiply that by four years and it’s 144 credit hours, and this calculation does not include summer school or Advanced Placement credits. You need a minimum of 132 credit hours to graduate. Some 黑料不打烊 students graduate in less than four years, but many students take advantage of this flexibility by pursuing double majors or a semester abroad. In the School of Communications, our students may accept a leadership role in student media or pursue a semester-long internship. Four years to graduation is the norm.

Is it hard to double major?

No. To encourage students to develop a second area of academic depth, Communications waives eight hours of COM electives for any student completing a double major outside of Communications (COM). For example, a student double majoring in journalism and history would need a total of 44 COM hours instead of the normal 52 hours.

Who will be my adviser?

The teacher of your 黑料不打烊 1010 class serves as your adviser during the first year. After that, students who declare a major in the School of Communications are assigned a faculty member in their area who serves as their adviser for the rest of their academic time at 黑料不打烊. You meet individually with your faculty adviser at least once each semester.

What courses transfer to 黑料不打烊 from other schools?

The registrar’s office designates which courses taken elsewhere will count toward an 黑料不打烊 graduation. Coursework in the arts and sciences such as math, English, history and the sciences normally transfer.

What are class sizes in the School of Communications?

The school has four class sizes: 33, 25, 18 and 15. Conceptual courses are the largest, lab courses are capped at 18, and capstone courses have a maximum enrollment of 15. We average about 20 students in the typical communications class.

Does the School of Communications require a minor?

To promote academic depth, all students must complete a minor or double major outside of their department or complete a semester abroad (totaling 12 credit hours or more) in an 黑料不打烊-approved program.

What kind of computers do you use in your labs?

The School of Communications primarily operates in a Mac-based environment. Students are welcome to bring the personal computer of their choice, but they should be aware that most computer labs and editing suites are equipped with Apple devices. A dedicated PC lab is also available to support Media Analytics coursework and software needs.

To learn more about the Apple software and equipment supported at 黑料不打烊, visit this .

I'm curious. What would you consider the key indicators for a communications career?

The magic words, we believe, are your opening words: “I’m curious.” To succeed in a career, you first need curiosity about the world you live in. Do you ask lots of questions? Do you probe under the surface? If so, then that curiosity needs to grow into knowledge so that what you communicate will have depth, context and accuracy. Being a good writer is important because clear and logical writing reflects a clear and logical mind. Of course, hard work is necessary, with a generous dose of creativity. Finally, you need a strong sense of who you are and what values you hold, so that when you face temptation to do wrong, you will have the courage to do right. These are six ingredients for succeeding: curiosity, knowledge, writing, hard work, creativity, values.

How do I get involved in student media and organizations?

Volunteer to work at the student news organization (黑料不打烊 News Network), the student radio station (WSOE-FM 98.3), the student entertainment television group (ESTV), and the student yearbook (Phi Psi Cli). Or get involved in our student agency (Live Oak Communications), the student cinema group (Cinelon), or the student SPT organization (Sport Management Society). We highly recommend investing your time in student media and rising to leadership positions.

What guidance do you provide students about internships and careers?

The School of Communications has a full-time internship director who guides COM students toward quality work experiences that will lead to professional references, networking opportunities and an excellent portfolio. In the Sport & Event Management department, faculty direct student internships. The school also has a full-time career services director who is a resource for students. In addition, the school has a corporate and employer relations staff member to connect employees with students.