Journalism and Mass Communication

www.linnbenton.edu/journalism

The Journalism and Mass Communication program emphasizes writing for print and online media. It prepares students for transfer to a four-year college or university and provides entry-level skills for those who want to change careers.

The journalism program also maintains a co-curricular relationship with The Commuter, LBCC’s award-winning student newspaper and online information source. The Commuter offers first- and second-year students valuable training and media experience.

Students who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university can obtain a solid foundation of journalism skills at LBCC, from reporting and photography, to writing, editing and online media. Acquiring these skills will prepare them to excel in a bachelor’s degree program.

The Associate of Science Degree with an emphasis in Journalism and Mass Communication is intended for students planning to transfer to Oregon State University. This transfer degree includes 25 lower-division journalism credits, as outlined below. Graduates can transfer to OSU and major in Digital Communication Arts (in the New Media Communications Program).

The Associate of Arts (Oregon Transfer), also known as the AAOT, is a general transfer degree and does not include program requirements. It is important that you identify the four-year school you plan to attend. Students are encouraged to contact an advisor at the institution to which they plan to transfer, to coordinate classes that meet that institution’s program requirements.

Students who plan to transfer to the University of Oregon should pursue the Associate of Arts (Oregon Transfer) degree and should include journalism within their Arts and Letters requirements (JN 201, JN 216, JN 217 and/or JN 134). Journalism students also are encouraged to include several terms of the Journalism Lab (JN215A) and the Design and Production Lab (JN215B) among their electives to obtain additional writing and editing experience. See the graduation requirements for the Associate of Arts (Oregon Transfer) degree in the front section of this catalog.

Facilities for the Journalism program include The Commuter’s modern computer-equipped newsroom overlooking the courtyard, as well as access to other computer and electronic imaging labs on campus. The Commuter is online at www.commuter.linnbenton.edu.

Program Requirements

Students who want to succeed in LBCC’s Journalism program are highly encouraged to complete Writing 121 before enrolling in the college’s Journalism courses. Another General Education Requirement for the Journalism major is completion of Math 105 or a higher-level math course.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete an Associate of Science with an emphasis in Journalism and Mass Communication will demonstrate:

• Understanding of the role and significance of journalism in a democratic society.
• Ability to recognize news values and apply them in editorial decision-making.
• Ability to research and synthesize facts needed to report on news events and issues.
• Competence in writing news and feature articles, as well as online journalism.
• Ability to apply legal and ethical principles in news judgment.