Bachelor of Arts in Journalism online
In this distinctive online program, you will pair compelling coursework with extensive extracurricular offerings to create, entertain, and inform through media and research.
Program Overview
Learn the how and why of your online BA in Journalism
Define your professional identity in journalism while
gaining the knowledge, skills, and experience to work across different media
with the 100 percent online Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from William
Paterson University. Learn to successfully research, write, report, edit, and use digital multimedia in the modern age of multi-platform journalism.
Within our program, you will gain first-hand journalism experience in your community, reporting news; writing feature stories, opinion pieces, movie and book reviews; or developing original podcasts. Even though you will not be on campus, your work may be published online in the William Paterson University independent student newspaper, the Beacon, or presented on radio, social media, or podcast through one of the many student clubs. You can also gain valuable virtual experience in WP’s award-winning student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Graduates of the online Journalism degree program will:
- Critically analyze historical, legal, ethical, and contemporary issues in journalism and their impact on society, including free speech, disinformation, and propaganda, in the U.S. and internationally
- Demonstrate professional skills in advanced newsgathering techniques, such as identifying sources, undertaking research, and conducting interviews according to contemporary practices
- Engage in campus and community journalism by producing content for university-based news outlets in digital, print, audio, and video
- Produce original content to engage, inform, and influence diverse audiences, and possess the technical skills to disseminate that content across digital, print, audio, and video platforms
- Critically examine the multicultural history of journalism in the U.S. and internationally, and learn to use communication that empowers those traditionally disenfranchised in society, especially as grounded in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and ability
- Critically analyze historical, legal, ethical, and contemporary issues in journalism and their impact on society, including free speech, disinformation, and propaganda, in the U.S. and internationally
- Demonstrate professional skills in advanced newsgathering techniques, such as identifying sources, undertaking research, and conducting interviews according to contemporary practices
- Engage in campus and community journalism by producing content for university-based news outlets in digital, print, audio, and video
- Produce original content to engage, inform, and influence diverse audiences, and possess the technical skills to disseminate that content across digital, print, audio, and video platforms
- Critically examine the multicultural history of journalism in the U.S. and internationally, and learn to use communication that empowers those traditionally disenfranchised in society, especially as grounded in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and ability
Also available:
William Paterson University offers a variety of specialized bachelor's degrees. Check out all of our online undergraduate programs. In addition, we have minors available to help you meet your undergraduate credit requirements by integrating coursework that enriches your educational experience.
Need More Information?
Add a minor to help meet your credit hour requirement and enrich your educational experience.
Tuition
Stay on budget with affordable tuition
Undergraduate online programs from William Paterson University offer affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition. All fees are included in the total tuition.
Tuition breakdown:
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course |
|---|---|---|
| BA in Journalism | $372.75 | $1,118.25 |
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Follow these dates to apply, enroll, and start classes
WP Online programs are delivered in an accelerated format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring multiple start dates each year.
Now enrolling:
| Term | Start Date | App Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Class End Date | Term Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring I | 1/27/25 | 1/5/25 | 1/8/25 | 1/17/25 | 1/22/25 | 3/16/25 | 7 weeks |
| Spring II | 3/24/25 | 3/2/25 | 3/5/25 | 3/14/25 | 3/19/25 | 5/11/25 | 7 weeks |
| Summer I | 5/19/25 | 4/27/25 | 4/30/25 | 5/9/25 | 5/14/25 | 7/6/25 | 7 weeks |
| Summer II | 7/14/25 | 6/22/25 | 6/24/25 | 7/3/25 | 7/9/25 | 8/31/25 | 7 weeks |
| Fall I | 9/8/25 | 8/17/25 | 8/20/25 | 8/29/25 | 9/3/25 | 10/26/25 | 7 weeks |
| Fall II | 11/3/25 | 10/12/25 | 10/15/25 | 10/24/25 | 10/29/25 | 12/21/25 | 7 weeks |
Now enrolling:
Have questions or need more information about our online programs?
Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?
Admissions
View the admission checklist for the bachelor’s degree in journalism program
At William Paterson University, we've streamlined the admission process to help you get started quickly. Please note all requirements for admission to the BA in Journalism online program, including required documents and where to send them.
The requirements include:
- Online application
- Minimum 2.0 GPA
- Transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended
- Must be at least four years post-high school
You must meet the following requirements for admission to this BA online program:
- Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- Students must be four years post-high school or two years post-high school and have earned 60 or more college credits.
- Official transcripts from each college attended or high school transcript if no prior college experience
- Applicants must be at least two years post high school to enroll in our WP Online accelerated programs.
- Complete online application and submit $50 application fee
Official transcripts, test scores, and other documents should be sent from the granting institutions to:
Email address: [email protected]
Mail address:
Office of University Admissions – Undergraduate
Morrison Hall
300 Pompton Road
Wayne, NJ 07470
Courses
Browse the courses in your journalism bachelor’s degree online program
For the BA in Journalism (JRN) online, you must complete 42 credits of major core courses (33 credit hours of core courses and 9 credit hours of electives). The program is designed to permit a flexible application of prior learning, professional experience, and transfer credits toward meeting these major requirements. Additional University Core Curriculum and elective credits will be required to complete the 120-credit BA degree. Students are required to take COMM 2630 Public Speaking with this major which may fulfill a University Core Curriculum requirement or apply to free electives.
Note: Transfer credit is given for all earned credits except in such cases where the earned grade does not meet major program requirements. There is no limit to the number of credits that may be transferred. A total of 30 credits used to complete a William Paterson University degree must be William Paterson University credits.
Choose three courses from the following options:
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Define the role and impacts of social media and online platforms including websites, search engines, online advertisements, social media, and mobile platforms.
- Students create a strategic social media plan and editorial calendar and implement their plans using social media management systems such as Hootsuite.
- Develop a strategic integrated communication campaign featuring online technologies to manage multiple social media platforms with management systems and analyze online data with digital analytics tools.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Learn to write for digital and traditional platforms and purposes, including the strategic integration of content for brands and organizations across media, social media, marketing, and business disciplines.
- Apply technical, strategic writing, editing, and content development skills across a variety of digital and social media platforms including production of a body of work to use in a professional portfolio.
- Become familiar with software tools available to produce, publish, measure, and promote online content.
Take your degree even further. Choosing a minor will allow you to enrich your experience while meeting your undergraduate credit requirements.
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