Fact Sheet 07: Journalism Minor

Revised June 2007

Journalism Minor

The Department of English offers a minor in journalism that is designed to give students a background in mass media and to prepare student journalists for a career in print and Web-based electronic media. Because of the complexities of world affairs and the swiftly changing technologies that affect mass communications, most professional editors want their reporters to possess well-rounded, liberal arts educations. A minor in journalism thus best complements majors such as history, literature, economics, political science, or foreign languages. West Chester's program offers strong course work plus the real-world experience on a student newspaper to prepare best for a career in journalism.

Students in the journalism minor take four core classes that teach them various aspects of the news media including, but not limited to, the following:

writing and editing copy for print media
interviewing techniques
reporting under the pressure of a deadline
creating page layout and design
composing headlines
writing cutlines for photographs
conducting Web-based research
feature writing techniques
understanding mass media's influence on consumer decisions and public policy
learning the history of print media

Requirements

?The journalism minor is an 18-semester-hour program. You will begin the program by taking an introductory course that discusses the history of mass media in America and its wide-ranging effects on society. You will study a variety of media as well as adjuncts: newspapers, magazines, radio, television, advertising, public relations, popular music, and film. Two subsequent reporting courses teach the basics of reporting and news gathering, interviewing techniques, Web-based research, and media law and ethics. The news editing course teaches you how to edit copy, write headlines, crop pictures, and design pages. You are also required to take one journalism elective (such as magazine article writing or mass media ethics) and to participate in journalism practicums on The Quad, the University’s student weekly newspaper. You may take three elective credits in a summer internship at a local newspaper, magazine, public relations firm, or television station.

Typical Courses

Introduction to Media Communications
News Writing
Public Affairs Reporting
News Editing
Feature Writing
Magazine Article Writing
The History of Journalism
Mass Media Ethics
Public Relations Principles Quad Practicums in Reporting, Feature Writing, and Editing

Participating Faculty

A complete listing is available in the current Undergraduate Catalog and on the department Web site at www.wcupa.edu/_academics/sch_cas.eng/.

For More Information

Dr. John H. Hanson
Department of English
544 Main Hall
West Chester University
West Chester, PA 19383
610-436-3444
jhanson@wcupa.edu