Bachelor of Arts
Journalism

Our degree in journalism equips you to achieve sustainable success in a rapidly evolving industry.

It takes versatile skills and adaptability to forge a sustainable journalism career in the 21st century. Oakland University’s Bachelor of Arts in Journalism provides you with the practical expertise and hands-on experience you need to choose journalism as a career. Our journalism degree keeps you current with ongoing transitions in the industry, preparing you to adapt quickly to changing technologies and business models. You’ll develop superior writing and editing skills, work in multiple media, and get real-world journalism training that stands out on a resume. You’ll graduate with a marketable journalism degree and a portfolio that exhibits your talent and gets you noticed.

It takes versatile skills and adaptability to forge a sustainable journalism career in the 21st century. Oakland University’s Bachelor of Arts in Journalism provides you with the practical expertise and hands-on experience you need to choose journalism as a career. Our journalism degree keeps you current with ongoing transitions in the industry, preparing you to adapt quickly to changing technologies and business models. You’ll develop superior writing and editing skills, work in multiple media, and get real-world journalism training that stands out on a resume. You’ll graduate with a marketable journalism degree and a portfolio that exhibits your talent and gets you noticed.

Journalism Degree: The Oakland University Advantage

Oakland University offers ideal conditions to prepare for journalism as a career. Southeast Michigan is a major media market with news organizations of every type and robust opportunities to cover stories in business, technology, politics, sports, and other subjects.

Our journalism degree excels for its:

  • Exceptional real-world opportunities. Our journalism degree requires a professional internship, but students routinely do more than one. Media organizations actively recruit our journalism majors because they have the skills and confidence to make real contributions. You’ll gain meaningful experience that helps you start your career in journalism with a competitive edge.
  • Emphasis on professionalism. Our journalism degree integrates classroom instruction with hands-on learning. Courses emphasize project-based assignments and case studies that enable you to put textbook concepts into practice. Another significant benefit of Oakland’s degree in journalism: You can start working in student-run media as a freshman, rather than waiting until your junior or senior year. 
  • Outstanding on-campus media facilities. Many journalism majors work for the student-run Oakland Post, an independent weekly newspaper that publishes daily digital updates. You can also work for Oakland’s award-winning campus radio station, produce video news segments for OUTV, and collaborate independently with student and faculty organizations to publicize events, achievements, and fundraisers.
  • Personalized instruction. Most of our journalism classes have 19 students or fewer, so you’ll benefit from one-on-one attention from instructors. Our journalism degree is led by diverse international faculty, most of whom are media veterans who’ve succeeded in journalism as a career. 
  • Career connections. Oakland’s journalism department has a high profile in Southeast Michigan and maintains ongoing partnerships with news organizations, PR firms, and other media companies. We regularly host career fairs, resume workshops, and networking events that allow you to meet potential employers and get your name out there.

What Can You Do With a Journalism Degree?

Oakland graduates have gone on to journalism careers with major news organizations and PR agencies all over the country. Many have earned graduate degrees in journalism from top institutions such as Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism and the Columbia School of Journalism. A partial list of employers who’ve hired graduates of Oakland’s journalism program includes:

  • New York Times
  • Washington Post
  • Wall Street Journal
  • CBS Sports
  • Newsweek
  • Kresge Foundation
  • Philly.com
  • Bleacher Report
  • The Weather Channel
  • Detroit Free Press
  • Detroit News
  • Fox 2 Detroit
  • WDIV Local 4
  • WXYZ Channel 7
  • WWJ News Radio
  • WJR 760 Radio

Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism: What You’ll Learn

The journalism degree includes core courses in news writing, editing, journalism ethics, and media law. You’ll also complete an internship with an off-campus media organization or Oakland University’s on-campus news bureau. The program features a minimum of 16 elective credits, with courses selected from a broad list of options. Sample elective courses in journalism include:

  • Diversity and Media in Storytelling
  • Feature Writing
  • Public Affairs Reporting
  • Sports Reporting
  • Multimedia Journalism
  • Advanced Media Design
  • Video Documentary Journalism
  • Public Relations and the News
  • Social Media and PR
  • Advertising Creative Strategy
  • Advertising Copywriting

Journalism Degree Resources

Programs Related to the Journalism Degree

Not sure if the degree in journalism is right for you? Check out these other undergraduate degree programs at Oakland, and contact our admissions team to discuss your options.

  • Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Strategic Communication
  • Bachelor of Arts in Communication
  • Bachelor of Arts in English
  • Bachelor of Science in Marketing