As a Journalism Major, You’ll Develop Skills to Report the News or Build a Brand

For people with investigative spirits or dreams of their own podcasts, nothing is more important than telling the story. A bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University gives you the practical skills and networking opportunities to succeed as a journalist and news reporter online, on television, on social media, and anywhere else you may want to work.

With hands-on experiential learning starting in your first year of college, you’ll get to take immediate advantage of exciting journalistic programs with campus news outlets and beyond. Combined with internships and many ways to realize your writing voice, our Bachelor of Journalism program is the best place to start a career in informative media.

Careers in Journalism

Ever wondered, “What can you do with a journalism degree?” Quite a lot, in fact!

A Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Ohio University unlocks a multitude of different careers in various media from print to broadcast journalism, as well as across new platforms, channels and brands. Depending on your focus and your personal preferences, you might take a job like:

• Multimedia journalist
• News producer
• News editor
• Sports journalist
• Podcaster

• Features editor
• Content creator (advertising)
• Public relations specialist
• Social media manager
• Digital media marketer

Of course, Ohio University lets you try your hand at many of these positions with internships and other experiential opportunities. By the time you graduate, you’ll have a good idea of how you want your career to evolve!

Post-grad Opportunities for Journalism Majors

A bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University’s School of Journalism empowers you to jump straight into your career right after graduation. However, you can also continue your education with our journalism master’s program and Ph.D. program, both of which are offered right at our Athens campus.

The master’s program includes a variety of professional classes on topics like mobile journalism, strategic social media and data journalism, perfect for bolstering your resume and prepping for higher-level media positions. The Ph.D. program, meanwhile, is best for students who want to teach journalism later or engage in communication research for firms, universities and other employers.

Scripps Semester in D.C.

Participate in the Scripps Semester in D.C. undergraduate program, through which you'll take classes and complete your internship requirement at the U.S. Capitol, plus have ample opportunity to learn from media industry professionals in and around Washington, D.C.

Is a Journalism Degree Worth It?

Today our news comes to us from many channels and sources, but accurate news and information is more important than ever — after all, every democratic public must be well-informed to make good decisions.   

In becoming an effective, informative journalist or other media professional, you have the power to make a real difference in the world. By providing accurate news to people, you empower them to make informed decisions. By telling their stories, you show the impact that policies and decisions have on individual lives. 

On a personal level, a journalism degree enables you to meet new people and explore unique viewpoints, constantly enriching your worldview and broadening your horizons. If you love learning new things or experiencing fresh perspectives, then a bachelor’s degree in journalism is right for you.

Student Support Resources for Journalism Majors

OHIO’s journalism degree program is so successful in large part thanks to the quality of our faculty. With an average student-to-faculty ratio of 19:1, classes are far from overfilled, and you’ll always have the opportunity to meet with professors one-on-one for personalized advice or mentoring.

Those faculty members — all of whom have lots of professional journalistic or media experience — are committed to ensuring you graduate on time. This extends to assisting with internship placements; the Scripps College of Communication helps students find over 3000 internships per year and partners with many media organizations under the broader Scripps company.

All these support resources lead to positive results for our students. Journalism students have a 75% 4-year graduation rate overall, and many of our graduates have jobs lined up in their senior years, ready for them to step into the professional world right after donning their graduation caps.

Harris Student Support Center

The OHIO Experience for Journalism Majors

The most essential experiential factor for journalism students at Ohio University is this: you get to start working as a journalist from your first year of study, not from your junior year or later. Unlike many other universities, we give you many chances to put your name and your writing out into the world with student organizations, projects and more.

From your first year, you’ll start practicing your new craft and honing your skills to become an effective, inquisitive journalist or media professional. And throughout your education, your professors and peers will form the start of your network of successful journalism colleagues. There’s no better journalism degree for preparing future reporters, storytellers and brand creators.