UC Berkeley Journalism Minor Set for Summer Session

A recently approved UC Berkeley Journalism minor is on target to unveil this upcoming summer 2016. The minor is offered through the graduate Department of Journalism and will be taught by leading journalists and multimedia experts, and is aimed at improving any profession that relies extensively on digital communication. Currently, Berkeley only offers a graduate program in journalism, having disbanded their undergrad program back in the early ’80s. A related major currently offered to Berkeley undergrads, Media Studies, is more theory-based, and the plan with this new minor is to allow undergrads the opportunity to enhance writing skills in social media, and harness the power of multimedia, whether with photos, videos, podcasts, or narrative story-telling. Courses will include extensive journalism writing, investigative and specialty reporting, as well as website creation and digital content implementation.

The minor will only be offered in summer sessions and is available to both Berkeley undergrads and non-Berkeley students. Berkeley students work toward the minor; non-Berkeley students receive a Certificate upon completion. The requirements and course list are the same for both: two core courses and three electives, all currently set at 3 units each.  With summer enrollment fees set at $406 per unit that’s a little over $6,000 tuition for the program. There is a $2000 scholarship available for Berkeley students, and it appears to indicate that every Berkeley student who completes the minor gets the scholarship.

The minor or Certificate may be completed in two back-to-back six week sessions over one summer, or spread out over two summers.

One might logically ask why not just throw these five courses into Media Studies, or create a year-round minor. I think the fact that it is only offered in summer for an additional fee answers that question. It’s a terrific idea for the non-Berkeley student, and with the $2,000 scholarship may possibly be an exciting add-on for Berkeley students.