The College of Communication and Information Sciences (C&IS) is the University of Alabama

University of Alabama

The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....

's college for mass media

Mass media

Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...

 and information studies. It enrolls nearly 2,700 students, including 400 graduate students. Tracks of study include an undergraduate bachelor of arts, as well as multiple graduate degrees and a PH.D.

Doctor of Philosophy

Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...

 in communication and information sciences.

History

The college was originally founded in 1977 as UA's "School of Communication". In 1988, it was renamed the "College of Communication". When it merged with the College of Library and Information Studies in 1997, it became the "College of Communication and Information Sciences." Its faculty offices and classrooms are in Reese Phifer Hall and Gorgas Library. Phifer Hall, the former student union building, was renamed in 1991 to honor Tuscaloosa businessman and University benefactor J. Reese Phifer.

Areas of Study

CIS focuses on six undergraduate programs, six graduate programs, and one doctorate program, with five academic Departments and one doctorate department.

• Advertising and Public Relations: Degrees in both majors are offered. Degrees in Advertising focus on sales and design techniques for print, online, and broadcast media. Public Relations majors learn skills to help organizations and people communicate with the general public and to build relationships.
• Communication Studies: Focuses on human interaction and communicating in real world environments in a broad range of public, interpersonal, and cultural contexts.
• Journalism: Two tracks in this department are offered for undergrads, General track and Visual track. General focuses on print mediums, including newspaper and magazine writing, reporting, and international journalism. Visual track incorporates elements of both traditional and emerging media, including photojournalism, digital and social media, and advanced editing. It is to be noted that students interested in TV or Radio broadcasting including TV News reporting usually major in Telecommunication and Film rather than Journalism.
• Library and Information Studies: only a minor in Information Sciences is offered by this department for undergraduates. Graduate programs include two Master's Degree
  Master's degree
  A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
  
  s, one in Book Arts and one in Library and Information Studies.
• Telecommunication and Film: An undergraduate degree in TCF includes a "sequence" or area of concentration along with an emphasis. These include: Electronic News sequence with an emphasis in Newsroom, Sports or Entertainment; Media Production sequence with general emphasis; Production Management sequence with general emphasis; Media Management sequence with general emphasis; Critical Media Studies sequence with general emphasis, and Documentary sequence with general emphasis.

Media organizations housed within the college

Phifer Hall contains several media outlets owned and operated by the University. This allows students in all of the college's programs opportunities for on-campus media experience.

• WVUA-TV
  WVUA-CA
  WVUA-CA is a Class A commercial television station owned by the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama, affiliated with This TV. The station is licensed to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, with studios on the university's campus...
  
  , a commercial television station with full news operation
• Alabama Public Radio
  WUAL-FM
  WUAL-FM is a radio station licensed to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The station is owned by the University of Alabama, and is the flagship affiliate of Alabama Public Radio, airing the network's programming consisting of news and talk programming, classical music, folk music, jazz, adult album alternative...
  
  , an National Public Radio affiliate with four transmitters throughout Alabama
• The Center for Public Television and Radio, a producer of documentaries and specials for public radio and television
• WVUA-FM
  WVUA-FM
  WVUA-FM is the student-run college radio station at the University of Alabama. The station was established for the purpose of giving students an environment in which they could learn to be radio broadcasters.-History:...
  
  , UA's student-run rock radio station