The Major

The Journalism major is based on the premise that journalists are essential in a democratic society because they inform its citizens, give voice to the voiceless and hold the powerful accountable. The major emphasizes both the academic heart of journalism and its practice through its courses in history, law, ethics, philosophy and media criticism, as well as newswriting, reporting and editing for a variety of media. The teaching of theory, in other words, goes hand in hand with teaching the skills necessary to work in newspapers, magazines, radio, television and online jobs. Our graduates also work in other fields that require writing and reporting skills, including public relations, law, government and teaching. The Journalism major has a distinguished, award-winning faculty including winners of the Pulitzer Prize and the Freedom Forum Journalism Teacher of the Year Award. Our alumni work at dozens of media outlets around the world, such as The New York Times, The Boston Globe, National Public Radio, The Associated Press, NBC News, stateline.org and others.

Journalism offers a B.A. degree through the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Students normally begin taking Journalism courses in the first semester of their sophomore year. Freshmen are encouraged to get involved with the campus media (Collegian, WMUA, UVC-19) while making significant progress on their General Education requirements. With planning, students entering the major at the junior level can complete the major in four semesters. Consultation with Barbara McGlynn, the academic advisor for Journalism, is recommended.

FAQs

Is Journalism the best major for me if I’m interested in public relations?

We think so. A recent graduate of Journalism who now has a successful career in public relations wrote a guide to Journalism for students interested in advertising and public relations.

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