Journalism Major – Journalism and Creative Writing Track

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

City University of New York

Program Overview

The Journalism Major – Journalism and Creative Writing Track at Baruch College combines professional journalism with creative writing, helping students develop strong research, interviewing, reporting, editing, multimedia storytelling, and literary writing skills. It is ideal for students who want to work across journalism, publishing, digital media, creative writing, communications, or other writing-intensive fields while exploring forms such as nonfiction, fiction, biography, and screenwriting.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1: Students begin with JRN 2500 The Individual and the News in the Information Age, developing an understanding of news, information, credibility, and the changing media environment. This foundation prepares students to evaluate sources and approach reporting with accuracy and responsibility.

Year 2: Students build core journalism skills through JRN 3050 Journalistic Reporting and Writing, JRN 3220 Media Ethics and Law, and either JRN 3500 Advanced Reporting and Writing or JRN 3510 Multimedia Reporting. Together, these courses strengthen reporting, interviewing, writing, editing, multimedia production, and ethical decision-making.

Year 3: Students expand their writing and reporting abilities through courses such as JRN 3060 Feature Article Writing, JRN 3065 Electronic Research Methods and Resources for Writers, and JRN 3770 Cultural Reporting. Creative-focused options such as JRN 4730 Journalism and the Literary Imagination and JRN 4910 Advanced Fiction-Writing Workshop allow students to develop a distinctive literary voice alongside their journalistic skills.

Year 4: Advanced study brings together professional journalism and creative writing through options such as JRN 4750 Investigative Reporting, JRN 4920 Narrative Writing, and the JRN 5050/JRN 5051/JRN 5052 Media Internship. Students can also pursue independent study or Journalism Honors, giving them opportunities to produce substantial work and prepare for professional or graduate-level study.

Focus Areas:

Journalistic reporting, creative writing, narrative writing, creative nonfiction, fiction, screenwriting, feature writing, editing, multimedia journalism, investigative reporting, cultural reporting, photojournalism, digital research, media ethics and law, literary journalism.

Learning Outcomes:

Source evaluation, research, interviewing, news reporting, multimedia storytelling, clear and balanced writing, editing, narrative development, creative expression, critical thinking, ethical journalism, media-law awareness, digital research, literary analysis, independent writing.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The Journalism and Creative Writing Track does not list a separate specialized professional accreditation on its official program page. The program instead emphasizes professional journalism standards, ethical reporting, research, writing, editing, multimedia storytelling, and practical media experience.

Reputation (Employability & Professional Opportunities):

Baruch describes the Journalism and Creative Writing major as preparation for careers in journalism, editing, public relations, new-media production, law, business, social services, publishing, entertainment, and communications. Students also have access to professional internships and opportunities through the journalism department, including placements with major media organizations.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students gain practical experience by combining reporting assignments, creative-writing workshops, multimedia production, editing, research, and professional internships. The program gives students opportunities to publish their work through Baruch's student media, work with professional writers through the Harman Writer-in-Residence program, and gain real newsroom experience through internships with media organizations in New York and beyond.

• Dollars & Sense — students can showcase reporting, writing, and editing through Baruch's award-winning online magazine, which is reported and edited by students and uses multimedia technology to publish their work.

• Media Internship Program — journalism majors complete professional media experience through the department's internship program, with faculty advisers helping students secure and succeed in high-quality placements.

• New York Media Internships — opportunities have included organizations such as Reuters, The New York Times Syndicate, American Banker, Crain's New York Business, Institutional Investor, CNN, WNYC, WABC, and WPIX.

• Multimedia Reporting — JRN 3510 Multimedia Reporting develops the ability to combine journalism with contemporary multimedia formats.

• Electronic Research Methods — JRN 3065 Electronic Research Methods and Resources for Writers develops practical research skills for writers working with digital information and sources.

• Advanced Video Journalism — JRN 4500 Advanced Video Journalism gives students an opportunity to develop more advanced visual journalism skills.

• Harman Writer-in-Residence Program — distinguished poets, playwrights, novelists, journalists, and essayists visit Baruch each semester. Small, intensive workshops and individual conferences help students refine their personal writing styles and creative voices.

• Creative Writing Workshops — Harman workshops can cover fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, and journalism and the literary imagination, giving students direct exposure to different writing forms.

• Narrative Writing — JRN 4920 Narrative Writing connects journalistic storytelling with literary techniques, helping students develop stronger long-form narratives.

• Advanced Fiction-Writing Workshop — JRN 4910 provides focused practice in fiction writing and gives students an opportunity to develop original creative work.

• Investigative Reporting — JRN 4750 Investigative Reporting gives students advanced experience researching issues and developing deeper, evidence-based journalism.

• Student Awards & Scholarships — journalism students can compete for opportunities including the Becker Scholarship in Creative Writing, which awards $5,200 to a student with a demonstrated interest in creative writing.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Journalism and Creative Writing Track gives graduates a flexible foundation for careers that depend on strong writing, research, storytelling, editing, and communication skills. Baruch specifically identifies journalism, editing, public relations, new-media production, publishing, law, business, social services, entertainment, and communications as potential directions for journalism graduates.

Typical job roles: Journalist, Editorial Writer, Content Writer, Creative Nonfiction Writer

Students can build toward these opportunities through Baruch's career and professional network:

• Starr Career Development Center — provides undergraduate career development, career advising, experiential-learning opportunities, professional-development programs, and connections with employers, alumni, faculty, and community partners.

• Handshake / Starr Search — students can search for internships, part-time positions, full-time jobs, fellowships, and other opportunities through Baruch's online career platform.

• Career Fairs & Employer Expos — Baruch hosts career fairs and expos where students can meet recruiters, learn about opportunities, network, and submit resumes.

• On-Campus Recruiting — seniors can participate in Baruch's recruiting program, where companies come to campus to interview students for positions after graduation.

• Media Industry Connections — the Journalism Department's internship network includes organizations such as Reuters, CNN, WNYC, American Banker, Crain's New York Business, Institutional Investor, and The New York Times Syndicate, providing valuable connections with journalism, publishing, broadcasting, and communications employers.

• International Career Support — Baruch provides international students with access to Interstride, an interactive career platform designed to support international career exploration and job searches.

• Employment & Salary Data — Baruch publishes post-graduate outcomes by major, including employment status, employment type, and average salary where sufficient data are available. Baruch notes that salary figures are based on full-time salary data and that knowledge rates can affect the reliability of individual figures.

• Graduation Outcomes — Baruch tracks employment outcomes at graduation and up to six months afterward, including different forms of employment and reported post-graduation status.

• Professional Development — Starr offers programs focused on technical skills, industry knowledge, leadership, and professional skills that can help students become stronger candidates for internships and jobs.

• New York City Advantage — studying journalism at Baruch places students in New York City, giving them access to a major media, publishing, communications, arts, and entertainment environment alongside the college's established internship network.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Journalism and Creative Writing Track, students can pursue graduate study in journalism, creative writing, communications, media studies, publishing, English, literature, law, public affairs, or related fields. Students interested in advanced creative writing can also build on their workshop and literary experience through graduate-level writing, literature, screenwriting, or media programs.