BA Journalism and Mass Communication
DURATION
8 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2025
TUITION FEES
Request tuition fees
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
Introduction
The BA program in journalism and mass communication at ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, widely regarded as one of the nation's premier media schools, is a highly professional, hands-on degree program that prepares students for careers in mass communications.
Through access to a world-class faculty of journalists, communicators, and scholars, and with prestigious internships and immersive learning opportunities, undergraduate students learn the values and principles at the core of media professions, and they master the highly specialized, practical skills needed for success in today's digital world.
Areas of study can include digital media, broadcast news, innovation and entrepreneurship, audience engagement, social media, investigative reporting, public relations, and Spanish-language media. The Cronkite School's full-immersion capstone programs allow students to gain experience in activities like reporting the evening news on Arizona PBS and creating digital advertising campaigns.
High-performing students can apply to the school's accelerated master's degree program, which allows for the completion of both a bachelor's and master's degree in as few as four years. They also can become part of ASU's Barrett, The Honors College.
At a glance
- College/School: Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Comm
- Location: Downtown Phoenix
- Second language requirement: Yes
- First required math course: Any MAT course that satisfies the math requirement
- Math intensity: General
Gallery
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Scholarships
ASU scholarships help a greater number of academically qualified students graduate. You are automatically considered for merit-based partial tuition scholarships during your application for admission.
Up to $14,500 renewable tuition scholarship
available for first-year undergraduates at Tempe and Downtown Phoenix campuses
Up to $18,500 renewable tuition scholarship
available for first-year undergraduates at West Valley and Polytechnic campuses
Curriculum
Term 1
- JMC 101: Grammar for Journalists
- JMC 110: Principles and History of Journalism (HUAD OR SB)
- JMC 115: Civility and Community at Cronkite
- ASU 101-CS: The ASU Experience
- ENG 101 or ENG 102: First-Year Composition OR
- ENG 105: Advanced First-Year Composition OR
- ENG 107 or ENG 108: First-Year Composition
- JMC 102: Coding for Journalists
- Mathematics (MATH)
- Minimum 2.50 GPA ASU Cumulative.
Term 2
- ENG 101 or ENG 102: First-Year Composition OR
- ENG 105: Advanced First-Year Composition OR
- ENG 107 or ENG 108: First-Year Composition
- JMC 201: News Reporting and Writing (L)
- JMC 305: Multimedia Journalism
- Second Language: Requirement satisfied through the following:
- Completion of a language course at the intermediate level (202 or equivalent), including American Sign Language IV.
- Quantitative Reasoning (QTRS)
- Complete ENG 101 ENG 105 OR ENG 107 course(s).
- Minimum 2.50 GPA ASU Cumulative.
Term 3
- JMC 301: Intermediate Reporting and Writing (L)
- JMC 366: Media Ethics
- Governance and Civic Engagement (CIVI)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (SOBE)
- Second Language: Requirement satisfied through the following:
- * Completion of a language course at the intermediate level (202 or equivalent), including American Sign Language IV.
- Complete First-Year Composition requirement.
- Complete Mathematics (MATH) requirement.
- Minimum 2.50 GPA ASU Cumulative.
Term 4
- JMC 313: Introduction to Editing ORJMC 345: Videography ORJMC 448: Non-Narrative Video Storytelling
- Second Language: Requirement satisfied through the following:
- * Completion of a language course at the intermediate level (202 or equivalent), including American Sign Language IV.
- Sustainability (SUST)
- Related Area Course
- Elective
- Complete JMC 201 AND JMC 301 course(s).
- Complete JMC 305 AND JMC 366 course(s).
- Minimum 2.50 GPA ASU Cumulative.
Term 5
- JMC 473: The Business and Future of Journalism ORJMC 310: Principles of Strategic Communications
- Second Language: Requirement satisfied through the following:
- * Completion of a language course at the intermediate level (202 or equivalent), including American Sign Language IV.
- American Institutions (AMIT)
- Global Communities, Societies and Individuals (GCSI)
- Scientific Thinking in Natural Sciences (SCIT)
- Minimum 2.50 GPA ASU Cumulative.
Term 6
- JMC 402: Mass Communication Law
- Upper Division Advanced Skills Course
- JMC 484: Internship
- Related Area Course
- Scientific Thinking in Natural Sciences (SCIT)
- Minimum 2.50 GPA ASU Cumulative.
Term 7
- Upper Division Advanced Skills Course
- Upper Division Capstone Course
- Upper Division Related Area Course
- JMC OR MCO Upper Division Elective
- Minimum 2.50 GPA ASU Cumulative.
Term 8
- Upper Division Related Area Course
- JMC OR MCO Upper Division Elective
- MCO Upper Division Elective
- Humanities, Arts and Design (HUAD)
- Elective
- Minimum 2.50 GPA ASU Cumulative.
Program Outcome
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:
- Apply the principles of journalism, such as accuracy, fairness, timeliness, diversity and privacy, to their course requirements.
- Use the tools, technology, and techniques for content creation that adheres to accepted journalistic standards and practices, and prepares them for careers in media and communication.
- Create portfolios, which measure their integration of knowledge through tangible products in digital, social, audio, and video stories to demonstrate to potential employers their professional readiness.
- Understand and apply ethical, diversity, and legal standards relevant to the journalism industry and create culturally proficient communication.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Graduates are prepared for a wide assortment of careers with the hands-on training they received in the program as well as in real, professional newsroom experiences.
Popular industries include:
- brand storytelling
- corporate and business communication
- digital marketing
- digital media content creation
- local, national or international news reporting
- public relations
- radio and podcasting
- social media
- videography and photography
Graduates are competitive candidates for many roles, including these:
- audience engagement specialist
- copy editor
- director
- magazine writer
- news anchor
- news reporter
- producer
- radio and podcast host
- videographer