Program Contact: Ben Bogardus 203-582-3417
The Quinnipiac undergraduate Bachelor of Arts in Journalism program is designed to prepare the next generation of journalists to write, shoot, and edit news stories like a pro on whatever platform they choose: digital / online, video / broadcast, mobile, social media, data visualization, audio / podcasting, photojournalism, print media, and more.
Students also have the opportunity to design their coursework and electives to focus on a specific area of interest, such as sports reporting, entertainment news, business, politics, the environment, international news, investigative / data reporting, or any other subject they're passionate about.
Overall, we take pride in developing journalists who are superior writers and visual storytellers who can effectively report on stories that impact people's lives in a positive way.
The BA in Journalism requires a minimum of 120 credits for degree completion.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Curriculum 1 | 46 | |
| Required School of Communications core courses: 2 | ||
| COM 120 | Media Industries and Trends | 3 |
| COM 130 | Visual Design | 3 |
| COM 140 | Storytelling | 3 |
| School of Communications Requirements 3 | ||
| Global Issues and Cultures, select two courses | 6 | |
| Seminars for Success | ||
| COM 101 | Communications First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| COM 201 | Media Career Development | 1 |
| Required Journalism Courses | ||
| JRN/SPS 106 | Video Storytelling Techniques | 3 |
| JRN 205 | Photojournalism Fundamentals | 3 |
| JRN 260 | News Writing | 3 |
| JRN 263 | Broadcast News Writing | 3 |
| JRN 275 | Reporting Fundamentals | 3 |
| JRN 306 | Social Media for Journalism | 3 |
| JRN 328 | Data Visualization & Emerging Storytelling | 3 |
| JRN 450 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| JRN 495 | Advanced Reporting | 3 |
| COM 490 | Communications Career Internship | 3 |
| Journalism Electives | ||
| Select three of the following | 9 | |
| Mobile Journalism: The Future of News | ||
| Podcasting & Audio Storytelling | ||
| TV Reporting and Anchoring | ||
| Special Topics in Journalism | ||
| Advanced TV Reporting | ||
| The Art of Interviewing | ||
| Telling Global Stories | ||
| Public Affairs Reporting | ||
| Sports Reporting (SPS 361) | ||
| The Story of Football (SPS 362) | ||
| Sports Broadcasting | ||
| Effective Copy Editing | ||
| Entrepreneurial Media (The MIC Project) | ||
| Cultural and Entertainment Journalism | ||
| Multimedia Storytelling | ||
| The Stories of Business | ||
| Broadcast Performance | ||
| Narrative Journalism | ||
| Advanced Multimedia Storytelling | ||
| The QNN Newscast | ||
| Writing for Advertising and Public Relations | ||
| Web, Mobile & Interactive Design | ||
| Persuasion | ||
| Strategies for Social Media | ||
| The Agency | ||
| Public Speaking: Principles and Practice | ||
| Media Culture and Arts of Los Angeles | ||
| Communications Career Internship II | ||
| Social Media and Society | ||
| Multicamera Production | ||
| Animation and Mobile Media | ||
| Web Design I | ||
| Digital Photography | ||
| Sports Audiences and Fandom | ||
| Sports TV Reporting and Anchoring | ||
| Sports Law and Ethics | ||
| Sports Data Visualization and Analytics | ||
| Sports Audio and Podcasting | ||
| Sports Social Media | ||
| Sports Feature Writing | ||
| Sports Newsroom Clinical | ||
| Screenwriting | ||
| Projects in Audio Production | ||
| Diversity in the Media (WGS 311) | ||
| Is AI Taking Over? Disruption, Disinformation, and the Future Of Communication | ||
| Communications Law and Policy | ||
| Political Communication (PO 349) | ||
| Sports, Media and Society (SPS 420) | ||
Other courses with chair's approval | ||
| Minor Courses | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
Students majoring in Journalism will complete their Integrative Capstone Requirement within the major with JRN 495. In place of those credits, the student will select an additional unrestricted course in the University Curriculum.
- 2
Core must be completed by end of sophomore year.
- 3
A minimum of 45 credits of a student's total number of credits (includes major, minor, UC, electives, etc.) must be taken at the 200 level or higher.
Minor Requirement
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in Journalism program are required to complete a minor (typically 18 credits) that will complement their career and/or personal interests. Students are encouraged to minor outside the School of Communications to acquire subject knowledge beyond their primary field of study, but may choose to minor in any program within or outside the School of Communications in consultation with their advisers.
Shown below is one of many possible paths through the curriculum. Each student's individual academic plan is crafted in consultation with their academic adviser. Course availability, potential transfer credits, student goals, and course prerequisite completion may influence the course plan for each student.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| JRN 106 | Video Storytelling Techniques | 3 |
| COM 140 | Storytelling | 3 |
| FYS 101 | First-Year Seminar | 3 |
| EN 101 | Introduction to Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| COM 101 | Communications First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| EN 102 | Academic Writing and Research | 3 |
| MA 170 | Probability and Data Analysis | 3 |
| JRN 205 | Photojournalism Fundamentals | 3 |
| COM 120 | Media Industries and Trends | 3 |
| COM 130 | Visual Design | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| JRN 260 | News Writing | 3 |
| Minor Course #1 | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| COM 201 | Media Career Development | 1 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| JRN 263 | Broadcast News Writing | 3 |
| JRN 275 | Reporting Fundamentals | 3 |
| Minor Course #2 | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| JRN 306 | Social Media for Journalism | 3 |
| JRN Elective | 3 | |
| Minor Course #3 | 3 | |
| Global Issues and Cultures | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| JRN 328 | Data Visualization & Emerging Storytelling | 3 |
| Minor Course #4 | 3 | |
| Global Issues and Cultures | 3 | |
| UC Lab Science | 4 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| JRN 450 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| JRN Elective | 3 | |
| COM 490 | Communications Career Internship | 3 |
| Minor Course #5 | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| JRN 495 | Advanced Reporting | 3 |
| JRN Elective | 3 | |
| Minor Course #6 | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students should be able to demonstrate the following competencies:
- Ability to research, interview, report, write, shoot and edit news stories that conform to professional journalism standards, including the ability to apply basic numerical and statistical concepts
- Produce and present journalistic stories in a variety of media platforms, using methods such as: social media, data visualization and mining, audio storytelling, photography, videography, and more.
- Understanding of the implications of the First Amendment and the role journalism plays in a democracy, its social responsibility, and the underpinnings of its practice in a culturally and racially diverse society.
- Engagement in the ethical practice of journalism.
Admission Requirements: School of Communications
The requirements for admission into the undergraduate School of Communications programs are the same as those for admission to Quinnipiac University.
Admission to the university is competitive, and applicants are expected to present a strong college prep program in high school. Prospective first-year students are strongly encouraged to file an application as early in the senior year as possible, and arrange to have first quarter grades sent from their high school counselor as soon as they are available.
For detailed admission requirements, including required documents, please visit the Admissions page of this catalog.