In addition to University Requirements:

• 43 units of major requirements.

• Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy General Studies Requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.

• Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Purpose Statement

The Journalism Program provides students with the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience to tell compelling nonfiction stories across a variety of media platforms. We've built a strong foundation in the history, philosophy, and ethics of journalism, while emphasizing how these disciplines serve varied communities and facilitate the free flow of information essential in a democratic society.  Our new curriculum will prepare students to cover breaking news and tell the types of stories that inform and resonate with local and global communities alike. These abilities equip students for careers in journalism, multimedia content creation, podcasting, radio, television, and public relations.
 
Students produce and publish journalism for real audiences through classwork and in our state-of-the-art Media Innovation Center, which integrates a digital newsroom, TV studio and FM radio station. Internships and independent study projects allow students to report in depth on subjects important to Flagstaff and the entire Northern Arizona region. This real-world experience promotes career success.  

Our updated program was created with a goal to directly align with NAU's emphasis on the success of underserved students, transfer students, and non-traditional students, regardless of ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, or religion. We have streamlined the JLS program, eliminated the required minor, and established partnerships with community colleges to create a value proposition that promotes success for all of our students.


Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will appreciate and explain the role of journalism in society.
• Students will synthesize foundational theories and journalism ethics to evaluate the newsworthiness of information used to create journalistic stories.
• Students will demonstrate a strong foundation in the history, philosophy, laws, and ethics of journalism, and use this knowledge to appropriately evaluate what material should be included in their reporting work.
• Through the practice of journalism, students will learn to analyze and evaluate potential ethical issues in real-world newsroom lab environments, and through internships.
• Students will integrate and apply diversity by utilizing information and sources that reflect an understanding of cultural differences in storytelling and the effects of cultural, political, historical, religious, ideological, and economic forces on the dissemination of information.

• Students will demonstrate proficiency by preparing journalistic material that conforms to industry standards in style, design, and display.
• Students will utilize and apply the fundamentals of storytelling and nonfiction narrative to a variety of traditional and innovative media platforms.
• Students will produce complete news stories from concept to finished product under tight deadlines, while choosing the appropriate media platform to tell the best story.
• Students will identify and apply research and reporting techniques to assemble stories on local governments, police, courts, schools, and other public or citizen entities using the Freedom of Information Act and other tools.
• Students will create and maintain their personal brand and use social media to promote their work.