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JournalismMajor

Journalism today is about connecting people with their communities and the world. Journalism students learn how to ask tough questions and deliver meaningful answers to the people who want and need to know through a variety of media.

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

Are you curious? Are you interested in current events or passionate about advocating for social change? Or maybe you’re creative and like storytelling — verbally or visually. Journalists connect people to the world through print, web, social media, television and radio.

Journalism is a career and a calling. It’s telling real stories about real people that impact lives. Whether it is a breaking news story, a sports story or a documentary, journalists are charged with seeking the truth and making it known.

Through our flexible and hands-on curriculum, you will learn to write, report and produce content across media platforms; engage with a variety of audiences; and gain valuable real-world experience by working with actual clients.

In addition to our fundamental Journalism courses, you will also have the opportunity to take a variety of special topics courses, such as adventure travel writing, data journalism and visualization, health communications, magazine design, social media strategy, sports journalism, virtual and augmented reality, and environmental journalism.

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?

Accelerated Master's Program

Journalism offers the option to earn a bachelor's and master's degree in an accelerated time frame.

Research and Academic Opportunities

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

  • WVU News - Learn to write, report, shoot, direct, anchor, edit and produce a newscast, working alongside professionals in a modern, HD television studio. Covering events on campus and throughout the Morgantown community, the newscast streams on Pittsburgh's KDKA-TV website, on the HD Media website and airs statewide on West Virginia Public Broadcasting and the City of Morgantown’s Public Access Channel.
  • 100 Days in Appalachia - An independent, nonprofit news outlet initially incubated at the WVU Media Innovation Center. 100 Days is an open-source, co-publishing model and shares content from Appalachia’s diverse communities with regional, national and international media organizations.
  • The Daily Athenaeum - Official student newspaper at WVU. The DA was founded in 1887 and draws students from all disciplines to contribute original content for publication. Today, the DA is an award-winning 24/7 digital-first media organization that includes print, online, video and podcasting.
  • U92 - Since 1982, U92 The Moose, WWVU-FM is the source of new music and broadcaster development at West Virginia University. U92 plays a daily mix of fresh alternative music, along with news, sports and specialty and curated genre shows.

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.

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?

JRL 220:
Introduction to Photojournalism

Learn basic techniques of journalistic photography, digital imaging and editing. Students must have access to a film or digital camera.

JRL 318:
Beat Reporting

Master the essentials of developing and covering a news beat. Students generate stories, cultivate sources, and discover their community.

JRL 319:
Editing and Curation

Students develop the skills necessary to edit and design content for online and print media outlets.

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.

JRL 440:
Visual Storytelling for the Media

Develop practical and analytical skills in documentary production, including research, story development, scripting and editing.

JRL 487:
Advanced Video Reporting and Producing

This course is run as an actual newsroom to teach students how to produce, gather and report news. Students are assigned “beats,” and work individually and in teams to produce news for local broadcast. Students serve as the talent and/or technical crew during newscast tapings and learn how to promote their work and engage audiences via professional social media use.

MDIA 328:
Media Ethics and Law

An in-depth exploration of the complex ethical and legal media landscape, with an emphasis on key historical precedents, new cases and challenges related to emerging technology, digital disinformation, artificial intelligence, new problems in social media and other current issues in journalism, public relations and advertising.

Cost and Aid

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

Tuition and Fees

Estimated rates are available on our tuition website. Anyone who is not a current West Virginia resident, including international students, will be charged non-resident rates.

View Tuition and Fees

Scholarships

Estimate your eligibility for merit scholarships at WVU Morgantown.

Find Scholarships

Net Price Calculator

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

Visit the Net Price Calculator

Ways to Save

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

Extra Merit-based Scholarships

Incoming freshmen to the Reed College of Media may qualify for Innovators scholarships based on GPA. 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 2024-25 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.

Request Info

Visit WVU

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

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