College of Information and Communications

2026 News

Planting seeds for student success

Julie Hutt knows career paths rarely follow a straight line. As the college career services manager, she draws on experiences from Disney to higher education to help students build confidence, connections and long-term career success.

Enabling atrocity in the MENA and Sudan

USC UNESCO Fellow Marc Owen Jones documents in great depth and over many years how digital influence operations are reframing and normalizing violence and mass harm.

CIC Introduces new communication major

The college has officially launched a Bachelor of Arts in Communication major, marking the debut of a long-anticipated program at the university. While communication remains one of the most popular undergraduate majors nationwide, USC has never offered a dedicated degree in the field — until now.

AI-4-SC: CIC and USC Palmetto College partner to bring AI education to South Carolinians

This summer, the College of Information and Communications is co-sponsoring a series of courses on artificial intelligence that are free to the public.

College celebrates faculty and staff at end-of-year retreat

A call to evolve with each new generation of students set the tone for the spring 2026 CIC retreat, where leaders highlighted innovation, AI’s impact on media and the college’s continued growth.

College welcomes Clayton Jones as coordinator of information security and cyber leadership program

Jones will blend academic rigor with real-world insight, adding focus on AI-driven defense, quantum threats and global cyber strategy. His network across the DOE, Navy R&D, FBI and Congress will strengthen internships, mentorship and career opportunities for students.

Message from the dean: Creating opportunities

Creating more transformative, real-world opportunities, like our immersive visit to leading media outlets in New York City, is a top priority for the college as we prepare students to lead in a rapidly evolving communications landscape.

From classroom to “I do”

A love story that began in a USC classroom came full circle on Mary Kate and Matthew Howland’s wedding day. Thanks to the Gamecock network, the couple not only found each other at South Carolina, they found the perfect photographer, too.

The Pulse of the game: How USC researchers are tracking college football’s social media moments

The College of Information and Communications Social Media Insights Lab is capturing the pulse of the college football world — tracking every viral moment, hot take, and trending hashtag in real time.

College helps shape UNESCO’s global media freedom report

The College of Information and Communications is playing a prominent role in one of UNESCO's most influential publications, the newly released World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development report.

The power of the pivot: Women, media & the business of sports

This featured panel brings together influential voices across sports, media, and culture to examine how leadership is defined — and recognized — in today’s landscape. Through a dynamic, moderated conversation, panelists explore who holds influence, how credibility is earned, and what it takes to shape outcomes in industries where visibility and power are constantly shifting.

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.