Journalism and Media Communication B.A.

Online journalism degree from CSU

This online journalism bachelor's degree builds foundational communication skills that are sought after in nearly any industry. Hone your writing and editing skills, learn to use digital technology to reach and engage audiences around the globe, and gain perspective on the role of media in our society.

Taught by expert media professionals with years of experience in the field, courses cover such areas as:

• Newswriting, magazine writing, and online storytelling
• Advertising, public relations, and marketing
• Video and photo production and editing
• Web design
• Media ethics, law, and history

Take Your Learning to the Next Level

Access tools provided to students in the program that take your projects, portfolio, and learning further.

• LinkedIn Learning - Enhance your business, creative, and technology skills with over 16,000 expert lead online videos.
• Universal Music Library - Utilize one of the largest custom music services in the world for your videos, slide shows, and more.

Direct career applicability

This program places a strong emphasis on helping you find a career once you finish your degree. In addition to teaching you writing and technical skills, the curriculum includes requirements to give you first-hand experience in the field and the chance to build a professional portfolio.

• Complete an internship through a variety of options, including: working with an organization of your choice, working with CSU student media on campus, or other internship opportunities as discussed with your academic advisor and approved by the department.
• Take a capstone class that:
  • Features guest speakers with experience in a variety of different jobs.
  • Teaches you how to embark on the search for a career with job hunting and resume writing techniques.
  • Helps you build a web-based portfolio of your work from classes and your internship.

Expanding your breadth of knowledge

If you want to work as a media and communications professional, it's important to expand your knowledge of other subjects. This program requires that you take a number of credits outside of the department. You have the option of applying these credits to a degree minor. Learn more about this on the curriculum page.

Enjoy the flexibility and collaboration of online learning

Earning your degree online doesn't mean studying alone. In fact, you will have many opportunities to interact with your instructors and peers throughout the program. Class interactions can involve discussion forums, live chat, video conferencing, and email conversations.

In addition to earning your Bachelor of Arts, you also have the option to further specialize your knowledge and enhance your degree with an academic minor in a specialized area of study.

Nationally ranked for excellence

CSU was named one of the top five Online Journalism schools in the country by Forbes and ranked the best for transfer students. These distinctions reflect our ongoing commitment to accessible, high-quality education designed to support student success at every stage.

Skilled communicators are needed in many different industries and organizations. With a bachelor's degree in journalism and media communication, you will be prepared to pursue a career in fields like marketing, mass media, journalism, public relations, nonprofit, government, and private industry.

Career opportunities in journalism and media include:

• Investigative or news reporter
• Editor or associate editor
• Media developer or producer
• Professional blogger or vlogger
• Photojournalist or videographer
• Freelance or travel writer

Career opportunities in marketing and advertising include:

• Creative director or marketing manager
• Marketing strategist
• Advertising copywriter
• Graphic designer
• Social media specialist
• Content marketing specialist

Other possible career opportunities include:

• PR specialist or company spokesperson
• Grant writer
• Technical writer
• On-air personality
• Public speaker

Conor M.

Hear how earning his bachelor's in journalism and media communication online with CSU helped Conor gain new skills after completing his service in the U.S. Coast Guard.

“Coming online was a bit of a learning curve but, the more I got used to it, I actually liked it better," explained Conor. "It allowed for a ton of flexibility. The class sizes were smaller than I expected. I really liked every class I took.”

Sierra N.

Sierra enjoyed traveling from a young age, but a life-altering diagnosis in high school reshaped her relationship with adventure. Needles found out she had Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, a chronic illness that causes severe dizziness, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, fatigue and more...Over time, she learned techniques for successfully traveling with her physical limitations. However, it wasn’t until after she had enrolled in CSU’s online journalism bachelor’s program that she developed the skills and expertise to address the lack of resources herself.

Needles formed a strong relationship with Michelle Ancell, one of her professors, who saw Needles' talent and bonded with her due to a different chronic illness that she had as well. Due to their bond, Ancell agreed to be a faculty advisor for an independent study program in Hawaii.

As part of her assignments, Needles had to write blog posts about her travels. At first this was more of an academic venture, but eventually a new blog called Chronically Exploring became Needles’ personal brand, developed from her three passions in life: writing, travel, and health advocacy.

“I'm sharing my victory at Haleakalā National Park in hopes that it can be an inspiration and resource for someone else who is planning a visit or for someone who previously thought visiting this park would be inaccessible."

Read the full story on Source

Allegra R.

"I chose CSU Online because it was one of the few schools that could work around my busy life schedule. My three favorite things about being an online student at CSU are having a lot of flexibility, independence, and career advancement opportunities."

Requirements to Graduate

A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this degree. This includes:

• 42 upper-division (300-400 level) credits
• 30 upper-division credits completed through Colorado State University
• 40 credits of JTC courses
• Minimum of 72 credits outside of JTC

The number of courses needed for completion of the program depends on:

• The number of transfer credits awarded
• Fulfillment of All-University Core Curriculum
• Degree coursework requirements

Curriculum

The curriculum listed below is intended to inform prospective students about the overall theme of the program and should not be used as an example program of study. Students need to consult their advisor to develop a degree completion plan based on the credits transferred into this program. You have the option to use the Transferology™ website to conduct a self-review of your potential transfer courses. This tool will assist you in seeing how your previous college coursework may transfer to CSU.

Please note, more online courses are in development to provide additional choices.

Required Courses

• JTC 100 – Media in Society (3 cr.)
• JTC 210 – Newswriting (3 cr.)
• JTC 211 – Visual Communication (3 cr.)
• JTC 326 – Online Storytelling and Audience Engagement (3 cr.)
• JTC 460 – Senior Capstone (3 cr.)

Select two of the following Concept courses (6 cr.):

• JTC 311 – History of Media (3 cr.)
• JTC 316 – Multiculturalism and the Media (3 cr.)
• JTC 412 – International Mass Communication (3 cr.)
• JTC 413 – New Communication Technologies and Society (3 cr.)

Select one of the following Legal/Ethics courses (3 cr.):

• JTC 411 – Media Ethics and Issues (3 cr.)
• JTC 415 – Communications Law (3 cr.)

Select one STAT course (3 cr.)

• JTC 270 – Analyzing Data in Journalism and Media (3 cr.)
• STAT 100 – Statistical Literacy (GT-MA1) (3 cr.)
• STAT 201 – General Statistics (3 cr.)
• STAT 204 – Statistics With Business Applications (GT-MA1) (3 cr.)
• STAT 301 – Introduction to Statistical Methods (3 cr.)

Directed Electives

Writing (6 cr.)

• JTC 305 – Media and Global Identity (3 cr.)
• JTC 310 – Copy Editing (3 cr.)
• JTC 320A – Reporting: General News (3 cr.)
• JTC 328 – Feature Writing (3 cr.)
• JTC 342 – Writing for Visual Media (3 cr.)
• JTC 350 – Public Relations (3 cr.)
• JTC 351 – Publicity and Media Relations (3 cr.)
• JTC 355 – Advertising (3 cr.)
• JTC 420 – Advanced Reporting (3 cr.)
• JTC 470 – Immersive Storytelling (3 cr.)

Production (6 cr.):

• JTC 335 – Photography (3 cr.)
• JTC 340 – Video Editing (3 cr.)
• JTC 345 – Video Production (3 cr.)
• JTC 371 – Publications Design and Production (3 cr.)
• JTC 372 – Web Design and Development (3 cr.)
• JTC 374 – Social Media Management (3 cr.)
• JTC 417 – Data Visualization Design (3 cr.)

400-Level JTC courses (3 cr.)

• JTC 420 – Advanced Reporting (3 cr.)
• JTC 425 – Multicultural Communication (3 cr.)
• JTC 470 – Immersive Storytelling (3 cr.)

Two Additional JTC courses (6 cr.)

Select six additional credits from the courses listed above under Writing, Production, Internship/Practicum, and Advanced Focus Courses and/or from the courses listed below. Students may select no more than a total of 4 credits of Internship/Practicum, and no more than a total of 7 credits of reserved number (-80 to -99) courses to satisfy this requirement.

• JTC 220 – News, Truth and Deception (3 cr.)
• JTC 495D – Independent Study: Public Relations (3 cr.)
• JTC 495E – Independent Study: Readings (3 cr.)

Internship (1-4 cr.):

• JTC 487 – Internship

Earn a minimum of one credit for completing an internship at a student media organization, through a study abroad course, or at an organization outside the University. Students have access to internship opportunities through the online service Handshake, but also can seek internships on their own. Internships must be communication focused, and can include work for news media, sports organizations, corporate or governmental communication offices, independent companies, schools, or anywhere where professionals can supervise the daily efforts of an intern.

All University Core Curriculum (AUCC) (31 cr.)

Students are strongly encouraged to select AUCC courses in consultation with their academic advisor. This program has particular recommendations for satisfying some areas of AUCC.

Degree Minor or Secondary Field (21 to 24 cr.)

Choose an approved minor in consultation with your advisor.

Electives (20 to 23 cr.)

Electives must be non-JTC courses.

Enhance your degree with a minor

Broaden your degree by adding a minor that deepens your interests and builds valuable, career-ready skills. A minor helps you explore new ideas, gain focused expertise, and strengthen your education without significantly changing your degree plan. Many courses can count toward both your major and minor, including courses you’ve already completed, as long as all requirements are finished before graduation.

Explore all Minors

Application Deadlines

Planning to transfer credits from another college or university? Please review our FAQ page, then complete a Tentative Transfer Evaluation Form to see how your prior credits may transfer.

Questions? Call (970) 682-7252 or email kc.yates@colostate.edu.