Journalism A.S.

School: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Academic Dept: Communications and Journalism
HEGIS: 5008

Important Note about Program Requirements

The requirements listed below are for students entering into this program from Fall 2025 to Summer 2026. Students who entered the program during a prior semester will find their specific requirements listed in the Catalog under which they entered. Archived Catalogs are accessible through the dropdown menu above.

Program Description

The Journalism A.S. program at SUNY Westchester Community College immerses students in hands-on media experiences using top-tier facilities such as the Communications and Journalism Innovation Labs, a fully equipped TV studio, radio station, and campus newspaper. Students learn the full range of journalism skills, from news gathering, writing, and reporting to multimedia storytelling, social media management, and broadcast production. With access to internships and opportunities like the prestigious Carol Smith Passariello/Pulitzer Center Student Reporting Fellowship, graduates leave with a robust portfolio and practical experience, ready to transfer to a four-year program or enter the media and journalism field.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, a student will:

Demonstrate performance of basic journalistic roles of news gathering, writing, and reporting.
Demonstrate knowledge of the central concepts concerning the historical, legal, ethical, and social responsibilities of news communicators in a diverse and democratic society.
Demonstrate the ability to identify news storytelling as unique from other forms of communication using sound news literacy skills.

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
Digital Arts Electives (6 credits): select TWO of the following
Management Electives (3 credits): select ONE of the following

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

Course	Credits
ENG 101 Writing and Research	3
Social Sciences Gen. Ed. Course	3
COMM 101 - Understanding Mass Media	3
COMM 125 - News Literacy	3
Digital Arts Elective	3
Semester Total Credits	15

Semester 2

Course	Credits
ENG 102 Writing and Literature	3
Any Gen. Ed. Course	3
Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) Gen. Ed. Course with Lab	4
COMM 104 - News Reporting and Writing	3
Digital Arts Elective	3
Semester Total Credits	16

Semester 3

Course	Credits
World Languages Gen. Ed. Course	3
Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) Gen. Ed. Course	3
COMM 106 - Multimedia Journalism 1	3
COMM 118 - Broadcast Journalism	3
Management Elective	3
Semester Total Credits	15

Semester 4

Course	Credits
COMM 230 - Multimedia Journalism 2	3
Communications Elective	3
Any Gen. Ed. Course	3
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice Gen. Ed. Course	3
US History and Civic Engagement Gen. Ed. Course	3
Semester Total Credits	15

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.

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