Whatcom Community College
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Journalism Pathway
This pathway assumes:
- You will be a full-time student.
- You will start in the fall.
- You are ready to take 100- and 200-level classes.
If not, you can still complete the pathway! You will just need to make adjustments. Talk with your advisor to customize your plan.
Follow this recommended pathway to earn the AAS/DTA degree and prepare for a university major in journalism. Or you can customize your plan even more. Talk with your advisor about adapting it for your individual goals.
Scroll to the end for course suggestions.
| Description | This course helps students become more effective writers in academic and professional settings. Students learn to enter ongoing academic conversations, analyze and use secondary sources to formulate, develop, revise, and communicate ideas in writing, and shape their message to different purposes, audiences, and media. (CC) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of ENGL 95 or placement in ENGL& 101. |
| Course Attributes |
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| Description | This course explores the history, institutions, and social impact of mass communication media. The course is taught from a perspective of theories of persuasion, the symbolic power of images, and the relationship between information and knowledge. Special attention is given to the impact of these media on how we live and believe as individuals and as a society. Oral and written communication skills are acquired through class presentations, discussion, observation, and written assignments. (OC) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Placement in ENGL& 101 |
| Course Attributes |
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| Description | Introduction to the iterative nature of information while emphasizing information literacy and critical thinking skills. This course explores the relationship between information, data, technology and people, focusing on how research and finding evidence impact ourselves and the world around us. (LE) |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
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Total credits this quarter: 13-15
Course note: LIBR 201 is the preferred elective if it's available.
Career exploration: Find your people! Attend area-of-study activities and connect with clubs related to your career goals.
Action item: Meet with your advisor to build your degree plan.
Action item: Have your transfer-in credits officially evaluated.
| Description | Fundamentals of news gathering and writing; structure of a news story; the news business as it has evolved in the United States; and the role of the free press in the American political system. (LEw) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Placement in ENGL& 101 |
| Course Attributes |
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| Description | Formerly MATH 125. Exploration of mathematical concepts with emphasis on observing closely, developing critical thinking, analyzing and synthesizing techniques, improving problem solving skills, and applying concepts to new situations. Core topics are probability and statistics. Additional topics may be chosen from a variety of math areas useful inour society. Graphing calculator required. (QSR,MS) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of MATH 088 or MATH 099 with a minimum grade of C. |
| Course Attributes |
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| Description | This course examines the principles and practice of visual communications. Includes the design process, layout, basic web design, and preparation of art and copy for reproduction. It introduces the basics of graphics software (page layout, illustration, web design, and image editing) as tools of the design process. (Hp) |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
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Total credits this quarter: 15
Course note: ART 185 is the preferred humanities course if it's available.
Career exploration: Compare the different journalism majors at universities you're interested in.
Career exploration: Start keeping a portfolio of your best work, including news stories and photos.
| Description | Participation in production of the student newspaper including writing news articles, editorials and reviews, assisting in layout, editing or photography. Course repeatable for up to 15 credits. Recommended preparation: placement in ENGL& 101; prior or concurrent enrollment in JOURN 210. (UE) |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
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| Description | Formerly GEOL 120. A study of the nature, causes, impacts, and methods of coping with natural disasters, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, floods, tsunami, tornadoes, hurricanes, drought, blizzards, fires, and other topics. Lab work and field trips included. (MSgsl) |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
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or another LAB SCIENCE from suggested list below or click for complete list (5 credits)
SOCIAL SCIENCE from suggested list below or click for complete list ( 5 credits)
Total credits this quarter: 15
Course note: GEOL 140 is the preferred lab science if it's available.
Career exploration: Look for a summer job or internship related to your career goals.
Action item: Check the GPA and other entry requirements for your future major. Are you on track?
| Description | Development of news gathering and reporting techniques. Advanced techniques of feature writing, with an emphasis on balanced original reporting, effective structure, awareness of audience, precise language usage and journalistic style. Application of media ethical principles. Course repeatable for up to 15 credits. (LEw) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of JOURN 120 or JOURN 210 |
| Course Attributes |
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| Description | Outlines the main structure and function of American government. Also deals with politics in theory and in practice emphasizing political concepts, protest and reform movements. (SS) |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
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or another SOCIAL SCIENCE from suggested list below or click for complete list (5 credits)
HUMANITIES from suggested list below or click for complete list (5 credits)
ELECTIVE from suggested list below or click for complete list (2-5 credits)
Total credits this quarter: 17-20
Course note: POLS& 202 is the preferred social science if it's available.
Course note: If you took ART 185, this time choose a humanities course that isn't a "performance" course (no 'p' attribute at the end of the course description).
Career exploration: Prepare for an editorial role at the Horizon. Shadow the current editor; take on some editing duties.
Action item: Meet with your advisor about applying to universities. Start your transfer applications.
Action item: Apply for next year's financial aid.
| Description | Development of news gathering and reporting techniques. Advanced techniques of feature writing, with an emphasis on balanced original reporting, effective structure, awareness of audience, precise language usage and journalistic style. Application of media ethical principles. Course repeatable for up to 15 credits. (LEw) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of JOURN 120 or JOURN 210 |
| Course Attributes |
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| Description | Advanced work on the editorial staff of the student newspaper, including story assignments, editing, mentoring, writing and reporting, layout, photography, copyediting and production. For editors or by instructor permission. May be repeated for credit 3 times. Recommended preparation: JOURN 211. (UE) |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
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| Description | Focuses on learning about the local ethnic populations in terms of community issues identified by representatives from these populations. Students will also look at how ethnic values, culture and heritage affect these issues. (SSd) |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
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Total credits this quarter: 15
Course note: You must take JOURN 211 and JOURN 212 at the same time at least once.
Course note: You can choose up to 5 credits of JOURN 211, but for this quarter the recommended level is actually 3 credits.
Action item: Apply to graduate by week 3 of this quarter.
| Description | Interdisciplinary introduction to global humanities (literature, philosophy, architecture/design, visual and performing arts, etc.), emphasizing experience and participation. Individual instructors determinea central theme or issue to establish focus and comparative structure. Seventh credit may be earned by enrolling in HUM 106 concurrently. Fulfills two Humanities distribution subject areas. (Hwdg) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Placement in ENGL& 101 |
| Course Attributes |
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| Description | Enrollment can only be concurrent and in conjunction with HUM& 101. This additional credit option requires students to attend or experience events in the arts and generate written critical responses, extending and applying HUM& 101 curriculum. (Hwdg) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Concurrent enrollment in HUM& 101 and placement in ENGL& 101 |
| Course Attributes |
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| Description | This course helps students develop effective methods of research, organization and presentation of findings typical of professional, technical, and scientific writing. Students develop problem-solving and researching skills, including data collection, the critical analysis of sources, documentation, and document design. (CC) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of ENGL& 101 with a minimum grade of C-. |
| Course Attributes |
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Total credits this quarter: 15
Action item: Attend the spring job fair.
Course Suggestions
Humanities
- ART 114 History of graphic design
- ART 150 History of photography
- ART 185 Intro to visual communications
- ART 186 Intro to digital video
- ENGL 267 Native American literature
- FILM 240 Documentary film
- FILM 265 American LGBTQ+ cinema
- HUM& 101 Intro to the humanities (6 credits)
- HUM 106 Humanities here and now (1 credit)
This one-credit supplement to HUM& 101 must be taken at the same time. - HUM 220 The western cultural tradition
- HUM 260 American cultural studies (6 credits)
- IDS 180 Visual media and culture
- MUSC& 105 Music appreciation
Social Sciences
- ANTH& 100 Survey of anthropology
- ANTH& 200 Intro to language
- ANTH& 206 Cultural anthropology
- GEOG 100 Intro to geography
- GEOG 110 Intro to physical geography
- GEOG 243 Urban geography
- IDS 210 Science, economics and politics of sustainable resources
- POLS& 101 Intro to political science
- POLS& 202 American government
- POLS& 203 International relations
- PSYC& 100 General psychology
- PSYC 250 Intro to organizational behavior
- SOC& 101 Intro to sociology
- SOC& 201 Social problems
- SOC 210 Urban sociology
- SOC 250 Multicultural issues
Math/Sciences
- ANTH& 205 Biological anthropology
- ASTR& 100 Survey of astronomy
- BIOL& 100 Survey of biology (lab)
- BIOL 159 Marine biology (lab)
- BIOL& 175 Human biology (lab)
- ENVS& 100 Survey of environmental science
- GEOL 100 Intro to earth science (lab)
- GEOL& 101 Intro to physical geology (lab)
- GEOL 110 Environmental geology
- GEOL 140 Natural disasters (lab)
- GEOL 150 Intro to weather (lab)
- IDS 161 Literature, science and gender
- IDS 210 Science, economics and politics of sustainable resources
- OCEA& 101 Intro to oceanography (lab)
- PHYS& 110 Physics for non-science majors (lab)
- PHYS 112 Environmental physics (lab)
Electives
- CJ 109 Community relations
- COOP 190 Internship (1-5 credits)
- CS 101 Computers and software
- CS 120 HTML fundamentals
- DANCE Any course
- LIBR 201 Foundations of research (3 credits)
- PE Any course
- PSYC 105 The career search process