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This quantitative study investigates linkages between integrative learning experiences provided by student-run firms and fostering professional self-efficacy or the confidence to do one's job effectively and efficiently. Based on a survey of 182 students involved in student-run agencies, this research measured students' professional self-efficacy (confidence) in being able to perform 23 communication tasks. It also measures attribution respondents award to their student-run agency experiences in attaining that confidence. The study suggests changes to pedagogy and provides evidence for the effectiveness of student-run firms in preparing graduates for responsibilities in the professions of advertising, public relations, integrated communication, and strategic communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on aggregate internship data from an accredited Midwestern mass communications school to illustrate how feedback loops inform curricula and assessment according to standards of the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC). A sample survey instrument is shared with data directly related to ACEJMC values and competencies. Final recommendations are made to help accredited programs earn compliance in assessment by using direct and indirect measures from internships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used self-determination theory (SDT) to investigate the motivations for selecting a major among mass communication and media majors at 18 colleges and universities across the United States. Specifically, 669 mass communication majors were queried on their intrinsic and extrinsic motivations for choosing a major, their degree of major satisfaction, and positive outcomes related to academic performance and overall well-being. As a whole, the findings suggest that students who select their major on the basis of its perceived ability to satisfy intrinsic needs tend to be more satisfied with their major selection and report higher levels of academic performance, career surety, and overall life satisfaction. These results are discussed in the context of both post-secondary mass communication programs and students’ ability to successfully navigate the transition into professional life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While several studies have examined the learning outcomes of student-run communications agencies, these studies have mostly been from the perspective of faculty advisors. Through in-depth interviews with student agency graduates, this study examined how current industry professionals perceive the benefits of their student agency experiences and how they applied those experiences to their professional careers. Graduates placed a high value on the real-world experience gained from student agencies, learning how a professional agency functions, and working with a diverse set of clients and people in team-based settings. Graduates also reported that their student agency involvement set them apart in job interviews and made them better prepared than their peers for entry-level positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey of 61 master’s degree advertising programs reveals significant trends in program titles, curriculum design, course delivery, and students served. The results provide insight for current and planned master’s degree programs as research predicts a continued increase in demand for master’s education over the next decade. Survey results are compared against overall education trends such as the growth of non-traditional students, increase in online education delivery, and the increase of for-profit universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]