The journalism major at the University of Arizona combines rigorous academic theory with hands-on experience. The focus
from the first day is putting students on the street covering real news so students truly learn by doing. Students will find classes that are:
-- hands on;
-- small in size (skills courses are limited to 20 students);
-- taught by experienced faculty who are all former or current working journalists.
Sequential courses lead from learning to write basic stories to longer, more complex pieces.
Starting with campus stories and moving to community stories on meaningful social, political and environmental issues, students will learn to research from personal interviews, Internet searches and government records searches. Classroom assignments will include writing stories that inform, inspire and entertain the general public.
All assignments lead to developing students who have basic skills to do it all -- research stories, take still photographs, shoot video, and upload to print, broadcast and online news outlets.
The curriculum offers some unique learning experiences. Community News Service, for example, allows students to report and write stories from the state capital for distribution to small media outlets throughout the state. Numerous internships and independent study opportunities provide students with "on-the-job" experience at local and regional radio and TV stations, newspapers, and elsewhere.
For a list of classes the department offers, click here.
STUDENT OUTCOMES
-- Understand the relationships among the press, the public and policy makers in democratic societies;
-- Understand legal and ethical principles relating to journalism, and how to use them in real-world situations;
-- Acquire the critical thinking and professional skills necessary to collect, evaluate and organize information in ways that fulfill the journalist's responsibility to the public;
-- Obtain experience applying these principles and skills in the field, utilizing multiple media platforms;
-- Understand how different communication technologies affect the way in which news is presented and perceived in the United States and around the world;
-- Understand the similarities and differences among press law, traditions and practices in the United States and those in other countries.
Several UA courses introduce students to careers in the fast-paced world of
broadcast journalism.
Students learn the intricacies of writing for broadcast before getting in front of, and behind, the camera to learn how television news comes together. The capstone, or final course, Journalism 480, lets students produce their own video
news programs in a "hands on" broadcasting environment.
More info about broadcast journalism at the University of Arizona.
Students who seek careers in print journalism get the opportunity to handle every phase of production for two publications that are vital
sources of news and information for two Arizona communities. By producing
real-world newspapers, students allow their work to be judged by faculty
and the public at large. Students also develop critical thinking, research,
visual communication and writing skills and learn to deal with the legal and
ethical issues that confront professional journalists.
The Tombstone Epitaph and the El Independiente
are distributed to specific localities in southern Arizona and are available online.
Since stories are told with words and pictures, journalism students get a full understanding of photography's role in the news industry. An introductory course covers the basics of photojournalism. Advanced skills courses are available for students considering a career in photojournalism.
More info about print journalism at the University of Arizona.
Students interested in online journalism can get real-world experience by working on a Web-based publication launched in 2006.
The Cat Scan features news, entertainment, reviews, blogs and photos. Students did more than supply content for the fledgling publication; they also grappled with issues of copyright, possible censorship of blogs and whether they could adequately cover hard news.
More info about online journalism at the University of Arizona.
