About the department

Students graduating from Western with a degree in journalism should have a strong liberal arts background, skills in critical thinking and analysis, an aggressiveness in gathering diverse information that may not be readily available, and an ability to write clearly and reasonably quickly on complex topics. Graduates should be prepared to present this information to the public in a clear and concise manner, utilizing the latest in information technology. Graduates should have a sense of commitment to see that democratic processes in society are served by the timely disclosure of quality information to the reading, viewing and listening public.

In 2004, the journalism department moved into the new Communications Facility located next to the Environmental Studies building on south campus. The Western Front, Klipsun and The Planet are enjoying new newsrooms.

In 1988, 1992 and again in 1996, the department was recognized by the Education Committee of the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Association for "general excellence in newspaper-related education," and given unencumbered cash grants. Western is the only journalism program in Washington to consistently achieve this status.

When the journalism department moved into the new Communications Facility, the journalism computer lab was updated with 25 new G5 computers.

Student publications and their writers and editors consistently win the top awards in regional Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) contests. Many students have been awarded scholarships by journalism organizations.

Department faculty combine professional and academic training and expertise. All faculty members have extensive professional backgrounds in journalism, as well as appropriate graduate degrees. They are regularly published in both academic and professional publications.

At the heart of the journalism program are its writing courses: newswriting, editing and design, reporting and feature writing. Students in all of the department's sequences take these courses.

Students planning a journalism major may obtain advising information from the online Department Brochure, in the department office, Communications Facility 255, (360)650-3252 or FAX (360)650-2848, or by writing the department at Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9161. E-mail to the department account, journalism@wwu.edu will be forwarded to the appropriate parties.

The department offers three sequences, all centered around the writing courses, but each offering special attention in the area of concentration. See our graduation requirements for information about the news-editorial and public relations sequences, and the joint major in environmental studies/journalism. Individual course descriptions are also available, as well as the course schedule for the 2007-2008 academic year.

Majors and minors are required to gain practical experience on student media. Majors must take at least five staff courses, minors three. The majority are required with the twice-weekly student newspaper, The Western Front, but one is required with the twice-quarterly student magazine, Klipsun. All journalism students, including environmental journalists can also work on The Planet, the quarterly environmental magazine.

Finally, majors undertake field internships of at least six weeks working under supervision in professional newsrooms, public relations agencies or other organizations appropriate to student needs and approved by the department. Typically, internships are during the summer but may also be arranged during the regular academic year.