Why Study Journalism?
You want to report meaningful stories. We have the tools to get you there.
As a journalism major at Pacific University, you will gain hands-on reporting experiences in a digital-first world of news. Pacific journalism faculty mentor students and provide opportunities for you to develop the skills needed to thrive in today’s newsrooms. Students are immersed in print reporting, copy editing, video for news, social media for news, media ethics, and many other skills needed for a successful career in journalism.
The journalism curriculum allows you to build writing and critical thinking skills that can be applied to a variety of media platforms — giving our graduates flexibility and nimbleness to adapt to a changing media landscape.
In Pacific's journalism major or minor, students produce a portfolio of work and explore a variety of media opportunities, including internships with The Pacific Index, a 130-year old, award-winning newspaper run by students.
Journalism major students have access to digital media production through our equipment room, and also have access to our Mac lab for editing and audio software. The Pacific Index reporters have produced podcasts, live-streamed campus events and edited online news stories using our digital media supplies.
What Can You Do with a Journalism Degree?
The journalism major prepares graduates to launch careers as print and broadcast journalists, public relations professionals, editors and writers, government officials and graduate students in a variety of fields. The journalism program won a TARGET grant in 2020 from the university to teach new social media skills on mobile phones for journalists. The Emerging Social Media video series equips journalists with new media skills in how to use social media for reporting. Students earn a certificate that makes their graduation resume even more competitive among their peers.
