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College of Arts and Sciences

BA in Digital Media and Journalism

At a Glance

Our digital media and journalism degree prepares you for a career in digital media production, broadcast journalism, sports media, or as a media business professional.

Full Time
Rolling Admission

Degrees Offered

Total Credits

Bachelor of Arts

36

Minor

18

Overview

Our digital media and journalism degree prepares you for a career in digital media production, broadcast journalism, sports media, or as a media business professional. Using a combination of real-world and classroom experience, you build a strong portfolio through internships and by working in one or more of our media-oriented student firms:

  • The Agency: A school wide firm, where you create media content for profit and non-profit organizations
  • The Studio: A production company that develops TV shows and web series for our student-run television network (STN) and other clients
  • The Newsroom: A media outlet for you to write and publish online news content about the University and the Hartford area
  • UH Hawks Production: A mobile broadcast studio, where you produce live University sports programming for streaming services.

Degree Requirements

A total of 36 credits is required. You must complete core communication courses, a writing course, and a student firm or internship course. You also complete 12 to 18 credits in your chosen area of emphasis.

Digital Media and Journalism Core Courses

You must complete six core courses in the Digital Media and Journalism program. Examples include:
  • Communication and Media in the Digital Age
  • Introduction to Media Production
  • Introduction to Media; Industries, Content, and Audiences
  • Media Literacy
In addition, you are required to get hands-on experience through one of the following student firms or an internship with an outside organization:
  • The Agency
  • UH Hawk Productions  
  • The Newsroom  
  • The Studio 
For more information, and to see a complete list of degree requirements, visit the Course Catalog.

Digital Media Production Emphasis Core Courses

Examples of courses include:

  • Introduction to Radio and Audio
  • Introduction to Television Production  
  • Introduction to Multimedia  
  • Non-linear Editing  
  • Video Field Production  

For more information, and to see a complete list of requirements, visit the Course Catalog.

 

Journalism and Sports Media Emphasis Core Courses

Examples of courses include:

  • Digital Productions for News and Sports  
  • Sports Broadcasting  
  • Online Journalism  
  • News Reporting  

For more information, and to see a complete list of requirements, visit the Course Catalog.

Media Studies Emphasis Core Courses

Examples of courses include:

  • Making Sense of Social Media  
  • Research Methods in Communication  
  • Media Marketing and Promotion  
  • Women and the Media  

For more information, and to see a complete list of requirements, visit the Course Catalog.

Minor Requirements

A total of 18 credits is required for the minor in Digital Media and Journalism including the core course Introduction to Media: Industries, Content and Audiences.

In addition, two of the following courses are required:

  • Media Literacy  
  • Introduction to Digital Media Production
  • Fundamentals of Journalism  
  • You also select three electives, with at least one course at the 400-level. Courses include:
  • Digital Productions for News and Sports
  • Media Marketing and Promotion  
  • News Reporting
  • International Communication
  • Media Industries: Ethics, Politics, Economics

For more information, and to see a complete list of minor requirements, visit the Course Catalog.

Learning Outcomes

Digital Media and Journalism students will be able to demonstrate:

  • A professional level of writing standards for print and broadcast organizations such as the Associated Press
  • Professional level video production
  • Delivery of information across multiple platforms
  • An understanding of the changing media landscape
  • Critical thinking
  • The ability to collaboratively produce content
  • The ability to reflectively critique one’s own work

Areas of Emphasis

Journalism and Sports Media

Prepare for a successful career as a broadcast news anchor, reporter, editor, or online journalist. Learn how to tell news stories and report on sporting events through the use of multiple media platforms. Our faculty are working industry professionals and are skilled in writing engaging content for online and broadcast media.

Digital Media Production

Prepare for a career in news, entertainment, and sports programming production. You receive intensive mentoring from faculty, who are industry professionals. Plus, our class sizes are small so you will get lots of hands-on experience and access to equipment and relevant software for production.

Media Studies

Prepare for a career as a media industry leader at broadcast companies, advertising agencies, marketing firms, and nonprofit organizations. You gain an understanding of the changing media landscape, and identify opportunities that arise from rapidly changing technologies.

3+1 BA in Digital Media and Journalism/MBA Program

A 3+1 BA in Digital Media and Journalism and MBA program is also offered. You take your undergraduate digital media and journalism courses in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Master of Business Administration requirements in UHart’s Barney School of Business. By the end of your third year, you will have completed the BA in Digital Media and Journalism and minor in Business, and by the end of your fourth year, you will have completed the MBA. This accelerated program allows you to finish both degrees in the same amount of time it would normally take to finish one, and at a reduced cost.

3+1 Program Information

  • You must maintain a 3.2 GPA to enroll in the Barney grad program the summer after your third year.
  • Courses taken in the winter and summer term as part of the undergraduate degree are offered at no extra tuition cost. 
  • As a UHart student, you are eligible for the Hawk Alumni Scholarship during the graduate studies portion of the program, which reduces your tuition by 25 percent.
  • You are not “locked in” to the schedule and can opt out of the 3+1 accelerated program and change to a 4+1 model. 

If you have questions about the program and course schedule, contact School of Communication Director and Associate Professor Jack Banks at jbanks@great-seal.com.

Ryan Kelsey '21, Derek Bennett '22

Digital Media and Journalism ,

Experience gained both in and outside of the classroom has helped two recent graduates of UHart’s School of Communication land production assistant positions at ESPN’s SportsCenter program. Ryan Kelsey joined the sports broadcasting giant in fall 2021, and Derek Bennett was hired in August shortly after graduation.

Bennett says he gained valuable experience as the sports director of the student-run television network STN2 during his last two years at UHart. Kelsey says one of the many ways that UHart faculty helped prepare him for his career was by teaching him about the different forms of media and encouraging him to become a well-rounded student.

Read more

The School of Communication helped me learn not only about television and live production, but also taught me about radio and podcasting, digital and online media, and the fundamentals and ethics of journalism. Ryan Kelsey '21

Chad Charette

Digital Media and Journalism , '22

Chad started working as a multimedia journalist for WWNY in Watertown, New York, immediately after graduation, thanks to his involvement in the School of Communication’s student-run television station STN. Chad says he gained a “massive” amount of experience by working as a reporter for STN, where he was able to connect with and interview leaders throughout the greater Hartford area.

Chad highly recommends that students get involved in STN if they are interested in a media career.

Read more. 

Although I formed wonderful connections with my professors, I found my UHart family at STN Channel 2.

Prepare for an Exciting Career Through Hands-On Experience

It’s going to mean a lot when I can say on a résumé that I covered the Yard Goats for six weeks.

Kaamal Cenot ‘20 , Digital Media and Journalism

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