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Journalism Associate of Arts Degree with Designation

Journalism Associate of Arts Degree with Designation

Degree Type: Associate of Arts Degree, AA

Pathway: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Program Length: 4 Semesters

Location: Centennial, Rampart Range

Transferability: Transferable, Guaranteed Transfer (GT)

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Fall/Summer registration opens in March

Secure your spot in the classes you need for spring 2024 at Pikes Peak State College today, and take the next step towards achieving your academic and career goals!

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Why Study Journalism?

Journalists witness and record our lives and history. In the current technological era, learning how to write and develop an expertise in a cognate area, such as business, science, law, the performing arts, literature, sports, news, and the social or behavioral sciences areas is invaluable to the industry. Journalism has changed in the past decade, and offers a wider range of job opportunities. The Journalism Program is led by the English Department in the Division of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

Journalism at Pikes Peak State College

Journalism studies at PPSC focus on the study of mass media, reporting, and feature writing, publication design, and editing. Students will learn about the multiple facets of mass communication from the internet to the printed page. In addition, students will learn to interview, research and write feature, newspaper and magazine articles, headlines, news releases, and advertisements. Also, students will use the courses to update their skills in the digital age of news, social media, and web content.

 

What kind of Salary Can You Expect?

Journalists

2022 data from O*Net Online

Editors

2022 data from O*Net Online

Technical Writers

2022 data from O*Net Online

Public Relations Specialist

2022 data from O*Net Online

Advertising and Promotions Managers

2022 data from O*Net Online

Job Growth

+6%

Careers and employment in News Analyzing, Reporting, and Journalism are projected to grow 6 percent from 2020 to 2030.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 2022

Degree Requirements

+80%

80% of jobs for Editors require a Bachelor's Degree

Source: O*Net Online, 2022

Journalism Classes You Might Take

Check out some Journalism classes you might take below.

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Places the mass media in an historical and cultural perspective, considering the validity, integrity, and influence of the media in a democracy.

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Introduces newswriting, reporting, and interviewing with an emphasis on clarity, accuracy, timeliness, and fairness.

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Provides for students’ participation in the planning, writing, design, and production processes of a non-newspaper publication.

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Explores techniques and approaches in the latest delivery methods for new media journalism, ethics, technological advances, and media literacy.

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Focuses on public relations and its role for the individual, the nonprofit organization, business, and government; research methodology, principles and practices necessary to become a public relations practitioner; and media channels best suited to a persuasive appeal or crisis.

view in catalog

 

Program Learning Outcomes

Research and write articles, news releases, and advertisements

Create journalistic pieces for the online dissemination of news, documentary, and infotainment

Follow principles and practices governing public relations management

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1st semester plan

math & english requirements

1st semester plan

Course Description: Emphasizes the planning, writing, and revising of compositions, including the development of critical and logical thinking skills. This course includes a wide variety of compositions that stress analytical, evaluative, and persuasive/argumentative writing.

*Your personalized schedule will be best determined by meeting with an Academic Advisor

Course Description: Highlights connections between mathematics and the society in which we live and is intended for liberal arts majors. Topics include set theory and logic, mathematical modeling, probability and statistical methods, and consumer mathematics.

*Your personalized schedule will be best determined by meeting with an Academic Advisor

Course Description: Places the mass media in an historical and cultural perspective, considering the validity, integrity, and influence of the media in a democracy.

*Your personalized schedule will be best determined by meeting with an Academic Advisor

Course Description: Focuses on the scientific study of behavior including motivation, emotion, physiological psychology, stress and coping, research methods, consciousness, sensation, perception, learning, and memory.

*Your personalized schedule will be best determined by meeting with an Academic Advisor

math & english requirements

MAT 1240 is recommended, or talk with your Advisor and/or Transfer School about which GT Pathways Course for Math will be best for your transfer plan.

Six (6) credit hours. Any (GT-CO1) course plus any (GT-CO2) course OR Any (GT-CO2) course plus any (GT-CO3) course.

  • ENG 1021 - English Composition I CO1 3 Credit Hour(s)
  • ENG 1022 - English Composition II CO2 3 Credit Hour(s)
  • ENG 1031 - Technical Writing I CO1 3 Credit Hour(s)
  • ENG 2001 - English Composition III CO3 3 Credit Hour(s)
  • HIS 2765 - Writing About History CO3 3 Credit Hour(s)
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Get Involved

Pikes Peak State College has a student run journal called Parley. Each year students publish printed and online stories and essays through this publication. Wish to get some Journalism experience under your belt?  While in JOU 1005, or after you take JOU 1005, you can take JOU 1006 and become a staff member for The Paper. Have a PPSC event coming up that could use a little extra publicity? Visit the submissions area of The Paper website.

FAQs

FAQs

FAQs

Internships are often available, as determined by local media outlets. Speak with a Faculty Advisor for more details.

FAQs

Pikes Peak English alumni are working as teachers, writers, technical writers, journalists, editors, and also have careers in publishing and business. Students who have studied English at Pikes Peak State College have gone on to complete Bachelor's, Master's, and Master of Fine Arts degrees.