Course Description
Career paths in advertising, entertainment and media studies, journalism, and public relations are changing faster than ever before. Professionals now must understand all of the traditional specialties while adapting storytelling and information delivery methods to audiences in converged media environments. This course is designed to introduce students to the many career options in Journalism and Mass Communication.
Athena Title
Career Explorations
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and spring
Grading System
S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory)
Course Objectives
Career Explorations in Journalism and Mass Communication is designed to help you understand the industry environment you will encounter after graduation to better prepare you for that environment. We will accomplish that through self-assessments of your talents and interests, online exercises, guest speakers, and in-class discussions. The concepts and skills in this course provide a foundation for your future studies in journalism and mass communication, as well as in your future careers. Course goals The goal of this course is not only to help you understand the career paths and skills requirements in various journalism and mass communication disciplines, but also to help you become a self-determined, goal-oriented, and self-directed person able to succeed in the media industry. After completing this course, you will be able to: • identify core skills in journalism and mass communication and where they are covered in the curriculum/interest areas. • explain how core skills apply across different interest areas. • describe the academic requirements needed for entry into the Grady College and its departments.
Topical Outline
I. Survey of career opportunities in journalism and mass communication fields, with an emphasis on emerging areas and recent hiring patterns. Explore assessment of career interests. II. Work expectations and professional behavior. Developing the hard and soft skills necessary for a successful career. III. Extended discussion of the current organizational structures and industry trends, as related to emerging career opportunities. Each major within Grady will be analyzed. Advertising Public Relations Journalism Entertainment and Media Studies IV. Alternative career options in graduate study, law, entrepreneurship, freelancing, and others.
Syllabus