Welcome to the School of Communication and Media, home to UIS's undergraduate and graduate degrees in Communication and our 10-month master's degree program in Public Affairs Reporting.

A degree from the School of Communication makes you incredibly marketable in a limitless range of professions. Our students have gone on to work in careers related to social media, public relations, journalism, marketing, human resources, publishing, politics, sales and fundraising.

Our Programs

Get Connected

logo for the Oberserver

The Observer is UIS's editorially independent, student-run news website, covering current events on and off campus. We're always looking for new voices and perspectives to feature. If you're interested in writing for the experience and/or course credit, contact Scott Faingold, student media director.

two members of the Speech and Debate team

The Speech and Debate Team teaches students to communicate ideas, opinions and beliefs in a meaningful and impactful way. Through extensive competition and service opportunities, competitors acquire skills needed to be successful in the classroom and in their future workplace. Contact coach Claire Gordon.

logo for Lambda Pi Eta

Lambda Pi Eta, also known as the National Communication Association, is a Communication honor society. UIS's chapter allows students to network with each other and communication professionals, as well as receive special recognition at graduation. Contact faculty advisor Dusty Day for more information.

Our Alumni

Paris Ervin
Paris Ervin
Senior Director, Media and Public Affairs
Illinois Health and Hospital Association
B.A., Communication; MPA, Public Administration

"I proudly served as a state government communications professional for 14 years before moving into the healthcare industry working for a well-respected and influential non-profit association. Thanks to my experiences at UIS, I was able to move into more prominent leadership roles, including serving as the Chief Communication and Civic Engagement Officer for the Illinois State Treasurer.

UIS has an outstanding reputation and truly changed the trajectory of my life in the most positive ways. I will be forever grateful to UIS for a great education, memorable experiences, lasting relationships, and a successful path forward."

Justin Rose
Justin Rose
Director, Diversity and Inclusion
University of Illinois Springfield
B.A., Communication; MPA, Public Administration

"In a world where human interaction and working with others is almost always necessary, fundamental skills gained through my learning in the Communication department helped foment that understanding. My work requires a high level of ‘peopling,’ and because people bring so many unique thoughts, perspectives, cultures, and opportunities—it has been nice to understand the importance/value of high and low-context communication to connect with individuals and engage them in different settings. Additionally, working toward inclusion and equity within diverse settings is always challenging, but I believe the Communication program really emphasized/es the nuance of taking time to learn yourself in intrapersonal ways and to interact with others in interpersonal ways, gathering perspective through classes like intercultural and interracial communication, as well as interpersonal small group communication."

Emily Manley
Emily Manley
Missouri Capitol Bureau Chief
Nexstar Television
M.A. Public Affairs Reporting

"Throughout college, my weekly beat was covering city council. Before that, I never saw myself as a political reporter. That's when it all changed. Finding a program that would award me a master's degree and give me real-world experience in less than a year, I was all in. I would not have the job I do today without PAR. Having that experience inside the Illinois Capitol working for a local news organization, learning the lingo of politics and getting to work with some of the best in the business helped shape me into the journalist I am today. This program taught me the importance of having a journalist inside the Capitol, telling Missourians what their tax dollars are being used for and how the legislation passed is going to affect their daily lives. I CANNOT say enough good things about the PAR program and will forever be grateful for what I learned and the lifelong friends I made during my time in Springfield."

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News
Mar 15, 2024
Five distinguished graduates of the University of Illinois Springfield’s Public Affairs Reporting program will be inducted this summer into the Bill Miller…
Feb 20, 2024
Two bills introduced at the Statehouse this month would require Big Tech companies to pay Illinois news organizations for their content, provide tax…
Jul 31, 2023
Nika Schoonover, a student in the PAR Class of 2023, photographs a rally outside of the Illinois Statehouse. (Clay Stalter/UIS) A grant from the Joyce…
Dec 13, 2022
Apply Now for UIS Scholarships Now is the time to complete the UIS Institutional Scholarship Application 2023-2024.   Hundreds of…
Oct 19, 2022
SPRINGFIELD, IL (October 19, 2022) - UIS's Speech and Debate Team attended their first tournament of the 22-23 competition season. The Online Asynchronous…