About The Zimmerman School of Advertising & Mass Communications

The Zimmerman School of Advertising & Mass Communications at the University of South Florida is located in the Tampa Bay metro area, the 14th largest media market in the country with abundant opportunities for internships with media organizations, public relations firms, advertising agencies, professional sports teams, and other major organizations. Our students also benefit from relationships with on-campus organizations and departments such as University Communications and Marketing, the USF College of Health Sciences, the USF Department of Athletics, WUSF-TV, WBUL-AM radio, and our award-winning campus newspaper, The Oracle. Our students are also active in School of Mass Communication clubs such as the AdClub, the Walter E. Griscti Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) that provide extensions of classroom learning and the opportunity to network with professionals. We want students to be achievers in the classroom and in professional workplace.

With over 1,300 undergraduate majors, we’re large enough for a “critical mass” of students who work collaboratively on projects in professional communications and media, but small enough for individual attention. Our accomplished faculty provide a balance of academic and professional credentials and emphasize “hands on” instruction in advertising, multimedia journalism and production, and public relations.

At its core, the Zimmerman School of Advertising & Mass Communications emphasizes strategic thinking, persuasive speaking and presentations, clear and compelling writing, and the use of digital media in professional communications and media distribution. Our curriculum is a blend of theory and practice and introduces students to the theories, principles, and practices of professional communications and media based on the concept of freedom of information as the cornerstone of constitutional democracy. Our curriculum and faculty prepares students for current and future positions in professional communications and media and for future leadership roles in professional communications and media.

With an active and accomplished list of alumni, our graduates of the Zimmerman School of Advertising & Mass Communications understand the structure and functions of mass media systems as well as the basic processes of professional communication. Students specialize in an area of mass communications (advertising, multimedia journalism and production, or public relations) to blend a strong introduction to theoretical orientation with professional skills. Our modern facilities mirror the workplace. Our goal is student success. We are here to prepare you for your first professional position and to prepare you for a lifetime of success.