Journalism, B.A.

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Houston

Program Overview

The Journalism, B.A. at the University of Houston prepares students to investigate public-interest issues and communicate accurate, engaging stories across print, digital, broadcast and social media platforms. It is a strong fit for students who want to become modern journalists while developing reporting, writing, multimedia, data journalism, visualization and digital storytelling skills in a program designed to mirror real-world newsrooms.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin with a strong communication and liberal-arts foundation through COMM 1303: Writing for Communicators or COMM 1307: Media and Society, alongside First Year Writing, mathematics, U.S. history and government. These courses build the writing, media-awareness and analytical skills needed for more specialized journalism study.

Year 2: Students move directly into journalism practice through COMM 2311: Writing for Print & Digital Media and COMM 3315: News and Social Media, while COMM 2356: Business & Professional Communication strengthens professional communication skills. Foreign-language study and core coursework also broaden students' ability to communicate with different audiences and work in diverse media environments.

Year 3: Students deepen their journalism expertise through approved COMM major electives, allowing them to explore areas such as multimedia, reporting, global journalism, social media and other journalism-focused subjects. At the same time, minor coursework and intermediate foreign-language study give students room to build complementary academic or professional expertise.

Year 4: Advanced study includes COMM 4303: Communication Law & Ethics and COMM 4317: Multimedia Journalism, bringing together journalism practice, ethical decision-making, legal awareness and multimedia storytelling. Students also complete additional communication major electives, a minor and the remaining university requirements, preparing them for professional journalism and related communication careers.

Focus Areas:

Multimedia journalism, print and digital journalism, news and social media, electronic news, data journalism, visualization, investigative reporting, global journalism, journalism ethics and law, digital storytelling, broadcast journalism, feature writing, public-interest reporting.

Learning Outcomes:

News gathering and reporting, professional journalism writing, multimedia storytelling, social media journalism, data and visual communication, ethical and accurate reporting, understanding political/social/economic contexts, digital content production, audience engagement, critical thinking, research and communication skills.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The program is strongly aligned with contemporary journalism practice through its emphasis on reporting, multimedia content, social media, data journalism and visualization. The current official Journalism B.A. page does not list a separate professional accreditation specifically for the undergraduate Journalism degree, so no program-specific accreditation should be claimed.

Reputation (Employability & Recognition):

The Jack J. Valenti School of Communication reports that it ranks #15 among Best Communication and Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region, #10 in Texas, and in the top 11% of communication programs in the United States according to the rankings cited by UH. The School also reports 650+ internships offered each year, while Journalism students benefit from the School's relationships with Houston-area media organizations.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Journalism at UH is intentionally designed to go beyond traditional classroom learning, with classes structured to resemble real-world newsrooms and opportunities to produce content for student-led media organizations. Students can develop practical reporting, writing, broadcasting, multimedia and digital skills while using communication technology facilities and gaining professional experience through internships and Houston's extensive media industry:

• Center for Student Media — Journalism students can work within UH's student media environment, which includes The Cougar, CoogTV and Coog Radio, gaining experience as writers, broadcasters and producers.

• The Cougar — The student-run newspaper gives students a direct opportunity to report and write news and information relevant to the UH community and higher education.

• CoogTV — Students can develop television shows, commercials and special features while building a portfolio of media work.

• Coog Radio — The student-run online radio station provides experience in broadcasting, blogging, digital design, marketing, engineering and concert reviewing.

• Valenti News Bureau — Journalism students work under faculty guidance to produce professional-level news content, including news reporting, feature writing, multimedia storytelling, video packages, podcasts and photo essays.

• News-Writing Lab — The Communication Technology Center includes a dedicated news-writing lab equipped with Apple Mac Mini computers, a digital projector and screen, supporting journalism-focused coursework.

• Multimedia & Graphics Lab — Students have access to a dedicated multimedia/graphics lab with Apple M1 computers, supporting digital journalism and visual communication work.

• Professional Software — The Communication Technology Center provides access to Adobe Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Final Cut Pro, Dreamweaver and Microsoft Office, supporting multimedia, visual and digital content production.

• Media Equipment — Communication students can check out equipment including microphones, headphones, laptops and card readers, allowing them to support practical production and reporting projects.

• Internships — UH highlights relationships with local media organizations that provide journalism students with access to internships and job opportunities in Houston's major media market.

• Houston Chronicle Experience — UH has also documented a journalism internship program with the Houston Chronicle, where selected students worked alongside professional editors and reporters while earning academic credit.

• Professional Workshops — Valenti's career events bring employers and communication professionals to campus, providing students with networking, résumé reviews, interview preparation and internship leads. A recent workshop included 16 employers representing different communication fields.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Journalism, B.A. prepares graduates for careers across news reporting, digital journalism, multimedia storytelling, broadcasting, editing and related communication fields. UH's combination of newsroom-style classes, student media, professional technology, internships and Houston industry connections allows students to graduate with practical experience alongside their academic preparation.

Typical career options: Journalist, News Reporter, Investigative Journalist, Multimedia Journalist

• Career Workshops — Valenti provides career-focused events where students can meet employers, receive résumé reviews, improve interview skills and build professional networks.

• Employer Connections — Recent Valenti career events have connected students with organizations including Telemundo, ExxonMobil, KTRK and Pierpont Communications, giving students exposure to professional media and communication environments.

• Internship Network — Valenti reports 650+ internships offered each year, while the Journalism B.A. specifically highlights relationships with local media organizations that provide internship and employment opportunities.

• Houston Media Market — UH identifies Houston as the eighth-largest media market in the United States, giving Journalism students access to a substantial local media ecosystem while studying.

• Student Media Portfolio — Experience with The Cougar, CoogTV, Coog Radio and the Valenti News Bureau can help students develop tangible journalism and multimedia work to demonstrate to prospective employers.

• Alumni Network — Valenti alumni include recognized journalists and media professionals, including Jim Nantz, Amy Davis and Andy Scholes, while the Valenti Alumni Association maintains connections through networking and social events.

• Employment & Salary Figures — The current official UH sources reviewed do not publish a Journalism B.A.-specific employment rate or graduate salary figure. UH Next does publish an estimated $75,300 wage for Communication graduates, but this is broader than Journalism and therefore should not be presented as a Journalism-specific salary.

• Graduation Outcomes — Valenti reports that its alumni work as Pulitzer Prize-winning photographers, ESPN sports broadcasters, local news anchors, investigative reporters, news editors and digital storytellers, demonstrating the range of professional pathways available from the School.

• Long-Term Professional Value — The degree's combination of journalism writing, multimedia production, social media, data journalism, visualization, communication law and ethics provides skills that can transfer across traditional and digital media environments.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into graduate study in journalism, mass communication, communication, public relations or related fields. The Valenti School offers an M.A. in Communication with a Journalism and Mass Communication concentration, alongside concentrations in Public Relations, Health Communication, and Global and Intercultural Communication, creating a direct pathway for students who want advanced professional or research expertise.