Journalism and New Media Studies
The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Journalism and New Media Studies program is designed to provide students with general, practical and marketable skills that will enable them to seek entry-level employment in various media outlets, including: newspapers, magazines, community journals, online websites, radio and television. The program includes development of a portfolio that will exhibit students' abilities to write both news and feature stories. News judgment is also integrated as a critical component of the program. An awareness of global and cultural differences also forms a key element of this degree for the successful graduate. The curriculum combines coursework in journalism with a General Education component.
Details
Field of Interest
Culture and Society
Degree Type
Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
Academic Plan
Journalism and New Media Studies (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
3120
Total credits required
60-68
Catalog Year
2026-2027
Effective Term
Fall 2026
Notes
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
There are additional university transfer options within this pathway. Students should speak with the Program Director or an academic advisor to identify the best option to meet their academic and career goals.
What You'll Learn
- Produce stories appropriate to their medium and venue, from conceptualization to publication, including research, confirmation of credible sources, writing, and editing.
- Analyze and adapt to a professional context within the journalism industry in order to work effectively.
- Describe the contemporary field of journalism, including media, markets and specializations.
- Demonstrate written and verbal skills to communicate effectively with diverse populations and individuals.
- Develop and maintain professional networks and relationships within the field of journalism.
- Apply media law and ethics to journalistic situations.
- Evaluate and employ the strengths of self and others to achieve common goals in group settings.
- Incorporate new and emerging digital technologies ethically and efficiently to meet current trends.
Career Statistics
Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary
$67,770
There are additional career opportunities associated with this degree that do not have occupational data available for Arizona at this time. These occupations are listed below:
- Broadcast News Analysts
- Reporters and Correspondents
* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources
Course Sequence by Term
The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:
- Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
- The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
- Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
- Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
- Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.
Full-time Sequence
Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCO120 | Media and Society | Critical course Gateway course | SB | 3 | |
| JRN101 | Grammar and Style for Journalists | 1 | |||
| JRN105 | Introduction to Journalism | 3 | |||
| ENG101 or ENG107 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | Critical course | FYC or FYC | 3 | |
| MAT14+ | College Mathematics | OR Satisfactory completion of a higher level mathematics course | MA | 3–6 | |
| CIS105 | Survey of Computer Information Systems | CS | 3 | ||
| FYE101 or FYE103 |
Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success | 1–3 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JRN201 | News Writing | L | 3 | ||
| JRN205 | Copyediting | 3 | |||
| MCO220 | Cultural Diversity and the Media | C, L | 3 | ||
| ENG102 or ENG108 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 | ||
| COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 |
Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication | SB or SB or L or SB | 3 | ||
| CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JRN210 | News and Media Production | 3 | |||
| JRN212 or JRN234 |
Writing for Broadcasts or Feature Writing | None or L | 3 | ||
| JRN225 | Photojournalism | 3 | |||
| Humanities | Humanities, Arts and Design | Any approved general education course from the Humanities, Arts, and Design area. | 3 | ||
| Natural Science | Natural Science | Any approved general education course from the Natural Sciences area. | 4 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JRN213 | Writing for Online | 3 | |||
| JRN208 | Media Law and Ethics | 3 | |||
| JRN240AC or JRN298AC |
Journalism Internship or Special Projects | 3 | |||
| Social-Behavioral Sciences | Social-Behavioral Sciences | Any approved general education course from the Social-Behavioral Sciences area. | 3 | ||
| General Elective | General Elective | Select additional courses 100-level or higher to complete the minimum total program credits required for this degree. Consult with the Program Director or an Academic Advisor. | 0–2 |
Course Area Key
Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.
Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.
- C = Cultural Diversity in the US
- CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
- FYC = First-Year Composition
- L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
- MA = Mathematics
- SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
Disclaimer
Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.
Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.
View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award at https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm13?id=16454720.
At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.
Previous Catalog Years
The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.
Previous catalog years for Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Journalism and New Media Studies