Nicholson School of Communication

Nicholson School of Communication C O L L E G E

O F

S C I E N C E S

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA• ORLANDO, FLORIDA

The Nicholson School of Communication provides face-to-face, online and mixed-mode classes to meet the needs of our diverse student population.

The student-produced Knightly News is a weekly newscast focusing on events important to the UCF community.

WELCOME TO THE NICHOLSON SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION (NSC) e are delighted you’re interested in learning more about our programs, facilities and alumni.

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Our school has become a recognized academic program that meets and exceeds national standards and norms for education in communication.

We offer open and limited-access undergraduate degree programs in areas such as advertising-public relations, interpersonal-organizational communication, journalism and radio-television. We offer a graduate certificate in corporate communication and a master’s degree in communication, with tracks in mass communication and interpersonal communication.

At NSC, you will have the opportunity to study and conduct research with accomplished faculty members. You will also gain insight into the industry and build a solid foundation for a successful career.

The school is also engaged in a global communication studies initiative, which offers you the opportunity to study abroad. All of our students— majors and minors—have options for completing some of their academic programs at our international partner locations, which include Austria, Australia, Sweden and more.

When you’re ready for real-world experience, the Orlando area offers numerous internship opportunities. Our wide range of student organizations help deepen your connections to industry professionals, skills development and networking opportunities. Some of these organizations include UCF Debate, Quotes, Ad Club and student professional groups. In addition, NSC is home to several national honor societies.

NSC also offers technologically advanced classrooms and learning environments. Our facilities include a television studio, video and audio editing and production labs, and an online radio station.

Come and see the Nicholson School of Communication for yourself.

We’d love to tell you more about our great students, programs and alumni—and show you in person where the dynamic growth is happening.

Warmly, Robert C. Chandler, Ph.D. Director

Make an Impact Now

At the Nicholson School of Communication, you can start reaching out to the world now through your chosen methods and media, from radio to advertising to sales to human resources. You can do more than learning in a classroom—internships allow you to gain experience in your field before you graduate.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN RADIO-TELEVISION Are you looking for a career in broadcast journalism and cable television, production or corporate and digital media? Our radiotelevision major lets you choose from three focus areas.

• Broadcast journalism—for radio and TV reporters, photographers, anchors or broadcast sports journalists • Production—for producers/directors, videographers, editors or others focusing on audio/video • Generalist—for those who may want to specialize in management, sales, promotions or administration in broadcast and electronic media properties Alumni focusing on these tracks have achieved high honors and awards for their work, including Best Student Newscast in Florida, national scholarships in broadcasting associations and prestigious positions at national networks.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ADVERTISING-PUBLIC RELATIONS Your career in advertising, public relations or integrated marketing can begin here. In this program, you learn to plan, write and execute advertising campaigns, as well as public relations strategies. You will also learn about legal and ethical issues in the profession, oral presentation skills and mass communication research.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN JOURNALISM Want to study journalism? Get ready to train for a fast-changing, dynamic career with a pre-professional program that will provide you practical skills in digital and print media. You can also customize your journalism education to match your specific interests. And you can do it in smaller classes with closer mentorship from our professors.

You may also learn in our three journalism labs, all of which are outfitted with the latest technology. If you believe in journalism’s core values and mission—like we do—you will learn in an environment focused on seeking and reporting the truth courageously, independently and responsibly.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERPERSONAL-ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION In this major, you can follow your passion for human resources, training and development, as well as sales and management. You also get excellent preparation for graduate programs, as well as law school and other professional careers that require advanced degrees. You can prepare for your career by studying areas such as: • Conflict resolution • Debate • Gender issues • Intercultural communication • Interpersonal communication • Nonverbal communication • Organizational communication • Research methods

Journalism students receive hands-on instruction from dedicated professors in three fully wired writing and editing labs.

Even before she graduated, radio-television major Lauren Black co-founded CountryMusicIsLove.com, a rapidly growing music news website. Since then, she has interviewed music stars and become an official blogger for major country music awards shows.

“Each day I find myself using the skills and lessons I learned while in the radio-television program at UCF. The faculty taught me the skill sets that are necessary to be a successful writer and interviewer. I wouldn’t trade my time at UCF for anything.”

UCF radio-television graduate Emerson Lotzia began his sports casting career at WETM-TV in New York, the number–one rated station in the area. During his time at WETM-TV, he won the New York State Associated Press Broadcasters Association Award for best sports coverage.

Emerson has since moved to Utah, where he works for the award-winning ABC 4 Sports Team.

“Not only does the Nicholson School of Communication offer top-notch programs that help prepare you for a career in broadcasting, but it also has teachers who care about the future of their students and who continue to keep up with the rapid change of the broadcast industry.”

While working for an Orlando-based advertising agency, Brian Margolis did something innovative— he started a college and entertainment lifestyle magazine that grew fast. Margolis reached even higher and started his own marketing, advertising and public relations agency. His company, Crank Communications, has recently developed a strategic partnership with the Orlando Magic.

“The Nicholson School of Communication at UCF prepared me for a career in advertising. It took me beyond the pages of the textbook and instilled in me the skill set I needed to succeed in such a competitive industry.”

Through her enrollment in the interpersonal communication program, Lauren Fernandez landed an internship at Vera Bradley before she graduated. The communication skills she acquired during her undergraduate years helped her land management positions in major retail companies such as Dillard’s, Inc. and White/ House Black Market.

“The Nicholson School of Communication taught me the science behind interpersonal communication—but my internship is really when I understood the art of it. Today, it is the most invaluable part of my career.”

The Flexibility You Need MASTER OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION If you are ready to take your education to the next level, join our master’s in communication program and choose from two tracks: mass communication or interpersonal communication. These tracks blend theory and practical application to expand your professional opportunities.

You’ll also gain experience with an internship. You can apply for one of our assistantships and get a stipend and tuition waiver. Students work in fields such as:

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Education Health care Marketing Software development

Join the 94 percent of our alumni who report that the program has positively impacted their careers. Some areas include:

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Communication consulting Corporate communication Project management Strategic communication Teaching at local state colleges

Financial aid is available from the College of Graduate Studies and the Office of Financial Assistance. Application information can be found at graduate.ucf.edu.

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN CORPORATE COMMUNICATION The Graduate Certificate in Corporate Communication offers students additional training in creating, managing and communicating corporate reputation. The curriculum includes courses in crisis public relations, theories of public relations and electives designed to enhance your communication skills in corporate environments.

A Higher Degree of Success Our programs provide a strong foundation for your future success by providing you a competitive edge in the job market, or by preparing you for continuing the pursuit of a doctoral degree.

In a recent survey, our graduates report being well–prepared for their professional and academic careers. Our survey found that graduates of the NSC Master of Arts in Communication program hold titles including:

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Communications Director Director of Marketing Director of Sales Vice President of Media and Communications

Recent graduates looking to move on to a doctoral program have been admitted to some of the best communication doctoral programs in the country, including:

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Arizona State University George Mason University Louisiana State University The Ohio State University The University of Oklahoma University of Nebraska

Before graduating summa cum laude, journalism student Melissa Patterson interned for several of the nation’s largest newspapers, including USA Today and the Chicago Tribune. Today, she manages the mobile strategy of Cox Media Group, an integrated company of more than 100 media brands.

“By encouraging me to learn as much outside the classroom as inside it, my professors prepared me for every career challenge I’ve ever faced. It was at the Nicholson School of Communication that I first learned to make my own opportunities.”

A graduate of the Master of Arts in Communication program, Kari Cobham began gaining real-world experience before she graduated, working as an award-winning staff writer for the Daytona Beach News-Journal. Since graduation, she has excelled in her career—and is currently the vice president of media and communications at Pat Croce & Co., running public and media relations as well as social media for several of her company’s businesses.

“I think, most of all, what this program taught me was discipline, perseverance and really efficient time management because it’s not easy to work and go to graduate school.”

U N I V E R S I T Y O F C E N T R A L F LO R I DA N I C H O L S O N S C H O O L O F C O M M U N I C AT I O N ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32816-1344 P 407 823 2681

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