Journalism, BA

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Arizona State University Tempe

Program Overview

The Journalism, BA at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication prepares students to report, produce, publish and analyze stories for real audiences across digital, broadcast, audio, video and visual platforms. It is ideal for students who want a hands-on journalism education while developing modern skills in reporting, multimedia storytelling, audience engagement, media law, ethics and emerging technologies such as AI-driven reporting and extended reality.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students establish their journalism foundation through courses such as MCO 101 Grammar for Mass Communication, MCO 120 Media and Society and MCO 125 Developing Media Content. These courses introduce professional communication, the relationship between media and society, and the process of creating content for different audiences.

Year 2:

Students move into practical journalism through JMC 201 Media Writing, MCO 205 Information Gathering and MCO 225 Digital Media Foundations. They learn how to gather information, develop accurate media content and use digital tools and techniques to produce journalism for contemporary audiences.

Year 3:

Students develop more advanced storytelling skills through JMC 301 Advanced Media Writing: Digital Journalism or JMC 304 Advanced Media Writing: Audio and Video, together with JMC 305 Multimedia and MCO 366 Mass Communication Ethics. This stage allows students to strengthen their reporting and multimedia production abilities while learning to apply professional ethical standards.

Year 4:

Students focus on professional practice through JMC 473 Media Models and Organizations, MCO 403 Media Law and advanced options such as JMC 478 Cronkite News Bureau, JMC 479 Cronkite News: Washington Bureau, JMC 483 Los Angeles Content Creation Studio or JMC 487 Howard Center for Investigative Journalism. The final stage also includes the required JMC 484 Internship and professional-development courses designed to prepare students for the workforce.

Focus Areas:

News reporting and writing, digital journalism, multimedia journalism, broadcast reporting, television production, podcasting, audio storytelling, photojournalism, videography, investigative journalism, sports and culture commentary, business and economic reporting, documentary production, magazine writing, editing, audience engagement, media law and ethics, strategic communication

Learning Outcomes:

Apply journalism values, principles, ethics and legal standards, create journalism for mass audiences using professional tools and technologies, critically evaluate information and research, produce clear and accurate professional content, develop multimedia storytelling skills, gather and verify information, communicate effectively across platforms

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The program is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC), providing professional recognition and demonstrating alignment with established journalism education standards.

Reputation & Employability:

The Walter Cronkite School is nationally recognized for its journalism education and hands-on approach to media training. Its professional newsrooms, studios, industry connections and award-winning student media provide students with opportunities to build experience that can support careers across journalism, broadcasting, digital media and communications.

Program Location: Downtown Phoenix campus. The Journalism, BA is a campus-based program rather than an ASU Online degree, and the program requires 120 credit hours.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students gain practical experience through Cronkite’s distinctive “teaching hospital” model, where journalism education takes place in professional-style newsrooms, studios and media operations. The Cronkite building includes television studios, newsrooms, editing rooms, computer labs and Arizona PBS, while students also gain access to professional equipment and Adobe Creative Suite for multimedia production.

The strongest hands-on opportunities include:

• Cronkite News Phoenix — Students work as broadcast producers, digital reporters, audience-engagement specialists, visual journalists and audio journalists, creating content for digital, television, radio and podcast platforms.

• Cronkite News Washington, D.C. Bureau — Students spend a semester in Washington, D.C., reporting from the nation's capital across digital, print and broadcast platforms.

• Cronkite News Los Angeles — Students report on areas such as politics, health, sustainability, education and social justice while developing professional broadcast and digital reporting skills.

• Arizona PBS — Advanced students work alongside Arizona PBS professionals to create broadcast and digital content through the school's journalistic teaching-hospital model.

• Video Production and Graphics Lab — Students gain hands-on experience in television production, control-room operations, post-production and motion graphics.

• Adobe Creative Suite — Cronkite students receive access to Adobe Creative Suite and use professional editing technology in lab classrooms and editing suites.

• Cronkite Equipment Lab — Students can access professional media equipment, including cameras, audio equipment and other tools used for multimedia content creation.

• Audio and Podcast Production — Students develop audio interviewing, reporting, writing, editing and production skills, supported by dedicated editing facilities and media equipment.

• JMC 484 Internship — A professional internship is required for on-campus undergraduate Journalism majors, allowing students to earn academic credit while gaining workplace experience.

• Study and Report Abroad — Students can combine journalism education with international learning and internship experiences through Cronkite's global programs.

• Olympic and Major-Event Reporting — Cronkite students have opportunities to cover major events and produce digital, print and broadcast stories for professional media audiences.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Journalism, BA prepares graduates for careers across reporting, digital media, broadcasting, audio, video, sports, investigative journalism, audience engagement and communications. Students graduate with professional experience, an internship, multimedia production skills and opportunities to build a portfolio through Cronkite’s immersive media operations.

Typical career options: Journalist, Digital Reporter, Multimedia Journalist, News Producer

Students can strengthen their transition from university to employment through Cronkite’s dedicated career infrastructure and industry connections:

• Cronkite Career Services — Provides resume and portfolio reviews, LinkedIn optimization, interview preparation, career planning, media career exploration and access to media-related opportunities.

• ASU CareerLink — Students can search for jobs and internships, register for career events, schedule appointments and connect with employers.

• Recruiter Visits — Major media organizations regularly visit Cronkite to meet students and graduates, including organizations such as NBC, Scripps, Gray Media, Hearst and TEGNA.

• Internship Network — Cronkite students have completed internships with organizations including ESPN, NBCUniversal, BuzzFeed, PolitiFact, NASA, Dallas Morning News and San Diego Union-Tribune.

• Industry Partnerships and Professional Exposure — Cronkite News content is distributed through professional media outlets, while Arizona PBS provides students with a direct working environment alongside media professionals.

• Employment Preparation — The required internship and professional-development courses MCO 451 Professional Development I and MCO 452 Professional Development II help students prepare for employment before graduation.

• Graduation Outcomes — ASU reports a 70.6% four-year graduation rate for the BA Journalism & Mass Communication cohort in AY25 and an 87.7% one-year retention rate for that cohort.

• Professional Recognition — ACEJMC accreditation provides long-term professional value by aligning the program with recognized standards in journalism and mass communication education.

• Student Achievement — Cronkite students receive recognition through national and professional journalism competitions and awards, including the BEA Festival of Media Arts, Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards and Hearst Journalism Awards.

• Salary Information — ASU/Cronkite does not currently publish a specific starting-salary figure for Journalism, BA graduates, so a program-specific salary figure is not included.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Journalism, BA, students can pursue graduate study in Mass Communication, Investigative Journalism, Sports Journalism, Strategic Communication and related media fields. ASU’s Cronkite School offers graduate pathways including the Master of Mass Communication, MA in Investigative Journalism and MA in Sports Journalism, providing options for students interested in advanced professional practice, specialization, research or academic careers.