| Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQ)
Why major in journalism at EIU?
What careers will I be prepared for?
What is the department's Vision Statement?
Can I get practical experience in addition
to what I learn in the classroom?
Can a major in Journalism help me prepare
for graduate or professional school?
What scholarships and financial assistance
opportunities are available?
What are the course requirements for
a major in Journalism?
What minors and other academic programs
are offered in Journalism?
Where are graduates employed?
How can I obtain more information?
Why major in journalism at
EIU?
- Offers a Bachelor of Arts degree
- Combines professional and liberal
arts education
- Strong, flexible, well-rounded
program of study
- Accredited by the Accrediting
Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
- Co-curricular experiences and
professional internships that supplement classroom work
- Eleven tenured or tenure-track faculty
positions
- Classes taught by tenured and
tenure track professors
- Average Journalism class size
is 15
- Preparation for careers requiring
strong communication, writing, and critical thinking skills
- Cooperative relationships with universityÕs
student publications and radio/TV departments
- Numerous scholarships, grants
and work opportunities
- Learn on state-of-the-art technology
- Full-time faculty serve as academic
advisers
- Placement assistance
- Strong job market for graduates,
excellent career opportunities
- Journalism program encourages
students seeking a second major
- Service and research/creative activities
are encouraged
- Collegial governance structure
- Demand for graduates exceeds supply
- Strong alumni support and involvement
- Faculty actively involved as members and
leaders of college and university committees
- Faculty active in professional and academic
organizations as members and officers
- Co-curricular experiences and professional
internships supplement classroom work
- Serves as headquarters for Mid-America Press
Institute, Illinois Journalism Education Association and Eastern
Illinois High School Press Association
- Committed to offering off-campus classes
and non-traditional learning opportunities
- Participates in Illinois Articulation
Initiative
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What careers will I be prepared
for?
- Reporters, editors, designers, photojournalists,
producers, publishers for print, broadcast, and online media
- Public relations writers, editors, and counselors
- Advertising sales and design
- Management positions for which strong communication,
research and critical skills and a liberal arts background are
essential qualifications
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What is the
department's Vision Statement?
(Approved by the faculty: April 22, 2005)
The Department of Journalism is committed to excellence in teaching, in professional and creative activity, and in service to journalism and public relations.
The department will promote excellence in learning by encouraging students to become skillful communicators, critical thinkers, knowledgeable media consumers and users, and ethical leaders capable of understanding and protecting the democratic process. An enriched professional environment will encourage students to gain the experience and skills essential to life-long learning. The faculty will assure excellence in teaching that reflects the diverse heritage that enriches a free and democratic society and prepares students for an ever-changing world.
The faculty will set an example of their commitment to life-long learning through their continuing scholarly, creative and professional activities.
The faculty will demonstrate excellence in service through a commitment: (1) to develop a media-literate society through cultural and educational enrichment for journalism consumers, educators and students in Illinois, for Eastern students and for journalism majors, (2) to broaden the practice and understanding of the communication of public information so crucial to the preservation of a free and democratic society, (3) to provide opportunities for continuing intellectual development for journalism and public relations professionals, and (4) to contribute to department, college and university committees, activities, programs and service.
The Department of Journalism will provide education that is (1) durable enough to weather changes in the careers of our alumni, (2) flexible and broad enough to span the time and space of their lives and careers, (3) responsive to the changes in the discipline, and (4) practical and successful in teaching students how to communicate knowledgeably, critically, ethically and effectively.
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Can I get practical experience
in addition to what I learn in the classroom?
A strength of Eastern's Journalism program is the number and variety
of co-curricular learning opportunities. These include:
- The
Daily Eastern News,the campus daily newspaper (print and
online editions)
- The
Warbler yearbook
- Minority Today, a monthly newspaper
- Vehicle, the student literary magazine
- MPI Reporter, newsletter of Mid-America
Press Institute Foundation
- Reporter, a newsletter serving high school
journalists
- Pounce Online, an independent online student magazine
- WEIU-FM
- WEIU-TV,
including Newscan, a daily live 30-minute newscast.
- The Agency, a student-run public relations organization
- Internships in professional media and agencies
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Can a major in Journalism
help me prepare for graduate or professional school?
Journalism is an excellent major for students planning
to continue their studies in graduate and professional schools,
such as law, in which a broad background in the humanities, arts
and science is desirable.
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What scholarships and financial
assistance opportunities are available?
- Scholarships for freshmen, continuing, and transfer
students
- Talented Student Awards and Grants-in-Aid
- Part-time jobs in Student Publications, departmental
office, computer labs
- Go to the Journalism Dept. scholarships
page for more info
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What are the course requirements
for a major in Journalism?
- 39-40 hours of Journalism courses
- 18 hours of Liberal Arts (Block A)
- 12 hours of General Electives
- non-Journalism Specialty (Block B)
- Go to the Journalism Dept. majors
page for details about requirements
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What minors and other academic
programs are offered in Journalism?
- Minor in Public Relations
- Minor in Journalism
- Concentration in Writing and Reporting
- Concentration in Editing
- Concentration in Design
- Concentration in Photojournalism
- Concentration in Public Relations
- Concentration in Broadcast News
- Concentration in New and Emerging Media
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Where are graduates employed?
Journalism alumni are currently employed in print,
online and broadcast media, advertising and public relation in large
and small markets. Employers have included the Associated Press,
Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago
Tribune, Miami Herald, Washington Post, ABC News, WGN-TV, Edelman
Public Relations Worldwide, Fleishman-Hillard, GCI Group, Motorola
and MacLeod USA.
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How can I obtain more information?
Spend a day with a student who is majoring in journalism,
call to make arrangements.
Ask your teacher to invite a Journalism faculty member
and student majors to come to your high school or community college
and speak to classes and meet with interested students.
Come to the Journalism offices, 2521 Buzzard Hall
(located on 7th Street)
Call 217-581-6003 or fax 217-581-7188
E-mail James Tidwell, chairman of journalism dept. at
jtidwell@eiu.edu
Write to:
Eastern Illinois University
Department of Journalism
2521 Buzzard Hall
Charleston, IL 61920-3099
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