Journalism Certificate

Program Overview

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Madison College's Journalism Certificate provides professional writing and visual journalism training for students seeking employment in the field or pursuing further education. The program offers a range of courses, including journalism fundamentals, social media writing, and photojournalism, and can be completed full- or part-time at multiple campus locations. Graduates may pursue careers as news reporters, feature writers, social media writers, and more.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

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Overview:

Madison College's Journalism Certificate offers professional writing and visual journalism courses for a wide range of students and can be used as a platform to a four-year program. The Journalism Certificate can also help an individual land an internship position, a part-time job, or full-time work in a small media organization, such as a weekly newspaper or radio station, or in a public relations department of an organization.

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Objectives:

• Gain employment in the field of journalism.
• Gain journalism credits that transfer to colleges and universities in Wisconsin and elsewhere.
• Develop a portfolio of published work.
• Enhance your media literacy and communication skills.

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Program Description:

Students in other programs, such as the Visual Communication, Photography or Graphic Design programs, can simultaneously work to earn the Journalism Certificate while completing their associate's degrees. Returning students who might possibly have bachelor's or master's degrees may obtain the Journalism Certificate as a key to their transition to a professional writing or visual journalism career.

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Outline:

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Program Content:

The Journalism Certificate program offers courses in:

• Introduction to Journalism
• Introduction to Documentary Storytelling
• Social Media Writing
• Journalism Practicum
• Investigative Journalism
• World Issues Journalism
• Science Communication
• Photojournalism
• Digital Photography
• Introduction to Computer Graphics
• WebPage Design
• On-Air Performance
• Media and Democracy

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Structure:

Students can complete the Journalism Certificate full- or part-time. Journalism classes may be offered at these Madison College campuses:

• Madison - Truax
• Madison - South
• Reedsburg
• Portage
• Fort Atkinson

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Careers:

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Potential Career Paths:

Graduates of the Madison College Journalism Certificate program may pursue careers in:

• News Reporter
• Feature Writer
• Radio Reporter
• Video Journalist
• Social Media Writer
• Web Writer
• Copy Editor
• Public Relations Writer

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Opportunities and Outcomes:

• Many former journalism students are now working either full-time or part-time for news media organizations.
• Smaller media organizations, such as small radio stations, small dailies or weekly newspapers, often advertise job openings and do not list a bachelor's degree in journalism as a requirement.