Journalism Colleges and Universities

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Tips & Advice to help you make your decision on Journalism Colleges and Universities

If you do an Internet search for 'journalism colleges and universities', you will be presented with millions of results. This isn't exactly helpful when you are trying to decide which college you would like to attend. So how can you go about determining which journalism university is the right one for you?

One suggestion is to start with the city in which you would eventually like to work. There are certain cities where more news happens, such as Washington, D.C. and New York City. Many students who want to earn journalism degrees choose to attend colleges close to these types of cities in order to be close to the action. This gives them opportunities for internships and freelance jobs at some of the largest newspapers and magazines in the country.

It can be quite helpful to join college discussion boards on the Internet. There are dozens of these boards, many of which have dedicated forums about college searches. You can post your questions about choosing a journalism college to get tips from other students, many of whom have already attended undergraduate schooling.

As you search for the right university, be sure to consider the experience of the professors, the facilities, and the costs of each college. Try to find one that matches your interests, whether you want to become a sportswriter or a magazine journalist.

To learn more about journalism colleges and universities, check out the links on the left. Compiled by Business.com, these links will help you as you seek out the ideal school for you.

Making the Most of Journalism Colleges and Universities

Choosing a college for journalism training is a major step toward starting a career in the field. Today's journalism graduate is versed in areas that include photojournalism, telecommunications and broadcasting as well as print journalism. The advent of the information society is causing colleges with journalism programs to shift and include courses in new media to enable graduates to provide current news information that is available in a variety of mediums.

Journalism universities prepare students to fill a wide range of roles in print or broadcast media as well as academe. If you're in the process of planning the beginning stages of a career in journalism, try making the most of journalism colleges and universities course offerings in the following ways:

1. Look for college journalism programs that train students across different mediums.

2. Seek out journalism universities that utilize new technology.

3. Consider college journalism programs that are available online.

Find broadcast journalism colleges that train students across different mediums

Colleges of journalism that include training in broadcasting areas such as radio, television and digital media produce graduates that are ready to become on-air personalities or work behind the scenes in a production capacity. Courses in digital video and media production enable students to operate photographic equipment and also step into roles as news videographers.
Try: The University of Alabama College of Communication and Information Sciences consists of departments in Telecommunication and Film, Advertising and Public Relations, Communication, Journalism and Graduate Studies. The institution also has a Center for Public Television and Radio. Journalism students at the University of Southern California (USC) Annenberg School for Communication graduate from a program prepared to work in print, broadcast and online journalism media formats. The Charles Annenberg Weingarten Program on Online Communities (APOC) is a one year master's program that is designed to develop professional management skills in every aspect of online communities.

Enroll in college journalism programs that teach students new media technology

A college for journalism may also include training in various aspects of telecommunications that include webcasting. Courses in new media technology broaden a journalism major's expertise beyond print and broadcasting to reach an online audience.
Try: Arkansas State University (ASU) College of Communications offers journalism programs in photojournalism, graphic communications, advertising and radio-tv programs that include new media, broadcast news, radio-tv production and management. Graduate programs in mass communication and theatre arts are also available. University of Colorado at Boulder's School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) offers small class sizes to students utilizing labs and studios to learn new-media design, digital video and audio recording as well as other mediums related to media. The school specializes in teaching students the latest technology in the field.

Research institutions that can enable you to earn a journalism degree online

In addition to offering a broader range of courses, colleges for journalism provide more than a bachelors degree in journalism but also offer programs that lead to one-year certificates, associate's degrees, master's degrees and doctorates. Moreover, colleges in journalism are going beyond traditional classroom settings to make journalism training more accessible to students through online programs. Online journalism schools offer certificate courses as well as programs that lead to degrees that range from an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) to a Master of Science in Journalism (MSJ).
Try: The University of Memphis utilizes eCourseware to offer students courses that can lead to a Master of Arts in Journalism. This online program takes two years to complete and is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC). The University of Missouri's School of Journalism offers a Master of Arts in Journalism in Strategic Communications or Media Management for journalism professionals that want to earn an advanced degree.

The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) provides detailed information about the evaluation of journalism and mass communications programs including a description of new standards and diversity practices in journalism colleges and universities.