Program in Journalism
Faculty updated 1/2024
Professors
Thomas Bass, Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz
Nancy Roberts, Ph.D., University of Minnesota (Program Director)
Lecturers
Thomas Palmer, M.S., Syracuse University
Laney Salisbury, M.S., Columbia University
Visiting Assistant Professor
Rosemary Armao, M.A., The Ohio State University
Adjunct Faculty
David Guistina, M.A., University at Albany
Michael Hill, B.A., SUNY Geneseo
Mike Huber, M.A., University at Albany
Jill Konopka, M.S., Central Connecticut State University
Barbara Lombardo, M.A., Ohio State University
Jennifer Marshall, M.S., Northwestern University
Holly McKenna, M.A., University at Albany
Ian Pickus, M.A., University at Albany
Lori Todd, B.S., University of Miami
Katherine Van Acker, B.S., Montana State University
Jeffrey Wilkin, B.A., St. Bonaventure
The Journalism Program, housed in the Department of Communication, offers courses in nonfiction writing, media analysis and production, and the history, societal, and global context of journalism. The Program also offers workshops that concentrate on student reporting, writing and editing, digital media publication, and photojournalism, as well as courses that address legal and ethical issues confronting journalists today.
The Program’s courses and internships prepare students for work as journalists, freelance writers, editors, TV producers, television and radio journalists, Web journalists, magazine and book publishers, copy writers, and public advocates in media. The Journalism Program also provides excellent preparation for students who want to pursue careers in related fields, such as law, government, history, educational policy, and teaching, as well as graduate study.
While offering survey courses that review the history and development of journalism from its early days in print to its current digital formats, the Program also gives students hands-on experience with reporting and writing newspaper and magazine articles (both print and online) and producing other digital forms of journalism. The internship program encourages students to work at television and radio stations, newspapers and magazines, publishing houses, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and public relations firms.
Course Progression Restrictions
Students must complete A JRL 100 with a grade of C or better in order to take A JRL 200Z.
Degree Requirements for the Major in Journalism
General Program B.A.: a minimum of 36 credits with a minimum of 24 credits at the 300 level or above in A JRL courses including:
- 15 credits from: A JRL 100, 200Z, 201Z, 225, and 490Z
- 9 credits in Contextual courses from: A JRL 305, 330, 340, 363, 381, 410, 420, 468, 475
- 9 credits in Skills courses from: A JRL 308Z, 324, 355, 366Z, 380, 385Y, 390, 392, 435, 460Z, 475Z, 480Z, 487Z
- 3 credits in A JRL 495 (Internship) or from A JRL 410, 420, 460Z, 468, 475/475Z, 480Z, 487Z, or 497 (but no course may be repeated if already used in Contextual or Skills categories)
Advising
The Journalism Program has established a solid reputation for giving students the individual attention required for curricular advising, placement in internships, and career planning. Graduates of the program have secured a wide variety of jobs in broadcasting and reporting or gone on to graduate study at Columbia University, New York University, Syracuse University, and other institutions. Journalism students work with the Academic Advisement Assistant (email: [email protected]; phone: 518-442-4875, location: Taconic 333) to receive advisement and AVN numbers each semester. Undergraduate majors are encouraged to seek out a meeting with their assigned faculty mentor when they begin their studies in the Program to discuss their goals, and devise an overall plan of study supportive of those goals in the Program, in their minor or second major, and in their General Education requirement courses and electives.
Honors Program
Journalism majors who wish to graduate with Honors in Journalism should contact Professor Thomas Bass, the Journalism Program's Honors Director. To be admitted to the Journalism Honors Program, a student must: (a) be a declared Journalism major; (b) have completed 12 credits in A JRL courses; (c) have a minimum 3.25 overall GPA and a minimum 3.50 GPA in Journalism; (d) submit an application essay.
In addition, the student is required, as part of his/her courses for completing the Journalism major, to choose one course from the Contextual courses menu from the following: A JRL 340 Global Perspectives on the News; A JRL 330 History of Journalism in the United States; A JRL 420 Media in the Digital Age; or A JRL 480 Public Affairs Journalism. The student must earn at least an A- in the chosen course. Senior honors students will then complete A JRL 499 Senior Honors Project. The Honors sequence requires 39 credits.
