Program in Journalism

Faculty

Professors
Thomas Bass, Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz

Lecturers
Laney Salisbury, M.S., Columbia University

Visiting Assistant Professor
Jill Konopka, M.S., Central Connecticut State University

Adjunct Faculty
David Guistina, M.A., University at Albany
Michael Hill, B.A., SUNY Geneseo
Mike Huber, M.A., University at Albany 
Barbara Lombardo, M.A., Ohio State University
Holly McKenna, M.A., University at Albany
Ian Pickus, M.A., University at Albany
Nancy Roberts, Ph.D., University of Minnesota (Program Director)
Lori Todd, B.S., University of Miami
Jeffrey Wilkin, B.A., St. Bonaventure

The Journalism Program, housed in the Department of Communication, offers courses in nonfiction writing, media analysis and production, and the history, societal, and global context of journalism. The Program also offers workshops that concentrate on student reporting, writing and editing, digital media publication, and photojournalism, as well as courses that address legal and ethical issues confronting journalists today.

The Program’s courses and internships prepare students for work as journalists, freelance writers, editors, TV producers, television and radio journalists, Web journalists, magazine and book publishers, copy writers, and public advocates in media. The Journalism Program also provides excellent preparation for students who want to pursue careers in related fields, such as law, government, history, educational policy, and teaching, as well as graduate study.

While offering survey courses that review the history and development of journalism from its early days in print to its current digital formats, the Program also gives students hands-on experience with reporting and writing newspaper and magazine articles (both print and online) and producing other digital forms of journalism. The internship program encourages students to work at television and radio stations, newspapers and magazines, publishing houses, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and public relations firms.

Course Progression Restrictions

Students must complete AJRL 100 with a grade of C or better in order to take AJRL 200Z.

Degree Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism

A minimum of 36 credits with a minimum of 24 credits at the 300 level or above in AJRL courses including:

Required Five Core Courses (15 credits) Journalism from:

  • AJRL 100 Foundations of Journalism and Media Studies (3)
  • AJRL 200Z Introduction to Reporting and News Writing (3)
  • AJRL 201Z Reporting and News Writing II (3)
  • AJRL 225 Media Law and Ethics (3)
  • AJRL490Z Digital Publication (3)

Choose Three Courses (9 credits) in Contextual courses from:

  • AJRL 305 Media and War in US History (3)
  • AJRL 330 History of Journalism in the United States (3)
  • AJRL 340 Global Perspectives on the News (3)
  • AJRL 363 Visual Culture (3)
  • AJRL 381 Women in the Media (3)
  • AJRL 410 Images of Journalism in Film (3)
  • AJRL 420 Media in the Digital Age (3)
  • AJRL 468 Literary Journalism (3)
  • AJRL 475 Topics in Journalism (3)

Choose Three Courses (9 credits) in Skills courses from:

  • AJRL 308Z Narrative Journalism (3)
  • AJRL 324 Introduction to Documentary Photography (3)
  • AJRL 355 Public Relations Writing (3)
  • AJRL 366Z Magazine Writing (3)
  • AJRL 380 Photojournalism (3)
  • AJRL 385Y Broadcast Journalism (3)
  • AJRL 390 Digital Media Workshop: Online Publishing (3)
  • AJRL 392 Digital Media Workshop: Desk-Top Publishing (3)
  • AJRL 435 Data Journalism Analytics (3)
  • AJRL 460Z Advanced Reporting and News Writing (3)
  • AJRL 475Z Topics in Journalism (3)
  • AJRL 480Z Public Affairs Journalism (3)
  • AJRL 487Z Investigative Reporting (3)

Choose One Course (3 credits) (No course may be repeated if already used in Contextual or Skills categories) from:  

  • AJRL 495 Internship in Journalism (3)  
  • AJRL 410 Images of Journalism in Film
  • AJRL 420 Media in Digital Age (3)
  • AJRL 460Z Advanced Reporting and News Writing (3)
  • AJRL468 Literary Journalism (3)
  • AJRL 475/475Z Topics in Journalism (3)
  • AJRL480Z Public Affairs Journalism (3)
  • AJRL 487Z Investigating Reporting (3)
  • AJRL 497 Independent Study in Journalism (3)

Advising

The Journalism Program has established a solid reputation for giving students the individual attention required for curricular advising, placement in internships, and career planning. Graduates of the program have secured a wide variety of jobs in broadcasting and reporting or gone on to graduate study at Columbia University, New York University, Syracuse University, and other institutions. Journalism students work with the Academic Advisor, Joseph Murphy (email: [email protected]; phone: 518-442-4875, location: Taconic 231), to receive advisement and AVN numbers each semester. Undergraduate majors should talk to their advisor when they begin their studies in the Program to discuss their goals, and devise an overall plan of study supportive of those goals in the Program, in their minor or second major, and in their General Education requirement courses and electives.

Honors Program

Journalism majors who wish to graduate with Honors in Journalism should contact Professor Thomas Bass, the Journalism Program's Honors Director. To be admitted to the Journalism Honors Program, a student must: (a) be a declared Journalism major; (b) have completed 12 credits in AJRL courses; (c) have a minimum 3.25 overall GPA and a minimum 3.50 GPA in Journalism; (d) submit an application essay.

In addition, the student is required, as part of his/her courses for completing the Journalism major, to choose one course from the Contextual courses menu from the following: AJRL 340 Global Perspectives on the News; AJRL 330 History of Journalism in the United States; AJRL 420 Media in the Digital Age; or AJRL 480 Public Affairs Journalism. The student must earn at least an A- in the chosen course. Senior honors students will then complete AJRL 499 Senior Honors Project. The Honors sequence requires 39 credits.