Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Communication: Journalism and Public Interest Communication

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Washington

Program Overview

The BA in Communication: Journalism and Public Interest Communication (JPIC) at the University of Washington prepares students for careers in digital and traditional media by combining journalism, multimedia storytelling, audience engagement, communication ethics, and public-interest reporting. It is particularly suited to students who want to create accurate, engaging information and use journalism and communication to serve communities across news, nonprofit, government, public health, education, and other public-interest settings.

Curriculum Structure:

First Year:

Students begin by developing their communication foundation through COM 200 and another 200-level Communication course, while building the academic preparation needed to enter the capacity-constrained JPIC major. Early study introduces communication literacy, inquiry, critical thinking, and effective communication, giving students a strong base for specialized journalism coursework.

Second Year:

Students move into the core journalism sequence with COM 360: Foundations of Journalism and Public Interest Communication, which introduces multimedia content creation for journalists and public-interest communicators. COM 361: Advanced Journalism and Public Interest Communication then develops more advanced multimedia storytelling and production skills, while COM 364: Media Responsibility in a Diverse Society examines responsible communication in diverse communities.

Third Year:

The program becomes highly practical through COM 362: News Lab — Community Journalism and Public Interest Communication, where students work with professional news outlets and community organizations on real reporting assignments. Students can also explore courses such as COM 461: Data Reporting, COM 459: Narrative Journalism, or COM 456: Networked Journalism, allowing them to develop specialized reporting and digital storytelling capabilities.

Fourth Year:

Students strengthen their professional and ethical expertise through COM 440: Mass Media Law and COM 468: Media Ethics, while advanced options such as COM 465: State Government Communication, COM 463: Copy Editing for Media, or COM 444: Public Relations and Society allow them to tailor the degree toward journalism or public-interest communication. The program culminates in advanced skills, professional portfolio development, and experiences that connect students with real media and communication environments.

Focus areas:

Journalism, Public Interest Communication, Multimedia Storytelling, Digital Journalism, News Reporting, Data Reporting, Narrative Journalism, Networked Journalism, Media Ethics, Mass Media Law, Public Relations, Government Communication, Communication and Social Change, Intercultural Communication, Media Responsibility.

Learning outcomes:

Accurate information gathering, professional writing, multimedia content creation, content curation, audience engagement, critical thinking, ethical decision-making, media literacy, research and inquiry, digital storytelling, public-interest communication, communication across diverse communities, fact-based reporting, and professional portfolio development.

Professional alignment (accreditation):

The University of Washington is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). UW also lists Communication (Journalism) as accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism & Mass Communications (ACEJMC), with the most recent review in 2022 and the next review scheduled for 2028.

Reputation (employability):

The University of Washington is ranked No. 92 globally and No. 7 among U.S. public universities in the 2026 QS World University Rankings. UW also reports that 92% of students are employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation, while 94% of recent graduates agree that their UW experience prepared them to achieve their career goals.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The JPIC program is designed around learning journalism by actually practicing it. Students develop reporting, writing, multimedia production, editing, and audience-engagement skills through News Lab, internships, professional reporting opportunities, career-development activities, and access to dedicated Communication facilities. The department also connects students with professional media organizations, community clients, alumni, government-reporting opportunities, and hands-on media resources:

• News Lab (COM 362) — operates as a local news bureau where students work on real assignments for professional client outlets and community organizations, including Crosscut, Capitol Hill Seattle, Northwest Asian Weekly, and the Snohomish County Tribune. Student work goes through professional editing and polishing.

• State Government Communication Program (COM 465) — places selected students in paid, full-time reporting and writing positions during Washington's legislative session in Olympia, where they work alongside professional journalists and produce published work.

• International Reporting Program — sends selected students each summer to work as interns for English-language news organizations in Asia, Africa, and a Spanish-language country.

• Premier Internship Program — provides selected JPIC students with placements at leading media organizations and communication teams in the Seattle metropolitan area.

• Media Lab — provides a dedicated departmental facility supporting media-related learning and research.

• News Lab Facilities — support practical journalism and community reporting activities.

• Observation Labs — provide facilities for communication research and observation-based learning.

• Video-Editing Facilities — give students resources for developing and editing multimedia communication projects.

• Instructional Resources Center — provides specialized instructional resources for Communication students.

• Free Equipment Library — through Career Kickstart, students can use department equipment and participate in skills workshops to strengthen media-production capabilities.

• Career Exploration Trips — students can visit New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Washington, D.C., meet successful Communication alumni, explore workplaces, and build professional networks.

• Undergraduate Mentoring Program — connects Communication students with alumni for professional development, career guidance, and networking.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The JPIC degree prepares graduates for a broad range of journalism and public-interest communication careers, from traditional newsrooms and digital media to government, nonprofit organizations, technology, public health, and communications teams. UW identifies alumni working in organizations such as The Seattle Times, Microsoft, Crosscut, KING5, The Associated Press, Expedia, and NPR affiliates, demonstrating the program's reach across journalism and communication industries.

Typical roles include Journalist, Digital Journalist, Multimedia Reporter, Communications Specialist.

• Career & Internship Center — provides career coaching, internship support, job-search resources, and professional skill development; registered UW students also receive free access to LinkedIn Learning.

• Career Kickstart — gives Communication majors access to career panels, professional-development resources, alumni networks, internships, career exploration trips, and media-production workshops.

• Employment outcomes — across UW, 92% of students are employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation, and 94% of recent graduates report that their UW experience prepared them for their career goals.

• Internship experience — UW reports that 78% of students graduate with internship experience, supported by more than 26,807 internship postings annually through the university's career ecosystem.

• Media-industry connections — JPIC students work with professional and community outlets through News Lab, while the State Government Communication Program has recently placed students with The Seattle Times, Cascade PBS, Northwest News Network, and the Columbia Basin Herald.

• Professional alumni network — the Communication department has 18,000+ living alumni, including journalists, authors, corporate and nonprofit specialists, political and civic leaders, educators, and entertainment professionals; nine alumni collectively hold 13 Pulitzer Prizes.

• Long-term professional value — the program's journalism focus, combined with ACEJMC accreditation for Communication (Journalism), gives students a strong foundation in professional journalism standards, while UW's institutional NWCCU accreditation supports the broader academic standing of the degree.

• Portfolio development — News Lab, State Government Communication, internships, advanced reporting courses, and the Journalism Portfolio course allow students to graduate with tangible examples of published and professional work.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into postgraduate study in Communication, Journalism, Media Studies, Digital Media, Public Relations, Communication Leadership, Public Affairs, and related fields. At the University of Washington, relevant graduate pathways include the MA in Communication, PhD in Communication, and Master of Communication programs, including Communication Leadership, Communities and Networks, Digital Media, and Native Voices.