Undergraduate

Integrated Marketing Communications

Learn how to strategically communicate in the nation’s largest undergraduate Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) program. This versatile degree will prepare you for careers in advertising, marketing, public relations, social media and more!

A group of students show their professor what they are working on during a campaigns class.

Take advantage of every moment. One of those moments could completely change who you are, and you could come out of college a completely different person.

Chloé Dwyer

B.S. IMC ‘20, Southlake, Texas

About this Program

The School of Journalism and New Media is home to the largest undergraduate IMC program in the country because we give students the modern marketing communication skills they need to work for major brands or essential non-profits, for small and big businesses, and for anyone who needs their story told. 

#RealWorldRightNow

We believe in offering students a real-world experience. That means they get hands-on opportunities to turn a simple class project into a resume-building learning experience while simultaneously helping companies build their brands. 

Every student participates in a capstone class that involves a campaign for a real client. Students have worked with local media organizations and Meta, tourism councils and towns, sports teams and specialty stores. Their work makes a difference for their clients and helps launch their careers.

Special learning experiences include IMC Connect - a one-of-a-kind conference for students to network with some of America’s biggest brands. From Amazon to Chick-fil-A, FedEx to the Las Vegas Raiders and CVS – top executives come to campus each spring to share their expertise and get to know our students.

A Vibrant, Growing Profession

IMC-related professions are some of the fastest growing in the country right now. Our graduates work for companies as varied as Netflix, the NFL, FedEx, Tom Ford and boutique PR agencies to worldwide advertising companies like BBDO.

This is the major for creatives with a passion for telling stories. If you dream of working for your favorite brand, producing the next Super Bowl ad, helping a non-profit to achieve its mission or planning the perfect event, you’ve found your degree program. 

With an emphasis on data-driven decision-making, strong writing and a solid understanding of business principles, you can take this major anywhere you want to go.

On this Page…

    Program Information

    Program Type

    Major

    Area of Study

    Communication and Media

    Duration

    4 Years

    Degree

    B.S. in Integrated Mktg. Communications

    Program Location

    Oxford

    Tupelo

    DeSoto

    Emphases

    N/A

    Required Credit Hours

    124

    Specializations

    Our school offers a variety of specializations for both the Journalism and IMC programs. Specializations will not only enhance your experience here but will allow you to separate yourself from the pack when applying for jobs down the road.

     

    Are you a sports fan interested in promoting your favorite team or working to tell its story? Learn how to do it with our sports communication and promotion specialization.

    This specialization takes a unique look at collegiate and professional sports, sports media, athlete representation, corporate involvement, and more. 

    Course offerings include Foundation of Sports, Sports Promotion, Sports Media and Reporting, Sports Television Production, an internship, or any other approved sports-themed special topics course in the School of Journalism and New Media.

    Do you love communicating with an audience using Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok? If you envision yourself managing social media for yourself, a brand, a company, or an organization one day, our social media specialization may be the right path for you.

    This specialization examines how social media affects various aspects of our lives You’ll take courses such as Social Media in Society, Social Media Content Creation, or design your own social media-focused internship.

    Maybe you want to open your own clothing store one day or write about your favorite fashion brand. If you love the art of fashion and want to learn more about the business, you can study how fashion and media are connected. 

    This specialization is for those who are interested in trends, marketing, and branding in the fashion industry. You’ll take classes such as Fashion Promotion & Media as well as Fashion Merchandising and then expand your skillset with an internship, video, or photo classes.

    Public relations specialists work to build and maintain a positive reputation for a company or brand. Using social media, news releases, and other strategic messaging, they shape public opinion and increase awareness about a company or organization. 

    Students interested in the PR specialization will take classes such as Intro to Multimedia Writing, Public Relations, Public Relations Techniques, and PR Case Problems.

    Let your inner artist create your future with our visual design specialization, where you’ll learn to use graphics and imagery to communicate messages and tell a story. 

    Visual Design is for those who want to plan, visualize and create digital and printed materials for media projects. You get to take Visual Communication and then choose from courses such as 3-D Modeling, Motion Graphics, and Designing Interactivity.

    If you are interested in running the show one day, the media sales and management specialization will teach you how to generate revenue as a sales professional and how to lead a team. 

    This is for those interested in learning about advertising techniques and media enterprise management. You’ll take Media Sales, Media Management, and a media sales elective.

    Those who love reading Vogue, Glamour, The New Yorker, People, or Garden & Gun, may have envisioned themselves working for these magazines.

    With this specialization, you’ll also learn how to launch and run your own magazine. This specialization gives students experience with the content, business, and publishing aspects of the magazine industry. You’ll take classes such as Magazine Service Journalism and Magazine Service Journalism Publishing and then choose from a series of elective classes.

    If you have ever envisioned working in the communications department for a hospital or writing informative stories about the latest health trends to educate the public, you may be interested in our health communications specialization.

    Courses in this specialization focus on the growing field of health communication, with an emphasis on health promotion and health journalism. You’ll take classes such as Health Communication, Persuasion, and interdisciplinary options from across the campus.

    Connect with an IMC Major

    Our student ambassadors are happy to help you with any questions you might have about the Integrated Marketing Communications program and life at Ole Miss.

    Erin Prince

    Erin Prince

    • Greek Life

    What brought you to Ole Miss?

    See Erin’s Answer
    Verlecia Gavin

    Verlecia Gavin

    • Student Publications

    What would you tell a high school student about your major?

    See Verlecia’s Answer
    Brady Wood

    Brady Wood

    • Orientation

    What are your 3 favorite things about the School of Journalism and New Media?

    See Brady’s Answer

    Where Our Students Go

    Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) prepares graduates for careers in public relations, advertising, sales, government, the nonprofit sector, corporate communications, social media marketing and more. 

    Our graduates work at a variety of companies nationally and internationally, including the PGA Tour, TikTok, Fleishman Hillard, Burson Cohn & Wolfe, Anheuser Busch, Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Hawks, USA TODAY, CNN, ESPN, Elle Decor, and at hospitals, nonprofits, government agencies and even the White House.

    A group of students and professors pose for a photo in Barcelona.

    Students in Action

    Each May, students can travel abroad for the month while taking IMC and journalism classes. The best thing? You're traveling with your professors. Our students recently returned from Spain, learning more about global brands and international communication.

    Next Steps

    Explore Affordability

    We have a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make college more affordable for you and your family.

    Apply to the University of Mississippi

    Are you ready to take the next step toward building your legacy?