Digital Journalism Major BA, Journalistic Writing and Reporting Specialization

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In today’s environment of converging media, successful journalists need the necessary skills and concepts to tell meaningful stories for a variety of outlets. In this major, students learn how to conceive ideas and collect and present information using words, pictures, and sounds to craft news stories that are accurate, fair, clear, and compelling. Whether destined for print, online or broadcast presentation, the focus is on preparing students to research, report and communicate news and non-fiction stories that engage audiences and make a difference in people’s lives. Students will learn how to build an online platform for their journalism and how to engage with their audience. Students will also understand the ethical, legal, historical and societal environment of journalism and the fundamental role media plays in our social, political and economic systems. A specialization in journalistic reporting and writing or broadcast journalism is required. Students must complete the communication foundation courses prior to acceptance into the journalism major.

Communication Foundation Core Requirements

COM 201 - Introduction to Mass Communication Credits: (5)
COM 207 - Introduction to Human Communication Credits: (5)

Total Core Requirements Credits: 10

Digital Journalism Core

Required Courses Credits: (22)

COM 226 - Introduction to Writing and Reporting for Digital Journalism Credits: (5)
COM 303 - Online and Social Media Strategies Credits: (5)
COM 321 - Visual Storytelling Credits: (4)
COM 489 - Portfolio Assessment Credits: (1)
COM 490 - Cooperative Education Credits: (1-12) (Must take at least 5 credits total)
FILM 215 - Production Technology Skills Credits: (1) (Must be taken for 2 credits with different titles)

Select three from the following - Credits: (12)

COM 333 - Communication Ethics Credits: (4)
COM 369 - Mass Media and Society Credits: (4)
COM 382 - History of American Journalism Credits: (4)
COM 460 - Communication Law Credits: (4)

Total Digital Journalism Core Credits: 34

Journalistic Writing and Reporting Specialization

The journalistic writing and reporting specialization teaches students the skills, concepts and perspectives they need to be successful in print and online media. Students will learn how to conceive story ideas, gather information, write and edit stories, incorporate digital and multimedia elements into those stories, and present those stories for print and/or online publication. Students will put those skills to use on The Observer, Central’s weekly student-run newspaper, and also have the option of putting those skills to use at Pulse, Central’s twice-quarterly student lifestyle magazine, and at Newswatch, Central’s weekly student-run newscast. They will also get on-the-job education and training in a print or online internship.

Required Courses

COM 308 - Public Affairs Reporting and Writing Credits: (5)
COM 347 - Copy Editing Credits: (4)
COM 466 - Investigative Reporting and Writing Credits: (3)
COM 466LAB - Investigative Reporting and Writing Lab Credits: (2)

Select one of the following - Credits: (4)

COM 408 - Feature Writing Credits: (4)
COM 409 - Magazine Freelancing Credits: (4)
COM 486 - Advanced Journalism Seminar Credits: (4)

Select from the following - Credits: (12)

Must take at least 6 credits of Observer.

COM 442 - CentralNewsWatch Reporting Credits: (3)
COM 446 - Pulse Credits: (2)
COM 468 - Observer Credits: (1-3)
COM 478 - Advanced Newspaper Editing Credits: (3-6)

Total Specialization Credits: 30

Total Credits: 74

College and Department Information

Communication Department
College of Arts and Humanities