Samford University's Brock School of Business and journalism and mass communication (JMC) Department have announced a unique partnership that allows JMC students who obtain a business minor as part of their JMC degree to remain at Samford with the opportunity to obtain an MBA over the course of the following year. 

One of only about 10 similar programs in the United States, this collaboration will allow JMC majors to graduate with both an MBA-JMC degree in five years. 

"The goal with this is partnership is to give JMC students a better understanding of the business side of journalism, public relations and advertising," said Bernie Ankney, chair of the journalism and mass communication department.  "We hope when students graduate with this degree that they will look for jobs on the business side of journalism or even start their own businesses." 

Ankney added that the launch of this partnership comes at a good time with the recent trends and changes in the newspaper, magazine and other media businesses.   "There are a number of public relations boutique firms that are now beginning to offer niche PR, media and marketing services in industry-specific areas to their clients," he said. "The newspaper industry is on its way to becoming a smaller business that focuses on local news and that offers a whole range of media products to their subscribers and advertisers." 

"Being marketable in several different areas will be key for our JMC students who will be graduating and looking for jobs in the next four to five years," said Howard Finch, dean of the Brock School of Business. "Knowing the principles of business and how to run a business also are key skills they will need in our ever-changing job market."

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.