Focus Programs

The Focus Program in Business Communication is offered for students interested in a career in business reporting or editing for the media as well as students interested in careers in corporate communication, and it allows students to demonstrate a specific knowledge beyond the skills and concepts taught in the journalism area of study.

Graduates of the Business Communication focus program have gone onto jobs at The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg News, Reuters and other business media, as well as jobs in corporate communications.

Building on the foundation of UNC Hussman’s curriculum, the focus program courses build a core understanding of the fashion industry and produce a robust portfolio of professional work ready for internship/post-grad networking. Program participants become part of a wide network of alums working with major fashion and lifestyle brands across the globe.

Although most students are advertising/public relations focused, the focus program is also open to journalism students who are interested in fashion storytelling. Additionally, some students utilize the courses as a part of a fashion design journey at UNC.

Health Communication and Marketing Focus Program students will learn about the healthcare sector, explore the patient journey, map stakeholders and influencers, and get hands-on experience with marketing communications that can help people lead healthier lives, preparing students for positions at hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare advertising or PR agencies, insurance companies, non-profit organizations and more.

Students accepted into the focus program will have the opportunity to interview for a pool of internships before their senior year.

The Political Communication Focus Progream (PolComm) provides UNC Hussman undergraduate students majoring in advertising and public relations or journalism with specialized expertise attractive to a range of different employers including political campaigns, nonprofit organizations, the offices of elected representatives, journalism and media outlets and political organizations.

Students learn about strategic political communications in a variety of contexts from campaigns to policymaking. They gain hands-on experience developing everything from digital ads and campaign logos to communications plans and conducting events such as press conferences. PolComm students will have multiple opportunities to meet with and learn from political practitioners and political journalists.

The Sports Communication Focus Program provides courses about sports and the media, offers internships and scholarships for students and brings visiting lecturers to the school.

The Sports Communication Focus Program brings the revolutionary commercial world of sports to students, while allowing them to confront the extraordinary changes occurring in sports. This knowledge will assist them in the pursuit of competitive jobs in the sports industry and give them a unique perspective on many of the fundamental dilemmas of our time.

The focus program in sports communication is designed to accommodate students across specializations and areas of study.