Program Overview
Diederich College of Communication
The Diederich College of Communication offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields of communication.
Undergraduate Programs
The college provides undergraduate majors in:
- Advertising
- Communication Studies
- Corporate Communication
- Digital Media
- Film and Media Studies
- Journalism
- Public Relations
- Sports Communication
- Theatre Arts
Undergraduate Majors At A Glance
The college offers a comprehensive overview of its undergraduate majors, including course requirements and program descriptions.
Undergraduate Minors At A Glance
In addition to its undergraduate majors, the college also offers minors in:
- Advertising
- Communication Studies
- Corporate Communication
- Digital Media
- Public Relations
- Theatre Arts
- Dance
- Family Studies
- Film and Media Studies
- Fine Arts
- Health Communication
- Sports Communication
- Music
Graduate Degrees and Programs
The college offers graduate programs, including an Accelerated Degree Program, with details on admission requirements and tuition and financial aid.
Journalism Program
Journalism Statement
The journalism and media studies department offers a statement in support of journalists and a free press.
Journalism That Matters
The journalism major is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to become socially responsible journalists and storytellers. Students learn to gather, synthesize, and present news and information using various storytelling techniques and platforms.
Experiential Learning
Majors are strongly encouraged to pursue a co-curricular path that includes working for The Marquette Wire, the college's award-winning student media program. Students can also obtain internships, work for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, and/or work with an O'Brien Fellow in Public Service Journalism.
Think Digital, Be Global
Students learn to report on the world using state-of-the-art computers, television, radio, editing, graphic platforms, and advanced interactive digital equipment.
Promote the People's Right to Know and Be Informed
Students learn to mine databases, analyze and interpret data, access public records, and research complex issues and events.
Tell Stories That Make a Difference
The basis of all journalism is compellingly telling a story. Students dive deep into a problem and learn how to apply critical thinking and practical hands-on skills to tell the story effectively and clearly.
Be Safe
The program prioritizes learning to be safe while reporting on important stories. The department offers a series of resources developed with the James W. Foley Foundation to help train students on best practices for journalism safety.
Engage with Communities; Educate the World
The department focuses on building news literacy in its journalists so that they can pass those knowledge and skills onto the audiences they serve.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Whether it is in the major's core where students polish their grammar and AP Style skills or the more advanced courses where they shoot, edit, report, write, and publish, the journalism major prepares students to arrive on the job ready to work in all formats.
Learning Outcomes
At the completion of the journalism major, students should be able to:
- Articulate the norms and values of socially responsible journalism and understand relationships
- Gather evidence-based and authentic information from reliable interview sources
- Evaluate the accuracy and reliability of documents, data, and other evidence
- Create accurate and evidence-based news and feature stories
- Tell compelling stories that interest and engage audiences in complex and important issues, across various platforms and products
Possible Careers
Journalism majors can pursue careers as:
- Multimedia or backpack journalists
- Magazine writers or editors
- Website writers or editors
- Newspaper reporters, editors, or publishers
- Arts and entertainment reporters, editors, or critics
- Sports writers or editors
- Food writers or critics
- Television producers
- Copy editors or managing editors
- Web designers
- Magazine designers or publishers
- Photojournalists
- Assignment editors
- Journalism teachers or professors
Sample Internships and Recent Employers
Recent alumni have gone into a variety of careers, including business, health, law, public relations, sports, and journalism. Recent jobs and internships include positions at:
- Television stations such as WISN-TV, WTMJ-TV, and WITI-TV
- Online news services such as Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and Flotrack
- Magazines such as America Media, Esquire, and Women's Wear Daily
- Newspapers such as The Baltimore Sun, The Arizona Republic, and The Seattle Times
- Radio stations such as NPR and Voice of America