College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication
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Majors, Minors, and Certificates

Where creativity meets hands-on opportunity

Make your mark through your creativity and communication. The Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication offers five distinct majors and a science communication certificate – all united by a strong foundation in writing, ethics and hands-on experience.

Jump-start your career in advertising, digital storytelling, journalism and mass communication, public relations or sports media and communication. As a Greenlee student, you’ll study the latest industry practices and methods with passionate faculty. You’ll gain hands-on experience both in and out of the classroom through client partnerships, student media and our 300-hour internship requirement. When you graduate from the Greenlee School, you’ll have the skills, experience and confidence you need to excel in your career.

Several student participating in creating a piece of content

New Digital Storytelling Major

Digital storytelling is everywhere, from documentaries to social media. Our new major combines courses from journalism and theatre to prepare you to build complex and engaging stories across multiple platforms. Whether you want to produce podcasts, design virtual reality experiences, or be a digital marketing specialist, this is where storytelling and technology come together.

Majors

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    Advertising

    A degree in advertising will provide you with skills in copy writing, media planning, multimedia production, advertising creative and strategic communication.

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    Digital storytelling

    In the studio, on stage, and on-brand. A degree in digital storytelling prepares you with the skills and knowledge to engage audiences with cutting-edge technologies and a powerful presence.

  • Journalism and mass communication

    A degree in journalism and mass communication will provide you with skills in generating and presenting content across media platforms for various audiences, with a strong emphasis on reporting, writing, multimedia production, visual communication, AP Style and editing.

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    Public relations

    A degree in public relations will provide you with the concepts, skills and expertise needed to help organizations build mutually-beneficial relationships with diverse publics. You will learn to create and manage brands, communicate using strategies and tactics, handle crisis communication and carry out information campaigns.

  • Sports media and communication

    A degree in sports media and communication will enable you to explore your creativity as you craft compelling narratives, analyze sports trends and engage audiences across various platforms. Embrace your love of sports through hands-on experiences and expert guidance, preparing you for a career where passion meets profession.

Alex Beach headshot

My classes at Greenlee helped in so many ways. From the planning process to creative techniques, the amount of things I learned in classes cannot be counted.

Alex Beach, ’17 advertising

Minors

Interested in adding news writing skills to complement an English major, or combining performing arts and public relations for a career in the arts administration? The Greenlee School offers several flexible minors that can help you merge your passions and plans and enhance your skill set for future careers.

The minors in the Greenlee School are only available to students who do not already have a primary Greenlee major.

If you’re interested in declaring a minor in advertising, journalism and mass communication or public relations, set up an appointment in 101 Hamilton Hall or by phone at 515-294-4342. Questions about minors can be directed to greenlee@iastate.edu. To learn more about the photography minor, please contact the College of Design.

Science communication certificate

Are you interested in science and passionate about communicating to, and collaborating with, the public? No matter your major, the science communication certificate at Iowa State University will help you develop the skills needed to engage broad audiences around complex and sometimes controversial scientific topics.

Take the next step

Undergraduate resources