Courses

Below is a list of our offered courses for Fall 2021.

JOUR-100    Introduction to Journalism (W or R 9:30a.m.-12p.m.)

JOUR-200    Digital News (T/R 12:30p.m. -1:45 p.m.)

JOUR 303 – Covering the City (M 6:30p.m.-9:00 p.m.)

  • Covering the City Washington, D.C. is a vibrant city that has seen tremendous change in recent decades. Students will learn about the history and layout of Washington, how city government, courts and agencies work, and how gentrification and development have impacted many neighborhoods. Students will visit various areas in Washington, meet reporters who cover the city, attend neighborhood meetings, and meet community leaders and activists. The goal of the course is to give students the skills, knowledge and understanding to cover any city. Prior Journalism courses/experience will be helpful.

JOUR 325 – Opinion Journalism (W 6:30p.m.-9:00p.m.)

  • Opinion writing has been an integral part of journalism since the first newspapers appeared — and in the digital age, opinions are more ubiquitous and seemingly more popular than ever. Good opinion writing draws on the same ingredients as other forms of journalism: solid research and reporting, clear thinking, and vigorous style — including, when possible, a dash of wit. This course will be both a seminar and a writing workshop. It will examine how opinion writers construct convincing arguments in many forms: editorials, columns, op-eds and criticism. Through writing assignments and class discussions, students will learn to do the reporting that is the foundation of credible opinion pieces and will develop critical thinking and writing skills required to convey their views clearly and persuasively.

JOUR-368   Media and Social Justice (T 3:30p.m.-6:00p.m.)

  • Part of Journalism’s mission is to tell the stories of those who are disenfranchised, marginalized or oppressed, the stories of those who are most vulnerable to injustice and inequality. But is journalism really about justice? Should it be? This seminar will explore ways to report on social justice topics, through Opinion writing, Solutions Journalism, Immersive Journalism, Movement Journalism and Investigative Journalism.

JOUR-376   Covering the White House (T 6:30p.m.-9:00p.m.)

  • It’s the most esteemed job a reporter can have — a stint on the White House beat. But what’s it really like? This course will go behind the scenes in The West Wing to see how the media is covering the Biden Administration. Students will hear first-hand from some of the country’s best print and broadcast reporters and producers. They will also get the perspective from an award-winning still photographer and a former White House Press Secretary. Students will also have the opportunity to attend a White House Press Briefing. Although this course is a seminar, students – through writing assignments and class discussions, will learn how to construct a fair and balanced White House story.

JOUR-384 Visual Storytelling (M/W 8:00p.m.-9:15p.m.)

  • Advanced Video Storytelling is tailored to those interested in producing compelling stories for all video platforms. Students will bring together the finer creative points from multiple genres including commercial production, documentary production, news production, and non-narrative storytelling into one creative, hands-on class. This course will provide students with both theory and practical techniques using top professional cinema cameras and editing systems to learn how to capture the viewer’s attention through compelling sequences, shots, lighting styles, creative audio and story structure. AVS will give students the option to choose their favorite genre and types of stories for multiple class projects. AVS will also focus on the concept of subjects telling their stories in their own voices, without heavy narration or reporters on camera. Students will identify visually compelling stories, learn to master video and edit systems, take part in video shoots at different locations, make successful pitches and attend story sessions where the work is critiqued by both the class and media professionals. Jour 374 or familiarity with video production and editing on Adobe Premiere are highly recommended.

JOUR-392 Global Journalism (W 9:30a.m.-12:00p.m.)

  • South Asia’s Ring of Fire: Reporting on the small buffer nations between nuclear giants provides critical insights into bigger global issues. This seminar will explore close-up problems facing everyone: climate change, nuclear threats, unstable economies and clashes of religions and cultures through the lens of Nepal, Kashmir and Afghanistan.