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Journalism student reporting in field

Journalism - B.S.

At Kent State, journalism students learn how to cover real stories that make a difference. Whether using a camera, a microphone, a smartphone or a laptop, you’ll develop critical skills to tell stories in all forms. Students graduate prepared to continue as journalists or apply these skills to other professions that value critical thinking, information gathering and the ability to make sense of it for others.

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Journalists are reporters, watchdogs, storytellers. Gaining critical skills that equip them for storytelling in all its forms, journalism students will practice their craft in Kent State’s award-winning student media.

Working with these outlets, students will learn how to engage audiences where they “live,” on TV, radio, online, social media and in print. Journalism students will produce news and feature content on visual, digital and emerging platforms, and they’ll apply what they’ve learned as part of the required professional internship. Students work collaboratively every day in our multimedia student newsroom, television studio, magazine offices, radio station and business office. Students also have access to video editing suites with virtual reality capabilities, sound editing and recording labs and a fully stocked equipment check-out room/training lab. 

Explore Student Media and Hands-On Opportunities

Student Media Opportunities

Ten distinct media partners make up the engine that drives Kent State Student Media forward: a news website, television station, radio station, magazines and more. Starting "Day One" of freshman year, students can work for these independent, nationally recognized, nationally award-winning student media outlets. In doing so, students gain relevant exposure to the communication industry, strong peer and faculty relationships and opportunities to launch meaningful careers. 

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Awards and Accolades

Our impressive standings in national and international competitions demonstrate our commitment to building media and communication leaders.  Journalism students have placed in the Hearst Journalism Awards, the Society of Professional Journalists' Mark of Excellence Awards and more in recent years. 

Explore our National Distinction

Program Information

Program Description

Full Description

Journalists are reporters, watchdogs, storytellers. The Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism teaches students how to cover real stories that make a difference. Whether using a camera, a microphone, a smartphone or a laptop, students become journalists by doing journalism inside and outside the classroom.

Gaining critical skills that equip them for storytelling in all its forms, journalism students practice their craft in Kent State’s award-winning student media. Working with these outlets, students learn how to engage audiences where they “live,” on TV, radio, online, social media and in print.

Journalism students produce news and feature content on visual, digital and emerging platforms, and they apply what they’ve learned as part of the required professional internship.

With a grounding in ethics and an understanding of media’s role in democratic society, students graduate prepared to continue as journalists or apply their skills to other professions that value critical thinking, information gathering and the ability to make sense of it for others.

Students may apply early to the following master's degree programs and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program Policy in the University Catalog for more information.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency unless they meet specific exceptions. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduate of this program will be able to:

  1. Create news and information content that effectively covers the diversity of groups in a global society and reflects appreciation for individual differences.
  2. Utilize appropriate legal and ethical frameworks to guide creation of news and information content.
  3. Effectively plan, research, gather, write and produce audience-focused news and information content that has impact.
  4. Critically evaluate news and information sources and demonstrate an understanding of the impact media messages have on audiences and society.
  5. Use appropriate and relevant technology to create and enhance news and information content and promote it to a variety of audiences.
  6. Demonstrate an understanding of the business of media and apply skills in a practical setting.
Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA) (min C- grade required in all courses)
EMAT 10310MY STORY ON THE WEB 3
or MDJ 20011 PRODUCTION FUNDAMENTALS
MDJ 20001MEDIA, POWER AND CULTURE (DIVD) (KSS) 13
MDJ 26001WRITING FOR MEDIA 3
MDJ 26005MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM 3
MDJ 40006LAW OF MEDIA AND JOURNALISM 3
MDJ 40010ETHICS AND ISSUES IN MEDIA AND JOURNALISM (WIC) 13
MDJ 40027RACE, GENDER, CLASS AND DIS/ABILITY IN MEDIA INDUSTRIES 3
MDJ 40092INTERNSHIP (ELR) 1
Journalism Skills Electives, choose from the following: 29
CCI 12001
PHOTOGRAPHY
MDJ 26007
REPORTING
MDJ 26008
BROADCAST REPORTING
MDJ 32001
PHOTOJOURNALISM I
MDJ 36005
EDITING
MDJ 36010
INTERVIEWING AND DATA FOR JOURNALISTS
MDJ 36018
FEATURE WRITING
MDJ 36020
AUDIO STORYTELLING AND PODCASTING I
Journalism Specialization Electives, choose from the following: 29
CCI 45091
SEMINAR IN MEDIA AND MOVEMENTS (ELR)
MDJ 22004
VISUAL STORYTELLING
MDJ 26007
REPORTING
MDJ 26008
BROADCAST REPORTING
MDJ 32001
PHOTOJOURNALISM I
MDJ 32002
PHOTOJOURNALISM II
MDJ 32005
VIDEO FOR STILL PHOTOGRAPHERS
MDJ 33024
BROADCAST PERFORMANCE
MDJ 36005
EDITING
MDJ 36008
FREELANCE JOURNALISM
MDJ 36018
FEATURE WRITING
MDJ 40007
REVIEWING THE ARTS
MDJ 40015
MEDIA MARKETPLACE
MDJ 40295
SELECTED TOPICS IN MEDIA AND JOURNALISM
MDJ 41111
FASHION PUBLISHING
MDJ 44055
SUAS AERIAL CINEMATOGRAPHY
MDJ 46003
PRODUCING TELEVISION NEWS
MDJ 46006
OPINION WRITING
MDJ 46016
BUSINESS OF PUBLISHING
MDJ 46020
MAGAZINE DESIGN
MDJ 46030
AUDIO STORYTELLING AND PODCASTING II
MDJ 46052
ADVANCED BROADCAST REPORTING
Journalism Culminating Experience Electives, choose from the following: 26
MDJ 40017
MEDIA ENTERPRISE
MDJ 42008
ADVANCED PHOTO TECHNIQUES
MDJ 43035
ADVANCED TELEVISION NEWS PRODUCING
MDJ 43082
STUDENT MEDIA NEWSLAB
MDJ 46007
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
MDJ 46009
REPORTING PUBLIC POLICY
MDJ 46021
ADVANCED MAGAZINE WRITING
MDJ 46054
BROADCAST DOCUMENTARY
MDJ 46055
DOCUMENTARY AND ENTREPRENEURIAL PHOTOGRAPHY
MDJ 46395
SELECTED TOPICS IN JOURNALISM
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Political or Entrepreneurship Elective, choose from the following:3
ENTR 27056
INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP
POL 10004
COMPARATIVE POLITICS (DIVG) (KSS)
POL 10100
AMERICAN POLITICS (DIVD) (KSS)
POL 10300
PUBLIC POLICY
POL 10500
WORLD POLITICS (DIVG) (KSS)
College of Communication and Information Core Electives, choose from the following:9
CCI 10095
SPECIAL TOPICS IN COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION
CCI 40089
BRANDING AND SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES FOR ITALIAN LIFESTYLE (ELR)
CCI 40095
SPECIAL TOPICS IN COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION
CCI 40189
ITALIAN POP CULTURE
CCI 40289
ITALIAN CINEMA (ELR)
CCI 40389
DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING (ELR)
CCI 40489
MULTIMEDIA EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING (ELR)
CCI 45089
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION (ELR)
CCI 46089
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION (ELR)
COMM 15000
INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL)
COMM 35852
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION (DIVG)
EMAT 25310
CREATIVE CODING
EMAT 33310
HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION
LIS 30010
INFORMATION FLUENCY IN THE WORKPLACE AND BEYOND
UXD 20001
INTRODUCTION TO USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN
VCD 13000
VISUAL DESIGN THINKING
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each)9
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)3
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory)6-7
Kent Core Additional6
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credits hour, including 39 upper-division credit hours) 328
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement. If the course is not being used to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement, a minimum C- grade must be earned.

2

Students cannot apply these courses toward more than one of the MDJ Elective categories.

3

A maximum of 4 credit hours of Physical Activity, Wellness and Sport (PWS) courses may be applied toward the degree program.

Progression Requirements

  • No grade lower than a C- in a MDJ course will be counted toward graduation or as a prerequisite for a subsequent class.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
EMAT 10310
or MDJ 20011
MY STORY ON THE WEB
or PRODUCTION FUNDAMENTALS
3
MDJ 20001 MEDIA, POWER AND CULTURE (DIVD) (KSS) 3
MDJ 26001 WRITING FOR MEDIA 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
MDJ 26005 MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM 3
College of Communication and Information Core Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Three
Journalism Skills Elective 3
College of Communication and Information Core Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
Political or Entrepreneurship Elective 3
Journalism Skills Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
Journalism Skills Elective 3
Journalism Specialization Elective 6
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
MDJ 40027 RACE, GENDER, CLASS AND DIS/ABILITY IN MEDIA INDUSTRIES 3
Journalism Specialization Electives 3
College of Communication and Information Core Elective 3
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Third Summer Term
MDJ 40092 INTERNSHIP (ELR) 1
 Credit Hours1
Semester Seven
MDJ 40006 LAW OF MEDIA AND JOURNALISM 3
Journalism Culminating Experience Elective 3
General Electives 9
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
MDJ 40010 ETHICS AND ISSUES IN MEDIA AND JOURNALISM (WIC) 3
Journalism Culminating Experience Elective 3
General Electives 7
 Credit Hours13
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus
Accreditation

Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC)

Journalism Concentrations

Broadcast Journalism

Reporting, writing and producing for all platforms, with a focus on video and audio 

Emerging Technology

Augmented reality-based storytelling, mobile app development and content, data visualization 

Multimedia and Magazine

Reporting, writing and editing for digital and print; includes multimedia and data skill development 

Photojournalism

Visual aspects of news reporting and storytelling, with a focus on developing a strong portfolio 

Career Outlook

With a grounding in ethics and an understanding of media’s role in democratic society, students graduate prepared to continue as journalists or apply their skills to other professions that value critical thinking, information gathering and the ability to make sense of it for others.

"(My favorite memory at Kent State is) my experience with TV2 News. I wouldn't be anywhere near the journalist I am today without it. ... The School of Media and Journalism here at Kent is like no other and truly prepared me for the next steps in my career."

Melissa Meyers, '21, Multimedia Journalist, WBTW News (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)

Anna Huntsman, '19 | Reporter/Producer at Ideastream

While completing a two-month journalism fellowship in Arizona the summer after her college graduation, Anna Huntsman, ’19, found herself nostalgic for Ohio.

“I was around a lot of people from all across the country,” she remembers. “They would ask me, ‘What’s so special about Ohio?’ and I would have this answer about the camaraderie, the sports, the work ethic. I just found myself having these answers of really missing my home.”

Huntsman, who majored in journalism and was a member of Kent State’s Honors College, landed a job at Ideastream Public Media in Cleveland a few short months later. Four years later, she hasn’t looked back.

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Crystal Smith, '18 | Producer, Cleveland Cavaliers

As a Producer for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kent State alumna Crystal Smith, ’18, never imagined the career path she is currently on and the opportunities it would lead to. But through networking and stepping out of her comfort zone, she says she’s discovered new passions and interests.  

After graduation, she worked for Babcox Media first as an associate editor and then, a multimedia producer. While working in this role, she engaged in a networking opportunity that led her to become a freelance video editor for a popular YouTube content creator from Kent State. This sparked a new passion and interest in freelance video editing and producing, leading her to work for different clients. 

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Jeannette Reyes, '12 | Anchor, Fox5, Washington, D.C.

Kent State University alumna Jeannette Reyes, ’12, uses TikTok for fun outside of her television anchor responsibilities at FOX 5 Washington, D.C. Last October, Reyes posted a video with her husband using their “anchor talk” voices to decide on choices for dinner. She never expected her video to gain so much momentum.

“This video got 5 million views on Twitter and gained attraction from Jimmy Kimmel and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez commenting and retweeting,” Reyes said. “At that time, I probably had 25,000 followers on TikTok, and since then, it's grown to almost 700,000. After eight months, I definitely underestimated the power of that video and how funny the anchor voice sounds outside of the newsroom environment.”

Reyes is a newscaster for FOX 5 Morning and Good Day D.C. She said that creating content and anchoring can be overwhelming at times, but she finds a nice balance between juggling both duties. 

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Jinae West, '10 | Senior Producer, Vulture | New York Magazine

Jinae West, '10, was always committed to searching for big and bold opportunities, which pushed her to step outside of her comfort zone when it came to gaining journalism experience.

Jinae got her start in audio storytelling as an intern at NPR. That internship led to a full-time position, and she spent eight-and-a-half years working for well-known shows like All Things Considered and TED Radio Hour, covering key events like the 2016 presidential campaigns and election and the Pulse Nightclub shootings. After a brief stint at National Geographic working on podcasting in 2019, she returned to NPR as senior producer for the news/pop culture podcast/radio show, "It's Been A Minute".

Learn More

You'll Find Our Alumni Working As: 

  • Opinion Editor, USA Today Network
  • Senior Producer, NPR
  • Multimedia/Online Reporting for:
    • Washington Post
    • The Athletic
    • Forbes.com
    • And many other online news sites
  • National Projects Designer at GateHouse Media
  • Communications managers in:
    • higher education
    • healthcare
    • nonprofits
    • government entities
    • And more
  • Live Content Creator, Major League Baseball
  • Editing and production for trade publications covering:
    • solar energy
    • tourism
    • wildlife
    • automotive
    • landscaping
  • Reporting and producing for daily news outlets in major cities including:
    • Las Vegas
    • Columbus
    • New York City
    • Seattle
    • Portland