Journalism Studies at the University Without Walls

Yes! UWW students are eligible for financial aid if they meet the same requirements applied to all UMass Amherst students. Over 50% of UMass Amherst students receive a financial aid award. Many who believe their higher income would make them ineligible find that they are eligible for cost-effective loans when they apply for aid.
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Contact Information:
Journalism Studies
413.545.1378
uww@uww.umass.edu

Online news and information sites are transforming the field of journalism. You can get the skills you’ll need to better work in this ever-changing field through UWW’s individualized concentrations in Journalism Studies, an innovative and nationally-known program for adults who have skills and knowledge learned on the job and who’ve been unable to finish their first ever bachelor’s degree. Leverage UWW’s 36 years of helping working adults earn UMass Amherst bachelor’s degrees to earn your degree in a way that makes sense for your career goals and busy schedule with UWW and Journalism Studies courses offered online.

The UWW individualized concentrations in Journalism Studies lets you study with award-winning instructors and top professional journalists, who offer specialized coursework not available through on-campus programs. This same faculty teaches in the Certificate of Journalism program, recently named a Program of Excellence by the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA) — the most prestigious award given in the field of distance learning.

Whether your background is in journalism or a completely different field, you’ll complete the UWW individualized concentrations in Journalism Studies prepared to work in travel writing, sports writing, photojournalism, war reporting, science writing, arts reviewing, citizen journalism and a host of other dynamic fields.

Earn a Certificate of Journalism while completing your University Without Walls concentration
Successful completion of five online journalism courses results in a Certificate of Journalism from UMass Amherst. No additional fees are required for certification and these courses will help you build your UWW individualized concentration, moving you toward your UMass Amherst bachelor’s degree. To learn more information about the Certificate of Journalism, click here.

A high level of support
UWW will work with you to design your degree, write an experiential learning portfolio, navigate the university, and create a positive online learning experience. You will be assisted in identifying and obtaining upper division courses in your field and general education courses, along with other degree requirements you may need. General Education requirements may be taken through UMass Amherst, at a local college, or College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and may be included as part of the 75 credit maximum allowed in transfer.

Credit for professional development programs
UWW students who have professional training that is considered “college level” may be evaluated for credit, with 16 contact hours equaling 1 academic credit, and these are counted as transfer credits.

Credit for learning gained from life and work experiences
Through the UWW core courses taught by UWW and UMass Amherst faculty, you’ll develop a prior learning portfolio that documents, describes, and analyzes learning you’ve gained through your life, work and training experiences. Once complete, your portfolio will be evaluated by faculty, and you’ll be awarded between 15 and 30 UMass Amherst academic credits.

LEARNING ONLINE
As a part of UWW you will receive training to help you learn online. You will also have easy access to the UMass Online help desk. And, you will be supported with access to UWW whenever needed by phone, email, or in person.

Courses
All courses forming the UWW individualized concentrations in Journalism Studies are made available to students in a schedule they can use to complete their degree and are offered online. Student will select five courses to form their area of concentration:

Introduction to Journalism
Readings in Journalism
Citizen Journalism and the Web
Digital Photo Journalism in Practice
Responding to Disasters and Natural Catastrophes
Readings in Global Energy Issues
Newswriting and Reporting
Journalism Ethics
Writing about Sports
Travel Writing
Online Research
Non-profit PR in a New Age
Public Relations for Government and Non-Profits
War Reporting
Reviewing Music and Movies
Photo Journalism in the Digital Age
The Writing Life
Covering Science and Technology
Intro to Online Journalism
Writing About the Arts
International Perspectives in Journalism
Interviewing Skills for Journalists

Note: Students may also access other courses offered by UMass Amherst Continuing & Professional Education or regular day division courses.

FINANCIAL AID, GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS
All students in the UMass Amherst University Without Walls individual concentrations in Journalism Studies are eligible for federal and state financial aid. Some of this aid comes in the form of grants, and some in the form of loans. Some loans may be “forgiven” if students remain working in the early care and education field after graduation. For details go to http://studentaid.ed.gov.

UWW IS WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR
The University Without Walls was one of the first programs in the nation designed specifically for adults. Since 1971, UWW has been helping people like you obtain UMass Amherst bachelor’s degrees. A wide range of students are successful in UWW, and the program has an outstanding record of preparing students for graduate study. Nearly 50% of UWW graduates have successfully gone on to masters and doctoral programs.