Offered at Richmond

Start date: September (Journalism Diploma); September and January (Journalism Degree, Advanced Standing for those with previous education in Journalism)

Description

The Journalism program prepares graduates for positions as reporters, photographers, editors, researchers, and free-lancers for print publications, as well as for work in a variety of capacities with Web-based media. Both a four-year Bachelor of Applied Journalism degree and a two-year Diploma in Journalism are offered that combine broad academic knowledge with strong, practical training through seminars, labs, and off-campus work experiences. In order to stay current with industry standards, the program uses up-to-date computer and photographic equipment, including digital cameras and Web-specific software. Faculty includes full-time instructors with career experience, as well as part-time specialists who are currently working in journalism.

Diploma

Description

This two-year diploma program prepares students for entry-level jobs in print and on-line journalism. Successful completion of a journalism diploma is required for acceptance into the Bachelor of Applied Journalism degree.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• apply for positions in journalism and related fields with the education, skills, work habits and attitudes needed to be effective.
• freelance effectively.

Student Profile

This program is based on the position that the preparation of journalists requires a combination of general knowledge and technical competency.

Students in this program may come directly from high school or from other fields of endeavor. Many enter the program with post-secondary experience and some have university degrees. Depending on their specific background, advance standing can be granted for work done or skills learned elsewhere. Part-time students, although in the minority, can be accommodated.

Admission Requirements

Important Dates

First day to apply: November 1, 2001

Last day to apply: March 31, 2002

Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as they can, as admission is based on date of application once the applicant has met entrance requirements.

Because writing is a fundamental component of Journalism, Applicants must achieve a Level 4 (score of 26 on the Essay and 6 on the English usage) on the Language Proficiency Index or a B in a university transfer English. Refer to these requirements under "English" in the calendar. These requirements are under review and will likely be raised for the 2003 admission.

Applicants must provide:

• a resume
• a 500-word statement of goals
• proof that they have interviewed at least three people in the Journalism field

Parts 2 and 3 are required to ensure that the aspirations of applicants are realistic in light of the demands of the workplace and of the program itself.

Applicants must also attend an information session at Kwantlen's Richmond campus at a designated time in May. The purpose of the session is to offer potential students the opportunity to meet faculty, ask questions about the program and to determine, more specifically, what the program entails. (Arrangements will be made to accommodate out-of-town applicants).

During the information session, applicants will complete a current events quiz (a passing grade is 50 per cent). They will also demonstrate the ability to perform basic computer skills: open Windows-based documents, save it to a disk, print the document, and exit the program. A lack of these skills will hold the student back, so applicants who are not able to demonstrate this ability will be advised to upgrade this area before starting the program.

Content

The journalism diploma program is organized into four semesters and carries 60 college credits. Students concentrate on general knowledge and on developing the skills, work habits and attitudes they will need to succeed both as students and as professionals. During their two years of study, students will:

• develop a broad knowledge base through course work which covers areas such as popular culture, communication theory, law and ethics.
• train in specific skill areas such as news and feature writing, interviewing, photography, editing, layout, and computers
• develop sound work habits, such as effective time management, teamwork, and setting objectives and standards
• develop appropriate attitudes through exposure to the legal, ethical and societal constraints under which they will be expected to function.

In addition to the following courses, students must take:

• Three Liberal Education courses, for a total of nine credits;
• Two of those courses must be first-year English and first-year Political Science;
• The third course is an elective from Humanities, Social Science, or Science.

Semester 1

JRNL 1100 Explorations in Mass Communications
(transferable to SFU)

JRNL 1123 Writing Skills for Journalism

JRNL 1130 Photography for Print Media

JRNL 1141 Visual Design with Computers

JRNL 1160 Introduction to Journalism

First-year English or Political Science

Semester 2

JRNL 1231 Basic Photojournalism

JRNL 1261 Advanced Journalism

JRNL 1262 Political Reporting

JRNL 1265 Feature Writing

JRNL 1273 Newspaper Production

First-year English or Political Science

Semester 3

JRNL 2301 Media and Audiences (transferable to SFU)

JRNL 2332 Advanced Photojournalism

JRNL 2353 Research Techniques

JRNL 2373 Newspaper Publication I

First-year course in Humanities, Social Science, or Science

Semester 4

JRNL 2401 Ethics and the Media

JRNL 2461 The Community Newspaper

JRNL 2463 Investigative Journalism

JRNL 2471 Work Experience *

JRNL 2477 Newspaper Publication II

* Work Experience: Students are placed at a publication, full-time, for four weeks. This allows the students to experience, first-hand, and the working environment of journalists and to get direct feedback from editors.

Graduation

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be awarded a Diploma in Journalism.

Bachelor of Applied Journalism

Description

This four-year degree builds on the knowledge and skills learned in a Journalism diploma through advanced journalism courses that include magazine and project writing, journalism history, computer-based research, leadership, on-line publishing, and magazine production. Liberal Education courses provide knowledge of media and mass communication, as well as Humanities, Social Sciences, and Sciences.

Degree students have the opportunity to pursue a Minor in Broadcast Journalism, through BCIT, or a Minor in Public Relations at Kwantlen. An Honours degree is also available, by completing directed study courses and an honours seminar, during which they will work independently on a specific area, with a faculty advisor, on an intensive research and writing project.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have successfully completed a Journalism diploma at a recognized post-secondary institution. Students from other institutions whose diploma programs differ significantly from Kwantlen's may be required to take some first- or second-year courses in order to be well prepared for the degree program.

Content

The Bachelor of Applied Journalism degree is organized into eight semesters and carries 120 college credits, which include 81-84 credits in journalism and 36-39 credits in Liberal Arts courses outside journalism. Within that, students must also meet several other requirements that ensure they have exposure to a broad array of Liberal Arts disciplines, an in-depth concentration in one particular Liberal Arts discipline, and a strong component of work at the third- and fourth-year level. The program therefore requires students to obtain 15 credits in five academic departments out of Journalism, 18 credits in an "area of concentration" in one Liberal Arts discipline, and a minimum of 42 credits in upper-level courses.

Courses approved for Years 3 and 4 to date include:

JRNL 3100 On-line Publishing I

JRNL 3120 Social Issues Journalism

JRNL 3130 Writing for Magazines

JRNL 3140 Advanced Web Design and Writing

JRNL 3200 Media and Diversity

JRNL 3210 Magazine Production

JRNL 3220 On-line Publishing II

JRNL 3250 Directed Study

JRNL 4100 Daily Newspaper

JRNL 4110 Business and Management

JRNL 4120 Advanced Research for Journalism

JRNL 4130 Advanced Editing

JRNL 4140 Work Experience II

JRNL 4190 Directed Study Honours I - Research

Other courses in development include:

Canadian Journalism History

Specialty Writing

Group Project

Directed Study Honours II - Thesis

Honours Seminar

** Work Experience II: This second off-campus placement allows students to work in a different environment than what was experienced in the diploma program, in order to explore a range of job possibilities.

Note: Not all courses will be offered in each semester. For further information on course content and offerings, please contact Richmond admissions.

Applicants who have completed courses or hold a bachelor degree from a recognized post-secondary institution and wish to apply these courses to the Liberal Education requirements must submit a Request for Advanced Standing form (available at admissions)

Graduation

Upon successful completion of this program, students are awarded a Bachelor of Applied Journalism.

Advisory Committee

Faculty meet regularly with an Advisory Committee comprised of people who are working in several areas of the media.