One of the oldest journalism programs in the country, the school has offered the master of arts in mass communication since 1955, and the doctor of philosophy in mass communication since 1965.

USA Today founder Al Neuharth called the program the best in the nation. A national study published in the Gannett Center Journal called Carolina one of the “best balanced of all journalism schools” and said we excel in teaching, research, jobs for graduates and degree of respect among both academicians and professionals. In its 2006 ranking of journalism programs, U.S. News & World Report placed UNC among the top four in an unranked listing compiled by surveying journalists, advertising executives and public relations practitioners.

Every six years, the school goes through the process of re-accreditation by the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC). In 2009, a team representing the ACEJMC and made up of journalism and mass communication professors and professors said the school “has earned a reputation as one of the premier programs in journalism and mass communication.” The team’s report also praised the school for:

• A tradition and culture of excellence that serves students, the news industry and journalism education.
• An outstanding, collegial faculty that reflects both great professional experience and a robust scholarly agenda.
• Strong teaching that includes individual mentoring, commitment to students, and innovation.
• A smooth and confident transition to new leadership focused on professional convergence and reinforcing the school’s research agenda.
• Unusually strong ties to, and support from, media professionals in North Carolina and the nation.
• Service to the state of North Carolina.
• Enthusiastic, intelligent and accomplished students.
• State-of-the-art resources.
• Marked improvements in various aspects of diversity.

The team called the new curriculum launched in fall 2009 “a more converged and ambitious undergraduate curriculum.”