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Journalism and Mass Communications education in USA

Most professionals in journalism or mass communications are responsible for gathering facts and informing the public about local, state, national, and international affairs. Often they will be assigned a specialty such as health, politics, business, foreign affairs, sports, religion, theatre, weather, or social events. Although studies in journalism overlap with communications, journalism focuses on the written product (e.g. newspaper articles) whereas communications covers a broad range of publications from writing to broadcasting.

Undergraduate:
Students pursuing an undergraduate program in journalism and communications may receive a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Science (BS) in Journalism and/or Communications. Degree titles vary by institution and academic program. Both the BA and BS degrees provide well-rounded academic programs, including general education course requirements in social science and humanities for the BA degree and hard or natural sciences for the BS degree. Sample courses available at the undergraduate level include News Writing and Reporting, News Editing, Journalism Ethics, News Commentary and Critical Writing, Graphics, Mass Media in Society, Psychology of Communication, and Rhetoric.

Graduate:
Students pursuing a graduate program in journalism and communications may earn a Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), or Doctoral degree (PhD) in Journalism, Communication, or a combination thereof. Degree titles vary by institution and academic program. Graduate students usually will choose among a variety of degree concentrations in the field of journalism such as Public Relations, Publishing, Editing, Global Communications, Communications and Technology, Writing, and Communication Technology and Policy. A sample of courses available at the graduate level include World of Mass Communications, Introduction to Video Production and Editing, Writing for the Electronic Media, Professional Problems and Ethics, News Writing, Principals of Advertising Current Issues in Mass Communications, Reporting, Video Communication for Public Relations and Marketing, Introduction to Mass Communication Law, Mass Communication Practicum, Studio Production, and Multimedia Storytelling.

Occupations in Journalism and Mass Communications:
With a degree in journalism and communications, consider your professional opportunities as a News Reporter, Writer, Editor, Broadcaster, and Columnist or in the fields of advertising, marketing and public relations.

Scholarly Journals Related to the Study of Journalism and Mass Communications:
Journalism Studies, Journalism and Mass Communications Quarterly, Media Report to Women, Mass Communication and Society, Journal of Cleaner Production, Columbia Journalism Review, and Media, Culture, and Society.
Published date : 06 Apr 2012 05:06PM

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