Of CSU Grads Land Jobs Related to Their Career Plans
95%
Of Online Undergraduate Students Would Choose CSU Again
$52K
Average Starting Salary of Recent CSU Grads
Degree Overview
Leverage your creativity and your interest in world events, storytelling, and media technology to earn a degree that can lead to a wide variety of careers.
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.
A broad range of career options
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
Enjoy the flexibility and collaboration of online learning
This program allows you to earn your bachelor's degree from CSU — a regionally accredited research university — no matter where you are located. Maintain balance between your job responsibilities, personal obligations, and studies as you develop professional credentials that can help you pursue a new career or advancement opportunity.
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.
Hear from Our Students
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."
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.
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.
Degree Minors
Grow your knowledge and focus on a topic that interests you. A degree minor can help you discover new passions and talents, and further specialize your education so you become more marketable to employers. Relevant courses often apply to both major and minor requirements, so a minor can be added without greatly changing your degree plan.
Courses already taken can apply to a minor regardless of when the minor is added to your student record. All minor requirements must be completed prior to graduation.
Build knowledge of production management, financial management, marketing management, international development, and trade through an agricultural lens. To earn the minor, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses:
Get a cross-cultural view of humanity and the broadly conceived dimensions of human behavior. You have the option to focus your anthropology studies on one or more sub-disciplinary divisions, including physical anthropology, archaeology, ethnology, or applied anthropology. To earn the minor, you must complete 22 credits from the following courses:
Explore creative writing in one or more of the following genres: poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. In addition to broadening your writing repertoire, gain workshop experience at an advanced level. To earn this minor, you must complete a minimum of 21 credits in courses with E or CO subject codes, with at least 15 upper-division credits.
The Minor in Design Thinking provides students with an opportunity to develop creative methods and processes for solving societal problems. This human-centered approach engages users and stakeholders in interdisciplinary co-design processes and applies elementary or emerging technologies to develop prototypes that improve spaces, objects, services, problems and ideas benefitting daily experiences and overall quality of life. Students will gain an awareness of the impact of design thinking and its application – to their major, discipline, or profession. Nancy Richardson Design Center course offerings are available in a mix of online, hybrid, or face-to-face. For a full list of learning opportunities offered by the RDC, please visit the courses page.
To earn the minor in Design Thinking online, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses:
Gain insight into current socioeconomic problems in the areas of resource allocation, inflation, unemployment, income distribution, environmental degradation, international trade, and monopoly power. This minor prepares you for careers in business management, teaching, government, banking, and public policy. To earn the minor, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses:
Prepare for a variety of careers in gerontology and develop an understanding of the biological, psychological, and social aspects of adult development and aging. This interdisciplinary minor prepares you to fill the need for well-trained professionals to support aging adults, and can be paired with any CSU major.
Prepare to meet today's pressing environmental challenges with this interdisciplinary minor offered by The School of Global Environmental Sustainability (SoGES). Explore innovative research to understand how to solve problems that arise between humans and the environment. To earn your minor, you must complete 21 credits (12 upper-division credits) from the following courses:
Expand the breadth of your knowledge by earning an undergraduate minor in history. Choose from a range of courses based on your interests. This minor may be particularly useful for students who plan to pursue careers in education, public service, government, museums and archives, law, and other professions that require skills in research, writing, and the analysis of information. To earn the history minor, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses. (Note: You must complete at least 12 upper-division credits and 9 lower-division credits).
Growing and managing plants requires you to understand the science and the business of cultivation, and this online bachelor's degree minor emphasizes both. To earn the horticulture minor, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses.
The Human Development and Family Studies minor provides students across all majors with an opportunity to select course work relevant to their career goals. Students will learn about human development at various stages of the lifespan, within the context of diverse families and social identities. This minor offers students the opportunity to expand their thinking about how relationships, family, culture, biological make-up, and environmental factors influence outcomes related to thinking skills, physical health, and social-emotional well-being across the life cycle. Students will gain an awareness of how to optimize their own and other's development in their careers and personal lives. The HDFS department is committed to promoting the success and well-being of students from heterogeneous backgrounds and experiences.
Effective Fall 2023
Students must satisfactorily complete the total credits required for the minor. Minors and interdisciplinary minors require 12 or more upper-division (300- & 400-level) credits. Additional courses may be required due to prerequisites.
Courses from this list may not double-count for the Gerontology Interdisciplinary Minor.
A minimum grade of C (2.000) is required in each course used to satisfy the requirements of the Minor in Human Development and Family Studies. Courses used as substitutions also require a minimum grade of C (2.000).
Develop an understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures and peoples with courses in international and global history, politics, languages and cultures, economics, and environmental issues. To earn this minor, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses:
This interdisciplinary minor is sponsored by departments in different colleges across CSU: Computer Information Systems, Computer Science, English and Journalism and Media Communication. The program is designed for students seeking a broad foundation in information technology, but not seeking to major in a specific information technology-related field. The program requires 21 credits and is open to students majoring in any field other than computer science, computer information systems, and electrical and computer engineering.
Understand the role and influence of mass media in American society and other cultures by studying media and film history, criticism, law, ethics, social effects, cultural consequences, and multicultural and international media issues. To earn the minor, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses:
Gain a foundation in political theory and prepare for careers in law, teaching in the social sciences, journalism, and public service. To earn the minor, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses:
The minor in Science Communication is designed to educate highly qualified communicators who have interests in specialized academic disciplines and career fields. Because science often involves complicated research and processes, communicating the results of that work requires special skills. This program is designed to prepare students for a wide range of niche career opportunities in media, corporate communication, science-related industries, and scientific environments.
Please connect with your assigned advisor to request to add a minor. Note that you must apply and be admitted to the University for a bachelor's degree program before you can add a minor to your student record. Once you are admitted, one or more minors may be added to your student record.
Open to all undergraduate students, the Certificate in Design Thinking will improve not only the way students learn and find solutions to problems in their current coursework, but will also help make students more employable with sought-after marketable skills. Students will gain an awareness of the impact of design thinking and its application – regardless of discipline, profession, or major. Nancy Richardson Design Center course offerings are available in a mix of online, hybrid, or face-to-face. For a full list of learning opportunities offered by the RDC, please visit the courses page.
To earn the certificate in Design Thinking online, you must complete 12 credits from the following courses:
For students interested in working in animal science, veterinary medicine, or related fields, this certificate program teaches intermediate-level Spanish for use in agricultural and animal care settings. Learn to communicate in Spanish about livestock, equine, and small animal breeds, give directions for animal care and handling, issue instructions for safety and drug administration, and more.
Prepare for a career as a seed analyst with online courses in seed technology. These courses, led by Colorado State University and supported by three other major universities (Iowa State University, Virginia Tech, and the University of Kentucky) and the Crop Science Society of America, offer a comprehensive overview of seed analysis, a technical skill requiring patience, attention to detail, and a scientific understanding of seed biology. After completion, you will be prepared to complete the examinations to become a Registered Seed Technologist.
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.
Previous college credit may be transferred into the online journalism and media communication bachelor's degree program, and minimum credits required can vary depending on previous coursework completed.
2.5 cumulative GPA from all coursework previously completed*
*A 2.0 cumulative GPA for all college work attempted is the threshold for consideration. Applicants who have a cumulative GPA below 2.5 should be prepared to demonstrate academic success in the form of an upward GPA trend and no D/F grades in their most recent terms.
† Additional information may be required for international applicants. Please connect with a coach to learn more.
Call or email our student success team to find out if the program is a good fit for your goals. Our coaches are available Monday-Friday to help you find the right program and navigate the application process.
Complete Colorado State University's online undergraduate application and pay any associated nonrefundable application processing fee (payable online) or waiver (if eligible).
Select "Journalism and Media Communication—online degree program" when choosing major.
Online applications must be submitted before 5 p.m. (Mountain Time) on the deadline date. If you miss the application deadline, you may still register for courses to begin your program of study as a non-degree student. Students seeking Federal financial aid must be admitted prior to enrolling.