Associate of Arts - Journalism - Transfer Degree

Students completing the program will be able to... • Use a variety of media and sources to produce journalistic products that demonstrate good news judgment, appropriate sourcing, accuracy and completeness, technical competence and adherence to ethical, legal and style guidelines. • Understand and analyze how history, economics, politics, law or government regulation affect the climate for journalism and freedom of speech in the United States. • Demonstrate good work habits, time management and professionalism while working collaboratively and under deadline pressure to produce a news product.

The journalism program prepares students in the writing, reporting and critical thinking skills required for jobs in the news media and for transfer to a journalism program at a four-year institution. Career options include copy editor, script writer, broadcast journalist, news reporter, magazine writer, columnist, public information officer, online writer, freelance writer, advertising copy writer, editor and photojournalist. Some career options may require more than two years of college study.

The associate in arts in journalism for transfer is intended for students who plan to complete a bachelor’s degree in a similar major at a CSU campus. Students completing this degree are guaranteed admission to the CSU system, but not to a particular campus or major.

In order to earn the degree, students must:

• • Complete 60 CSU-transferable units. • Complete the California State University-General Education pattern (CSU GE); or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) pattern, including the Area 1C requirement for Oral Communication. • Complete a minimum of 18 units in the major. • Attain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. • Earn a grade of “C“ or higher in all courses required for the major.

Students transferring to a CSU campus that accepts the degree will be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn a bachelor’s degree. This degree may not be the best option for students intending to transfer to a particular CSU campus or to a university or college that is not part of the CSU system, or those students who do not intend to transfer. Some courses in the major satisfy both major and CSU GE/IGETC general education requirements; however, the units are only counted once toward the 60 unit requirement for an associate degree. Some variations in requirements may exist at certain four-year institutions; therefore, students who intend to transfer are advised to refer to the catalog of the prospective transfer institution and consult a counselor.