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Journalism
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Program Description
The Journalism Program at CSUDH is accredited by the Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) and meets their high standards of journalistic practices, skills, and specializations with a strong focus on analytical reasoning, critical thinking and problem solving. The program provides a broad-based curriculum designed to promote news and information literacy; proficiency in the various journalistic forms and styles; an understanding of the new media landscape; and information dissemination practices through contemporary and emerging media tools. The program is committed to freedom of the press, freedom of expression, freedom of inquiry, and the questioning of dominant institutional practices and ideologies. It encourages dedication to ethical practices including truth, accuracy, fairness, diversity, inclusivity, and independence.
The program further provides an understanding of media representations of gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, and encourages professional practice that respects all forms of diversity. It trains students to be sensitive to and provide a voice for underserved populations and communities; works in the public interest; and encourages community engagement and social responsibility to audiences and the society at large.
Mission
A journalist's role in the ever-changing media landscape is essential to serve the public interest and to hold dominant institutions accountable. To meet this responsibility of journalists, the faculty of the Department of Communications are committed to applying their expertise to cultivate students' distinct voices, ideals and professional standards in the practice of journalism and teach them how to serve their communities with knowledge, skill, integrity and a commitment to diversity. Our guiding principle is rooted in the understanding that our surrounding multi-ethnic and multicultural communities provide a unique perspective on how news, information and ideas are exchanged and understood.
Curriculum Highlights
Students begin their degree program with introductory courses that shape their understanding of media culture and production including Media and Society, Writing for the Media, Digital Toolkit and Digital Media Production. Upper division courses, which prepare them for careers in multi-media journalism, provide intermediate and advanced levels of journalism theory and practice. They include News and Information Literacy, Mass Media Law, Cross-Cultural Journalism, News Gathering and Reporting, Media Industries and News Production, where they work on the student newspaper. In addition, students choose from a variety of dynamic elective courses that match their interests including Broadcast Journalism, Sports Journalism, Magazine Production, Entertainment and Lifestyle Journalism, and Media Psychology.
During their final semester, students complete a professional portfolio in Senior Project and complete an Internship in Communications, where they apply what they have learned in the classroom to a real-world working situation. The internship serves as a bridge between coursework and careers in journalism.
LatinX Journalism Concentration
The Communications Department is now offering a Latinx Journalism Concentration for students interested in pursuing careers in Spanish-language news media, including Univision, Telemundo, and so much more.
The Latinx Journalism Concentration offers students the opportunity to blend the foundational journalistic principles with a deeper understanding of Latinx culture, history, and contemporary issues. Students develop strong reporting, writing, and digital storytelling skills while advancing their understanding of the diverse experiences and perspectives within Latinx communities in the U.S.
Students learn how to gather information, conduct interviews, and write compelling stories across various platforms. Another component of the curriculum dives into the history, culture, and socio-political context of Latinx communities in the United States and beyond. Topics include Latinx identities, social justice, and representation in the news media. Students develop expertise in covering these topics with accuracy, sensitivity, and depth.
In addition to the core and elective courses already in the Journalism major, some of the specialized and interdisciplinary courses students take for this Latinx Journalism Concentration include Newswriting in Spanish, Introduction to Chicana/o and Latina/o History, Intermediate Spanish or Grammar for Spanish Composition, Cross-Cultural Journalism, and Latinx Culture and News Media in the U.S.
This program is designed to empower students to become skilled storytellers from, for, and about Latinx communities in the U.S., while upholding the highest standards of journalistic integrity and ethics. Proficiency in Spanish is emphasized, enabling students to effectively communicate with Spanish-speaking sources and audiences.
Career Possibilities
Students seeking careers in print, digital, broadcast, and contemporary news media will complete the program proficient in journalistic practices including writing, research, reporting, interviewing, editing, and publishing across multiple platforms. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the technological, professional, and economic changes that transform the industry through a thorough examination of media institutions and structures. Graduating students compete for journalism careers regionally, nationally and globally.
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism Brochure
Journalism Program Comprehensive Assessment Plan
View our award-winning campus student produced newspaper: The Bulletin
ACEJMC Accreditation
To provide public accountability as required by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication's standards, the Journalism program at CSUDH posts information on several indicators of the success of our majors. This PDF includes data on retention and graduation rates for first-time freshmen and new transfer students, and includes the race/ethnicity of our student population.