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JRN/310

Introduction to Journalism

3 credits

Total credits

5 weeks

Course length

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Take this course on its own, or as part of a degree or certificate program.

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Please Note: Attendance and participation are mandatory in all University courses, and specific requirements may differ by course. If attendance requirements are not met, a student may be removed from the course. Please review the Course Attendance Policy in the Catalog for more information.

University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.

Course level: Upper Division

This course is the introduction to the journalism concentration. The role of the journalist will be described from its origin to the emergence of the modern-era journalist. Key journalistic theories and principles will be discussed. Special attention will be given to influences in journalism and qualities that exemplify journalistic writing. The concepts of journalistic writing, research, technology, ethics, and personal responsibility will be introduced. Controversial issues faced by journalists will be highlighted throughout the course.

Please Note: Attendance and participation are mandatory in all University courses, and specific requirements may differ by course. If attendance requirements are not met, a student may be removed from the course. Please review the Course Attendance Policy in the Catalog for more information.

University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.

What you'll learn

Course skills and outcomes

  • Identify key influences and notable practitioners in the field.
  • Describe the traditional role of the writer/reporter.
  • Explore the expanding role of the modern journalist.
  • Analyze the importance of past trends and current communication movements.

  • Identify the key theories and principles of journalism.
  • Analyze the components of journalistic awareness (influence, quality, thoughts, and culture).
  • Evaluate journalistic theories and principles as they apply to the modern journalist.
  • Examine journalism principles in everyday writing.

  • Introduce journalistic style.
  • Identify specifics to writing for print, broadcast, and digital media.
  • Discuss the key concepts of target audience, journalistic purpose, and storytelling.
  • Examine samples of journalistic writing for print, broadcast, and digital media.

  • Recognize the role of journalism in society and the need for news to be adequately researched.
  • Examine the emergence of technology and resources available to the journalist.
  • Analyze the role of media convergence and effects on story dissemination.
  • Evaluate widespread usage of technology as related to news delivery

  • Identify ethical issues associated in journalism.
  • Describe the importance of personal responsibility in the role of the journalist.
  • Examine controversial issues faced by journalists.
  • Prepare for intense study and explanation of ethics, personal responsibility, and controversial issues.

Why UOPX

Why take courses at University of Phoenix

Accreditation that matters

We’ve been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org) for more than 40 years.

Real-world instructors

Learn from instructors who bring an average of 25 years of working experience to the classroom.

Affordable and potentially reimbursable

Our tuition and fees are competitive and fixed. Also, check to see if your employer will cover you for this course.

Next Steps

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Transfer Credits

Credit Transfer

Need to transfer credits to another college or university?

Before you enroll in a course, check with your school of choice to make sure they will accept our transfer credits and to understand any requirements or limitations. Then you can complete your course, and request your official transcript be sent to your school. That’s it!

How to request your transcripts

Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice. If you have a question contact us at (866) 354-1800.

The University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. Although our continuing teacher education courses are accepted by some state agencies in the United States toward teacher certifications and endorsements, this may not be the case in all states or foreign jurisdictions. If you plan to use courses for certification or endorsement, please check with your own state agency and your school district for applicability. Continuing teacher education courses are not eligible to apply to degree programs at University of Phoenix. These courses are not eligible for federal financial aid. Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative. If you have a question contact us at (866) 354-1800.