The College of Communication and Information (CCI) opened applications this week for the first online, Tennessee-based communication and information bachelor’s degree program, increasing access to a four-year degree. With more than 900,000 Tennesseans having earned some college credit but no degree, an online program such as the Bachelor of Science in Communication and Information (BSCI) gives students from all walks of life the opportunity to attain an undergraduate degree.
“Few institutions in the nation offer an interdisciplinary online program in communication and information, and we saw an opportunity to fill that education gap and increase the amount of Tennessee residents with bachelor’s degrees. We are proud and excited to provide a flexible, asynchronous program that prepares students to enter a vast array of communication and information roles in almost any industry,” said CCI Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Student Success Courtney Childers.
The online BSCI program is asynchronous, which allows students to complete coursework at their own pace and does not require them to attend an online class at a specific time. Instead, those enrolled in the program are given modules that present curriculum in an engaging and interactive format that they can view and complete any time of day. This lets students balance their academics with other demands of life, creating an ideal arrangement for people who find it difficult to attend in-person classes.
There are many people who will find the program a great fit for their life and career goals, such as working professionals, busy parents, and people who live in more rural areas without a four-year higher education institution nearby. Increasing access to education aligns with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s land-grant mission to serve the people of this state and positively impact communities.
“The University of Tennessee continues to increase access to higher education with innovative solutions, especially for the residents of Tennessee, and the College of Communication and Information is in step with those efforts. The land-grant mission is embedded in CCI’s strategic plan, and part of that is creating accessible, high-quality programs that will equip graduates with the tools and knowledge they need to make an impact in their lives and Tennessee’s workforce,” said CCI Dean Joseph Mazer.
BSCI curriculum includes courses from all four CCI schools, centering on topics in: advertising, public relations, communication studies, journalism and media, and information sciences. Featured BSCI courses focus on social media strategies, digital content creation, user-centered design, and leadership. Community college graduates from across the state can use the online BSCI completion program as an alternative pathway to finishing the education they already started, or for those looking to complete a second bachelor’s degree. This major is open to all Tennessee Transfer Pathways (TTPs) that result in an Associate of Art, Associate of Science, Associate of Science in Teaching, and an Associate of Fine Arts.