Journalism

By combining evolving media practices with a firm writing foundation, our students cultivate the tools necessary to thrive in today's emerging markets.

Students recording a video in video studio

Are you ready for the future of journalism?

Journalism students at Simmons stand on the shoulders of our celebrated Communications alum and college namesake, Gwen Ifill '77 '93HD, a pioneering Black woman journalist who broke through barriers of prejudice and stands as a model of professional excellence and a purposeful life. As a Journalism students, You'll actively engage with the challenges of print, multimedia, and social media journalism while gaining understandings of the impact of the media on society and the individual, as well as the strategies and skills to practice responsibly and ethically. Our faculty are seasoned media professionals offering their expertise both within and beyond the classroom, developing projects that show students what the front lines of media really look like, and advising our student run newspaper and award-winning radio station.

You'll hone your skills through internships in Boston and beyond and enter this rapidly changing industry with an impressive portfolio, ready to take on anything.

Journalism is offered as both a stand-alone minor and as a concentration within the Communications major.

Minor Requirements: (18 credits)

Required Courses (8 credits)

COMM122	Media Writing and Editing	4
COMM260	Journalism	4

Electives (select 2)

COMM 215	Blogging & Opinion and Editorial Writing	4
COMM263	Social Media Journalism	4
COMM310	In-Depth Storytelling	4
COMM320	Media and the First Amendment	4
COMM322	Video Journalism	4

COMM 328: when appropriate

Tech Courses (2 credits, choose two)

COMM110	Introduction to 2D Design Technology 1	1
COMM112	Introduction to Animation & Motion Graphics Technology 1	1
COMM114	Introduction to Audio and Video Editing	1

Degree Requirements

The communications department offers a program in Communications with concentrations in Design, Journalism, and Integrated Media, a joint program between Communications and the Business in Public Relations and Marketing Communications, a joint program between Communications and Computer Science in Web Design and Development, an Interdisciplinary major in Arts Administration, and three Complete Degree programs, which are entirely on-line and geared toward adult learners. The course requirements for these programs follow.

BA in Communications

Communications majors complete 42 credits in Communications, including 3 required core courses, 2 1-credit technology courses, 4 courses in their concentration, 2 courses outside their concentration, and an independent learning Capstone experience.

Step One: Core Requirements

All Communications students take a three-course introductory core:

COMM121	Visual Communication	4
COMM122	Media Writing and Editing	4
COMM124	Media, Messages and Society	4

Step Two: Technology Courses

All students complete at least two-credits of technology skill-based courses:

COMM110	Introduction to 2D Design Technology 1	1
COMM112	Introduction to Animation & Motion Graphics Technology 1	1
COMM114	Introduction to Audio and Video Editing	1

Step Three: Concentration Courses

Courses are broadly organized around the concentrations of Design, Integrated Media, and Journalism.

Students take 4 courses in one of the concentrations below, and 2 courses distributed among the other two concentrations. At least two of these six courses should be at the 300 level.

Design	Integrated Media	Journalism
COMM 210 Introduction to Graphic Design	COMM 120 Communications Media	COMM 181 Public Speaking and Presentation
COMM 241 Design Thinking	COMM 163 Radio Operations and Podcasting	COMM 215 Blogging and Op/Ed Writing
COMM 240 Typography	COMM 186 Introduction to Public Relations and Integrated Marketing Communications	COMM 260 Journalism
COMM 244 Web Design	COMM 224 Storytelling	COMM 263 Social Media Journalism
COMM 246 Digital Imaging for Design	COMM 220 Video Production	COMM 310 In-Depth Storytelling
COMM 248 Type and Image	COMM 222 Animation	COMM 312 Health Communications
COMM 286 Advertising Practice and Branding	COMM 262 Media Convergence	COMM 320 Media and the First Amendment
COMM 333 Responsive Design	COMM 269 Globalization and Intercultural Communications (periodic travel course)	COMM 322 Video Journalism
COMM 340 Advanced Design	COMM 281 Content Creation and Strategies	COMM 327 Culture of the News
	COMM 323 Digital Cultures
	COMM 324 Social Media: Social Listening and Analytics

Step Four: Capstone

Students take at least 4 credits of an independent learning Capstone in the senior year:

COMM370	Internship	4
COMM380	Capstone Internship	0
COMM390	Studio 5: A Communication Workplace	4

Concentrations in the Communications Major

Integrated Media Concentration

Students in Integrated Media complete the Communications Core, 2 Technology courses, 4 courses in the Integrated Media concentration, 2 courses in Design and/or Journalism, and a Capstone.

Integrated Media Courses:

COMM120	Communications Media	4
COMM163	Radio Operations and Podcasting	4
COMM186	Introduction to Public Relations and Integrated Marketing Communications	4
COMM220	Video Production	4
COMM222	Animation	4
COMM 224	Storytelling	4
COMM262	Media Convergence	4
COMM269	Globalization and Intercultural Communication	4
COMM281	Content Creation and Strategy	4
COMM323	Digital Cultures	4
COMM324	Social Media: Social Listening and Analytics	4

Journalism Concentration

Students in the Journalism Concentration complete the Communications Core, 2 Technology courses, 4 courses in the Journalism concentration, 2 courses in Design and/or Integrated Media, and a Capstone.

Journalism Courses:

COMM181	Public Speaking and Presentation	4
COMM 215	Blogging & Opinion and Editorial Writing	4
COMM260	Journalism	4
COMM263	Social Media Journalism	4
COMM310	In-Depth Storytelling	4
COMM312	Health Communications	4
COMM320	Media and the First Amendment	4
COMM322	Video Journalism	4
COMM327	Culture of the News	4

Design Concentration

Students in the Design Concentration complete the Communications Core, 2 Technology courses, 4 courses in the Design concentration, 2 courses in Journalism and/or Integrated Media, and a Capstone.

Design Concentration Courses:

COMM210	Introduction to Graphic Design	4
COMM240	Typography	4
COMM241	Design Thinking	4
COMM244	Web Design	4
COMM246	Digital Imaging for Design	4
COMM248	Type and Image	4
COMM286	Intro to Advertising Practice and Branding	4
COMM333	Responsive Design	4
COMM340	Advanced Design	4

Internships and Research

Internships are a key component of the journalism program. In a cultural center like Boston, there are countless opportunities to build your skills, resume and networking relationships with organizations in the city and beyond. Recent placements include the Boston Herald, the Boston Globe, and the Metro.

An overview of the Communications program at Simmons University.

Communications at Simmons University

See what it's like to be part of our Communications program.

Our Faculty

Erica Moura

Associate Professor of Practice

Marcie McClellan Dumolga

Adjunct Faculty

Nick Osborne

Adjunct Faculty

Bob White

Professor

Spotlight on Journalism Students and Alums

View All News

Honing Hands-on Editing and Interdisciplinary Journalism

Alicia Guzman ’25 reflects on the supportive faculty members she found at Simmons, her favorite courses, the research projects she conducted, and how she became inspired to pursue a media studies degree in graduate school.

A lawn sign on the Simmons University campus that reads "Welcome Back to Simmons"

Incoming Simmons Undergrad Selected for Journalism Initiative

Incoming Simmons student Mattea Ortiz ’28 was accepted into the Youth Arts Journalism Initiative Class of 2024, a project sponsored by the Arts Council of Greater New Haven, Connecticut.

Awards and Honors

Trailblazing Reporter Maria Karagianis ’70 Shares the Power of Stories, Rebellion, and Luck

Coming of age in the 1960s and 70s, Maria Karagianis witnessed tumultuous protests. As a staff writer for The Boston Globe, she covered desegregation in Boston, apartheid in South Africa, and Syrian refugees in the Greek islands. She is a Pulitzer Prize winner, a Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow, and founder of the non-profit organization Discovering Justice.

I'm Going to do Amazing Things: Abrielle Cunningham '23 on the Ifill Scholarship

Congratulations to Abrielle Cunningham '23, recipient of the Ifill Scholarship! Learn more about Abrielle's ambitions and how she hopes to do amazing things, just like Gwen Ifill.

Simmons Students Revive Boston’s Lost West End

In Fall 2019, a group of 11 Simmons undergraduate students began researching the lost West End. Supported by a “Humanities Research for the Public Good” grant from the Council of Independent Colleges, the students created a series of exhibits, including one for the West End Museum, one on Simmons’ campus, and a digital exhibit.