Journalism Program

Faculty

Associate Professor

Carolyn Yalkut, Ph.D.
University of Denver

Lecturers

Robert Miner, M.S.
University of Connecticut

William Rainbolt, M.A.
State University of North Texas

Adjunct Faculty

Jane Alderdice

The Journalism Program, emphasizing writing and the print media, is tremendously flexible. Students acquire essential reportorial and writing skills, and also prepare for the complex problems confronting contemporary journalists. All journalism courses are open to students majoring and minoring in other fields.

Journalism minors design individual programs that suit their needs and interests, often completing the 18-credit minor with courses in other departments. There are no restrictions on the major a journalism student chooses. The journalism program trains students to write; it also teaches students to read, watch and listen to the news media more insightfully.

In Introduction to Journalism, students cover live stories, and hear weekly lectures from working journalists, political and investigative reporters, broadcasters, editors, and even communications law attorneys who talk about their work. Our feature writing courses concentrate on sustained magazine journalism. Special Topics classes cover issues such as law, ethics, editing, design, interviewing, the history of the American press, computer-assisted reporting, and the relationship between journalism and literature. The internship program allows undergraduates to work at newspapers, magazines, and television and radio stations for academic credit. Students should declare the minor no later than the first semester of their junior year by applying to the Director of Journalism after completing A Jrl 300 or 300Z.

Careers

Many journalism minors get jobs in the broadcast and print media immediately after finishing the B.A.-particularly if they have completed internships while still undergraduates-while some choose to study journalism on the graduate level before entering the profession. Often, students who have studied journalism find their training is excellent preparation for jobs and graduate work in other fields, such as law, communication and education.

Courses

A Jrl 300 Introduction to Journalism (3)
Exploration of what journalism is in print and broadcast media. Readings in journalism, discussion with practicing journalists, journalistic writing, and writing about journalism. Prerequisite(s): enrollment limited to sophomores, juniors and seniors who have taken an English course or a writing intensive course. A Jrl 300Z is the writing intensive version of A Jrl 300; only one may be taken for credit.

A Jrl 300Z Introduction to Journalism (3)
Meets General Education: WI
A Jrl 300Z is the writing intensive version of A Jrl 300; only one may be taken for credit.

A Jrl 308Z (same as A Eng 308Z) Journalistic Writing (3)
Meets General Education: WI
Expository writing that might be done for newspaper, magazine, radio or television journalism. Designed for students in the journalism minor but open to others. Admission is limited, and those seeking to enroll should submit a sample of their work to the director of journalism. Intended primarily for juniors and seniors. Only one of A Jrl 308Z and A Eng 308Z may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): permission of the program director. S/U graded.

A Jrl 364 and 365 Journalism: Special Topics (3)
Study of various issues in journalism. May be repeated when content differs. A Jrl 364Z and A Jrl 365Z are the writing intensive versions of A Jrl 364 and A Jrl 365. A Jrl 364 and A Jrl 365 do not meet the writing intensive requirement. Prerequisite(s): intended primarily for juniors and seniors and with permission of the program director.

A Jrl 364Z and 365Z Journalism: Special Topics (3)
Meets General Education: WI May be repeated when content differs. A Jrl 364Z and 365Z are the writing intensive versions of A Jrl 364 and 365. Prerequisite(s): intended primarily for juniors and seniors and with permission of the program director.

A Jrl 397 Independent Study of Journalism (1-4)
A project in journalistic investigation and writing, or a study of some specific body of journalism sponsored by a faculty member and approved by the director of journalism. May be taken more than once. Prerequisite(s): intended primarily for juniors and seniors and with permission of the program director.

A Jrl 400 Internship in Journalism (3-9)
Students work for one semester on a newspaper, magazine, radio or television station, or with government, business, or public affairs publication. Students earn 3 to 9 credits by completing an academic component consisting of required group meetings and conferences with the faculty supervisor, as well as a journal, portfolio and a final paper. Prerequisite(s): intended primarily for seniors and with permission of faculty supervisor.


Undergraduate Bulletin — Table of Contents
University at Albany
State University of New York