Program Description

The Associate of Science Degree in Journalism at Westchester Community College prepares students to transfer to four-year degree programs in journalism. Students enrolled in the program acquire a solid basis in the liberal arts, journalism history and theory, news literacy, newsgathering, reporting, editing, ethics, multimedia storytelling, digital news production, and social media literacy. Students may also choose from a wide range of electives, including courses in communications, entrepreneurship, radio and television announcing, radio and television production, digital video camera operation, digital audio and video editing, website development, management, and data-analytics.

Our program provides students opportunities to apply journalistic techniques in storytelling using emerging multimedia technology across multiple-platform news delivery systems.The main campus in Valhalla features two state-of-the-art, cross-platform Communications & Journalism Innovation labs with the latest audio-visual equipment for full multimedia production.

Transfer agreements have been secured with SUNY Purchase, Mercy and Lehman College and proposed with City College, Pace University, New York University, and SUNY Stony Brook.

Westchester Community College’s proximity to the media capital of the world provides unique opportunities for students to study and intern both in Westchester and New York City. Students in the journalism program gain valuable experience and internship credits as news staff for student media on campus including the award-winning student newspaper The Viking News, vikingnews.com, WARY 88.1FM, and WCC-TV.

Program Requirements

61 credits are required for the degree:

• General Education - 31 credits
• Required Degree Courses - 30 credits

General Education Requirements - 31 Credits

• Communication - Written and Oral (3 credits): ENG 101 Writing and Research  
   
• Humanities (3 credits): ENG 102 Writing and Literature  
   
• Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) (3 credits): choose from this category of general education courses  
   
• Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) with Lab (4 credits): choose from this category of general education courses  
   
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (3 credits): choose from this category of general education courses  
   
• Social Sciences (3 credits): choose from this category of general education courses  
   
• World Languages (3 credits): choose from this category of general education courses  
   
• US History and Civic Engagement (3 credits): choose from this category of general education courses  
   
• Additional General Education Electives (6 credits): choose from all general education courses  

Where specific courses are not listed within the categories above, courses must be selected from the list of all general education courses . 

Required Degree Courses - 30 credits

• COMM 101 - Understanding Mass Media  
• COMM 104 - News Reporting and Writing  
• COMM 106 - Multimedia Journalism 1  
• COMM 118 - Broadcast Journalism  
• COMM 125 - News Literacy  
• COMM 230 - Multimedia Journalism 2  
   
• Communications Electives (3 credits): select ONE of the following
  • COMM 112 - Introduction to Media Writing  
  • COMM 114 - Sports Media  
  • COMM 116 - Audio Production  
  • COMM 117 - On-Camera Performance  
  • COMM 119 - Broadcast Production  
  • COMM 121 - Television Studio Production  
  • COMM 205 - Communications and Media Arts Internship 1  
     
• Digital Arts Electives (6 credits): select TWO of the following
  • ART 129 - Digital Photography  
  • ART 195 - Graphic Design 1  
  • FILM 130 - Digital Storytelling  
  • FILM 142 - Video Editing  
  • FILM 145 - Documentary Video  
     
• Management Electives (3 credits): select ONE of the following
  • BTECH 220 - Document Design and Desktop Publishing  
  • ITECH 120 - Web Design and Development (UX/UI)  
  • MGT 101 - Business Organization and Management  
  • MKT 101 - Marketing  

Program Map

The program map is a recommended semester-by-semester schedule of courses based on degree requirements and serve as a general guideline to help students complete their program in two years. Although designed for full-time enrollment, these are easily adaptable for part-time study. For additional, individualized guidance, students should review Degree Works and consult an Academic Counselor or Faculty Advisor to ensure they are on track to complete their program.

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Minimum Total Credits: 61

Transfer Opportunities

Westchester Community College is committed to facilitating a smooth transfer process to ensure that graduates of the college are prepared to transfer with junior status, and are able to complete a bachelor’s degree within two years of full-time study upon transfer. View 4-year institutions’ transfer agreement information by program here.

Career Opportunities

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