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Journalism and Media Communication B.A.

17:1
Avg. student to faculty ratio
86%
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 Open Accordion

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 Open Accordion

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.

Sierra Needles on the couch with her dog Lilly, where she would spend hours watching YouTube travel vlogs.

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

Curriculum Open Accordion

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:

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

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

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

Select one STAT course (3 cr.)

Directed Electives

Writing (6 cr.)

Production (6 cr.):

400-Level JTC courses (3 cr.)

Two Additional JTC courses (6 cr.)

These may be any JTC course not previously used in another requirement. At least one JTC course must be 400-level or above.

Internship (1-4 cr.):

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 Open Accordion

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.

Undergraduate Minors

Agricultural Business

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:

Required Courses

Select any 15 credits from the following

Anthropology

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:

Business Administration

Computer Science

Add to your knowledge base and feel confident working with fields like computer programming, software development, cyber security, and more.

Required Lower Division Courses

Select one course from the following

Required Upper Division Courses

  • CS courses numbered 300 or above (12 cr.)

Program Total Credits: 24

Please note: Additional Math courses may be required depending on the 300/400 level courses that students choose.

Creative Writing

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.

Required Courses

Select one group from the following

Fiction
Poetry
Nonfiction

Upper-Division Electives

Design Thinking

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:

Required Courses

Select any 12 credits from the following:

Note: Some online courses are still in development.

Economics

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:

Gerontology

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.

Required Courses

Electives (3-6 credits)

Global and Environmental Sustainability

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:

Required Courses

Select one course from each group (A-D)

At least 3 credits must be upper-division (300-400 level). Courses may not satisfy two groups.

Group A: Society and Social Processes (select one)
Group B: Biological and Physical Processes (select one)
Group C: Economy and Profitability (select one)
Group D: Skills (select one)

Upper-Division Elective – select 3 upper-division credits from categories A-D with a subject code not previously taken (3 cr.)

History

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).

Select any 9 credits from the following

Select any 12 credits from the following

Horticulture

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.

Required courses (14 credits):

Select two courses (for a minimum of 7 credits) from the following:

Human Development and Family Studies

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).

Required Course:

Electives

Select a minimum of 18 credits from the following (a minimum of 12 credits must be 300-level or higher)

Interdisciplinary Global Studies

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:

Required Courses

Select four courses below

One course from each category, 12 credits total with at least 9 credits in upper-division (300-400) coursework.

History, Politics, and Society
Languages and Cultures
Economy and Environment

Interdisciplinary Information Science and Technology

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.

Required Course

Elective Courses

Select any 15 credits from the following

Program Total Credits: 21

Note: Nine credits must be from upper-division courses. A minimum of six credits must be completed from at least two subject codes.

Machine Learning

Media Studies

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:

Required Courses

Select any 15 credits from the following

Political Science

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:

Required Courses

Select six credits from the following

Select nine credits of upper division classes from the following

Science Communication

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.

Required Courses

Select two courses from the following:

Sociology

How to Add a Minor

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.


Undergraduate Certificates

Design Thinking Certificate

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:

Required Course

Select any 9 credits from the following:

Note: Some online courses are still in development.

Integrated Pest Management

The undergraduate Certificate in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) will equip students with in-depth knowledge of principles of integrated management of pest insects, weeds, and diseases associated with managed and natural landscapes. The students will learn about principles underlying integrated pest management, become familiar with key pests, and learn how to apply IPM in managed landscapes with a goal of minimizing environmental and economic impacts of pest control. This certificate is an excellent choice for students interested in entering the workforce immediately after graduation, as well as professionals that require certification in IPM. The certificate will prepare the students for careers in crop protection, pest management education and policy, among others.

Required Courses:

Select a minimum of 4 courses from the following:

Macroeconomics

The Certificate in Macroeconomics will educate students in the key ideas, tools, and policies of macroeconomics. Major ideas include the causes and consequences of economic growth, unemployment, inflation, and the changing distribution of income, both in the U.S. and internationally. Students will develop both theoretical and analytical skills that are highly valued by employers.

Required Courses

Select a minimum of 6 credits from the following:

Program Total Credits: 9

Spanish for Animal Health and Care

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.

Courses

Seed Science and Technology

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.

Courses

Note: Additional study and testing is required to become a Certified Seed Analyst or Registered Seed Technologist.

How to Apply Open Accordion

Application Deadlines

Fall semester August 1
Spring semester January 1
Summer semester May 1

Start your application online and upload materials directly into the online system. You can save your progress and return any time.

Apply Now

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.

1 Review Admission Requirements

Refer to admissions.colostate.edu/apply/ for details about who we look for in our individual review process

2 Talk with a Student Success Coach

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.

Student Success Coach: Kyle Yates
Phone: (970) 682-7252
Email: kc.yates@colostate.edu

Schedule Time to Talk

3 Complete Online Application

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.

4 Apply for Financial Aid (Optional)

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Use FAFSA code 001350. Additional financial aid information is also available.

5 Check Your Application Status

View your application status at any time to ensure your application checklist is complete or to check on updates.

Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis and may take up to six weeks during high volume application periods.

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

Questions?

We love learning about your goals and answering any questions you have.

Kyle Yates
Prospective Student Support Coach
Schedule Time to Talk

Program Details

Courses
Credits
120
Tuition
$476 per credit
Same in-state tuition for all.
Learn more about financial aid and scholarships Tuition/fees are just part of the cost to attend CSU. Learn more about the full Cost of Attendance
Degree Awarded
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Communication
Time Frame
Varies based on intensity of study and previous coursework
Admission Reqs.

Application Dates

Fall semester
June 1*
Spring semester
November 1*
Summer semester
May 1*
*Note: Application dates may vary depending on student status. Learn more.

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