Journalism and Media (B.A.)
The Journalism and Media major prepares students to report, produce, and share stories that inform and engage diverse audiences in a rapidly changing media environment. Students learn how to gather and verify information, interview effectively, and craft compelling narratives across digital, broadcast, and print platforms. Coursework emphasizes beat and feature reporting, multimedia storytelling, data and solutions journalism, and ethical communication practices. Students also explore how emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence, audience analytics, and social media algorithms—are reshaping the creation and consumption of news. Through hands-on projects, newsroom simulations, and internships, they gain the practical experience and critical perspective needed to navigate today’s complex information landscape.
In addition to the course work below, students must complete all of the department's general degree requirements.
All Journalism and Media majors must complete the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Department Core (9cr) | ||
| COM 1700 | Media Literacy | 3 |
| COM 2000 | Introduction to Communication Practices and Professions | 3 |
| COM 2280 | Visual Communication & Content Creation | 3 |
| Major Requirements (27cr) | ||
| COM 2030 | Media Writing Toolkit | 3 |
| COM 2100 | News Reporting | 3 |
| COM 2230 | Broadcasting | 3 |
| or COM 5500 | Journalism and New Media | |
| COM 3100 | Solutions Journalism | 3 |
| COM 3210 | News Editing | 3 |
| COM 4250 | Reporting Race, Gender, and Culture | 3 |
| COM 5080 | History of Journalism and Mass Media | 3 |
| COM 5710 | Media Law and Ethics | 3 |
| or COM 4130 | Communication Ethics | |
| COM 6190 | Internship (3 req.) | 3 |
| Major Electives (6cr) | ||
| Select six credits of the following: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Film | ||
| Argumentation and Debate | ||
| Campaigns and Social Movements | ||
| Business and Professional Presentations | ||
| Studies of Legal Argument | ||
| Communication and Conflict | ||
| Group Communication | ||
| Leadership Communication | ||
| WAYN Radio and Podcasting | ||
| Special Topics | ||
Upon consultation with an Academic Advisor, students may also choose electives from other courses regularly offered in other Department of Communication majors. If relevant, students must have any required prerequisites for the course(s). | ||
| Total Credits | 42 | |
Departmental Honors Program
The Communication Department Honors program offers capable students the opportunity to pursue independent study and to work closely with department faculty members. Completion of the honors major results in an honors degree designation on the diploma.
In order to enter the departmental honors program students must have achieved academic excellence in previous work, such as a high school g.p.a. of 3.5 or a college or university g.p.a. of 3.3. Students must meet all regular major requirements including the following: three honors-option courses within their major at the 2000 level or above, taught by full-time faculty members (internships cannot satisfy this requirement), at least one HON 42xx-level seminar offered through the Honors College, a senior honors thesis under the direction of a faculty advisor in their major area (COM 4996) and maintain a minimum g.p.a. of 3.3 cumulative and in the major.