Bachelor of Science in Communications and Journalism

Washington University provides students with a top-quality education in the arts and skills of communications and journalism within the framework of a well-rounded liberal arts education. The program equips graduates to succeed in today’s rapidly changing communications environment, including fields of business, journalism (print, broadcast, or Internet), health care, law, social work, and many others (Request Info).

Degree candidates in the Communications and Journalism program learn excellent writing, editing, and presentation skills, and may complement communications studies with a rich variety of other subjects offered through the many academic divisions at Washington University, including Arts & Sciences, Business, Engineering, Social Work, and Visual Arts. To stay up to date with events and news in the C&J Department at Washington University, visit the website at http://admissions.wustl.edu/About/Academics/programs/Pages/Journalism.aspx

Communications and Journalism students may concentrate in:

• Communications: focusing on business communications, marketing, public relations and advertising; or
• Journalism: emphasizing news reporting, writing, storytelling, and editing.

The curriculum provides students exposure and experience in both areas, regardless of one’s particular interest and focus. Additionally, the courses emphasize media literacy and criticism to raise students’ awareness and sensitivity to context, and to help them develop a more analytical understanding of the content delivered by various kinds of media.

Communications and Journalism courses also expose students to new forms of communications while always stressing the social and moral issues posed by the media. Upper-level courses offer advanced study in topical areas associated with communications and media, such as ethics, politics, and public policy.

Communications and Journalism instructors are working professionals in public relations, marketing, advertising, print, broadcast, and Internet journalism. These seasoned teachers making real-life decisions in the workplace share their insights and experiences with their students. Program instructors understand that students learn best by practicing and honing the skills that will make them accomplished practitioners. Accordingly, Communications and Journalism students may secure internships with local corporations, agencies, and a variety of media operations including newspapers and other print media, St. Louis television, cable, and radio stations, and national broadcast and cable operations.

Requirements for the Major

If you plan to major in Communications and Journalism, you must have a firm grasp of writing and grammar skills. Before being admitted to a communications and journalism major, you must demonstrate proficiency in writing by completing the two-course English Composition sequence with a B- or better and must submit at least one writing sample at the time of application. Additionally, you should plan to augment your major in Communications and Journalism with additional courses in the liberal arts such as economics, history, literature, and political science.

All University College undergraduate students must satisfy the same general-education requirements.  Requirements specific to this major include:

Required Core Courses (30 units)

U48 210 Introduction to Mass Media 
U48 211 Introduction to Journalism 
U48 262 Introduction to Strategic Communication 
U48 2151 Professional Writing, Speaking, and Presentation OR U48 2111 Public Speaking 
U48 222 Principles of Reporting and Interviewing 
U48 226 Introduction to Broadcast Journalism 
U48 3451 Copy Editing: Basic Editorial Skills 
U48 328 Online Journalism OR U48 342 Web Site Management OR U48 218 Web Site Design and Development I 
U48 370 Communications Law U48 
U48 416 Ethics of Journalism OR U22 234 Business Ethics

Communications and Journalism Elective Courses (15 units)

You must complete an additional 15 units of upper-level course work in communications and journalism to reflect your particular interests. Of these, at least 6 units must be drawn from 400-level seminars, special topics, or internships. No more than 6 units of internship or independent study credit may count toward the major.

Courses

U48 203 Writing for Business Communication
U48 210 Introduction to Mass Media
U48 211 Introduction to Journalism
U48 218 Web Site Design and Development I
U48 222 Principles of Reporting and Interviewing
U48 226 Introduction to Broadcast Journalism
U48 350 Public Relations
U48 280 Using Everyday Technology
U48 2901 Famous African-American Journalists
U48 305 Market Research and Communications Strategies
U48 3101 History of American Journalism
U48 315 Sports Reporting and Writing
U48 316 Sports, Media, and Society
U48 3161 Entertainment Journalism
U48 318 Advanced Web Site Design and Development
U48 322 Writing About the World of Food
U48 323 The Future of News
U48 326 Blogs to Wikis
U48 328 Online Journalism
U48 330 Photojournalism
U48 342 Web Site Management
U48 344 Feature Article Writing
U48 3451 Copy Editing: Basic Editorial Skills
U48 350 Public Relations
U48 361 The Story of Murder
U48 370 Communications Law
U48 371 Advanced Photojournalism
U48 372 Reputation Management
U48 380 Beat Reporting
U48 4101 Advertising Campaign Competition
U48 416 Ethics of Journalism
U48 421 Reporting the Middle East
U48 452 Media Internship
U48 453 Public Relations and Advertising Internship

Forms

Printable Application for Admission to the degree program
Printable Degree Requirement Worksheet
Transcript Release Form

Faculty

Joe Bonwich has been a food writer and restaurant critic for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch since 2002. Prior to joining the Post, he was the freelance restaurant critic for the Riverfront Times from 1996 until 2002 and previously wrote about food and restaurants for the St. Louis Sun and St. Louis Magazine. In 2001 his editors nominated him for a James Beard Award for his restaurant criticism, and in 2003 the Let's Eat section of the Post-Dispatch won the James Beard Award for best food section with a circulation of less than 300,000 and achieved subsequent nominations in 2004 and 2006. Bonwich holds an honors bachelor's degree in mathematical computer science and economics from Saint Louis University and a master's degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. He has been married to artist Jennifer Shipman for 19 years, and the couple has five daughters. Accordingly, he has no spare time. Course: Writing about the World of Food

Steve Boriss earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of Rochester and holds an MBA from the University of Michigan. Before joining CAIT, Boriss was a marketing and public relations consultant and held management positions at Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble. His hobbies include reading, travel and woodworking. He is the leader of the St. Louis Townhall Meetup, a political-discussion club. Boriss' blog is at thefutureofnews.com. Course: The Future of News

Jessica Z. Brown is an award-winning communications professional with more than 30 years experience, including newspaper reporting and photography, TV news, video production, corporate marketing communications, customer-service management and education consulting. She is founder and president of Gateway Media Literacy Partners, Inc., a not-for-profit citizen organization comprising public-, private-, volunteer- and independent-sector members. Brown speaks widely to professional and parent groups on the importance of media literacy education as a means to sound economic development and healthy communities. Earlier in her career, she was a television producer and  on-air reporter at St. Louis’ NBC station, KSDK-TV, producing writing and editing for “Midday AM,” a daily live news program. She also was Missouri’s public information officer for the Women’s International Year Conference.  Before coming to Missouri, she was a newspaper reporter-photographer for the Newtown Bee in Newtown, CT, and a freelance writer and photographer. Brown received her master’s in communications, specializing in interactive media and media literacy, from Webster University and her B.A. in journalism from Northeastern University. An avid American pottery collector, she is married to a longtime professor, Curtis Billhymer.  They have two daughters, Leslie and Jacqueline Billhymer, whose lives they follow closely. Brown is fluent in French.       

Robert Duffy, who holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Washington University, was an editor and staff writer at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for more than 30 years before retiring in 2005. He was a founder of the West End Word, a weekly newspaper in St. Louis, and has written articles for Smithsonian magazine, U.S. News & World Report, Modernism magazine, the Arch City Chronicle and the Riverfront Times. Duffy is a member and an alumnus of Leadership St. Louis and a two-time judge for the Pulitzer Prizes. As an instructor, his goal is to give students a solid introduction to journalism and, through that, an interest in community building. Duffy is an avid runner and cyclist. Courses: Introduction to Journalism, Writing Opinions to Change Minds, Media Criticism, Hurricane Katrina and the Supreme Court: A Stormy Perspective, Entertainment Journalism

Ava Ehrlich is news-planning manager for KSDK-Channel 5. She was previously executive producer for KSDK, where she developed one of the most respected internship programs in the country and where she continues to mentor Washington University journalism students. The winner of more than 20 local Emmy Awards as well as many other honors, Ehrlich also worked six years as a producer at WXYZ in Detroit, a reporter and news editor for KMOX Radio and a reporter and editor for Lerner Newspapers. She holds both a bachelor's and master's of journalism from Northwestern University and a Master of Arts in urban affairs from Occidental College. She has been a fellow of the Coro Foundation and the Danforth Foundation. Courses: Introduction to Broadcast Journalism, Talking Back to Your TV

Wendi Fitzgerald began her career as a professional photographer in the U.S. Air Force in Alaska. After separating from her military service, she landed her first newspaper job at the Anchorage Times. She then studied photojournalism at the University of Missouri - Columbia. She was a staff photographer at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for 13 years and photo editor at the Wisconsin State Journal. Today, Fitzgerald earns her living as a freelance photographer. Her work has appeared in local publications as well as national magazines such as Seventeen. Her clients include the Repertory Theater, Fleishman-Hillard Public Relations and The Lawrence Group. Courses: Photojournalism, Advanced Photojournalism

Todd C. Frankel is an enterprise reporter with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch who specializes in narrative writing.  His stories have won repeated national recognition, including a National Headliners Award for feature writing, an American Society of Newspaper Editors award for deadline writing and a Society of Professional Journalists award for feature writing. His articles were published in the 2008-2009 Best Newspaper Writing book. He was a member of the newsroom team that was a 2009 Pulitzer Prize finalist for breaking news. Frankel focuses on the overlooked story, such as one man’s unlikely search for the truth behind a $1 million bill, or the racehorse headed for the slaughterhouse that suddenly found luck on its side. He previously taught at the University of Charleston (W.Va.), and has worked at newspapers in Washington state, West Virginia and Kentucky. He holds a BA in English from the University of Delaware. A native of Washington, DC, Frankel lives in south St. Louis with his wife and young son. He has been an instructor in communications and journalism since 2009. His course is Writing Feature Articles. 

Barbara Friedman holds a BA in Media Communications from Webster University, where she also serves as an adjunct instructor. A freelance journalist since 1989, she has published in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, St. Louis Magazine and The Riverfront Times. A founding member of the St. Louis Independent Journalists Association, she also travels around the country training reporters in the use of computer technology for the National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting. Courses: Computer-Assisted Reporting; Writing for Mass Media.

Scott Granneman is a consultant, educator, and author. As a consultant for Bryan Consulting, he works with small- and medium-sized businesses and non-profits to bring them the beneficial uses of technology. In particular, as the lead architect of the Bryan Consulting Content Management System (CMS), he envisions, designs, and helps develop new extensions for the CMS that benefit all of the company's clients. As an educator, Scott has taught thousands of people of all ages - from pre-teens to senior citizens - on a wide variety of topics, including literature, education, and technology. As his focus has shifted in recent years to Linux and other open source technologies, he has worked to bring knowledge of these powerful new directions in software to people at all levels of technical skill. As an author, Scott has written articles about computer and Internet security and privacy for SecurityFocus, the largest community of security professionals on the Internet, and Linux Magazine. Recently he was awarded the post of monthly columnist for SecurityFocus, with op/ed pieces to focus on general topics of security. He is currently working on a book about software for the Linux operating system.

Trudy Hamilton is director of communications for Ascension Health, the nation's largest Catholic and largest nonprofit health system, with 100,000 associates serving patients through a network of hospitals and related health facilities in 20 states and the District of Columbia. Trudy works with a team of communications professionals who are responsible for the strategic communications Ascension Health. Her focus is on media relations, internal and external communications and special projects. Prior to her tenure with Ascension Health, Trudy was with SSM Health Care. Before then, she was in not-for-profit management. She has a MA in Communications from Webster University and a BA in English from Marymount College of Kansas. She is a native of St. Louis. She is president of the Public Relations Society of America, St. Louis Chapter. Courses: Strategic Planning for Communications Professional, Integrated Marketing Communications. 

Ellen Harris is the author of two nonfiction books:  “Guarding the Secrets” about a St. Louis honor killing in a family of Palestinians and “Dying to Get Married,” an account of domestic violence in the criminal justice system.  A former newspaper reporter, Harris’ has appeared in The New York Times, Newsweek, St. Louis magazine, the St. Louis American, the Post-Dispatch and the St. Louis Journalism Review.  She’s written essays recently for the Belles Lettres [correct spelling] published by Washington University’s Center for the Humanities as well as book reviews for the center’s monthly, Figure in the Carpet. She covered the federal and state courts for 15 years for KMOV-TV news where she produced exclusive interviews with U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Harry Blackmun, rock ‘n roller Chuck Berry and oceanographer Jacques Cousteau.  The latter received an Emmy Award.  She studied architectural history in graduate school at Washington University where she earned a BA in art istory.  She enjoys reading, cooking, dogs and travel.  She has been teaching The Story of Murder course for 13 years and has recently added History of American Journalism and How the Black Press Changed America. She and her husband and dachshund live near the campus.

Sid Hastings  is a St. Louis-based photographer, picture editor and multimedia producer with more than 20 years experience creating, managing and editing award-winning photographic coverage of peoples, places and cultures. Before launching Sid Hastings LLC in 2008, he worked as a picture editor at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Copley Chicago Newspapers, the online photo agency Corbis and the National Geographic Society. He has also done photography at those organizations and as staff photographer at The Montgomery Journal in Rockville, Md., and The Times-Reporter in New Philadelphia, Ohio. He has produced online and event-based multimedia projects for the Post-Dispatch, National Geographic and the Corbis Corporation. Hastings holds a B.A. in history from The College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio, and a M.A. in photography from Ohio University's School of Visual Communications in Athens. He has also participated in workshops associated with The Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Fla.; Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, and the NPPA / Stan Kalish Picture Editing Workshop at Marquette University in Milwaukee. His work has appeared in many national and regional publications, including The Washington Post, the New York Post, the Baltimore Sun, The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch, The Kansas City Star, the Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune and The Sun of Vancouver, B.C.. He has been a faculty member at the annual Missouri Photo Workshop and serves on the national board of the American Society of Picture Professionals. He has taught at University College since 2009. His course is Multimedia Journalism: A Practical Introduction.

Charles B. Henderson has some 26 years of experience in public relations, including media relations, crisis communications, and employee communications. He has worked for two Fortune 100 companies, a major trade association, a real estate development firm, and several nonprofit organizations. Currently, he serves as the senior media relations specialist for the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Public Relations from the University of Southern California. Courses: Crisis Communications

Jane Henderson has been book editor at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for 15 years. She grew up in the St. Louis area and graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with degrees in journalism and English literature. She cut short her work as a graduate student in English to join the copy desk of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat during its dying days in the 1980s. Then she went to the Hartford Courant newspaper, where she was an assistant metropolitan editor. When Henderson returned to St. Louis, she was bccame an editor and writer with the Post-Dispatch’s feature department for more than 20 years. As book editor, she assigns and edits book reviews, choosing from some 300 or so new books each week. She has written stories about book trends and interviewed many authors, from Salman Rushdie and Joan Didion to E.L. Doctorow and Orhan Pamuk. Usually, but not always, that’s a pleasurable thing. She has taught Entertainment Journalism and Writing Feature Articles and, since 2007, has concentrated on Introduction to Copy Editing. Henderson has two children and lives in Compton Heights in south St. Louis, where she raises backyard chickens. She also enjoys gardening. Click here to visit her blog.

Suzanne Holroyd, Ph.D., APR is a Vice President at The Vandiver Group, a St. Louis-area strategic communications firm. At The Vandiver Group, she leads a variety of projects on market research environmental issues, crisis communication, strategic planning, image management and media relations. Prior to joining TVG, she was with a multi-national public relations firm, where she managed several nationwide grassroots campaigns as well as media relations and product research efforts. Suzanne worked at The RAND Corporation for nine years where she led a variety of research and analysis projects for governmental and non-governmental organizations, resulting in the publication of several public reports. She holds a Bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia, a master's degree in international affairs from George Washington University, and a Master's and Ph.D. (With Distinction) in political science from the University of Southern California. Courses: Integrated Marketing Communications, Market Research and Communication Strategies, and Business and Public Policy.

Repps Hudson, co-coordinator of the Communications and Journalism program, is a business columnist and reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, where he has worked since 1985. Previously, he was an editorial writer for the Post-Dispatch, specializing in the Middle East, Asia, the Missouri General Assembly, and environmental and agricultural issues. He also has worked as a reporter and editorial writer for the Kansas City Times, where he was a co-recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in 1982 for local news reporting and commentary on the failure of the skywalks in the Hyatt Regency Hotel. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Missouri - Kansas City and a Master of International Relations from the Johns Hopkins University's Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. Hudson was 1993-1994 Media Fellow of the U.S. Japan Society. In 2004, he was recognized as University College's teacher of the year. He enjoys reading, writing book reviews, cooking, traveling and working and relaxing at his family farm in Carroll County, Missouri. He is an Army veteran of the Vietnam War. Courses: Editorial Writing and Commentary, America at War: Vietnam to Iraq.

Maud Kelly is a writing instructor, freelance copywriter, and published poet. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Montana-Missoula and a Master's of Fine Arts in creative writing from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Before returning to school for her master's degree, she worked for several years as a copywriter, concept developer, and strategist and would be there still if she didn't love teaching so much. She currently teaches at Webster University and University of Missouri-St. Louis's Pierre Laclede Honors College.

Jeremy Kohler has been an instructor in Communications and Journalism at Washington University since 2003. He is an investigative reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and has also be published in Esquire magazine, IRE Journal and The Crime Report. His reporting has won several national honors and was a finalist with IRE (Investigative Reporters and Editors), Dart and Livingston. He earned his B.A. in journalism from the University of Connecticut in 1994. He is married to fellow Post-Dispatch journalist Nancy Cambria. They live in Bel-Nor and have two sons, which explains why he loves going to Little League games. Courses: Principles of Reporting and Interviewing; Beat Reporting in a World of New Media.

Michael MacCambridge holds a Bachelor of Arts from Creighton University and Master of Science from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, where he also served as an adjunct professor. His recent book, America's Game: The Epic Story of How Pro Football Captured A Nation, was published by Random House and named by The Washington Post as one of the most distinguished works of nonfiction in 2004. The book also won the Nelson Ross Award, given by the Professional Football Researchers Association for outstanding achievement in pro football research and history. The paperback version was published by Vintage in 2005. His first book was The Franchise: A History of Sports Illustrated Magazine, described by the Boston Globe as "one of the great sports-book reads of all time." In 1999 he was the editor and a contributing writer for the New York Times bestseller ESPN SportsCentury, a retrospective of sports in the 20th century that included essays by David Halberstam, Joyce Carol Oates and Gerald Early, among others. In 2005, MacCambridge edited The ESPN College Football Encyclopedia, which was hailed by Sports Illustrated as the Bible of the sport. MacCambridge's freelance work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Sports Illustrated, GQ and many other publications. From 1988 to 1995, MacCambridge was a columnist and critic at the Austin American-Statesman and wrote about movies, music and popular culture. He has been an adjunct professor at Washington University since 1997. The father of two children, Miles and Ella, he lives in St. Louis. Courses: Introduction to Mass Media; Sports, Media and Society.

Joe Martineau, who holds a JD from St. Louis University, is an attorney for Lewis, Rice and Fingerish, where he specializes in mass media law, representing media interests throughout the country, including theSt. Louis Post-Dispatch. A member of the Media Law Committee of the Missouri Bar, and the forum committee on communications law of the American Bar Association, he has written for the Missouri Bar Journal and other publications on such issues as cameras in the courtroom, libel, defamation and invasion of privacy. Courses: Communications Law.

Steven Phipps has over 25 years' teaching experience. His degrees include a doctorate in Radio-TV-Film from the University of Missouri at Columbia and a master's degree in Speech Communication from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Dr. Phipps' research interests have tended to focus on historical and legal aspects of the media, with a particular emphasis on legal and regulatory issues as they pertain to broadcasting. Several of his published articles concern pirate (unlicensed) broadcasting, scarcity of broadcast channels, early development of shortwave, and utilization of theatrical plays and players in early motion pictures. He has taught courses in broadcasting, mass communication, cinema, communication technology, mass communication law, audio production, video production, documentary and experimental film and video, media aesthetics, international broadcasting, history of broadcasting, communication theory, news writing, media writing,advertising, public relations, public speaking, business and professional speaking, organizational communication, small group communication, intercultural communication, family communication, health communication, and interpersonal communication.

Michele Ryan has more than 15 years of marketing and public relations experience in a variety of sectors including corporate, health care, publishing, associations/non-profit, and higher education. She has worked with entrepreneur health care and technology companies and also with historically rich consumer and membership organizations ranging in scope from a 20,000 employee global corporation based in Amsterdam to a hospital and medical group in St. Louis, and her own consultancy in Washington D.C. and St. Louis. Michele has served on the Boards of the Public Relations Society of America, The Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis, Community Service Public Relations Council, and the St. Louis Writers’ Guild. She earned the annual President’s Award for Outstanding Service from a chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. Her memberships include the World Affairs Council of Washington D.C. and the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Journalism from Washington University. Michele has taught at Washington University for a decade. Courses: Public Relations, Advanced Public Relations, Writing for Business Communication, Praxis: Communication That Works

Del Schwinke is the Director of Retail Services for Geile-Leon Marketing Communications, Inc. (a full-service St. Louis based advertising and marketing company). Del is also a consultant for Urban and Associates, Boston, Massachusetts (an international newspaper consulting firm). He began his advertising career with the St. Louis Globe-Democrat and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Del is a vice president of the Advertising Club of Greater St. Louis. He also has served as chairman of the National Sunday Magazine Conference and on the newsletter and planning committees of the Newspaper Association of America. Del was the recipient of the D.E.C.A. Award (Distributive Education Clubs of America) from the Hazelwood School District in appreciation for his contribution from 1985-1991. He was an adjunct professor at the International University in Vienna, Austria for the 2001 Spring/Summer school year. He has been honored "2001 Educator of the Year" by the Ninth District of the American Advertising Federation. He is an alumnus of Washington University, where he received a B.S. in Business Administration. Courses: Introduction to Advertising, Advertising Campaign Competition.

Dale Singer is a native St. Louisan who graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Washington University in 1971 with a BA in English literature. He began his journalism career with United Press International while still in college. He worked there until 1980, when he joined the staff of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. At the Post, he was a business reporter and editor, education reporter, editorial writer and assistant editor of the editorial page and online news editor for the newspaper's Web site, STLtoday.com. He left the Post in 2008 and joined the staff of the St. Louis Beacon, a nonprofit online-only news site, where he is an editor and reporter. Dale has taught at University College since 2001, when he created a course in online journalism. He later took over the journalism ethics course. He wants to ensure that future journalists have a solid grounding in the important basics of today's profession of newsgathering, reporting and editing.
He and his wife, Merle, have two adult children who live in New York City. They also have a very spoiled Bichon, Teddy. In his spare time, Dale likes to read, exercise, listen to music and watch movies. He teaches Journalism Ethics.

Undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs offered by University College are offered through Arts & Sciences at Washington University.  Business-related programs in University College are not accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International).

To contact University College, telephone (314) 935-6700, or E-mail ucollege@artsci.wustl.edu.