Journalism Program
Journalism, Media & Professional Writing
Humanities & Social Sciences
Degree awarded: Associate in Arts
Program Narrative
Like The Commuter website you’re visiting right now, NCC’s Journalism, Media & Professional Writing Program is moving forward in an ever-evolving media environment.
The major provides the foundation for a career in the dynamic, digital world of the news media and professional communications in the 21st century. The major prepares students to transfer into a four-year degree program. The program emphasizes practical skills in reporting and writing for print and the web for students with no experience and provides those with some experience an opportunity to enhance their skills.
Students taking the journalism concentration in this major focus on reporting news of interest, relevance and usefulness to the college community, especially its students. This approach stresses “learning by doing,” which means students will work in the field covering issues, trends and events at the school, as well as those outside the school that affect the NCC community.
Students taking the business writing concentration will focus on news reporting and writing for publication, but with additional emphasis on skills specific to business communication in a multicultural society.
Graduates with reporting and writing skills and a baccalaureate degree can expect to begin their careers at regional newspapers, web publications or other news outlets, as well as public relations firms, corporate communications offices, or other employers who rely on communications specialists.
Program Features
Students in the journalism concentration are required to participate in the flagship of the program, The Commuter, the student news operation published online and in print. Students in the business writing concentration are welcome to participate on The Commuter.
Students report on the community, both at the College and in the surrounding area. This practical hands-on approach gives students exposure to situations similar to those that professional journalists encounter every day.
Courses in this program are offered primarily during the day.
Contact the Admissions Office at 610-861-5500 for more information.
Program outcomes
Graduates of the program will:
Journalism concentration:
- Be critically aware of the roles, legal rights and ethical responsibilities of journalists in a multicultural society.
- Demonstrate responsible news judgment that serves the needs of a multicultural audience.
- Demonstrate ability to edit copy for appropriate, correct English and Associated Press (AP) style.
- Demonstrate ability to write interesting headlines and captions fitting an article or photograph.
- Demonstrate ability to gather material and create news content for print and the web.
- Be able to use various narrative techniques in creating news content for print and the web.
- Demonstrate understanding of the basic operation of desktop and web publishing tools.
- Be able to use social media, search engine optimization and content aggregation to reach and build an intended audience.
Business Writing concentration:
- Demonstrate ability to use journalistic style to plan and produce copy for a public relations campaign.
- Be critically aware of the roles, legal rights and ethical responsibilities of journalists in a multicultural society.
- Demonstrate responsible news judgment that serves the needs of a multicultural audience.
- Demonstrate ability to edit copy for appropriate, correct English and Associated Press (AP) style.
- Demonstrate ability to write interesting headlines and captions fitting an article or photograph.
- Demonstrate ability to gather material and create news content for print and the web.
- Be able to use various narrative techniques in creating news content for print and the web.
- Demonstrate understanding of the basic operation of desktop and web publishing tools.
- Be able to use social media, search engine optimization and content aggregation to reach and build an intended audience.
| JOURNALISM, MEDIA & PROFESSIONAL WRITING | ||
| Associate in Arts Degree | ||
| Journalism Concentration | ||
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| First semester | ||
| JOUR 104 | Media Publication | 4 |
| CMTH 102 | Speech Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 101 | English I | 3 |
| JOUR 101 | Journalism & Society | 3 |
| JOUR 102 | News Editing | 3 |
| TOTAL=16 | ||
| Second semester | ||
| CMTH 104 | Mass Media & Society | 3 |
| ENGL 151L | English II (Literature) | 3 |
| JOUR 103 | Newswriting | 3 |
| POLS 251 | State & Local Government | 3 |
| HIST 163 | American History II | 3 |
| JOUR 110 | Journalism Practicum | 1 |
| TOTAL=16 | ||
| Third semester | ||
| JOUR 201G | Feature Writing | 3 |
| SOCA 103G | Principles of Sociology | 3 |
| ———– | Arts & Humanities Elective(AH) | 3 |
| ———– | Mathematics Elective (QL) | 3 |
| ———– | Mathematics/Science Elective (QL/SCI) | 3/4 |
| JOUR 110 | Journalism Practicum | 1 |
| TOTAL=16/17 | ||
| Fourth semester | ||
| JOUR 202 | Social Media for Writers | 3 |
| CMTH 180 | Multimedia Production | 3 |
| GEOG 101 | World Geography | 3 |
| ———— | Science Elective(SCI) | 4 |
| JOUR 110 | Journalism Practicum | 1 |
| TOTAL=14 | ||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 62/63 | |
Computer competencies are included in various courses in this program. Completing the program automatically satisfies the computing requirement for this program.
| Business Writing Concentration | ||
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| First semester | ||
| JOUR 104 | Media Publication | 4 |
| CMTH 102 | Speech Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 101 | English I | 3 |
| BUSA 101 | Introduction to Business | 3 |
| JOUR 102 | News Editing | 3 |
| TOTAL=16 | ||
| Second semester | ||
| CMTH 104 | Mass Media and Society | 3 |
| ENGL 151R or T | English II(Report or Technical) | 3 |
| JOUR 103 | Newswriting | 3 |
| POLS 251 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| PSYC 103 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| TOTAL=15 | ||
| Third semester | ||
| BUSA 221G | Business Communication | 3 |
| ———— | Mathematics/Science Elective (QL/SCI) | 3/4 |
| ———— | Arts & Humanities Elective (AH) | 3 |
| MATH 150 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| ECON 201 | Macroeconomics | 3 |
| TOTAL=15/16 | ||
| Fourth semester | ||
| JOUR 202 | Social Media for Writers | 3 |
| JOUR 203G | Public Relations | 3 |
| CMTH 180 | Multimedia Production | 3 |
| GEOG 101 | World Geography | 3 |
| ———– | Science Elective (SCI) | 4 |
| TOTAL=16 | ||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 62/63 | |
Computer competencies are included in various courses in this program. Completing the program automatically satisfies the computing requirement for this program.