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Journalism, Media and Professional Writing, Associate in Arts

Overview

Narrative

Northampton's Journalism, Media & Professional Writing Program provides the foundation for a career in the dynamic, digital world of the news media and professional communications in the 21st century. The major prepares students to transfer into a four-year degree program. The program emphasizes practical skills in reporting and writing for print and the web for students with no experience and provides those with some experience an opportunity to enhance their skills.

Students taking the journalism concentration in this major focus on reporting news of interest, relevance and usefulness to the college community, especially its students. This approach stresses "learning by doing," which means students will work in the field covering issues, trends and events at the school, as well as those outside the school that affect the NCC community.

Students taking the business writing concentration will focus on news reporting and writing for publication, but with additional emphasis on skills specific to business communication in a multicultural society.

Graduates with reporting and writing skills and a baccalaureate degree can expect to begin their careers at regional newspapers, web publications or other news outlets, as well as public relations firms, corporate communications offices, or other employers who rely on communications specialists.

Features

Students in the journalism concentration are required to participate in the flagship of the program, The Commuter, the student news operation published online and in print. Students in the business writing concentration are welcome to participate on The Commuter.

Students report on the community, both at the College and in the surrounding area. This practical hands-on approach gives students exposure to situations similar to those that professional journalists encounter every day.

Courses in this program are offered primarily during the day. Contact the Admissions Office at 610.861.5500 for more information.

Outcomes

Graduates of the program will:

Journalism concentration:

  • Be critically aware of the roles, legal rights and ethical responsibilities of journalists in a multicultural society.
  • Demonstrate responsible news judgment that serves the needs of a multicultural audience.
  • Demonstrate ability to edit copy for appropriate, correct English and Associated Press (AP) style.
  • Demonstrate ability to write interesting headlines and captions fitting an article or photograph.
  • Demonstrate ability to gather material and create news content for print and the web.
  • Be able to use various narrative techniques in creating news content for print and the web.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the basic operation of desktop and web publishing tools.
  • Be able to use social media, search engine optimization and content aggregation to reach and build an intended audience.

Business Writing concentration:

  • Demonstrate ability to use journalistic style to plan and produce copy for a public relations campaign.
  • Be critically aware of the roles, legal rights and ethical responsibilities of journalists in a multicultural society.
  • Demonstrate responsible news judgment that serves the needs of a multicultural audience.
  • Demonstrate ability to edit copy for appropriate, correct English and Associated Press (AP) style.
  • Demonstrate ability to write interesting headlines and captions fitting an article or photograph.
  • Demonstrate ability to gather material and create news content for print and the web.
  • Be able to use various narrative techniques in creating news content for print and the web.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the basic operation of desktop and web publishing tools.
  • Be able to use social media, search engine optimization and content aggregation to reach and build an intended audience.

Courses

Journalism, Media and Professional Writing: Journalism Concentration

Total Credit Hours:63-64

First Semester

COMM101Introduction to Communication

3 credits

COLS101College Success

1 credits

ENGL101English I

3 credits

JOUR101Journalism and Society

3 credits

JOUR102News Editing

3 credits

JOUR104Media Publication

4 credits

Total Credit Hours:17
 

Second Semester

COMM104Media and Society

3 credits

 

CMTH122Radio Workshop

1 credits

OR

JOUR210Journalism Practicum

1 credit

 

ENGL151LEnglish II

3 credits

HIST163American History II

3 credits

MATH150Introductory Statistics

3 credits

SOCA103GPrinciples of Sociology

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:16

Third Semester

BIOS126Environmental Science

4 credits

GEOG101Peoples and the Environments of the World

3 credits

JOUR204Newswriting

3 credits

JOUR210Journalism Practicum

1 credit

POLS251State and Local Government

3 credits

General Education Elective (AH)

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:17

Fourth Semester

CMTH180Multimedia Production

3 credits

JOUR202Social Media for Writers

3 credits

JOUR201GFeature Writing

3 credits

JOUR210Journalism Practicum

1 credit

Mathematics (QL) or Science (SCI) Elective

3/4 credits

Total Credit Hours:13-14
  • Computer competencies are included in various courses in this program. Thus, completing the program automatically satisfies the computing requirement for this program.
  • One course should be designated as Diversity and Global Awareness (D).
  • Completion of SOCA103G and JOUR201G satisfies the Writing Intensive (WI) requirement for this program.
  • Students are advised to take one semester of a foreign language -- preferably in fall when more intro courses are offered -- as their Arts & Humanities Elective.
  • Students are advised to take Weather and Climate (GEOG 210 ) as a Science Elective

Students are expected to participate in The Commuter every semester.

  • Students may substitute one semester of Radio Workshop (CMTH 122) for one semester of the Journalism Practicum (JOUR 210).
  • Students are encouraged to take courses available over the summer to lessen course loads over semesters.

Journalism, Media and Professional Writing: Business Writing Concentration

Total Credit Hours:63-64
 

First Semester

COLS101College Success

1 credits

BUSA101Introduction to Business

3 credits

COMM101Introduction to Communication

3 credits

ENGL101English I

3 credits

JOUR102News Editing

3 credits

JOUR104Media Publication

4 credits

Total Credit Hours:17

Second Semester

COMM104Media and Society

3 credits

MATH150Introductory Statistics

3 credits

PSYC103Introduction to Psychology

3 credits

 

ENGL151REnglish II

3 credits

OR

ENGL151TEnglish II

3 credits

 

POLS251State and Local Government

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:15

Third Semester

BIOS126Environmental Science

4 credits

BUSA221GBusiness Communications

3 credits

ECON201Macroeconomics

3 credits

JOUR204Newswriting

3 credits

General Education Elective (AH)

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:16

Fourth Semester

CMTH180Multimedia Production

3 credits

GEOG101Peoples and the Environments of the World

3 credits

JOUR202Social Media for Writers

3 credits

JOUR203GWriting for Public Relations

3 credits

Mathematics (QL) or Science (SCI) Elective

3/4 credits

Total Credit Hours:15-16

Total Credit Hours: 63-64

  • Computer competencies are included in various courses in this program. Thus, completing the program automatically satisfies the computing requirement for this program.
  • One course should be designated as Diversity and Global Awareness (D).
  • Completion of BUSA221G and JOUR203G satisfies the Writing Intensive (WI) requirement for this program.
  • Students are advised to take one semester of a foreign language -- preferably in fall when more intro courses are offered -- as their Arts & Humanities Elective.
  • Students are advised to take Weather and Climate (GEOG 210) as a Science Elective