Frequently Asked Questions
Questions on…
Career development
Choosing a journalism emphasis
Computers and computer skills
Course credits
Employment opportunities
GPA requirement
Graduate programs
High school students
Internships
Journalism advising and course enrollment
Journalism scholarships
Minor
Transferring credits
Portfolios
Strengths of the program
Student organizations
Web design course
Career development:
• What are the job careers available to the students graduated from your program?
A recent survey of our graduates shows that job duties of the alumni are quite diverse and often cross over different specialties. Most of our graduates work as advertising copywriters, business managers, graphic designers, marketing coordinators, news editors, news photographers, news reporters, project directors, public relations specialists, Web designers, and sales representatives. A number of the graduates remain in the Fox Valley. Many of them are scattered around Wisconsin, neighboring states, and metropolitan areas including Milwaukee, Chicago, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington. A number of graduates are currently working at large advertising, public relations and media outlets including the Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, ESPN.Com, Leo Burnett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Ogilvy & Mather, Washington Post, Shandwick International, Target, TBWA/Chiat Day, Martin Williams and so forth. A series of alumni posters displayed in the department showcase their career achievements. To learn more about our alumni’s careers, you may also check the past issues of the Journalism Alumni Newsletter.
• I would like to know information about an advertising agency, public relations company, and/or a news organization. Where do I find the information?
For ad agencies, you may check the book, Standard Directory of Advertising Agencies, available at the reference desk of Polk Library, UW-Oshkosh. You may also check online resources at www.aaaa.org. For PR companies, you may check the Web site of the Public Relations Society of America at www.prsa.org. For news media, you may find the information in Bacon’s, Editor & Publisher International Yearbook or log on www.newslink.org, which provides links to newspapers with Web sites.
• I am interested in learning professional perspectives from students graduated from your program. Whom should I talk to?
You may find the information at our department Web site. Go to Alumni home page and click “Giving journalism students a helping hand (PDF).” Fill out and submit the application form. You will be connected with a graduate who could be your mentor or answer your questions. You may also e-mail your request to Journalism@uwosh.edu. Be sure to explain specifically what career area(s) you are interested in to help us connect you to an appropriate graduate(s) in that area.
Choosing a journalism emphasis:
• How should I choose my emphasis in News-Editorial or Advertising/Public Relations?
To complete the paperwork, you need to meet with an academic advisor at Dempsey Hall to fill out a form. We strongly recommend you meet with a journalism advisor before or after you decide on your emphasis. For more information about journalism advising, please log on http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/journalism/students.html. Or you may send an email to Journalism@uwosh.edu.
• Can I choose Visual Journalism as an emphasis?
Visual Journalism is an academic “focus” in addition to one of the two journalism emphases. You will need to select an emphasis, News-Editorial or Advertising/Public Relations, before choosing Visual Journalism as a focus.
Computer and computer skills:
• Must I purchase a computer if I will be majoring in journalism?
No, we do not require our majors to buy computers. However, purchasing a laptop computer is highly recommended due to the convenient usage and reduced price. The university offers educational prices for several brands. For information, check with Academic Computing at 920-424-3020.
• What types of computer and software are used in journalism classes?
The department offers three state-of-the-art computer labs equipped with Macintosh computers. Software programs installed on the computers include Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, PhotoShop, MacroMedia, Microft Office, QuarkXpress, to name just a few of them.
• Does the department offer a course entirely focusing on different computer skills, such as PhotoShop, InDesign, QuarkXpress, etc.?
The department does not offer a course entirely focusing on computer skills. However, many computer workshops are offered and integrated as part of regular courses to enhance students’ computer skills. The courses focusing on hands-on skills enable students to learn many different computer skills progressively. Many faculty are specialized in one or more software programs, such as DreamWeaver, InDesign, PhotoShop, and QuarkXpress. Several consultants at the Instructional Resources Center at Polk Library can also assist students if they have questions. Their contact number is 920-424-7361.
Course credits:
• How many journalism credits are required to graduate?
You will need 36 credits in journalism courses.
Employment opportunities:
• What are the positions of work-study/student assistant offered by the department?
The department employs several work-study/student assistants each year. Please check with the department’s program assistant at Journalism@uwosh.edu or call 920-424-1042 for application information.
• Does the department provide students a career placement program?
The main resource available to students is the university-wide Career Services in room 230, Dempsey Hall (Tel: 920-424-2181). It offers a number of forms of assistance for students seeking to begin their careers. Although the journalism department is not actively engaged in placement, it enhances placement opportunities for graduates in a number of ways supplementary to Career Services. For example, department faculty pass along important information about job possibilities to seniors. (Much of this information comes by way of faculty–alumni contact.) This is accomplished by direct announcement in classes and by posting printed versions on departmental bulletin boards. Faculty also advise students on the job-finding process, on an individual basis and in a number of classes, making suggestions such as how to prepare for a job interview or put together a portfolio. For instance, in graphics classes, projects assignments require preparation of a résumé, letterhead, envelope and business card to use in job seeking; in photography classes, the preparation of a portfolio is an outcome. Exercises in many journalism classes yield appropriate portfolio materials.
GPA requirement:
• What is the GPA requirement to major in journalism?
2.5 out of 4.0
• My university cumulative GPA is below 2.50. May I still sign up for journalism courses?
Only three journalism courses do not require at least a 2.50 GPA. These courses are Introduction to Journalism, Principles of Advertising, and Principles of Public Relations.
• I have almost or already completed my general education required courses. What should I do next if my GPA is below 2.50?
You should see your journalism advisor as soon as possible and review your academic performance. You may consider two options. One is change to a new major that does not have a GPA requirement. Another option is to take more general education courses while attempting to improve your GPA.
Graduate programs:
• I am interested in advertising creativity. Are there any graduate programs focused on copywriting or advertising creativity?
There are several schools offering post-undergraduate and professional education in advertising creativity. For more information, check with Dr. James Tsao at Tsao@uwosh.edu.
• I am interested in studying at a graduate school offering a master’s degree in journalism. Where can I find the information?
You may check with your journalism advisor, who can make suggestions appropriate for your career goals.
High school students:
• Does your program offer any activities to high school students?
The program sponsors an annual conference of the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association (NEWSPA) in each spring, where more than 600 high school students and school newspaper advisers travel to the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh to participate in over 50 sessions and panels led by prominent professionals in the journalism field. NEWSPA also offers adviser training sessions, yearbook and newspaper competitions, and produces two newsletters a year. Check with an advisor of your school paper or log on http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/journalism/newspahistory.html to see more information.
Internships:
• How can I apply for internship credits?
For information, please log on to http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/journalismnew/students.html.
• How can I find an internship opportunity?
Students learn about the opportunities in a variety of ways. Notices of openings are posted on two bulletin boards in the journalism area as well as on the department Web site at http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/journalism/students.html. That site also has a newsletter, produced by students in the internship class, describing their intern experiences. Notices of internship openings also are kept in a binder in the department as a reference source, and one-page descriptions of internships recently completed by journalism students are kept in another binder. The appropriate student organizations also receive notices of openings and are encouraged to make their members aware of the opportunities. In addition, among the responsibilities of those in the internship class is a requirement that they make presentations of their internships to journalism classes. Typically about a dozen classes have such presentations each semester. At the instructor’s request, an attempt is made to match the intern’s experience with the skills focus of the class.
Journalism advising and course enrollment:
• When does journalism advising begin each semester?
The department’s advising for the following semester normally begins in the third or fourth week of each semester. The department attempts to complete such advising in a one-week period. The department makes announcements of the advising schedule well in advance of the advising week of each semester. These are passed on to students through different channels including email, the journalism Web site, personal communications, and information distributed in classes.
• How can I sign up for journalism classes?
All students wanting to take a course in journalism, must meet with a faculty advisor to sign up for courses except Introduction to Journalism. An attempt is made to match journalism advisors with advisees based on faculty teaching area and student interest in the profession. Students may select any advisor at any time, however. The list of advisees and their advisors is posted on a bulletin board of the department one week prior to the advising week. Detailed instructions for advising are posted on the journalism Web site at http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/journalism/students.html.
• May I take more than three journalism courses within one semester?
Journalism students may take no more than three journalism courses (excluding interim courses) within one semester.
• What is the normal enrollment of each journalism class?
The maximum enrollment for hands-on courses that require the use of computer labs is 15. Most of the conceptual courses vary from 30 to 50 students. Introduction to Journalism is the only class that has an enrollment exceeding 50 students.
• Do you offer summer classes?
The department does not offer summer classes except for special occasions.
• I am interested in advertising/public relations, but why am I required to take Writing for the Media and Editing courses?
The department believes that a well-rounded journalism curriculum with the strong media writing and editing skills is a correct approach. The approach has been supported by a recent alumni survey showing Writing for the Media and Editing are two of the top four courses that were most frequently named as having been the most helpful not only by news-editorial students, but by advertising and public relations graduates. In fact, Writing for the Media is the most frequently mentioned class next to Advertising Copy and Layout by advertising/public relation students, while Editing is ranked third after Advertising Copy and Layout and Writing for the Media. More importantly, the frequent crossover of job specialties between advertising/public relations and news-editorial graduates indicates that writing and editing skills provide the foundation that allows them to be more marketable and to successfully cross over.
• We don’t learn hands-on skills in conceptual courses, such as Press History, Media Law, Media Ethics, etc. Why are these courses offered?
A well-rounded journalism student not only can write stories and design advertisements, but also s/he can think and articulate regarding many journalism issues and subjects. We expect our students to not only be good at hands-on skills, but also be able to draw upon their liberal arts education and critical thinking skills in their journalism career. In other words, we are training journalism leadership and professionalism in addition to craftsmanship. The success of many graduates attests to the right direction of journalism education.
• I don’t have any specific questions, but I would like to see a journalism advisor to seek advice in general. Whom should I talk to?
You may set up an appointment with a journalism advisor. Please contact your advisor, the program assistant at 920-424-1042, or send an email to Journalism@uwosh.edu.
Journalism scholarships:
• What are the scholarships offered by the department?
The department offers seven scholarships to journalism majors listed below.
o The Griffith Scholarship for Creative Portfolios in Journalism
o Scholarship for the Advancement of Interactive Advertising
o Multicultural Media Award
o David J. Lippert Memorial Scholarship
o E. Garner Horton Memorial Scholarship
o Virginia A. Sokolowski Memorial Scholarship
o Diversity in Journalism Scholarship
• How can I apply for journalism scholarships? What is the deadline for journalism scholarships?
Please log on our Web site or visit the department office in 106, Clow, to pick up application materials.
Minor:
• Can I take radio-TV-film as a minor, while studying journalism as my major?
We do not recommend journalism majors take radio-TV-film as a minor. Guidelines defined by the Accreditation for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications, of which UW-Oshkosh journalism program is an accredited member, require students to take at least 80 credits of non-journalism classes. Many studio courses in RTF are not considered as non-journalism/mass communication courses. As a result, students will have to take more non-communication credits to fulfill the requirement for graduation. This will inevitably be delaying the student’s graduation schedule.
• Do I need to choose a minor, while majoring in journalism?
The department does not require journalism majors to select a minor. However, it strongly recommends it.
• If I would like to choose a minor, what field would you recommend?
It depends on your interest areas. Many students chose a minor that could enhance their academic emphasis. For example, a student might select political science as a minor, while another News-Editorial student might choose economics due to the student’s interest in economic issues. A student determined to pursue advertising creativity as a career might select English as a minor. A public relations student might take physical education and health promotion as a minor to prepare for a career in health promotions. These are just examples. Many journalism students choose business administration, art, English, political science and other humanities and social sciences as their minors, depending on their interest areas.
Transferring credits:
• I am not a student of UW-Oshkosh. How can I transfer my credits to your program?
Please contact a transferring advisor at Academic Advising Office at 920-424-3454 for your information.
Portfolios:
• What is a portfolio?
A portfolio is composed of your resume, credentials, and several projects or work samples that showcase your educational outcome and professional skills. These work samples are usually included in a portfolio case. For advertising students, a well-rounded portfolio might include several well-designed and written advertisements or campaigns. For someone planning to become a reporter, it could include published news stories and award-winning writing samples. For public relations students, it might be composed of creative brochures, newsletters, and any pieces related to public relations. For visual journalism students, a portfolio might include outstanding photos that demonstrate the creative and visual skills or examples of page layouts designed by the student.
• Why is a portfolio important to journalism students?
Employers are interested in your creativity, preparation, and professionalism before hiring you as an intern or regular employee. One way to demonstrate your qualifications is to present your “book” (i.e. portfolio) at the time when you are interviewed. “Showing” is more effective than “telling” your interviewers how professional you have been trained to be.
• When should I start to prepare a portfolio? How can I compile a portfolio?
You may start to work on your “book” as soon as possible. Do not wait until the senior year to start it. Many of our students have begun to work on their books as early as their freshman year! The first step is to find any opportunities enabling you to produce as many work samples as possible. You may write for the campus newspaper, the Advance-Titan. You could be a free-lance writer or graphic designer to produce several advertisements or brochures for non-profit organizations. You may volunteer to design a home page for a student organization that you belong to. Take an initiative and be active! It takes time to learn the skills and build a decent portfolio. However, if you don’t start it now, it will be too late to compile a competitive book by the time you are a senior.
Strengths of the program:
Can you tell me a few brief reasons why I should be choosing your program instead of others?
The following bullets highlight the strengths of the UW-Oshkosh journalism program.
• a faculty that is well-balanced between those with a doctorate and those offering exceptionally strong professional credentials, all of whom are active in scholarly and professional pursuits
• up-to-date computer and photography labs and access through them to a variety of new communication technologies
• recruitment of high quality majors and minors by means of a strict and continuing program of student advisement and a reasonable program of enrollment management supplemented by a close connection between the department and high schools in the area
• a continuing program of recognition of outstanding students at the university level by means of significant university-level alumni awards, supplemented by the development of department awards and scholarships for serious students
• a continuing concern that students in the program be exposed to the diverse ideas of a diverse population and multiculturalism, both at the university, within the state, nationally, and internationally
• good relations with media and related organizations in Wisconsin, both through contacts with alumni and through departmental initiatives, such as recruitment of academic staff, field trips to area-related communications businesses, visits to the program by professionals, faculty participation in state professional organizations and extra-departmental campus organizations
• a continuing and close relationship between the program and its graduates, built on firm and close relationships between individual faculty and alumni. This has been achieved through newsletters, surveys, reunions, video conferencing and other more personal means
• outstanding achievements by students as indicated by their success in both local and national competitions, receipt of scholarships and success of alumni at high-profile companies
• opportunities for students to join professional organizations, obtain significant internship and practicum experiences, and compete with other schools and departments in regional and national competitions
Student organizations:
• What are the student organizations in the journalism program?
The department has the following student organizations.
Ad Club
Kappa Tau Alpha
Photo Club
Public Relations Student Society of America
Society of Professional Journalists
For more information, go to Journalism's student clubs and organizations.
Journalism students are urged to work for the Advance-Titan and contribute to this student newspaper, which is independent of the journalism department. It has on four occasions received the prestigious Pacemaker Award, given to the top college papers in the country. Valuable experience can be gained in virtually all aspects of journalism by working on the A-T. Students can write stories, edit copy, take pictures, sell ads, draw cartoons and lay out and design pages and advertisements.
Web design course:
• Do you offer a course in Web design?
Yes. The department offers Online Publishing as an elective course. It covers writing, editing, and production of content for publication on the Internet. Students learn basic HTML as well as more advanced techniques using Dreamweaver.
