Maria B. Marron, Chair of the Department of Journalism at Central Michigan University, says
WELCOME . . .
Whether you are an intending journalism student, a parent of prospective undergraduates, or someone surfing the web, we are happy you are here to explore our journalism program at Central Michigan.
The Department of Journalism at CMU has long been recognized as a premiere journalism program producing distinguished alumni who make dynamic contributions to the field and enhance the quality of life in their communities. The Department is accredited by the Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications, a distinction held by only one other Michigan university. The journalism program balances classroom theory with service learning and other structured hands-on experiences that help students develop the skills required for positions in the media.
In pursuing a journalism degree, students take a common core of courses and elect one of four concentrations: news editorial, photojournalism, public relations, or advertising. Journalism provides key courses to the Integrative Public Relations major and the minor in Media Design, Production and Technology. More than 300 students currently have selected majors in the journalism department, and there are more than 300 minors. Fifteen full-time faculty members and a number of part-time faculty guide their educational experiences.
Students enhance their classroom learning with practical experiences. In recent years, journalism students have worked with the China Daily as interns in Beijing, talked informally with industry notables such as the editor of USA Today, developed websites for non-profit groups, and designed public relations programs and presentations for major public and non-profit corporations.
The department's close association with CM Life, CMU's campus newspaper and recipient of numerous top national awards from the Michigan Press Association and the Associated Collegiate Press, is especially noteworthy. Student involvement at the newspaper may begin immediately upon a student's arrival on campus. Those who work as CM Life staff are exposed to the intense daily experiences that constitute professional life in the media. The placement rates for graduating seniors have remained at 100 percent for nearly three decades and numerous CMU alumni fill distinguished media posts in Michigan and beyond.