Because the study of journalism is so heavily dependent upon the written word, it’s an ideal degree program to pursue online.

Journalism programs typically include liberal arts courses, English with writing emphasis being one of the most important. Other social science courses, such as sociology, political science, economics, history, and speech are usually part of a journalism degree program.

Journalists are needed in virtually every discipline, so whether a potential student’s area of interest or expertise is in the social sciences or natural sciences, there’s sure to be a demand for writers in their chosen field, especially with larger publications. Some students choose to individualize their journalism programs and take elective courses in business, biology, computer science, or foreign language.

Schools Offering Accredited Journalism Degrees

Most major colleges and universities allow students to take at least some online courses toward their journalism degree. But some offer accredited journalism degrees, diplomas, or certificates that can be earned exclusively online. Following is a list of some:

University of Missouri Columbia Journalism School

The world’s oldest and best-known school of journalism offers two Master of Arts degrees. To enroll in either program, students must have at least three years experience in the field of journalism.
The Master of Arts in Journalism-Media Management includes courses in communication in media, economics and finance of media, and media management and leadership.

The Master of Arts in Journalism-Strategic Communications also includes courses in economics and finance of media and media management and leadership, as well as strategic communication research.

The programs are listed at http://www.mudirect.missouri.edu/degprog/jrn-media/index.shtm.

The school also offers a Master of Arts in Journalism Education degree. Students can choose from one of three options:

1. Master’s degree (Master of Education in learning and teaching with an emphasis in English education, focus in journalism education.) A 36-credit-hour program.
   
2. Missouri certification preparation, 33 credit hours.
   
3. Missouri certification preparation and Master’s degree (Master in Education.) A 36-credit-hour program.

According to the school’s website, courses for the M. A. in Journalism Education
include “news writing and reporting, editing, media ethics, mass communications theory, scholastic publications, teaching theory and best practices, creative nonfiction, and expository writing.” Information on this program is available at http://www.mudirect.missouri.edu/degprog/jrn-edu/index.shtm.

The University of Missouri Columbia is accredited by the Commission on Higher Learning of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Its School of Journalism is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC).

University of Massachusetts

The University of Massachusetts Online offers both a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Certificate in journalism, with courses, as the school’s website states, in “travel writing, sports writing, photo journalism, war reporting, science writing, arts reviewing, and citizen journalism,” among others.

Bachelor of Arts with Journalism Studies Individualized Concentrations, http://www.umassonline.net/degrees/Online-Degree-Bachelor-Journalism.cfm.
This program allows students to specialize in their particular area of interest.

Certificate of Journalism, http://www.umassonline.net/degrees/Online-Certificate-Journalism.cfm. This certification program was named a Program of Excellence by the National University Continuing Education Association. Some topics covered in the program include Introduction to Journalism, Responding to Disasters and Natural Catastrophes, Readings in Science Journalism, Readings in Global Energy Issues, Writing about Food, Travel Writing, and Journalism in an Age of Terror.

The University of Massachusetts is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

University of Memphis

The University of Memphis offers both online Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in journalism.
According to the school’s website, http://www.memphis.edu/ecampus/bajournalism.php, the online Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Public Relations teaches students to

• build awareness and a favorable image for a company or client within stories and articles found in. . . media outlets
  
• monitor. . . media channels for public comment about a company and its products
  
• manage crises that threaten company or product image
  
• build goodwill among an organization’s target market through community, philanthropic and special programs and events.
  

Information about the University of Memphis’ Master of Arts in Journalism online degree program can be found at https://umdrive.memphis.edu/g-journalism/intro.html.

The University of Memphis is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Clarion University offers a Master of Science in Mass Media Arts and Journalism online degree program. http://www.clarion.edu/27663
The 36-credit-hour program prepares students for jobs in public relations, media management, corporate communication, journalism, broadcasting, and video production. Topics covered in the program include mass communication theory, mass communication research, society, law, and media technology, professional communication writing, public relations foundations, and management of the communication process.

Clarion’s degree programs are accredited by 25 different organizations, including the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Breyer State University

Breyer State’s Bachelor of Arts in Journalism online degree program prepares students for careers as reporters/journalists, editors, staff writers, and broadcast news reporters.

Courses in the program include Society and the Press, News Reporting and Writing, Ethics in News Reporting, Proof Reading and Editing, Broadcast News Reporting, Photo Journalism, Advertising Layout/Design, Copywriting, Feature Writing and Freelance, and International Journalism. http://wwwbreyerstate.com/bachelors-journalism.htm

Although Breyer State is not accredited by any accrediting agency approved by the U. S. Department of Education, it is accredited by the Education Accreditation Association (EAA.)

Cardean University

Cardean offers both Bachelor’s and Master’s online journalism degree programs.
Information on the Bachelor of Arts in English-Journalism (a 120-credit-hour program) can be found at http://www.distance-education.org/Degrees/Programs/Bachelor-of-Arts-in-English---Journalism/Cardean-University-60.html.
The school’s Master of Arts in Communication Arts-Journalism program (36 credit hours) is described at http://www.distance-education.org/Degrees/Programs/Master-of-Arts-in-Communication-Arts---Journalism/Cardean-University-67.html.

Cardean is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council Accrediting Commission.

MUST University

MUST University offers an online degree in journalism.
http://www.mustuniversity.com/Schools-Majors/Social-Sciences/Journalism.html
Topics covered, as stated in the school’s website, include “Journalism, Broadcast Journalism, Fundamentals of Online Journalism, Copyediting, News Writing, Media, Culture and Technology, Broadcast Television Industry, Online Journalism Strategies, Visual Communication, and Mass Communication Law.”

MUST also offers degree programs from its school of Social Sciences with specializations in journalism. The programs include: AA-Journalism, MA-Journalism, DSSc-Journalism, PhD-Journalism, and undergraduate and graduate diplomas and certificates.

MUST is accredited by the International Accreditation Organization (IAO).

Employment Opportunities for Journalism Graduates

A degree in journalism can open the door to a wide range of job opportunities. Generally, salaries for occupations in the broadcast media are higher than for those in the print media and higher in larger metropolitan companies than in smaller publications or broadcast stations.
Following are some jobs open to journalism graduates. The job outlook and prospects for growth are from the U. S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), covering the years 2008-2018. The current average annual salaries are taken from the website www.indeed.com.

News Analysts, Reporters, and Correspondents

The BLS predicts a moderate decline in the number of these positions through 2018. Competition is described as “keen” at large stations, papers, networks, and magazines. The best opportunities for new graduates to land a job are at small stations, papers, and online publications and magazines.

The average annual salary for a news analyst or correspondent is $73,000 and for a reporter, $35,000.

Radio and Television Announcers

The BLS predicts a slow decline in the number of these positions due to the increasing popularity of satellite radio and other alternative media. Jobs at small stations are low-paying but offer the best opportunities to gain experience. There is also much competition for jobs as radio and TV announcers.

The average annual salary for a radio announcer is $40,000 and for a TV announcer, $52,000.

Authors, Writers, and Editors

The BLS predicts a growth of about 8 percent for these jobs to 2018. Competition is “keen” at established newspapers and magazines due to a greater focus on these companies’ online publishing ventures.

The average annual salary for authors is $73,000; for writers, $60,000; and for editors, $49,900.

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