Annual Surveys of Journalism and Mass Communication

1997 Annual Survey of Journalism and Mass Communication Enrollments

Lee B. Becker and Gerald M. Kosicki

Abstract

Undergraduate enrollments in Journalism and Mass Communication programs in the autumn of 1997 increased 2.3% compared with a year earlier, representing the fourth year of growth in undergraduate journalism enrollments, signaling a period of continued growth in the field.

In contrast, graduate enrollments in Journalism and Mass Communication programs declined for the second year in a row. If the national economy continues to be strong, enrollments in graduate programs can be expected to follow the national pattern of slight declines for the next several years.

The number of bachelor’s degrees granted to Journalism and Mass Communication students still has not recovered from the decline in enrollments earlier in the decade. The number of graduate degrees granted by Journalism and Mass Communication programs remained flat in 1996-97 versus a year earlier. The number of doctoral degrees actually declined.

At present, the 31 Journalism and Mass Communication programs with doctoral programs are producing an inadequate supply of doctoral students to meet needs of the 450 Journalism and Mass Communication programs in the U.S. if one assumes that those programs will replace retiring faculty and fill new positions with individuals with Journalism and Mass Communication doctoral training.

The copyrighted full text of the 1997 Enrollment Report is available here.

The PDF version of the supplementary charts is available here.