Patrick Scanlon, Department Chairperson
(585) 475-2449, pmsgsl@rit.edu
Program overview
The journalism program offers a unique and multifaceted educational experience that prepares students to gather, critically analyze, and synthesize verbal and visual information to communicate accurate and clear news stories across multiple media platforms. In addition to writing and reporting, students learn to prepare audio and visual content for dissemination in a variety of media, making them a valuable asset to any future employer specializing in news reporting and factual storytelling.
The program is enhanced by RIT's reputation for using cutting-edge technology, yet is grounded in the traditional reporting and writing skills needed by professional journalists. The program prepares students for a converged digital media world. They will learn the conceptual and practical skills demanded by the digital newsroom through a combination of journalism, communication, and applied professional courses, along with a professional core offered through the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.
Curriculum
Students develop skills through a core of required communication courses, which cover newswriting, news editing, e-journalism, communication theory, mass communications, law and press ethics, and digital design. A professional core of six courses, chosen by the student, from the School of Print Media, the School of Film and Animation, and the department of photographic arts provide an in-depth understanding of design principles, still photography, audio and video production, news and information management, and methods of new media publishing. Journalism electives, general electives, and liberal arts courses complete the program's curriculum.
Senior project
The capstone course provides students with an opportunity to integrate, synthesize, and apply prior learning to a project similar to one they would encounter in their profession. Students produce a long-form piece of journalism, a website, and a digital portfolio of selected works.
Journalism, BS degree, typical course sequence (quarters)
| Course | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| 0535-201 | Introduction to Journalism | 4 |
| 0535-482 | Mass Communications | 4 |
| 0535-471 | History of Journalism | 4 |
| 0535-416 | Newswriting | 4 |
| 4002-206 | Web Foundations | 4 |
| Liberal Arts* | 12 | |
| Mathematics and Science Requirement‡ | 16 | |
| 1105-051, 052 | First-Year Enrichment | 2 |
| Wellness Education† | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| 0535-405 | Information Gathering | 4 |
| 0535-417 | Newswriting II | 4 |
| 0535-462 | Digital Design in Communication | 4 |
| 0535-474 | Reporting in Specialized Fields | 4 |
| 0535-472 | News Editing | 4 |
| 0535-445 | Theories of Communication | 4 |
| 0535-473 | eJournalism | 4 |
| General Education Elective | 4 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 8 | |
| Professional Core | 6-8 | |
| Wellness Education† | 0 | |
| Third Year | ||
| 0535-476 | eJournalism II | 4 |
| 0535-470 | Law and Ethics of the Press | 4 |
| Professional Core | 6-8 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 12 | |
| General Education Electives | 8 | |
| University-wide Electives | 8 | |
| Mathematics Requirement‡ | 4 | |
| Cooperative Education (two quarters) | Co-op | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| 0535-464 | Public Relations Writing | 4 |
| Journalism Elective | 4 | |
| 0535-590 | Senior Project | 4 |
| Professional Core | 6-8 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 4 | |
| General Education Electives | 8 | |
| University-wide Electives | 12 | |
| Total Quarter Credit Hours | 187-189 | |
* Please see Liberal Arts General Education Requirements for more information.
† Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information.
‡ Please see Mathematics and Science General Education Curriculum for more information.
Journalism, BS degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| COMM-161 | Introduction to Journalism | 3 |
| COMM-162 | Reporting and Writing I (WI) | 3 |
| LAS Perspective 1, 2 | 6 | |
| LAS Foundations 1: First Year Seminar | 3 | |
| COMM-261 | History of Journalism | 3 |
| COMM-163 | Reporting and Writing II | 3 |
| LAS Perspective 3, 4 | 6 | |
| LAS Foundations: First Year Writing | 3 | |
| Wellness Education | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| COMM-301 | Theories of Communication | 3 |
| COMM-262 | News Editing | 3 |
| LAS Perspective 5*, 6, 7A, 7B | 12 | |
| COMM-263 | Computer Assisted Reporting | 3 |
| Professional Core | 3 | |
| LAS Immersion 1, 2 | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| COMM-361 | Reporting in Specialized Fields | 3 |
| Professional Core | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| LAS Immersion 3 | 3 | |
| LAS Electives | 9 | |
| COMM-362 | Law and Ethics of the Press | 3 |
| Professional Core | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Cooperative Education (summer) | Co-op | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| COMM-461 | Multiplatform Journalism | 3 |
| Professional Core | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 9 | |
| LAS Electives | 12 | |
| COMM-561 | Senior Project | 3 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 | |
* Students will satisfy this requirement by taking either a 3 or 4 credit hour lab science course. If a science course consists of separate lecture and laboratory sections, the student must take both the lecture and the lab portion.
Cooperative education
Students are required to complete two quarters of cooperative education or an internship experience in a professional position. This experience gives students the opportunity to apply their classroom learning to a professional work environment. Past co-op positions have included placements at newspapers, including the Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester's daily newspaper. The Office of Cooperative Education and Career Services can assist students in identifying co-op and internship positions as well as permanent placement upon graduation.
Admission requirements
For information on undergraduate admission, including freshman and transfer admission guidelines, please refer to the Undergraduate Admission section of this bulletin.
Additional information
Advisers
Every student is assigned a faculty adviser, a co-op/placement adviser, and a peer mentor. Faculty advisers assist in academic advising and career counseling. They are helpful in course selection and scheduling, course planning, and post-graduation work. The co-op/placement adviser, who is located in the Office of Cooperative Education and Career Services, offers career guidance and advice. Peer mentors, who are upper-level advertising and public relations students, are also available to answer questions about classes, clubs on campus, student-run activities, and other matters from the student’s perspective.
Faculty
Nearly all 18 faculty members in the department of communication hold the highest degrees in their fields. Many have won awards for teaching, and all have been published within their areas of expertise.
Careers
Journalism majors have a wide range of career options to choose from. It is expected that the market for writers and editors will increase by nearly 20 percent in the next few years, and graduates with experience in new media technologies will have a significant edge. The program also is ideal for those who wish to pursue graduate study in journalism or communication. The department of communication offers an MS degree in communication and media technologies. Please consult RIT's Graduate Bulletin for more information.