BA Journalism

The Journalism BA places students in Cincinnati's urban, media-rich environment, where the city and its communities become an extension of the classroom. Students can work on student media, participate in newsroom-style production, complete a required professional internship and develop skills in reporting, photography, videography, editing, newscasting, podcasting and social media; these experiences help students build the portfolios and professional connections needed to compete for journalism jobs.

• The News Record — UC's independent student news organization gives journalism students practical opportunities to report, write and publish stories while building professional clips and portfolios.

• Bearcast Media — The student-run multimedia outlet allows students to gain experience across multimedia production and develop work that can support internship and employment applications.

• UC Student News Network — Journalism students write, produce, edit and anchor an on-campus news broadcast, gaining experience with newsroom workflows, editing software, studio production and tight production deadlines.

• Media Bureau — JOUR 5170: Media Bureau gives students an advanced opportunity to work in a practical media environment and apply journalism skills in production-oriented work.

• News Collaborative — JOUR 5070: News Collaborative provides senior-level collaborative journalism experience as students move toward professional newsroom work.

• Required Journalism Internship — Every Journalism major must complete JOUR 5050: Internship for academic credit, providing direct professional experience at a news or media organization.

• Professional Media Placements — Recent internships have included CityBeat Cincinnati, NKY Tribune, VMSD Magazine, Los Angeles Blade, WLWT-TV Cincinnati and Cincinnati Public Radio, giving students experience across print, digital, television, magazine and radio journalism.

• Reporting & Writing — JOUR 2010C: Reporting and Writing gives students the core reporting and writing foundation needed for professional journalism.

• Visual Reporting and Storytelling — JOUR 2035: Visual Reporting and Storytelling develops students' ability to communicate news through visual journalism.

• Photojournalism & Videography — Courses such as JOUR 3070C: Photojournalism, JOUR 5000C: Videography and Editing, JOUR 5120C: Photojournalism Tutorial and JOUR 5160C: Photojournalism Workshop provide opportunities to develop visual and video production skills.

• International Field Study — JOUR 5060: International Field Study in Journalism gives students an opportunity to gain journalism experience in an international setting.

• Cincinnati as the Classroom — Students can report on business, government, education, medicine, athletics and the arts, with access to Cincinnati's judicial, legislative and executive institutions and a broad metropolitan media environment.

• Portfolio Development — Work through student media and internships helps students build published clips and portfolios that can strengthen applications for internships and full-time employment.

The BA in Journalism prepares graduates for careers across newspapers, magazines, television, digital media, corporate communications, public relations and multimedia content. UC journalism graduates have gone on to work for major media organizations, while the required internship, student-media experience and Cincinnati's professional media environment help students build relevant experience before graduation.

Typical career options: Investigative Reporter, Digital News Producer, Multimedia Journalist, Editorial Writer

• Bearcat Promise Career Studio — Students receive personalized career coaching, including support with career goals, resumes, cover letters, interviewing and job-search strategies.

• Handshake — UC's career platform provides access to thousands of job, internship and co-op listings, employer events, career fairs and personalized job recommendations.

• Required Internship Experience — The Journalism BA requires JOUR 5050: Internship, allowing students to gain professional experience and develop the recommendations and portfolio work needed to compete in the job market.

• Industry Connections — UC Journalism graduates and alumni have worked at The E.W. Scripps Company, USA Today, Associated Press, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, The Cincinnati Enquirer, Gray Television and other media organizations, demonstrating the program's reach across journalism and communications.

• Cincinnati Media Market — UC places journalism students in an urban environment where internships are readily available and professional journalists and editors contribute as adjuncts and guest faculty.

• University Career Outcomes — UC reports that 92.5% of graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation; this is a university-wide figure rather than a Journalism-specific outcome.

• Salary Information — UC does not publish a current Journalism BA-specific starting-salary figure on the official program page. Its Career Coach resource provides occupation-level compensation and labor-market information using Lightcast and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

• Co-op & Employer Network — UC's broader experiential-learning ecosystem includes 1,800 employer partners globally and reports average co-op earnings of $13,130 per semester; A&S students can also pursue optional co-op and other experiential opportunities.

• Professional Recognition — Students and alumni have earned national student-media awards, Emmy awards and a Pulitzer Prize, while graduates have built careers across national newspapers, broadcasters, magazines, public relations organizations and nonprofits.

• Long-Term Accreditation Value — The University's Higher Learning Commission accreditation provides institutional recognition for the bachelor's degree, while the Journalism curriculum's emphasis on reporting, editing, ethics, research and multimedia skills provides a durable foundation for evolving media careers.

Further Academic Progression: After the BA, students can pursue graduate study in journalism, communication, media studies, public relations, strategic communication, public affairs, law or related fields. UC also offers journalism-related certificates such as Literary Journalism, Digital Broadcast News, and Political and Public Affairs Reporting, which can complement a broader academic or professional pathway.