Bachelor’s in Journalism

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Syracuse University

Program Overview

The Journalism B.S. at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications prepares students to report, investigate, write, edit and produce journalism across digital, broadcast, audio, visual and traditional platforms, with an emphasis on accuracy, ethics and responsible storytelling. It is particularly well suited to students who want to become versatile journalists while developing multimedia, data, social media and emerging-technology skills through hands-on work with professional-style news operations.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1: Students establish their communications and journalism foundation through COM 107: Communications and Society and COM 117: Multimedia Storytelling, developing an understanding of media's role in society while learning to tell stories using multiple formats. JNL 211: Cross-Media News Writing then introduces the core writing and reporting skills needed to produce journalism for different platforms.

Year 2: Students move toward contemporary digital journalism through JNL 221: Foundations of Data and Digital Journalism, learning how data, technology and digital platforms can strengthen reporting. Coursework also develops professional judgment through subjects such as JNL 345: Business and Ethics of Journalism in a Changing World, which examines ethical issues and journalism practices across broadcast, digital, magazine, newspaper and social platforms.

Year 3: Students can deepen their specialization with advanced work such as JNL 442: Advanced Data Journalism: Telling Stories with Data, where public records and data are used to develop investigative stories and interactive journalism. JNL 461: Mobile and Social Media Journalism adds practical experience with mobile devices and social platforms for newsgathering, distribution and audience engagement.

Year 4: At the advanced level, students can apply their reporting skills through specialized journalism topics and professional experiences, including JNL 535: Journalism Practicum, which places students in professional settings under the guidance of site supervisors and faculty. Depending on their interests, students can also pursue specialized reporting, investigative, sports, political, broadcast, digital or multimedia journalism opportunities before entering the profession.

Focus Areas:

Broadcast journalism, digital journalism, magazine and news reporting, investigative journalism, data journalism, mobile journalism, social media journalism, sports journalism, multimedia storytelling, videography, audio journalism, political reporting, journalism ethics, media law, visual journalism.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop the ability to report, research, interview, write, edit and produce accurate journalism for diverse audiences and platforms; use multimedia, data, mobile and social-media tools for newsgathering and storytelling; understand journalism ethics, law and professional standards; and adapt reporting skills to evolving digital and broadcast environments.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC). Newhouse received a reaccreditation report in 2023 that recognized the school as one of the “very best” programs in mass communications, providing students with a professionally aligned journalism education.

Reputation (Employability & Recognition):

Syracuse University identifies Newhouse among its highly regarded communications programs and reports that the university ranked #1 in Best Broadcast Journalism Schools in the 2024 College Factual rankings. Newhouse students have also earned significant professional recognition, including 10 SPJ Mark of Excellence regional awards and 17 finalist positions in 2024, demonstrating the quality of student journalism produced across print, online, audio and broadcast platforms.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Journalism B.S. places students in environments that closely resemble professional newsrooms, combining small classes taught by industry professionals with hands-on reporting, multimedia production and opportunities to publish or broadcast real work. Students can work with NCC News, TheNewsHouse, WAER, CitrusTV and other student media, while state-of-the-art equipment, journalism facilities and off-campus programs provide additional opportunities to build a professional portfolio:

• NCC News — Students gain resume-building experience through this full-service, student-run news source covering breaking news, politics, sports, weather, health and consumer news, with work produced in video, audio and text formats.

• TheNewsHouse.com — Students develop practical digital storytelling skills by producing journalism for Newhouse's multimedia news site, giving them experience with contemporary online publishing.

• WAER 88.3 FM — The NPR member station provides opportunities for students to work in a real newsroom; as many as 50 students participate in the WAER newsroom each semester, while sports students gain experience in play-by-play, studio hosting, engineering and audio production.

• CitrusTV and Campus Media — Students can develop broadcast skills through the student-operated television station, while additional opportunities are available through the campus newspaper, student magazines and three campus radio stations.

• JNL 461: Mobile and Social Media Journalism — Students receive hands-on experience experimenting with social media and mobile devices for newsgathering, distribution and audience engagement.

• JNL 442: Advanced Data Journalism — Students use data and public records to develop investigative stories and interactive projects, building skills that are increasingly valuable in modern newsrooms.

• JNL 535: Journalism Practicum — Students can gain professional-setting experience under the supervision of a site supervisor and faculty member while completing reflections and a final project alongside their internship responsibilities.

• Newhouse LA — Eligible students can spend a semester or summer in Los Angeles combining Newhouse coursework with internships at companies across film, television, music, sports and digital media, alongside industry speakers, mentors and field visits.

• Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship — The Washington, D.C.-based institute connects journalism with democracy, governance and public dialogue and creates opportunities for student engagement, research and professional exposure.

• Weiss Center — This student, faculty and industry-powered incubator connects classroom learning with real-world communications practice and explores areas including artificial intelligence, analytics and the evolving digital landscape.

• Professional Industry Connections — Newhouse has developed experiential partnerships and opportunities involving organizations such as CBS News and Stations, Spectrum, Nexstar, ESPN, the New York Post and Sony Electronics, giving students exposure to current industry practices and technologies.

• Digital Storytelling & Emerging Technology — Journalism students can work with multimedia, video, audio, design, data and social media tools, while newer journalism offerings incorporate AI literacy and emerging digital storytelling approaches.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Journalism B.S. leave with a broad portfolio of reporting, writing, editing, multimedia, data and digital skills that can translate into careers across newsrooms, broadcast organizations, digital publications, sports media and other content-focused industries. The program's combination of professional-style student media, internships, industry connections and Newhouse alumni networking gives students multiple ways to build experience and professional relationships before graduation.

Typical career options: Investigative Journalist, Digital News Producer, Broadcast Reporter, Data Journalist

• Newhouse Career Development Center — The dedicated Career Development Center provides Newhouse students with resources for finding communications internships and jobs, while career staff support students throughout their transition into the industry.

• Employment & Salary Data — Syracuse's Newhouse undergraduate outcomes report for 2019 recorded an 89% placement outcome and $47,051 average starting salary across the Newhouse School; the university's 2020 report recorded a 92% placement outcome and $44,360 average starting salary. These figures are Newhouse-wide rather than Journalism B.S.-specific, so they should be viewed as school-level indicators rather than guaranteed journalism salaries.

• Industry Employers — Official Newhouse outcomes reports list employers including CBS, ESPN, NBCUniversal, MLB Network, Netflix, The Washington Post, Hearst Communications and Google, illustrating the breadth of organizations that have hired Newhouse graduates.

• Professional Journalism Recognition — Newhouse students have earned awards across feature writing, sports writing, photography, videography, podcasts, radio reporting and television reporting, including 10 SPJ Mark of Excellence regional awards in 2024.

• Industry-Facing Curriculum — Students learn from faculty with professional journalism backgrounds while developing reporting skills that match newsroom expectations for accuracy, objectivity, ethics, multimedia production and digital storytelling.

• Professional Accreditation Value — ACEJMC accreditation gives the Newhouse School a recognized professional quality framework in journalism and mass communications, strengthening the program's alignment with established industry and educational standards.

• Alumni Network — Students can build connections with Newhouse alumni working across news, sports, politics and other media sectors at local, national and international organizations.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Journalism B.S., students can continue into Newhouse graduate programs such as the M.S. in Broadcast and Digital Journalism, M.A. in Magazine, News and Digital Journalism, M.A. in Arts, Style and Culture Journalism, M.A. in Media Studies, or other Newhouse master's programs. Syracuse also offers a 4+1 pathway that allows eligible students to complete a bachelor's degree and a Newhouse master's degree in five years, with students typically applying after earning 60 credits and meeting the program's academic requirements.