Science & Environmental Journalism

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Science & Environmental Journalism

Genetically modified foods… climate change… vaccines… stem cell research… evolution. Americans persistently misunderstand, misrepresent or disregard the science behind these hot-button issues and others.

The Need for Science Journalism

There has never been a greater need for smart, well-educated journalists and scientists with a passion for the public interest and the courage to do the right thing. Funding agencies encourage researchers to communicate their work in accessible ways to a broad, diverse audience. Yet few journalists, scientists and health professionals are trained to do so.

That’s where the University of Arizona School of Journalism comes in. Our award-winning program will train you to communicate effectively about science, technology, the environment and health issues that affect all of our lives. Writing and multimedia skills will help you land internships and jobs. After taking two multimedia classes, physics graduate student Sophia Chen found an amazing internship at WIRED magazine. 

Graduate Speciality

Students in our M.A. in Journalism program can complete a 9-unit track in Science & Environmental Journalism.

Science Journalism Courses

These courses are open to all UA student in all majors and have no prerequisites

  • JOUR 455/555: Environmental Journalism
  • JOUR 465/565: Issues in Covering Science and the Environment
  • JOUR 472/572: Science Journalism
  • JOUR 486/586: Health Journalism

Other classes that also will give you a competitive edge in the science journalism job market:

  • JOUR 480/580 Advanced Multimedia
  • JOUR 506: Introductory and Advanced Reporting
  • JOUR 507: Reporting with Multimedia

SciView Magazine

Read past issues of the science magazine the school's science journalism class (JOUR 472/572) has produced.

Faculty Expertise

Our faculty examine the history of science journalism and train students to cover the wonders and complexities of science and environmental discoveries, issues and the people behind them.

See Science & Environmental Journalism Faculty