Bachelor of Arts in Journalism - Public Affairs / Public Policy

SUNY Stony Brook University

The state-of-the-art accredited journalism program at Stony Brook University is designed to prepare students for careers in today’s fast-paced, highly competitive media landscape. The streamlined curriculum requires 42 credits of JRN courses and offers an easy-to-navigate pathway to graduation. The program focuses on digital journalism but holds fast to traditional journalistic values and skills that imbue an understanding of the role of the press in a democratic society and a passion for the public interest. The curriculum also provides the intellectual underpinnings students need to progress to graduate or professional degree programs. It is designed to ensure that students build competencies in a sequential fashion. They will hone skills in journalistic storytelling and production, starting with two required digital journalism courses and a writing course. In turn, these prepare students for one of three upper-level digital journalism courses – specializing in text, audio or video, depending on their interests and ambitions. These courses offer advanced opportunities to mix sound, images and words into compelling multimedia packages. Students will also practice using social media as a reportorial tool and a presentation platform. Majors complete their production training in the senior capstone course, JRN 490, which satisfies the university’s experiential learning requirement. As technology accelerates the dissemination of news, information and disinformation around the clock and around the world, the need for well-trained and independent-minded journalists has never been greater. The journalism major program at Stony Brook is designed to prepare the next generation of journalists for careers in all forms of journalism. The course of study emphasizes traditional journalistic values and skills, and the ability to succeed in a rapidly-evolving multi-media landscape. Students study news reporting, writing, editing and producing for all platforms. The course of study emphasizes traditional journalistic values and skills, and the ability to succeed in a rapidly-evolving multi-media landscape. Students study news reporting, writing, editing and producing for all platforms. They develop an appreciation for the mission of the press in a democratic society, standards of ethical and responsible journalism and are expected to leave the program with a passion for the public interest and the courage to do the right thing in the face of unprecedented misinformation and competition.