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Department Information and Typical Discipline-Specific Academic Degree & Qualifications1 of faculty within Communication

The School of Communication is a center of excellence in teaching and service. We provide undergraduate students with a variety of course offerings in the areas of public speaking, business communication, intercultural communication, voice and diction, gender communication, interpersonal communication, advertising, public relations, and strategic communication. In addition to our diverse course offerings, students take their learning to another level through student organizations such as BOLD-a student-run strategic communication agency, PRSSA-Public Relations Student Society of America, and Lambda Pi Eta - the National Communication Honors Society. In addition, FIU's Communication Studio is housed within the school, where students get hands-on training in a dynamic and robust environment.

The school's instructional mission is to provide all students with a high-quality educational experience through innovative teaching that promotes active learning, coursework that addresses the needs, interests, and backgrounds of our diverse student population, and extra-curricular activities that enable students to develop communication skills in applied settings.

Students enrolled in our courses can expect to develop skills essential for leadership, career development, and understanding and interpreting events. They will learn how to craft and execute strategic messages across a range of media platforms, create and promote campaigns through advertising and public relations strategies, and apply communication theory to analyze and solve real-world challenges. Additionally, they will learn how to advocate and critically debate ideas in social and political settings, appreciate diverse communication styles, work productively in task-oriented groups, and engage in rewarding interpersonal relationships.

Degrees offered

The Communication Department offers these programs:

  • BA in Communication Arts
  • BS in Communications
  • BS in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
  • MS in Mass Communication

Terminal Degree2 for each discipline taught in Communication

  • MFA in Graphic Design (50.0409) - (Visual Communication courses)
  • Ph.D. in Communication, Journalism and Related Programs (09) - (all disciplines in Communication, Journalism and Related Programs)
  • Ph.D. in Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric (09.0101)
  • Ph.D in Advertising (09.0903) – (Public Relations courses)

Related Disciplines3

  • English Language and Literature (23.0101) - all courses
  • Graphic Design (50.0409) - all VIC courses

Related Disciplines3 for specific courses

  • Advertising (09.0903) – SPC 2608
  • Art/Art Studies (50.0701) - IDS 3336
  • Art History, Criticism and Conservation (50.0703) - IDS 3336
  • Graphic Design (50.0409) - PUR 4101
  • Fine/Studio Arts (50.0702) - IDS 3336
  • Music, General (50.0901) - IDS 3336
  • Music History, Literature, and Theory (50.0902) - IDS 3336
  • Music Performance, General (50.0903) - IDS 3336
  • Music Teacher Education (13.1312) - IDS 3336

Other Teaching Qualifications (Description of Required Academic Degree and Justifications4 for the programs in Communication)

Consideration of other teaching qualifications in lieu of academic credentials is made on a case-by-case basis and accepted in special cases where evidence of exceptional experience, research or other qualifications can be documented and are directly applicable to the course being taught.

Notes

1Whenever instructors are not credentialed by their advanced degree or by an approved CIP relationship, they must be credentialed through a narrative justification of the instructor's qualifications to teach this/these course(s). Such credentialing is based on the proposed instructor's academic and professional preparation; diplomas, certificates, or relevant licensures; publications and presentations in the field; honors, awards, and professional recognitions; and other demonstrated competencies, skills, and experiences which the instructor brings to the University. These must be clearly tied to the specific courses to be taught and should establish beyond doubt that the instructor is qualified to teach the specific courses they are to be assigned.

The Office of the Provost reviews all such justifications and where the justifications warrant the instructor's teaching the courses proposed, it will either approve the justification for the appropriate period (seven years for full-time faculty members, or four years for part-time faculty members) or employ one of two additional clearance categories beyond the advanced degree and related-discipline categories which it may use to credential some instructors where their accomplishments warrant this:

Active Research Clearance in the Discipline or Active Artistic/Special Talent Clearance in the Discipline

2The level and discipline of the terminal degree (e.g., Ph.D., MS, MFA, doctorate) that is required to teach graduate courses in the discipline

3For each discipline, all strongly-related degree(s) and/or equivalent names for the discipline (include level) that would also be appropriate for teaching at the graduate level

4(1)The appropriate academic degrees and justifications for each related degree above if not obvious; (2) the justification for why the terminal degree is not a doctorate in a discipline, e.g., specific examples of best practice in the discipline and accrediting association language; and (3) any other criteria used to determine appropriate academic qualifications to teach specialty courses in the program.

Current/Effective Date 11/15/2024