Journalism Bachelor of Science Degree
In RIT’s journalism bachelor's, you’ll interview thoroughly, investigate methodically, write masterfully, edit effectively, report fearlessly, and publish innovatively–all in service to social change.
Overview for Journalism BS
This program is no longer accepting new student applications.
The journalism degree prepares you 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, you will prepare audio and visual content for dissemination in a variety of media, making you an experienced and valuable asset to any future employer specializing in news reporting and factual storytelling.
The bachelor's in journalism 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 journalism degree prepares you for a converged digital media world. 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 of courses. In RIT's journalism bachelor's you are required to complete one block of cooperative education experience.
Plan of Study
Develop skills through a core of required communication courses, which cover news writing, news editing, multi-platform journalism, communication theory, mass communications, law and press ethics, and computer-assisted reporting. A professional core of four courses, chosen from the colleges of Art and Design, Business, or Computing and Information Sciences, introduces you to photojournalism, multimedia, web development, digital entrepreneurship, and building a web business. Journalism electives, free electives, and liberal arts courses complete the curriculum.
Senior Project: In a senior capstone course, apply what you've learned to a project similar to one you would encounter in the journalism industry. You will produce a long-form piece of journalism, a website, and a digital portfolio of selected works.
Advising
Every journalism bachelor's student is assigned a professional academic advisor and a faculty mentor in the department of communication. The professional advisor assists with course planning and registration; the faculty mentor provides advising about career development and planning, including information about research opportunities, graduate school, and jobs. Peer mentors, who are upper-level journalism students, are available to answer questions about classes, clubs on campus, student-run activities, and other matters from the student’s perspective. For more information, please refer to the college's academic advising page.
RIT’s Pre-Law Program
Law schools welcome applications from students majoring in a wide range of academic programs. RIT’s pre-law program will help you navigate the admission process for law school, explore a range of legal careers, and guide you through course selection to ensure you build the skills and competencies required of competitive law school applicants. The program is open to students in all majors who are interested in pursuing a career in law.
Furthering your Career in Journalism
Today’s careers require advanced degrees grounded in real-world experience. RIT’s Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees enable you to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in as little as five years of study, all while gaining the valuable hands-on experience that comes from co-ops, internships, research, study abroad, and more.
- Journalism BS/Communication MS: An accelerated dual-degree program that builds on a foundation in journalism, news media, and contemporary reporting to deepen expertise in strategic communication methods and channels such as social media; applications for artificial intelligence; visual storytelling and data representation; organizational communication; engagement data analysis; and more.
- +1 MBA Early Acceptance Pathway: Successful RIT applicants who are offered admission into the BS degree in journalism as an incoming first-year student may also be offered conditional early acceptance into the +1 MBA Early Acceptance Pathway. This option enables you to earn both your BS degree and an MBA in as little as five years of study. Learn how the +1 MBA Early Acceptance Pathway can help you add a competitive advantage to your studies.
- +1 MBA: Students who enroll in a qualifying undergraduate degree have the opportunity to add an MBA to their bachelor’s degree after their first year of study, depending on their program. Learn how the +1 MBA can accelerate your learning and position you for success.
3+3 Accelerated BS/JD Programs
RIT has partnered with Syracuse University’s College of Law and University at Buffalo School of Law to offer accelerated 3+3 BS/JD options for highly capable students. These programs provide a fast track to law school where you can earn a bachelor’s degree at RIT and a Juris Doctorate degree at Syracuse University or University at Buffalo in six years. Interested students may apply to the option directly, with successful applicants offered admission to RIT and conditional acceptance into either Syracuse University’s College of Law or University at Buffalo School of Law.
RIT’s journalism degree is one of the approved majors for the 3+3 option.
Learn more about Accelerated Law 3+3 Programs.
