Journalism BA

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Temple University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Journalism at Temple University combines rigorous reporting and writing training with multimedia journalism, videography, podcasting, data visualization and design, making it a strong choice for students who want to become versatile storytellers across print, broadcast, digital and emerging media. The program takes a community-focused approach to journalism, using Philadelphia as an extension of the classroom while developing students' abilities to gather and verify information, report accurately, work with diverse voices and produce professional-quality journalism.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1: Students begin with the foundations of journalism through JRN 1111: Journalism and Society and JRN 1196: Writing and Reporting, learning how journalism operates within society and how to develop clear, accurate stories for different media. They then add practical multimedia skills through JRN 1113: Audio/Visual Newsgathering, which introduces reporting and editing with digital audio and video, while the Klein College professional-development course begins preparing students for careers.

Year 2: Students start building their individual area of specialization while expanding their visual and contemporary journalism skills. JRN 2114: Graphic Design for Journalists develops visual communication for print and online journalism, while students choose coursework in areas such as contemporary news practices, democracy and representation, broadcast journalism, magazines, visual journalism, data journalism or news and public affairs.

Year 3: The curriculum moves into professional standards, community reporting and advanced specialization. JRN 3101: Journalism Law and Ethics develops understanding of First Amendment principles and ethical decision-making, while JRN 3696: Philadelphia Neighborhoods places students directly in the city's communities, where they report local stories and contribute to PhiladelphiaNeighborhoods.com.

Year 4: Students bring their skills together through advanced specialization and a major capstone experience. Depending on their interests, they can complete JRN 3201: Investigative Reporting, JRN 4173: Capstone: Audio Visual Storytelling, JRN 4196: Capstone: News Beat, JRN 4197: Capstone: Magazine Editing and Production, or JRN 4597: Sports Production Practicum, producing substantial journalism work while continuing specialized electives.

Focus Areas:

Reporting and writing, multimedia journalism, broadcast journalism, magazine journalism, visual journalism, data journalism, investigative reporting, news and public affairs, sports journalism, international journalism, longform storytelling, podcasting and audio journalism, photojournalism, journalism law and ethics, media entrepreneurship, journalism innovation, graphic design, digital storytelling.

Learning Outcomes:

Students learn to gather and verify information, identify misinformation and bias, write accurately across multiple formats, produce audio and visual journalism using industry-standard tools, apply journalism law and ethics, use numerical and statistical concepts, edit for accuracy and fairness, represent diverse communities responsibly, and create professional journalism capable of competing in media job markets.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

Temple's Journalism department is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) and is one of only three journalism programs in Pennsylvania with this accreditation. The curriculum also explicitly aligns student work with the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Code of Ethics and emphasizes professional standards in reporting, editing, law and ethical decision-making.

Reputation (Employability & Recognition):

Temple's Journalism program benefits from its location in Philadelphia, the fourth-largest media market in the United States, giving students access to a substantial regional media ecosystem. At the broader Klein College level, a 2023 survey found that 89% of seniors were employed or enrolled in graduate school within nine months of graduation, with more than 80% of full- and part-time jobs related to their field of study.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Temple's Journalism BA is designed around learning by reporting, producing and publishing, rather than limiting students to classroom theory. Students work with digital audio and video equipment, newsroom resources, photography and multimedia facilities, and Philadelphia-based reporting opportunities, while internships, student media and specialized practicum courses help them develop experience that can be carried into professional journalism careers.

• Philadelphia Neighborhoods — In JRN 3696, students cover communities across Philadelphia and contribute reporting to the student-generated PhiladelphiaNeighborhoods.com, turning the city into an extension of the classroom.

• Multimedia Urban Reporting Lab (MURL) — Students can work in a newsroom environment equipped with AP wire access, digital recorders, video equipment and wireless networking, providing a realistic setting for urban and multimedia reporting.

• Audio/Visual Newsgathering — JRN 1113 gives students hands-on experience reporting and editing sound and video for radio, television and web journalism, using digital audio/video recorders and industry software.

• Graphic Design for Journalists — JRN 2114 develops students' ability to create visual journalistic elements for both print and online publications, strengthening the design side of multimedia storytelling.

• Temple Update / Broadcast Journalism Practicum — JRN 4596 simulates a working television newsroom, with students researching stories, conducting interviews, writing and reporting, editing and filling production roles such as producer, director, audio, graphics, floor manager, studio camera operator and web producer.

• Klein College Facilities — Annenberg Hall houses journalism and photographic labs, news-writing labs, video and film editing areas, studios, graphics facilities and a 75-seat multimedia screening room.

• Student Media & TUTV — Temple's TUTV provides opportunities to participate in television and new-media production, with programming that includes news, sports, music, comedy and documentary content.

• Internships — Journalism students can pursue credit-bearing internships, with opportunities at outlets including ABC/WPVI, CBS, Comcast SportsNet, KYW Newsradio, NBC/WCAU, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Weekly and WHYY. Journalism internships require junior standing and a minimum 3.0 GPA.

• Klein Career Services — Students receive specialized career support including résumé and cover-letter reviews, career planning, recruiting events and access to Handshake, where hundreds of job and internship opportunities are updated regularly.

• Klein EDGE — The college's experiential-learning hub connects classroom learning with practical experiences and professional development tailored to students' interests and career goals.

• Klein Student Organizations — Students can choose from more than 40 media and communication-related organizations, clubs and societies, including groups focused on journalism, sports media, advocacy, audio and other areas.

• International Media Experience — JRN 4571: International Studies in Media and Communication gives eligible students an immersive experience studying media institutions, practices, legal structures and communication in cultures outside the United States through a Klein GO! program.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Journalism BA prepares graduates for careers across digital, print, broadcast and multimedia journalism, with professional skills in reporting, writing, editing, photography, video, audio, data and visual storytelling. Temple's Philadelphia location, internships with major media organizations, specialized career services and ACEJMC accreditation give students a strong combination of practical preparation, professional exposure and industry-recognized journalism education.

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

• Klein College Career Services — Students and alumni can work with career advisors on résumé and cover-letter reviews, career planning, recruiting and hiring events, while Handshake provides access to hundreds of employment and internship opportunities.

• Career & Internship Fairs — Klein College typically holds two internship and career fairs each year, with the spring event bringing more than 50 media and communication employers to campus.

• Industry Connections — Journalism students can pursue internships with major organizations such as ABC/WPVI, CBS, Comcast SportsNet, KYW Newsradio, NBC/WCAU, The Philadelphia Inquirer and WHYY, giving them direct exposure to professional newsrooms and media operations.

• Philadelphia Media Market — Temple's Main Campus is located in Philadelphia, identified by Klein College as the fourth-largest media market in the U.S., creating access to a dense network of news organizations and media professionals.

• Employment Outcomes — A 2023 Klein College survey reported that 89% of seniors were employed or continued to graduate school within nine months of graduation, while more than 80% of full- and part-time jobs were related to students' fields of study. This is a Klein College-wide figure rather than a Journalism BA-specific rate.

• Salary Information — Temple's official Journalism BA sources do not publish a current program-specific graduate salary figure, so a Journalism-specific salary should not be presented as an official Temple outcome.

• Professional Accreditation — The Journalism department's ACEJMC accreditation provides an important long-term professional benchmark and confirms that the program meets recognized standards for journalism and mass communication education.

• Professional Recognition & Scholarships — Journalism students can participate in Kappa Tau Alpha, the national journalism and mass communication honor society, and the department awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to deserving majors each spring.

• Portfolio & Graduation Preparation — Capstone options such as Investigative Reporting, Audio Visual Storytelling, News Beat, Magazine Editing and Production, and Sports Production Practicum allow students to complete substantial professional-style work before graduation.

Further Academic Progression: After the BA, students can continue into Temple's Master of Journalism (MJ), a 30-credit graduate program focused on advanced multimedia reporting, journalism concepts, ethics and specialized areas such as investigative journalism, community journalism, podcasting, broadcasting and digital journalism. Temple also offers related graduate pathways in Media Studies and Production MA, Communication Management MS, Communication for Development and Social Change MS, and Media and Communication PhD, allowing graduates to continue toward advanced professional, research or academic careers.