Thinking of majoring in or studying journalism? Good call. A study of journalism will prepare you not only for a career with the media, but give you a good set of skills that will serve you in a variety of other career choices.

Cerritos College offers choices for those students who are looking no further than a community college education, those coming back to school for re-training, and for those who planning to transfer to a California State University or other university to work on a bachelor's degree in journalism, broadcast journalism, online journalism, mass communications or public relations.

The vast majority of Cerritos College journalism majors should consider the transfer option as most careers will require at least a bachelor's degree. But even those who plan to stop or pause at the community college level can get some valuable training and hands-on experience that will serve them well.

Cerritos offers a couple of associate degree options, two certificate options and mini-certificate options:

• The Transfer Degree -- Those who are planning to transfer to a CSU should consider this option or the Journalism AA option. Be sure to look at the recommended CSU journalism transfer plan below, as well as the transfer AA details below. Requirements vary depending on which university you are planning to transfer to.
• The Associate of Arts in Journalism -- This option earns you an associate of arts degree plan that gives you a well-rounded background in journalism. This is your best option if you do not plan to transfer to a CSU. You end up with more journalism courses than those required for the Transfer Degree and face a less demanding general education package.
• The Journalism Certificate of Achievement-- This certificate gives you essentially the same requirements as the Associate Degree without the general education requirements. Those who already hold another bachelor degree might want to explore this option.
• The Public Relations Certificate of Achievement-- Looking at a career in public relations? You might want to look at this certificate. While the AA or Transfer AA is recommended for you, if you've already got a degree in something else or simply want to focus just on public relations this certificate might be your choice.

• Broadcast Journalism Certificate of Achievment -- This certificate helps the student focus on the study of an preparation for entry level employment inf the growing field of broadcast news at radio stations and television stations, and in online journalism ventures.
• Online Journalism Certificate of Achievement -- This certificate helps the student focus on the study of an preparation for entry level employment in the growing field of online journalism. The certificate should be particularly helpful for those who will be helping small publications start online news ventures.
• Photojournalism Certificate of Achievement -- This certificate helps the student focus on the study of and preparation for entry level employment in the field of photojournalism. The certificate should be particularly helpful to those looking for employment at newspapers, magazines, corporate and government public relations departments and online journalism ventures.

See below for information for each of these plans below.

JOURNALISM TRANSFER PROGRAM

Complete a minimum of 60 units to include (1) the following required courses, plus electives in Journalism and Photography for a minimum of 18 units, (2) Cerritos College Plan B general education requirements, and (3) electives as needed.

Common Lower Division Preparation For the California State University							UNITS
Jour 100		Mass Communications and Society					3
Jour 101		Beginning Newswriting and Reporting					3

Additional Lower Division Requirements For Specific Transfer Institutions
California State University -- Fullerton Journalism Concentration, Communications Major
Jour 201		Advanced Reporting and Editing					3
Phot 100		Introductory Photography					3
Broadcast Journalism Concentration, Communications Major
Th 258		Writing for Movies and Television					3
Other Communications major concentrations are: Advertising, Photo-Communications, Public Relations, Television and Film.

California State University -- Long Beach Broadcast Journalism Concentration, Journalism Major
Spch 271		Voice and Articulation					3
Other Journalism options: Print Journalism, Journalism Education, Photojournalism and Public Relations

THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
There is no Journalism major at any campus of the University of California.

NOTE: The ability to word process and use the Internet are pre-requisite for all students majoring in Journalism. See the Fine Arts and Communications counselor for lower division preparation for othe California State University Journalism programs

JOURNALISM ASSOCIATE IN ARTS DEGREE PROGRAM

Core Requirements (19 units)							UNITS
Jour 100		Mass Communications and Society					3
Jour 101		Beginning Newswriting and Reporting					3
Jour 103		Newspaper Article Writing					2
Jour 105		Newspaper Production					2
Jour 130/ Phot 130		Photo Journalism					3
Art 188		Design for Desktop Publishing					3
CIS 121		Introduction to Internet					1.5
CIS 205		Programming in HTML for the World WideWeb					1.5
Department Requirements (10 units)
Jour 110		Principles of Public Relations					3
Jour 298 or Jour 50L		Directed Studies in Journalism or Editorial Board					1 (1)
Plus a minimum of five units in additional Journalism courses							5
NOTE: Journalism students intending to transfer to a four-year college are referred to the Transfer Journalism Program of Study.
Associate of Arts Degree Requirements: You must also complete a minimum of 60 units to include (1) the above Journalism courses and unit requirement, (2) AA degree General Education Requirements (Plan A), and (3) Electives as needed.

CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT -- JOURNALISM

Journalism Major Core Requirements							19
+ Journalism Major Department Requirements							10
+ Journalism Certificate Requirements							9
BA 109 or BA 110		Marketing or Advertising					3 (3)
Jour 299		Directed Studies (should be internship experience)					2
Certificate Electives (2 units minimum)
Phot 110 or Art 192		Digital Imaging					3
RTV 152		Introduction to Broadcasting					3
Art 194		Multimedia Design					3
Engl 155		Technical Writing					3
Phot 100		Introductory Photography					3
Pol 101		American Poitical Institutions					3
Spch 160		Parliamentary Procedure					1
Total Certificate Units							38

CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT -- PUBLIC RELATIONS

Journalism Major Core Requirements							19
+ Journalism Major Department Requirements							10
+ Public Relations Certificate Requirements							9
BA 100		Fundamentals of Business					3
BA 114 or BA110		Marketing or Adveertising					3 (3)
Jour 299		Directed Studies in Journalism					2
Certificate Electives (1 unit minimum)
Phot 110 or Art 192		Digital Imaging					3
RTV 152		Introduction to Broadcasting					3
Art 194		Multimedia Design					3
Engl 155		Technical Writing					3
Phot 100		Introductory Photography					3
Spch 160		Parliamentary Procedure					1
Total Certificate Units							38

CERTIFICATE OF ACHEIVEMENT -- BROADCAST JOURNALISM

This certificate helps the student focus on the study of an preparation for entry level employment inf the growing field of broadcast news at radio stations and television stations, and in online journalism ventures.
Broadcast Journalism Certificate Requirments							17
Jour 100		Mass Communications and Society					3
Jour 101		Beginning Newswriting and Reporting					3
Jour 170		Broadcast News					1
RTV 152		Introduction to Broadcasting					3
RTV 155		Radio Production					3
Plus Four Units of the Following:
Jour 120		Internet for Journalists					2
Jour 170		Broadcast News					1*
Spch 100		Fundamentals of Oral Communication					3
Spch 140		Oral Interpretation of Literature					3
Spch 240		Oral Interpretation -- Reader's Theater					3
Th 108		Improvisation for Theater					3
Th 117		Stand-Up Comedy					3
* May be repeated; maximum of 2 units may be applied

 

CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT -- ONLINE JOURNALISM

This certificate helps the student focus on the study of an preparation for entry level employment in the growing field of online journalism. The certificate should be particularly helpful for those who will be helping small publications start online news ventures.
Online Journalism Certificate Requirments							17
Jour 100		Mass Communications and Society					3
Jour 101		Beginning Newswriting and Reporting					3
Jour 120		Internet for Journalists					2
Phot 110 or Art 110		Introduction to Digital Imaging					3
Plus One Unit From the Following:
Jour 298 or Jour 50L		Directed Studies or Editorial Board					1 (1)
Plus Two Units From the Following:
Jour 103 or Jour 105		Newspaper Article Writing or Newspaper Production					2 (2)
Plus Three Units From the Following:
Art 196		Introduction to Designing Web Graphics					3
CIS 205		Programming in HTML for the Word Wide Web					1.5
CIS 120		Web Design with Microsoft Front Page					1.5
Phot 112		Intermediate Digital Photography					3

 

CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT -- PHOTOJOURNALISM

This certificate helps the student focus on the study of and preparation for entry level employment in the field of photojournalism. The certificate should be particularly helpful to those looking for employment at newspapers, magazines, corporate and government public relations departments and online journalism ventures.
Photojournalism Certificate Requirments							17
Jour 130		Photo Journalism					3
Phot 100		Introductory Photography					3
Phot 110		Introduction to Digital Photography					2
Plus Three Units From the Following:
BA 100 or BUSA 100		Fundamentals of Business or Introduction to Accounting					3 (3)
Plus Five Units From the Following:
Jour 105		Newspaper Production (can be repeated)					2*
Jour 160L		Magazine Production (can be repeated)					1**
Jour 298`		Directed Studies (maximum 1 unit)					1
Jour 299		Directed Studies (internship - maximum 2 units)					2
BA 110		Advertising					3
* May be repeated; a maximum of four units may be applied ** May be repeated; a maximum of two units may be applied

 

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