ACCREDITING COUNCIL ON EDUCATION IN JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATIONS

The Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) advocates for the highest standards in journalism and mass communication education. Established with the goal of ensuring excellence and continuous improvement, ACEJMC evaluates and accredits programs at colleges and universities around the world.

At-a-Glance

• Established in 1945, ACEJMC originally was a partnership of journalism education and newspaper organizations. Its mission has grown to include advertising, public relations and strategic communication, digital media and broadcasting.
• Schools are evaluated on eight standards: Governance and Administration; Curriculum and Instruction; Assessment of Learning Outcomes; Diversity and Inclusiveness; Faculty; Student Services; Resources, Facilities and Equipment; and Professional and Public Service
• 120 programs are accredited, primarily in the U.S., and the Council welcomes additional programs, in the U.S. or elsewhere, that seek accreditation.
• Programs are reviewed every six years.
• Schools complete a self-study and site teams visit campus to evaluate programs.

Who ACEJMC serves

ACEJMC is a crucial resource for educators, students and institutions. For educators, ACEJMC provides a framework to ensure journalism and mass communication programs meet industry standards and prepare students for the professions. For students, attending an accredited program means an experience that meets rigorous quality benchmarks and enhances employability. For institutions, obtaining accreditation is a distinction that can attract top-tier faculty and students and serve program review requirements.

The Value of ACEJMC Accreditation

• Systematic, rigorous program review and accountability. Many universities require reviews to ensure programs are appropriately resourced, exercise fiscal responsibility, integrate shared governance and provide evidence of effective learning outcomes. ACEJMC accreditation provides this kind of review, with highly qualified external reviewers using comprehensive standards.
• A modern, relevant curriculum. ACEJMC accreditation mandates that programs regularly assess and update their courses and programs based on feedback from industry professionals. ACEJMC also requires that programs regularly assess their curricula and resources to ensure that students are culturally competent and able to thrive in diverse settings. Such assessment ensures that curricula remain relevant and impactful for students and attractive to employers.
• External validation for resource allocation and program quality. While acknowledging the unique attributes of programs, ACEJMC standards include requirements related to course size, teaching credentials and engagement of full-time faculty. Accreditation review also includes an assessment of resource allocation, which can provide administrators with validation for their needs and help as they plan for program growth.
• Exposure to best practices across the professions and the academy. 120 programs around the globe, representing all institution types, are accredited. The review process and regular ACEJMC updates ensure that program directors are apprised of industry and higher education trends and are engaged in best-practices conversations with peers.
• Enhanced program reputation, community engagement, and visibility. Standards include a review of programs’ engagement with alumni and a wide range of stakeholders and their public and professional service. As such, accredited programs enjoy an enhanced reputation benefiting their institutions, their graduates, and their communities.

Winter 2025

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