Annual Surveys of Journalism and Mass Communication

2006 Enrollment Report:
Enrollments Level Off; Online Instruction Now Routine

Lee B. Becker, Tudor Vlad and Joel D. McLean

Abstract

Journalism and mass communication enrollments increased only slightly in 2006, and the increase was brought about by the addition of new programs, rather than growth at existing programs. The slowdown in enrollments is not unprecedented, and enrollments have declined in the recent past. Growth in enrollments at the entry level in 2006 and the expectation that university enrollments will increase generally in the next five to ten years suggests the likelihood of continued growth in journalism and mass communication enrollments in the next few years. The curricula of journalism and mass communication programs have changed in response to changes in the technologies used by the communication occupations. While fewer students are enrolled in the four traditional areas of advertising, journalism, public relations, and telecommunications than in the past, journalism continues to attract the largest number of students.

Becker, L. B., Vlad, T., and McLean, J. D. (2006). Enrollments level off; online instruction now routine. Journalism & Mass Communication Educator, 62 (3), 263-288.

The copyrighted full text of the 2006 Enrollment Report is available here, courtesy of Journalism & Mass Communication Educator

The PDF version of the supplementary charts is available here.

The PDF version of the supplementary tables is available here .