B.A. in Journalism
Loyola University Chicago’s journalism major leading to a bachelor of arts degree provides students with a comprehensive education focusing on both the traditional and advanced skills needed for various media outlets. The curriculum combines hands-on learning with a focus on ethics, values and social concerns. The major:
- Develops professionals with a commitment to social justice who excel in interviewing, researching, reporting, writing, publishing and broadcasting, and producing news, sports, entertainment, advertising or other material.
- Incorporates 39 credit hours including a communication core, a journalism core and electives, and two integration experiences, giving students essential coursework complemented with real-world work.
- Offers areas of specialty in radio broadcasting, public broadcasting and documentary studies.
- Requires another area of study to ensure students are knowledgeable about the subjects of their reporting—for example, history, political science or religion.
- Reflects the university’s emphasis on linking intellectual exploration and professional development with an awareness of community and social commitment.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
COMMUNICATION CORE (nine credit hours): Provides a broad theoretical understanding of the field of communication.
RESEARCH SKILLS (three credit hours): Provide an overview of research methods used in the field of journalism.
JOURNALISM CORE (12 credit hours): Provides a comphrehensive introduction to the perspectives and skills of journalism.
ELECTIVES (nine credit hours): Include courses in social justice and communication; video and radio production; mass communication law; copy editing; feature, opinion, radio and TV writing; layout and editing; advanced reporting and writing; radio and video documentary; photojournalism; and themes and special topics in communication.
FIELD EDUCATION (three credit hours): An approved internship taken for credit.
INTEGRATION COURSE (three credit hours): Students select a topic or issue to study.
SUPPORTING MINOR: Encourages a well-developed understanding of a topical area in which students focus their reporting.
In addition to fulfilling major requirements to earn an undergraduate degree (128 credit hours), students are required to complete Loyola's Core Curriculum, which teaches them important skills and values, and enables them to develop their own interests by taking general electives.
