Langara College

Journalism CaIn

Programs

Journalism

Division: Creative Arts, Social Service, and Education 

Department: Journalism

Program Type: Career

JOURNALISM

General Information

The Journalism Program offers professional training to students planning to become practising journalists and introduces them to important aspects of the communications industry. Its goal is to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary for entry-level jobs in journalism, either in print or in broadcasting. The program emphasizes strong writing skills, the necessary groundwork for careers in all journalism sectors.

The program is offered in two distinct patterns: the diploma stream, over four terms with a summer break in the middle; or the certificate stream over two consecutive terms.

The diploma stream aims to provide high school graduates with a combination of journalism courses and an introduction to liberal arts courses relevant to the journalist’s work. The first year provides introductory and basic skills courses; the second year focuses on advanced journalism practices. Between years, students are encouraged to seek summer employment with community media outlets to gain experience. A Diploma in Journalism is awarded for successful completion of the four-term diploma stream.

The certificate stream is designed to give students with an appropriate university degree the opportunity to take specialized journalism training at high speed. This intensive, skills-oriented experience is designed to build on the student’s academic background, providing the student with the tools to work as a well-informed professional journalist. The first semester focuses on introductory and basic skills courses; the second semester on advanced journalism practices. A Certificate in Journalism is awarded for successful completion of the two-term certificate stream.

The first part of the program in both streams introduces the student to basic journalism skills and the importance of journalism to the community. Focus is on news writing, journalism history, page design and layout, reporting for radio, and photojournalism. Students will also experience the life of a reporter by researching, conducting interviews, and writing stories for the program’s weekly newspaper, The Voice, which is circulated on campus and in the surrounding community, as well as on the Web.

The second part of the program provides students with courses in advanced reporting techniques, specialty reporting, and television reporting. Students spend considerable time on off-campus assignments focusing on civic issues and the courts.

Senior students gain experience as editors of The Voice. This is an intensive, hands-on experience in producing a newspaper, including story planning, editing, page design, photo editing, pagination, and uploading to the Web. At this point, advanced students may have the opportunity to pursue special projects involving broadcasting, corporate communications, or magazine production. Diploma stream students, in their fourth term, spend a five-week internship in the area of their choice: community papers, dailies, radio, television, news, magazines, or corporate communications. Certificate stream students have no fieldwork requirements.

Throughout the program, with assistance from the industry, students will be introduced to reporters and editors invited to class as guest lecturers or seminar participants.

Grading

The Journalism Department requires that its students meet the following criteria in order to remain in and complete the program. A student must obtain a grade of no less than ‘C-’ in all Journalism and support courses. Any student who receives a ‘D’, an ‘F’, or withdraws from any course will not be allowed to enrol in the next semester, except with permission of the Department. Successful completion of all courses in any term is a prerequisite to continuing to the next term. A student who receives a ‘D’ or an ‘F’ or withdraws from any journalism or support course will be allowed to progress in the program only after successfully repeating the failed or incomplete course or courses.

Material Fees

Some Journalism courses carry material fees.

NOTE:

Be sure to check the prerequisites for Arts and Science courses that are part of the Program.

Program intake: September

Diploma in Journalism

Admission Requirements

Please refer to the information regarding general requirements for Admission and Application to Langara College programs.

Academic Requirements

  • Completion of BC Grade 12 or equivalent. If students do not have BC Grade 12 or equivalent and they are at least 19 years of age, they may be accepted provided they have a minimum of 3 credits of university-transferable courses with a grade point average of 2.00 or higher.
  • One of the following:
    LET with a minimum level 3; LPI with a minimum 26 on the essay and one of 5 in English usage, 5 in sentence structure, or 10 in reading comprehension; BC English 12 or equivalent with a minimum 80%; BC English Literature 12 with a minimum 80%; a university-level English or Communications course for which Langara awards transfer credit, with a minimum 'C-'; or an 'S' in one of ENGL 1107, 1108, or 1110.

Program Requirements

  • A high level of achievement in English and/or writing in the senior grades of secondary school or the equivalent.
  • Successful completion of the Journalism Program entrance test that includes sections on English language usage, current events and news writing.
  • Keyboarding skills of at least 40 wpm.
  • A résumé.
  • A minimum 500-word typed statement of intent indicating why students want to be a journalist and their career goals.
  • An interview with journalism faculty may be required.

Documents Required for Application Evaluation

(Applications will not be considered until all documents have been received.)

  • Completed application for admission form.
  • Official transcript(s).
  • LET or LPI scores (if applicable).
  • Résumé.
  • Statement of intent.

Please refer to the program application dates in the Application for Admission section in this Calendar.

Program Notes

  • Submission of a portfolio of students' writings or their video or audio projects is strongly recommended. Do not send originals of published materials; photocopies are acceptable. Video or audio tapes will be returned. Students may submit the portfolio with their application or at the time of their entrance tests.

Diploma Program Courses

Diploma students must obtain credit in all of the Journalism and academic courses below. It is permissible to take the academic courses before enrolling in the Journalism Program.

Curriculum

FIRST TERM (Total: 17 Credits)

Course No.

Credits

ECON 1119 3
ENGL 1127 or 1128 3
JOUR 1120 3
JOUR 1128 3
JOUR 1188 2
POLI 1119 3

SECOND TERM (Total: 23 Credits)

Course No.

Credits

ENGL 1129 or 1130 3
GEOG 1150 or HIST 1126 3
JOUR 1140 3
JOUR 1168 2
JOUR 1177 3
JOUR 1178 5
JOUR 1242 2
JOUR 1298 2

THIRD TERM (Total: 21 Credits)

Course No.

Credits

JOUR 2228 2
JOUR 2278 6
JOUR 2328 1
JOUR 2418 or 2458 3
JOUR 2378 3
JOUR 2398 3
POLI 2229 3

FOURTH TERM (Total: 17 Credits)

Course No.

Credits

JOUR 2358 3
JOUR 2430 3
JOUR 2488 2
JOUR 2459 or 2469 6
JOUR 2467 or 2468 3

Certificate in Journalism

Admission Requirements

Academic Requirements

  • A university degree in a field judged by the Journalism Department to be useful for journalism. Persons lacking a degree but with substantial academic achievement combined with a demonstrated interest or limited experience in journalism may be admitted by permission of the Journalism Department.

Program Requirements

  • A high level of achievement in English and/or writing in students' previous academic works.
  • Successful completion of the Journalism Program entrance test that includes sections on English language usage, current events and news writing.
  • Keyboarding skills of at least 40 wpm.
  • A résumé.
  • A minimum 500-word typed statement of intent indicating why they want to be a journalist and their career goals.
  • An interview with journalism faculty may be required.

Documents Required for Application Evaluation

(Applications will not be considered until all documents have been received.)

  • Completed application form.
  • Official transcript(s).
  • Résumé.
  • Statement of intent.

Application and Supporting Documents Deadline

  • Application may be submitted up to April 30 for September intake. Late applications will be accepted if space is available.

Program Notes

  • Submission of a portfolio of students' writings or their video or audio projects is strongly recommended. Do not send originals of published materials; photocopies are acceptable. Video or audio tapes will be returned. Students may submit the portfolio with their application or at the time of their entrance tests.
  • Experience in a school newspaper or similar media is an asset.

Curriculum

FIRST TERM (Total: 23 Credits)

Course No.

Credits

JOUR 1120 3
JOUR 1128 3
JOUR 1140 3
JOUR 1168 2
JOUR 1177 3
JOUR 1178 5
JOUR 1188 2
JOUR 1298 2

SECOND TERM (Total: 21 Credits)

Course No.

Credits

JOUR 2228 2
JOUR 2278 6
JOUR 2328 1
JOUR 2358 3
JOUR 2378 3
JOUR 2398 3
JOUR 2418 or 2458 3

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