Journalism BS, Undergraduate, Emerson College

Journalism and the Future of Storytelling: About the Major

Journalism is more than an academic major or a career: it’s a calling. With the curiosity and courage to hold powerful people accountable, to reveal the truth, and to create new media platforms, we know journalists can make a difference for the future.

Students don’t just study journalism in the classroom at Emerson: with our experiential model, they work directly in the field starting on day one. They are guided by faculty who are highly accomplished journalists and scholars, dedicated to their students’ success. Small class sizes foster close connections between students and faculty, who offer a diverse range of backgrounds and expertise.

And what better place to study journalism than Boston––where breaking news in the areas of sports, medicine, arts, culture, tech innovation, and education abound, and where students gain first-hand experience telling stories that have global relevance.

Emerson’s undergraduate journalism major prepares students for a world where everything is digital—developing their uniquely entrepreneurial, journalistic mindset to stand out among peers today and in the future. After graduation, students will be ready for whatever path they choose: investigative or local reporting, documentary producing, directing a nonprofit’s communications strategy, covering breaking news or sports, or digging into the most pressing social issues of our time.

How We Do It

Sample Courses

Here is a sample of courses you might take as a student in Emerson Journalism:

Reporting on Race and Culture
Law and Ethics for Journalists
Covering Pop Music
Interactive News
Environmental Journalism
Documentary Video Journalism
Data Visualization for Storytelling

Journalism Courses

See the 2024-2025 Curriculum

Capstone Projects

There are three choices for a journalism major’s culminating project during their senior year:

Broadcast Capstone

Drawing on skills learned in TV News Reporting and TV News Producing, students create an in-depth broadcast news special. From the stories in this news program, students will have a portfolio and resume to use as they begin the job search process.

Multimedia Capstone

Students refine and further develop multimedia reporting and producing skills at an advanced level with the goal of completing a professional portfolio that may culminate with the production of a reporting project demonstrating depth and breadth of journalistic values and skills.

Independent/Freelance Capstone

Students embark on a project from start to finish, learning skills of self-employment, multimedia, marketing, self-editing, and pitching stories. They discover the basics of budgets, taxes, benefit, and legal implications of freelance and sole-proprietor journalism, discovering how to juggle technology, reporting, and entrepreneurial skills.

Real-World Experience as a Journalist

Journalism majors at Emerson have ample opportunity to gain real-world learning experience. Here are a few examples of how our Journalism students can get directly involved in the practice of journalism:

WEBN: A student-run organization where aspiring journalists cover large-scale stories such as the Boston Marathon, Election Night, the Grammys, and the Super Bowl.
The Berkeley Beacon: Students hone their reporting, writing, and editing skills by working on the College’s student newspaper.
The Independent Magazine: An Emerson-owned and student-run online publication, covering films outside the mainstream, including international, experimental, documentaries, and shorts. Students review films and cover the rich variety of festivals, awards and underground cinema.
Documentaries and multimedia stories ranging from the environment and healthcare to pop stars and fashion. They may even develop a podcast series about topics such as unsolved crimes or their favorite local restaurants.
Internships: Because Boston is a top 10 media market, a variety of internship sites are available at local newspapers and TV stations, including The Boston Globe, The Bay State Banner, WCVB, WBZ, WBUR and WHDH-TV. Students may also explore internships in their home towns or cities with our own dedicated internship coordinator.

Meet Our Faculty

Journalism faculty are experienced professionals who will guide and challenge you as you prepare for a career of finding facts, moving minds, and shaping views. They reside in the School of Communication's Department of Journalism.

Hear from Our Alumni

Emerson's journalism education taught me to seek the truth and tell meaningful stories, qualities that have proven invaluable in shaping my career in Emerging Technologies and AI.

Anna Londolo ‘17 Business Development Manager, IOTA Impact

For students who are already passionate about pursuing a career in journalism, Emerson College is undoubtedly the place to be. Starting the first day of freshman year, you'll be immersed in classes and co-curriculars that are designed to prepare you for real-world experiences.

Anissa Gardizy ‘22 Reporter at The Information, San Francisco