At a glance: Journalism
At a glance: Journalism
"ONU gave me instant experience writing for The Northern Review as a freshman. Right away, I could tell journalism was the right field for me."
Zachary Stipe
Editor-in-chief of The Northern Review
Journalism, one of the five majors offered in the Department of English, begins with courses designed to introduce majors to craft and to prepare them to begin work as practicing journalists. All majors are required to complete Newspaper Practicum, which involves hands-on work as writers and editors for the weekly student newspaper, The Northern Review. Other requirements include News Writing, Desktop Publishing, Editing, Writing in the Public Sphere, and Literary Journalism, as well as courses in American, British, and world literatures. Students majoring in journalism are also required to complete an approved internship with an emphasis on working in the media. The Senior Seminar capstone, an essay or professional project, gives majors an opportunity to explore a specific topic of their own choosing. Both journalism and professional writing required a secondary major, minor or concentration in another course of study. Visit the Department of English web site.
Distinctive features
- Flexibility in academic study and career preparation
- Advanced seminars with intensive faculty mentoring
- Enrichment program that encourages attendance at campus cultural events
- Membership in Sigma Tau Delta, an award-winning national English honor society
- Participation in national College Media Advisors and Collegiate Press Association conferences when serving in an editorial position on The Northern Review
- Computer classroom, wireless classrooms and computer labs with print- and Web-publication software
- A rigorous, hands-on learning program that equips students to succeed in the profession and have confidence in their skills and abilities
- Career speakers, some of whom offer mentoring and internship opportunities
- Study-abroad options
Facilities
English department classes and faculty offices are in Dukes Memorial, one of the historic front-campus buildings. The department has a variety of instructional rooms, including two state-of-the-art computer classrooms, four rooms equipped with SMART Boards, a mobile laptop lab, two seminar rooms with a departmental reading area and a reference library.
Student organizations
Sigma Tau Delta — One of the nation’s top chapters, this active group organizes local philanthropy projects related to literacy (such as tutoring in local schools), creates a spirit of collegiality in the department through faculty-student activities, and annually sends students to the national conference, where many students have had their creative works or academic projects selected for presentation.
Secondary Education Society — A new chapter recognized by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), this group was formed by dedicated LAE majors to focus on issues in the profession that have bearing on their future careers as teachers. They regularly attend the national NCTE or College English Association of Ohio conferences.
Professional placement
Graduates find jobs as teachers, reporters, freelance writers, ad managers and writers for public relations firms, lobbyists, editors, librarians, sports reporters and sports public relations personnel, wedding and special event planners and insurance underwriters.
Graduate schools
ONU English majors are accepted to graduate programs across the country in journalism, professional writing, literature, library science, creative writing and law. These graduate schools include: Florida Gulf Coast University,Kent State University, The Ohio State University, University of Dayton, University of Memphis, University of Tennessee, University of Virginia, West Virginia University.
Career opportunities
English majors are generally desired by employers because they are articulate, write well, are perceptive readers, can research effectively and work well with others to collaborate on publications and projects.
