College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication
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Journalism and Mass Communication

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A bachelor of science degree in journalism and mass communication from the Greenlee School will prepare you for a career that involves all aspects of news and information. You’ll focus on generating ideas, organizing, writing, editing and presenting information for various media platforms and audiences. You’ll work with advisers to develop a program of study that prepares you for work in communication-specific areas including broadcast media, magazines and/or newspapers, photojournalism, science communication, visual communication and digital media. Coursework in this major focuses on writing, research, digital and emerging media, and professional abilities. You are required to complete a capstone internship experience to practice and refine your skills.

Students majoring in journalism and mass communication at the Greenlee School have interned at CNN, Sports Illustrated, Esquire, the Washington Post, Time, Meredith Corporation, NPR and many other local and national media outlets, organizations and businesses.

Headshot of Sheaffer

Greenlee has opened a lot of doors for me, not just with the opportunities they have provided for me to further my career in Journalism, but also with giving me an education that clearly stems from all the staff in the building wanting the best for me.

Kayde Sheaffer, ’27 journalism and mass communication

General requirements

To receive a bachelor of science degree in journalism, a student must earn at least 120 credits. These include general education course requirements in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS). A minimum of 72 credits must come from courses other than ADVRT, JLMC or PR. At least 50 of these credits must come from the liberal arts and sciences. Overall, at least 45 credits must be from 3000-level courses or above.

Every student in the Greenlee School must complete a professional internship prior to graduation.

4+1 Graduate Program

Our 4+1 program allows you to complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree in 5 years by taking graduate-level courses in your fourth year at Iowa State. Your final courses and thesis or creative component will be completed in your fifth year. This is a great opportunity to earn both your undergraduate and graduate degree, expanding your career opportunities.

Undergraduate minor

Minors in the Greenlee School are only available to students not seeking a primary degree in the school.  A minor in journalism and mass communication is available to students throughout the university. For the journalism and mass communication minor, students complete 15 credits. This must include at least 9 credits that are not used to meet any other department, college, or university requirement. More information is available in the ISU Catalog.

Experiences

Students at Iowa State University can tailor their experience to make sure they gain valuable skills for the future.

A wide variety of student organizations and clubs are available for students to join—including academic, honor societies, political & activism, intramural sports and Greek life. The Greenlee School in particular offers many student media clubs and opportunities for students to become involved in both for fun and to add to their professional portfolios.

Gain leadership and service experience through the student activities center, go to one of the many fun campus events like the Cyclone Carnival, or learn more about clubs and activities at the annual ClubFest to see the many ways you can get involved during your time at Iowa State.

A journalist in the making

Majoring in journalism will start you on an amazing journey that opens doors to a wide range of career opportunities across different media platforms. This major emphasizes the importance of storytelling, critical thinking, and ethical reporting to inform and engage the public. With training in writing, editing, multimedia production, and investigative techniques, you will be equipped to thrive in fast-paced environments where timely and accurate information is crucial. Here are just some examples of the careers you can pursue with a degree in journalism:

  • News reporter
  • Broadcast journalist
  • Investigative journalist
  • Editor
  • Multimedia producer
  • Content writer
  • Public affairs specialist
  • Social media journalist
  • and more!

Get to know the LAS career services team to help you explore the many career opportunities a degree in advertising can open for you.

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