Journalism and Media Studies, B.A. - COLA, UNH

Undergraduate

Journalism and Media Studies

Dive into hands-on journalism from your very first class, learning to gather facts, conduct interviews, and craft compelling narratives across multiple platforms.
Degree
Bachelor of Arts
Location
Durham, NH
Courses
21*
Credit
128 hrs.*
Full-time
4 yrs.
Part-time
Varies
View course catalog
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English & Communication

The interdisciplinary Journalism & Media Studies major at UNH offers a dynamic education in media analysis and in the reporting, storytelling, and digital media skills necessary to produce robust journalism. Here you'll be able to dive into hands-on journalism from your very first class, learning to gather facts, conduct interviews, and craft compelling narratives across multiple platforms. 

With opportunities including professional internships, study abroad opportunities, and direct mentorship from accomplished journalists through our Donald Murray Visiting Journalist Program, you'll develop the critical thinking and communication skills needed to succeed in today's evolving media landscape — whether as a reporter, editor, social media producer, content creator, or media strategist.

*Number of courses and course credit hours may vary, please reach out to your academic advisor for exact requirements.

Key Links

Tuition Costs

Contact Cards

Tom Haines
Professor
Tom.Haines@unh.edu
Hamilton Smith Hall, Room 301d, Durham, NH 03824

What is journalism and media studies?

Our democracy depends on journalists who can cut through the noise and find the information upon which the public relies. Journalists are trained to report deeply, behave ethically, and tell stories clearly and compellingly. Digital news platforms are changing rapidly, yet the heart of journalism — fact gathering, observing, writing and editing — remains the same, whether you’re producing a video documentary, nonfiction podcast, or writing a feature narrative. The UNH journalism and media studies program teaches you to ask questions that elicit significant answers, to simplify the complicated and to use the digital tools needed to thrive in newsrooms. Most importantly, the program teaches you to become a great storyteller.

Why study journalism and media at UNH?

The UNH journalism and media studies program is respected nationwide for turning out highly trained professional reporters and editors. From the first week of your first journalism course, you’ll be out reporting and writing, eventually practicing other skills such as using social media to share stories, shooting video and recording audio, editing copy and writing headlines. You’ll have the opportunity to pursue internships with multiple media outlets and to study abroad. Additionally, the Donald Murray Visiting Journalist Program brings accomplished journalists to campus for week-long residencies during which they lecture, conduct classes and work with students and student media, including The New Hampshire, the award-winning, student-run newsroom on the Durham campus.

Potential careers

  • Reporter
  • Narrative writer
  • Video producer
  • Audio producer
  • Editor
  • Broadcast tv journalist
  • Social media producer
  • Content curator
  • Media strategist
  • Political advisor
  • Public relations specialist
  • Teacher 

Curriculum & Requirements

01
Program Description
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Journalism is a rapidly changing discipline that remains crucial in how we negotiate and engage with civic life. This program will provide students with the practical skills journalism demands as well as the theoretical and analytic training to navigate an evolving media landscape in thoughtful and ethical ways. The Journalism and Media Studies major offers a wide variety of courses, introducing students to interviewing, reporting, editing, narrative storytelling, and media production (the “how” of the craft of journalism) as well the rhetoric, evolution, and impact of the media and digital humanities (the “why” of journalism’s mission and role in our culture). Together, these practical skills and theoretical perspectives will prepare students for an expansive range of professional opportunities including media writing, editing, and production, and private/public communication; and will help them learn to engage with a complex information environment in whatever field they pursue.

02
Degree Plan
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Sample Degree Plan

This sample degree plan serves as a general guide; students collaborate with their academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan to meet their academic goals and program requirements.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
ENGL 401 First-Year Writing 4
CMN 455
or CMN 456
 Introduction to Media Studies
or Propaganda and Persuasion
 4
Discovery Course 4
Discovery Course 4
 Credits16
Spring
ENGL 621 Newswriting 4
CMN 596 Special Topics in Media Studies 4
Discovery Course 4
Discovery Course 4
 Credits16
Second Year
Fall
ENGL 721 Advanced Reporting 4
CMN 696W Seminar in Media Studies 4
Discovery Course 4
Foreign Language 4
 Credits16
Spring
ENGL 501 Introduction to Creative Nonfiction 4
CMN 634 Media and Politics 4
Discovery Course 4
Foreign Language 4
 Credits16
Third Year
Fall
CMN 772 Seminar in Media Theory 4
CMN 620W Global Media, Culture, and Power 4
ENGL 712 Multimedia Storytelling 4
Discovery Course 4
 Credits16
Spring
ENGL 720
or CMN 599
 Journalism Internship
or Internship
 1
Discovery Course 4
Elective Course 4
Elective Course 4
 Credits13
Fourth Year
Fall
Semester Abroad  
Discovery Course 4
 Credits4
Spring
CMN 772 Seminar in Media Theory 4
ENGL 711 Editing 4
Discovery Course 4
Elective Course 4
 Credits16
 Total Credits113
03
Student Learning Outcomes
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Program Learning Outcomes

Strengthen Writing & Storytelling Skills
  • Reporting, writing, editing, and storytelling skills necessary for a successful career in journalism and related professions.
Develop Strong Analytical Skills
  • Media literacy skills required to navigate, and innovate in our evolving media ecosystem.
Understand Historical Context
  • An ethically and historically grounded understanding of mass media systems, with special attention to the integrity of civil discourse in the context of disinformation, AI, and other emerging challenges.
photo of Mark Daniels
College of Liberal Arts (COLA)
Mark Daniels '07
I love my job. It doesn't feel like a job since I talk to professional athletes and go to sporting events for a living. I wouldn't be here, however, if it wasn't for my work ethic. That started at UNH.
11/16/2022

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