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JournalismMajor

Being a journalist today is about connecting people to the world 24/7 and engaging with audiences on the go. Our program prepares you to be an innovative, adaptive, problem-solving storyteller.

By the numbers115

One of 115 programs accredited worldwide by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications

Overview

What is Journalism at WVU like?

Description

As a Journalism student, you will learn how to write, produce and aggregate content across all media platforms — print, broadcast, digital and mobile. And you’ll engage modern audiences through social media and the latest interactive tools.

You’ll also create your own real-world projects, products and apps designed to advance the journalism industry and your career. Your skills will take you anywhere you want to go — from newsrooms to private industry to the nonprofit world.

Journalism majors are required to take core courses in media writing, media tools and applications, and media law and ethics. In addition, students are required to take two courses each in the categories of Writing, Creating and Engaging. By combining required courses and electives, students can specialize in a specific medium or design their own unique course of study.

All students must complete a capstone course in which they work in teams to produce multimedia stories and packages for a public audience. All coursework is done in the College’s modern facilities, giving students access to the latest digital technology and hands-on tools.

Journalism program highlights:

At a Glance

Next Steps

Interested in this major? Here are some suggested next steps:

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Fast Facts

What makes Journalism at WVU unique?

Research and Academic Opportunities

Journalism majors can participate in hands-on reporting and immersion journalism projects, such as:

  • 100 Days in Appalachia - While the world is busy asking what the election tells us about our divided nation, we’re asking: What does Appalachia tell us?
  • WVU News and Mountaineer Playbook, a student-produced live newscast that provides experience in broadcast reporting, anchoring and producing.
  • Investigative journalism covering some of the most important institutions in our society — government, business, law enforcement, the courts and nonprofits (including education and health care).
  • Innovators in Residence - Innovators leading change from the newsroom to the classroom.
  • Experimental Journalism - Featuring AR/VR, mobile-first design, app development, data-based reporting, sensor journalism, 360° reporting, 3-D modeling, drones and social news.

3+3 Law Degree Program

This major is eligible for the 3+3 Law Degree Program that allows qualified students to earn a bachelor’s degree and law degree in six years instead of seven years.

Early College Program

Get a head start (and save money) in our High School ACCESS program for high school students. Choose from online, on-campus or dual credit courses that fulfill requirements for general education or Journalism. Online courses to consider for this major include:

  • HIST 153: Making of Modern America: 1865 to the Present
  • JRL 101: Media and Society
  • JRL 215: Media Writing
  • JRL 225: Media Tools & Applications
  • POLS 102: Introduction to American Government
  • STAT 111: Understanding Statistics

Living-Learning Communities (LLCs)

Live, study and pursue outside-the-classroom learning in a residence hall community that shares your interests:

Transfer Articulation Agreements

To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU. Review the full list of transfer articulation agreements to see if your institution is listed.

Student Organizations

Connect with other students who share your academic interests as a member of:

View all of the student organizations you can join.

Professional Organizations

Network with professionals in your field as a student member of:

Careers

How does this degree prepare students for a career?

Possible Careers

Wondering what you can do with a degree from WVU's Journalism major? Check out these ideas from WVU Career Services and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). A median salary is the midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.

This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.

Employers

Graduates from this major have gone to work at:

Courses

What are the courses like in Journalism at WVU?

Plan of Study

Check out a program overview, learning goals, course descriptions and suggested plan of study for WVU's Journalism major.

View the Plan of Study
 

Popular Courses

JRL 101:
Media and Society

Examines the relationship between media, culture and society, with emphasis on the history, structure, and organization of the mass media.

JRL 220:
Introduction to Photojournalism

Basic techniques of journalistic photography, digital imaging and editing. Students must have access to a film or digital camera. (A lab fee will be assessed to non-majors.)

JRL 225:
Media Tools & Applications

Intended for College of Media majors and Interactive Media Design minors, this lecture/lab course covers fundamental principles and practices of multimedia content gathering and editing in preparation for upper-level courses with the College of Media.

JRL 318:
Beat Reporting

Essentials of developing and covering a news beat. Students generate stories, cultivate sources, and discover their community.(Lab fees will be assessed for this course.)

JRL 319:
Editing and Curation

Students develop the skills necessary to edit and design content for online and print media outlets. (Lab fees will be assessed for this course.)

JRL 321:
Media Design

An introduction to the design of newspapers, magazines and internet publications.

JRL 335:
Video and Audio News Writing

Gathering, researching, and evaluating facts; reporting and writing news for radio and television; editorial decision making and responsibility; broadcast news ethics. (Lab fees will be assessed for this course.)

JRL 386:
Beginning Video Reporting

Reporting, writing and producing stories for television news using digital video technology; emphasis on visual storytelling, editorial decision making, and ethical and legal considerations. (Lab fees will be assessed for this course.)

JRL 428:
Media Ethics and Law

How ethics and law work together to help create and maintain the media environment. Examines ethical paradigms within a legal framework, with special emphasis on morality.

JRL 430:
Social Media and Journalism

This lab course identifies and applies the principles behind social media applications such as blogs and networking sites.

JRL 458:
Interactive Media and Audience Building

Online class introduces students to the latest and evolving attributes of media entrepreneurship, new economic models for media, and audience building across emergent platforms.

JRL 487:
Advanced Video Reporting and Producing

Reporting, writing and producing television news stories using advanced production techniques; producing stories for cable or broadcast television. Work may be aired on local or regional broadcast or cable stations. (Lab fees will be assessed for this course.)

Cost and Aid

How much does Journalism at WVU cost? And how can you save?

Tuition and Fees

Estimated rates for the 2022-23 academic year. Rates are subject to change. Anyone that is not a current West Virginia resident will be charged non-resident rates. That includes international students.

West Virginia Resident
Per Credit $420
Per Semester $5,040
Fall and Spring Semesters $10,080
Non-Resident
Per Credit $1,146
Per Semester $13,752
Fall and Spring Semesters $27,504
International
Per Credit $1,146
Per Semester $14,052
Fall and Spring Semesters $28,104
Scholarship Chart

Estimate your eligibility for merit scholarships at WVU Morgantown.

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Net Price Calculator

Estimate your cost of attendance and eligibility for financial aid and scholarships at any WVU System campus.

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Ways to Save

Here are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending WVU in addition to university scholarships.

Early College Program

Get a head start (and save money) in our High School ACCESS program for high school students. Choose from online, on-campus or dual credit courses that fulfill requirements for general education or Journalism. Online courses to consider for this major include:

  • HIST 153: Making of Modern America: 1865 to the Present
  • JRL 101: Media and Society
  • JRL 215: Media Writing
  • JRL 225: Media Tools & Applications
  • POLS 102: Introduction to American Government
  • STAT 111: Understanding Statistics

Learn About Our HS ACCESS Early College Program

Extra Merit-based Scholarships

Incoming freshmen to the Reed College of Media may qualify for merit-based scholarships based on GPA and SAT/ACT test score. No additional application is necessary. These scholarships are in addition to University scholarships.

See if You Qualify

Ohio Tuition Reciprocity

As the result of a special agreement, students from Ohio who are fully admitted to Journalism can enroll at WVU and pay in-state tuition rates. Students must be admitted to both the University and this major.

Learn More

Transfer Articulation Agreements

To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU.

Review the full list of transfer articulation agreements to see if your institution is listed.

Learn How to Transfer Course Credits

Requirements

What are the requirements to apply for Journalism at WVU?

To be admitted to WVU's Journalism major, you must meet WVU's first-time freshman admission requirements for the 2022-23 academic year. Interested in transferring? Review the transfer admission requirements.

Related Majors and Minors

What other options does WVU have?

What minors could I consider?

Related Pathways

What majors share similar career interests with this major at WVU?

Next Steps

I like this major. What are the next steps?

Apply Now

Your first step to becoming a Mountaineer is applying for admission. Our online application makes the process as convenient as possible.

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Request Information

Want to know more about Journalism at WVU? Fill out the Request Information form to receive more information about the program and life at WVU.

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It's the next-best thing to being here – you can virtually tour residence halls and the WVU Morgantown Campus.

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