Featured Courses
We offer a rich menu of mandatory and optional courses over the four years of the program – here are just a few highlights.
Check the Undergraduate Calendar for the complete list.
You can also check the full list of senior Specialized Journalism and Special Topic Elective course descriptions.
New to our program? Don’t forget your “Journalism Plus” options – a Combined Honours or Concentration in Health Sciences.
Foundations of Journalism - JOUR 1001 Journalism in Context / JOUR 1002 Journalism in Practice
This pair of introductory courses (one in fall, one in winter) introduces you to the context, concepts, issues and challenges in the contemporary Canadian media world that will shape your professional role as a practicing journalist. You’ll examine the state of the media, advocacy, social media and ethics. You will also have an opportunity to practice some basic journalistic skills.
JOUR 2201 Fundamentals of Reporting
Learn how to think and work like a journalist in this course. Small classes allow for detailed feedback and mentoring from experienced journalist-instructors. You’ll build skills in interviewing, writing, storytelling, editing and ethics while you cover a wide scope of topics out in the community.
JOUR 3207 Audio Journalism
Radio has always been a leading source of breaking news and a medium for long-form documentaries. Now, audio is becoming the ultimate mobile medium with the increasing popularity of podcasts. In this workshop course you will learn to pitch stories, report from the field, write conversationally, record voice and natural sound, edit audio files and produce compelling audio reports, radio newscasts and podcasts.
JOUR 3208 Video Journalism
Pictures are powerful – and this is where you’ll learn how to handle them. As you master visual literacy skills, you’ll report, shoot and edit video stories. You’ll work “live” in the studio and from the field, producing a range of material – from packages to interviews – using smartphones and professional-grade DSLRs.
JOUR 4003 The Digital Hub: Advanced Multimedia
Welcome to our new digital publication. Capital Current (tagline: “Covering Ottawa Communities”) is part of a longstanding tradition of local outreach for our Journalism program. And with roughly 100 third- and fourth-year students working on the publication at any given time, plus additional content gleaned from the best classroom assignments produced by their peers, journalists-in-training will be able to polish the digital storytelling skills they’ll need to work in the industry. Read all about it.
JOUR 4404 Freelancing for Media Professionals
Beginning with a freelancer’s toolkit, you will learn to compete in a workforce that increasingly values the skills and mindset of the entrepreneurial journalist. You’ll be trained to find and sell real stories and grow your brand.You’ll study the art of the pitch, from the 150-word news pitch to the 500-word feature query to the 10,000-word book proposal or documentary deck. You’ll explore innovative ways to reach audiences and investigate different platforms to fund and advance your career as a media professional.
