Journalism Schools in Michigan with Course and Program Summaries
There are 20 schools within the state of Michigan that have journalism degree programs. Read an overview of 10 of the largest schools' programs, requirements and tuition info and find out which school is the right one for you.
Journalism Schools in Michigan
Michigan students that are interested in a career in journalism can earn associate's, bachelor's, or master's, or doctorate degrees in journalism from an accredited college or university. The state of Michigan has 20 schools that offer degrees in journalism. Profiled below are the 10 largest public and private institutions in Michigan offering journalism degrees.
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant's Central Michigan University is a public institution with an enrollment of more than 28,000. The school was founded in 1832 as a teacher and business college and is now a respected research institution. Students interested in the school's journalism programs can find them through the university's School of Communication and Fine Arts. Central Michigan University's journalism is accredited by Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications and is designed to prepare students for a career in journalism related fields like news writing, photojournalism, and public relations. Students studying for the bachelor's degree in journalism will study topics like mass media writing, reporting, or public relations practices. CMU offers students the chance to major in online journalism, photojournalism, or advertising.
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti is one of Michigan's older institutes of higher learning. The school was founded in 1849 as a normal school and currently enrolls more than 23,000 students. Journalism students can earn a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree through the school's English Language and Literature Department. Journalism students will be required to complete at least 124 credit hours and will take courses that cover copy editing, news writing and reporting, and journalism law and ethics. Students can gain experience by working in one of the school's two radio stations,the student newspaper, or the school literary magazine.
Grand Rapids Community College
Grand Rapids Community College in Grand Rapids is a public, 2-year college that offers certificates and associate degree programs as well as job training programs. The school serves over 17,000 students. Journalism students can find GRCC's journalism program through the school's Department of Language and Thought. The school offers journalism courses as part of an Associate of Arts degree, and an A.A. with a focus on journalism from GRCC is designed to be transferable to a 4-year college or university. Student journalists can contribute to the school paper, The Collegiate, by writing columns, reviews, or articles on news, sports, or arts and entertainment. Students can also apply for paid editor or ad manager positions at the paper. The paper also pays for cartoons, graphics, and illustrations that it publishes.
Grand Valley State University
Allendale's Grand Valley State University sits on more than 1,300 acres of land less than 15 miles away from Grand Rapids. The school was founded in 1960 and today enrolls more than 24,000 students. Journalism students have the option of earning either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science through the university's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The journalism program at GVSU places particular emphasis on public affairs reporting. Required courses focus on speech and communication, news reporting, and editing. Students can choose to concentrate on either print or electronic journalism. GVSU has a student-run television station, radio station, and newspaper where students can gain experience. Students can also apply internship credits toward their graduation.
Madonna University
Madonna University is a private Roman Catholic University located in Livonia. The school was founded in 1947 and currently enrolls more than 4,000 students. Madonna's college of arts and humanities offers a bachelor's degree program in journalism and public relations. Students in this program will begin by studying the basics of newspaper organization and production, news writing, and photography. In later semesters, students will learn about editorial and feature writing, editing and copyreading, and graphic design. Journalism students will gain hands-on experience by working with the student newspaper and literary magazine. Madonna students will also have the opportunity to take advantage of journalism internships.
Michigan State University
Michigan State University, located in East Lansing is a top research university that dates back to 1855. The university's College of Communications is home to the Michigan State University School of Journalism, where students can earn bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism. The bachelor's degree program in journalism offers courses in news writing and reporting, reporting for online news, ethics and the news media, broadcast news and news graphics. Students must complete one or more credits of professional experience or internship. Master's students can focus on professional studies that refine their journalism skills or conduct research on media technologies, media economics and the media's impact on society. Graduates of the journalism program are employed by major news organizations such as The New York Times, The Detroit News, National Geographic, CNN and the Associated Press. Journalism students can hone their skills on-campus by participating in one of the school's student media publications such as Focal Point, the school's TV news magazine, The State News, a campus newspaper, and Impact Radio, the campus radio station.
Oakland University
Oakland University in Rochester Hills first opened in 1959. The school has grown from its enrollment of 570 students in its first year to currently serving more than 18,000 students a year. The research university offers over 125 undergraduate degree programs, including the Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, offered through the university's Department of Communication and Journalism. Journalism students at Oakland can choose a concentration in print, broadcast, or online journalism. Students will take required courses in news writing, editing, and media law, and are required to complete an internship. Students are also required to complete a senior portfolio that showcases the skills they've acquired and work that they've accomplished. Students can participate in the available on-campus student media including a student run television station, radio station, and newspaper.
Washtenaw Community College
Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor is a public 2-year college with an open admissions policy. The school is known for being flexible and convenient for students, and offers weekend, evening, and online classes in order to meet the needs of the close to 13,000 students that it serves. Students interested in journalism can earn an associate's degree in the subject through WCC's English and Writing Department. The Associate of Arts degree is designed to be transferable to a 4-year college or university. In the 60 credit program, students will cover subjects like news writing and reporting, feature writing, and web journalism.
Wayne State University
Detroit's Wayne State University was founded in 1868 and is another of Michigan's research institutions. The school enrolls more than 30,000 students a year and offers more than a dozen schools and colleges. One of those is the College of Fine, Performing, and Communication Arts, where students can find journalism programs offered through the Department of Communication. Completion of a bachelor's degree in journalism at Wayne State allows students to pursue careers in writing, reporting, editing, publishing and advertising. Wayne State University's journalism program is a career-oriented program that furnishes students with the skills necessary for gathering and analyzing information and writing concisely and clearly. Required coursework includes news reporting and editing, professional issues in news media management, feature writing, public affairs reporting and journalistic grammar and style. In addition, students may take elective courses in such areas as photojournalism, investigative reporting, publishing on the Internet and television criticism. A 3-credit internship is also required. Students are encouraged to work for The South End, Wayne State University's student newspaper. The department also offers a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism.
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo was founded in 1903 and has been ranked as one of the top universities in the country by U.S. News and World Report for over 20 consecutive years. The school enrolls approximately 25,000 students and offers over 200 degree programs. One of those programs is the bachelor's in journalism, offered by the university's School of Communication. The emphasis in WMU's journalism degree program is on investigative reporting. Students will receive training in the AP writing style and will take courses in communication theory, research, telecommunication, broadcast journalism, and mass communication. Students can participate in student-run media such as the school paper, the Western Herald and the school radio station, WIDR.
School Comparison Table
| School Name | School Type & Setting | Journalism Degree Programs Offered | Tuition & Fees (2012-2013) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Michigan University | 4-year, public; distant town | Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Journalism | In-state: $10,950, out-of-state: $23,670* |
| Eastern Michigan University | 4-year, public; large suburb | Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Journalism | In-state: $9,026, out-of-state: $24,008* |
| Grand Rapids Community College | 2-year, public; midsize city | Associate of Arts in Journalism | In-district: $2,811, in-state: $5,619, out-of-state: $8,187* |
| Grand Valley State University | 4-year, public; large suburb | Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Journalism | In-state: $10,078, out-of-state: $14,568* |
| Madonna University | 4-year, private, not-for-profit; small city | Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Public Relations | $15,300* |
| Michigan State University | 4-year, public; fringe rural | Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Master of Arts in Journalism | In-state: $12,622, out-of-state: $32,580* |
| Oakland University | 4-year, public; large suburb | Bachelor of Arts in Journalism | In-state: $10,230, out-of-state: $23,873* |
| Washtenaw Community College | 2-year, public; large suburb | Associate of Arts in Journalism | In-district: $2,304, in-state: $3,576, out-of-state: $4,656* |
| Wayne State University | 4-year, public; large city | Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism | In-state: $10,190, out-of-state: $21,735* |
| Western Michigan University | 4-year, public; small city | Bachelor of Arts in Journalism | In-state: $9,982, out-of-state: $23,262* |
Source: *National Center for Education Statistics.
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8 Popular Schools
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
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- Online Learning
- Detroit
- Southfield
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Bachelor
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
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Master
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- Bachelor
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- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
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- Bachelor
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 21 years of age or older and have completed some college or 24 years of age or older and a high school graduate for a Bachelor's degree
- Masters degree applicants must have a Bachelors degree
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
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Bachelor
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- BS - Communication
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
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School locations:
- Allendale
Areas of study you may find at Grand Valley State University include:
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- Graduate: Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Communications and Journalism
- Communication Studies
- Digital, Radio, and Television Communication
- English Composition
- English Language and Literature
- Foreign Language and Literature
- Journalism
- Public Relations and Advertising
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School locations:
- Detroit
Areas of study you may find at Wayne State University include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Post Degree Certificate: Post Master's Certificate, Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Communications and Journalism
- Communication Studies
- Comparative Language Studies and Services
- Digital, Radio, and Television Communication
- English Language and Literature
- Foreign Language and Literature
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- Public Relations and Advertising
