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Program Information
Learn more about the Journalism program.
General Help
Ask general questions at our support center.
Course Sequence
The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Journalism and New Media Studies program is designed to provide students with general, practical and marketable skills that will enable them to seek entry-level employment in various media outlets, including: newspapers, magazines, community journals, online websites, radio and television. The program includes development of a portfolio that will exhibit students' abilities to write both news and feature stories. News judgment is also integrated as a critical component of the program. An awareness of global and cultural differences also forms a key element of this degree for the successful graduate. The curriculum combines coursework in journalism with a General Education component.
Details
Important information you’ll need when applying for admission:
- Field of Interest
- Culture and Society
- Type
- Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
- Academic Plan
- Journalism and New Media Studies (DEG)
- Academic Plan Code
- 3120
- Total Credits Required
- 61-67
- Catalog Year
- 2025-2026
- Effective Term
- Fall 2024
- Notes
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
There are additional university transfer options within this pathway. Students should speak with the Program Director or an academic advisor to identify the best option to meet their academic and career goals.
What You’ll Learn
This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:
- Produce stories appropriate to their medium and venue, from conceptualization to publication, including research, confirmation of credible sources, writing, and editing.
- Analyze and adapt to a professional context within the journalism industry in order to work effectively.
- Describe the contemporary field of journalism, including media, markets and specializations.
- Demonstrate written and verbal skills to communicate effectively with diverse populations and individuals.
- Develop and maintain professional networks and relationships within the field of journalism.
- Apply media law and ethics to journalistic situations.
- Evaluate and employ the strengths of self and others to achieve common goals in group settings.
- Incorporate new and emerging digital technologies ethically and efficiently to meet current trends.
- Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.
Career Opportunities
Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Maricopa County-based annual median wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.
Broadcast News Analysts
$51,178 Show expanded career information for Broadcast News Analysts
Editors
$59,379 Show expanded career information for Editors
Postsecondary Communications Teachers
$72,944 Show expanded career information for Postsecondary Communications Teachers
Reporters and Correspondents
$51,178 Show expanded career information for Reporters and Correspondents
Writers and Authors
$46,263 Show expanded career information for Writers and Authors
Course Sequence by Term
The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:
- Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
- The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
- Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
- Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
- Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.
Ready to get started?
Follow one of the options below to get started on your personal career pathway.
Become a Student
Click here for MCC’s easy-to-use Enrollment Steps.
Program Information
Learn more about and find contact information for the Journalism program.
General Help
Ask general questions over the phone at 480-461-7400 or via online chat.
Course Area Key
Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.
Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.
- C = Cultural Diversity in the US
- CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
- FYC = First Year Composition
- H = Historical Awareness
- HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
- L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
- MA = Mathematics
- SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
- SG = Natural Sciences General
- SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Disclaimer
Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.
Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.
At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, meet with an academic advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.
View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm13?id=189329).
Previous Catalog Years
The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.
Previous catalog years for Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Journalism and New Media Studies