Journalism is the field of study that deals with the reporting of current events. Journalists gather information through research and interviews and then report their findings through a variety of media, including print publications and television and radio broadcasting. Many colleges and universities across the nation offer undergraduate degrees in journalism, but a 2010 list by “U.S. News and World Report” ranked the following schools the highest. Of all the universities in the United States, these schools are the highest ranked to offer an undergraduate journalism major.
*Northwestern University
Located in Evanston, Illinois, Northwestern University is the highest ranked school in the U.S. to offer a journalism major. Schools were ranked according to total enrollment, peer assessment, freshman retention rate, graduation rate and student performance. Northwestern is a 4-year, private not-for-profit school serving roughly 19,291 students. Students at Northwestern pursue undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as certificate programs.
The Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern offers an undergraduate program that leads to a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. Graduates are prepared for careers in broadcast, magazine, newspaper and online journalism. Students interested in gaining journalism experience abroad can apply for the Journalism Residency program in South Africa. Northwestern students interested in graduate studies can pursue an Accelerated Master’s Program at Medill, which allows them to earn both a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and a Master of Science in Journalism in only five years.
*University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame (UND) in Indiana is another top ranked U.S. school to offer an undergraduate degree in journalism. This 4-year private not-for-profit university offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs. Roughly 11,731 students attend the University of Notre Dame. In 2010, UND was ranked 20th overall in a list of the best colleges in the United States by “U.S. News and World Reports” and second out of schools offering a journalism major.
The Department of American Studies (part of the College of Arts and Letters) at the University of Notre Dame offers an undergraduate program in Journalism, Ethics and Democracy. Courses for this degree program include fundamentals of journalism, broadcast journalism, media ethics, advanced reporting, and multimedia journalism.
These are just two of the best universities and colleges for an undergraduate degree in journalism in the United States. Other top schools with journalism majors (according to “U.S. News and World Report”) include the University of Southern California, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, New York University, Brandeis University and Lehigh University.