Journalism, JBS

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Wisconsin Madison

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science–Journalism (JBS) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison combines a liberal-arts education with hands-on journalism training, preparing students to communicate compelling stories across contemporary media. It suits students interested in reporting, investigative journalism, multimedia storytelling, magazine publishing, digital news and other evolving media careers while developing strong critical-thinking, ethical and problem-solving skills.

Curriculum Structure

First Year

Students establish their academic foundation while beginning their journalism education with JOURN 201 – Introduction to Mass Communication, which introduces the role and impact of mass media. Alongside communication, quantitative reasoning, science and language requirements, students begin developing the broad academic perspective expected of a JBS graduate.

Second Year

The second year becomes more professionally focused through JOURN 202 – Mass Communication Practices, a six-credit course that develops practical media skills, and JOURN 203 – Information for Communication, which strengthens students' ability to gather, assess and communicate information. Students then progress to JOURN 335 – Principles and Practices of Reporting, applying these skills to journalism and news reporting.

Third Year

Students begin advanced journalism or strategic communication coursework while continuing their humanities, social science and science requirements. Within the Journalism concentration, students can develop deeper reporting and multimedia abilities through options such as JOURN 401 – In-Depth Reporting, JOURN 405 – Creative Nonfiction, and JOURN 411 – Multimedia Design, allowing them to build expertise across written, visual and digital storytelling.

Fourth Year

The final year focuses on advanced study, with JOURN 500+ Perspectives courses and JOURN 600+ Topics or Advances courses providing opportunities to explore contemporary journalism and communication issues. Students also complete advanced humanities or social science coursework, mathematics/computer science/statistics requirements and electives, bringing the degree to its required 120 credits.

Focus Areas

Journalism, reporting, investigative journalism, creative nonfiction, multimedia design, magazine publishing, digital news, broadcast journalism, documentary film, podcasting, editing and publishing, strategic communication, advertising, public relations, digital media, data analysis and sports communication.

Learning Outcomes

Students learn to communicate effectively through contemporary media, think strategically and critically, solve professional communication problems, understand the responsible and ethical use of mass media, evaluate the relationship between media and social, political, legal and economic systems, and develop practices that promote inclusion and social justice in media professions.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The JBS is offered through the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) within UW–Madison's College of Letters & Science. The university's official JBS materials emphasize professional journalism preparation, hands-on skills, ethical media practice and real-world experience; the current program page does not identify a separate professional accreditation specifically for the JBS.

Reputation (Employability & Recognition)

UW–Madison's School of Journalism and Mass Communication has a long-established reputation in journalism and mass communication education and research. The university's official information highlights the school's strong professional connections, active alumni network and career preparation, while SJMC reports that more than 90% of its students find jobs within three to six months of graduation.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Practical experience is central to the SJMC approach, combining classroom learning with professional skills, reporting practice, multimedia production and internships. Students can work in Vilas Hall, which includes state-of-the-art computer laboratories, smart classrooms and a flexible media commons, while specialized research and media initiatives give students opportunities to explore journalism, technology and emerging communication practices.

• JOURN 202 – Mass Communication Practices: Students develop practical skills in research, writing, editing, analysis, video, audio and web production while adapting communication skills to professional media environments.

• JOURN 203 – Information for Communication: Students learn to gather, assess, analyze and present information, building skills relevant to contemporary information-driven journalism.

• JOURN 335 – Principles and Practices of Reporting: Students develop professional reporting abilities as part of the Journalism concentration.

• JOURN 401 – In-Depth Reporting: Students can pursue advanced reporting and develop more substantial journalism projects.

• JOURN 411 – Multimedia Design: Students can develop multimedia storytelling and design skills that complement traditional reporting.

• Vilas Communication Hall: The school's main facility provides state-of-the-art computer laboratories, smart classrooms and a flexible media commons for teaching, production and research.

• Public Tech Media Lab: Students interested in journalism and technology can engage with research exploring open-source tools, artificial intelligence and the changing relationship between journalism and technology. The lab brings together journalists, technologists and interdisciplinary scholars.

• Mass Communication Research Center: The center provides a research environment with computational social-science computer terminals, videoconferencing facilities, collaborative research groups and faculty mentoring.

• JOURN 697 – Internship Credit: Declared journalism majors can receive academic credit for qualifying internships, with eligible internships requiring at least 10 hours per week and communication-related responsibilities.

• Worldwide Internship Program: Students completing internships abroad can earn credit through a UW–Madison online course incorporating internship reflection and academic study of cross-cultural relations in the global workforce.

• Career & Internship Advising: SJMC provides assistance with resumes, cover letters, internship and job-search strategies, interviewing, networking and career planning, alongside employer and alumni events.

• Study Abroad: UW–Madison supports study-abroad opportunities that allow students to gain international experience and explore different perspectives alongside their journalism education.

Facilities and experiential-learning information: Vilas Hall, Public Tech Media Lab, Mass Communication Research Center and SJMC career/internship resources.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The JBS prepares graduates for a broad range of journalism and communication careers, from print, broadcast and digital news to investigative journalism, magazine writing, editing, publishing, documentary production and podcasting. UW–Madison also provides dedicated career advising, internship support and access to a large alumni and industry network, with SJMC reporting that over 90% of its students find jobs within three to six months of graduation.

Typical job roles include Journalist, Investigative Reporter, Multimedia Journalist, Digital News Producer.

• Dedicated Communication Industry Career Advisor: SJMC provides specialized career guidance, including resume and cover-letter assistance, interview preparation, internship and job-search strategies, networking advice and career planning.

• 90%+ Employment Outcome: SJMC reports that over 90% of its students find jobs within three to six months of graduation, highlighting the school's strong connection between professional preparation and employment.

• Alumni Network: Students can connect with SJMC graduates and professionals for networking opportunities and career development.

• Internship & Job Resources: Students have access to job and internship listings, professional organizations, fellowships, scholarships and UW–Madison's Handshake platform.

• Industry Events: SJMC hosts career and internship events and brings alumni and employers into the school, creating opportunities to build professional connections while studying.

• Portfolio Development: Reporting, multimedia design and advanced journalism coursework gives students opportunities to produce practical work that can demonstrate their skills to future employers.

• Industry-Relevant Specializations: Students can complement journalism training with certificates in Digital Media Analytics, Sports Communication and Digital Studies, helping them develop additional skills for changing media careers.

• Career Flexibility: The Journalism concentration prepares students for print, broadcast and digital news, investigative journalism, magazine writing, editing and publishing, documentary film, podcasting and related fields.

• Salary Figures: UW–Madison's current official JBS/SJMC pages do not publish a specific median starting salary for JBS Journalism graduates, so a program-specific salary figure should not be presented as an official university statistic.

• Long-Term Professional Value: While the current official JBS page does not identify a separate professional accreditation, the degree combines journalism specialization, liberal-arts breadth, advanced coursework, practical experience and professional career support, giving graduates a versatile foundation for long-term media careers.

Further Academic Progression: After the JBS, graduates can pursue master's-level study in journalism, mass communication, communication, media studies, strategic communication or related disciplines. UW–Madison's SJMC also offers graduate education and research opportunities, allowing students who want to move into advanced media practice, research, teaching or specialized communication fields to continue their academic development.