- Combined major offered by the Department of Journalism, College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Department of Environmental Studies, College of the Environment.
Introduction
Environmental Journalism offers the opportunity to explore the intersection between the natural world and politics, science, economics, and culture. It combines rigorous research with creative storytelling. It provides the tools necessary to communicate to the public about vital issues, at a time when the goals of journalism are more important than ever: uncovering the facts, holding the powerful accountable and telling the stories of people and issues that are hidden, misunderstood or marginalized.
Why Consider an Environmental Studies/Journalism Major?
If you’re passionate about environmental issues and want to communicate with the public about them, environmental journalism is a powerful way to do that. You will learn skills needed to research complex issues that intersect with science, politics, economics, recreation, culture, and society. You will also learn how to weave this information into timely stories that engage and inform the public through words and images.
Student Resources
Department website: Environmental Studies and Journalism
Contact information: Jennifer Dalton, Journalism Department Manager, Communication Facility 255, 360-650-4853, Jennifer.Dalton@wwu.edu; Kathryn Patrick, College of the Environment Professional Advisor, Environmental Studies 539, 360-650-3520, Kathryn.Patrick@wwu.edu
Department advising: See the Prospective Students webpage of the Journalism website
Degree Works: Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
Career Services Center: Connect major to a career
Sample Careers: Careers include staff journalist for a variety of mediums (newspapers, magazines, online news sites, podcasts, radio, video/film); freelance journalist in different mediums; communications (public relations; internal or external publications) for environmental organizations, universities, government agencies, businesses and other institutions; technical writer, particularly for subjects with a policy or scientific component.
How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):
Criteria for declaring a pre-major
To be eligible to declare as a pre-major in Environmental Studies/Journalism, BA, a student must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA. Transfer students will be accepted during their first quarter on campus. Freshmen must complete one quarter of classes at WWU to establish a GPA before being considered as a pre-major. Current WWU students must show evidence of the required 2.5 GPA. Students are encouraged to declare as a pre-major while completing the requirements for the major. For complete details, see Steps to Becoming a Major, Declaring as a pre-major on the Department of Journalism’s website.
Admissions
For admission to the Environmental Studies/Journalism, BA, a student must have completed the following requirements:
- Complete at least 30 college credits with a cumulative 2.50 grade point average;
- Pass JOUR 207 with a B- or better;
- Complete one Journalism staff course (JOUR 214, JOUR 314, JOUR 321) with a B- or better;
- Complete ENVS 203 and ENVS 204 with a C- or better.
Grade Requirements
A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors. All preparatory courses required for admission should be completed on a lettered or numeric grading scale, not P/NP, and must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
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