<p>I'm a sophomore in high school and am just starting to research colleges. I am hoping to pursue a double major in journalism and political science, and I have become very interested in small liberal arts colleges like Smith. However, I'm not sure journalism is considered a liberal art. But I do know of female journalists who are Smith alumnus. So my question is: does Smith College offer a journalism program or major? If so, is it as strong as the rest of the school? If not, do any other similar colleges offer journalism?</p>
<p>As far as I know there is no journalism major offered at Smith. I wouldn’t write the school off entirely however because if you’re attempting to double major (a very difficult scheduling feat) you will have a much easier time doing so at Smith than you would at almost any other college in the country. That’s because Smith has no core curriculum requirements aside from a college writing course. This means that, instead of wasting 30+ credits taking your basic required math, science, humanities type classes, you can use your credits to pursue a double major, multiple minors, or classes that you just find really interesting. Also there’s a design your own major option which might allow you to create a specialized journalism program for yourself.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for responding! That tells me a lot. Do you think the scheduling would be easier if I decided to try to minor in political science and major in journalism?</p>
<p>Kansassophomore, Smith doesn’t have a journalism major; however, they do have an English major which is a very strong and popular major there. One great way to bridge the English major into journalism is through internship experiences. In addition to an educational component, the Career Development Office can help to locate meaningful, significant internships. Here’s an article in which a recent senior with journalistic aspirations met with Smith alumnae, highlighting the awesome Smith network and the careful work of the Career Development Office.</p>
<p>[Smith</a> College: News](<a href=“http://www.smith.edu/news/2006-07/CareerTracks.html]Smith”>http://www.smith.edu/news/2006-07/CareerTracks.html)</p>
<p>Likewise, government is an extremely strong and popular major. To integrate the coursework with life experience, the highly selective Picker Semester in Washington offering is phenomenal.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.smith.edu/government/documents/descriptionsheetsept08.pdf[/url]”>http://www.smith.edu/government/documents/descriptionsheetsept08.pdf</a></p>
<p>Also, the Five-College Consortium (Smith, UMass Amherst, Mount Holyoke, Amherst, and Hampshire) offers courses as well.</p>
<p>Good luck with your search! Sounds like you’ve got a good start!</p>
<p>One thing to consider very carefully is that journalism, like publishing, is changing very rapidly in its basic structure and lots of jobs, at least the paying ones, are disappearing by the trainload. At the minimum, make sure that you’re not training for a career that will no longer exist. (TheMom just reminded me that a lot of people out of J-school wind up working in PR or Advertising…which isn’t necessarily what one envisions early on in school.) Learning to think and to write well is a bonus, no matter where you end up in life.</p>
<p>We actually need good journalists but so much of “news” reporting consists of no more than stenography, the uncritical recitation of what a subject said with no interpretation or judgment in pursuit of “fairness.” Pubs like THE ATLANTIC and THE NEW YORKER still employ serious journalists, as do a dwindling number of newspapers…</p>
<p>Sorry to be so glum. The state of the world depresses me.</p>
<p>Well, TD’s glumness aside, I think the point to focus on is that you don’t need to be a graduate from a journalism program to have an excellent career in journalism. In fact, getting a degree in journalism in no way positions you well to actually work in journalism. </p>
<p>Smith doesn’t offer a journalism major, nor for that matter does it have a “political science” department (it has a Government department, which is essentially the same thing). But Smith has an awesome English, comparative lit and American studies (incl. American lit) department. It has great departments in economics, history, the sciences, and any of these are just as likely to land you a job in journalism as a journalism degree. What matters if you want to be a working journalist is your experience, which is to say, your clippings. If you don’t have any published stories in real newspapers/blogs/radio stories that have aired/experience in a newsroom you might as well have majored in neuroscience. In fact, a neuroscience major might get farther in terms of a journalistic career than a journalism major without experience. </p>
<p>What’s great about schools like Smith is that they offer really good support and resources to help you get this kind of experience. And since the college is small but well endowed, there are lots of resources and less competition for them, and also less competition for alumnae contacts that you will need to build a professional network. Take for example, the PRAXIS program at Smith, which garauntees every student $2000 at some point during their Smith career to support the student during an unpaid summer internship (everyone who applies receives the full 2000). Or the outreach Smith does to alums in different fields. We had several events hosted by the Alumnae Association and the Career Development office during my time at Smith when they would invite working professionals in various fields (law, medecine, journalism were some of the most popular) to come and discuss their experiences. These were informal, mixer type events so you really got a chance to form meaningful connections with alums and the alums were very excited about helping students climb the ladder into their field. </p>
<p>As far as poli-sci, or Government, as we call it at Smith, Smith’s government department is really outstanding (I was a Gov major though so maybe I’m biased). Smith has women in every field and level of government service too, so the opportunities are really endless if you are willing to network even a little. And Smith has one of the oldest and most respected Semester-in-Washington programs, which is how I got my launching pad into my post-graduation DC field of work.</p>
<p>My “baby” brother (who is on the road from NYC to my home in PA for Thasnksgiving as I write) has a wonderful career in journalism with no J-school experience. He got an undergrad degree in history and eventually a master’s in political economics. He was editor of his college paper, subsequently worked on a small local paper and then was a UPI bureau chief in Vermont, *eventually *getting into the New York Times. (They gave him a six-month tryout period and then hired him.) This was over a decade ago. He currently is an editor there (with about 35 on his staff). He has had a variety of experiences and responsibilities there (from coverage of the presidential race to overseeing content of the website). He works very hard (long hours, available even on his time off) but has been treated well and has LOVED his work.</p>
<p>Of course he is fortunate as his job will probably last until he is ready to retire; young people coming in have to assume that the only constant will be change.</p>
<p>Current Government major here, the equivilent of Poli Sci at other institutions, let me know if you have any questions :)</p>
<p>While no, we don’t have journalism as a major, I will say if you’re interested in engaging with law & policy through media either as a writer, commentator, reporter, analyst, etc. it’s a great program to do so. The breath & depth is excellent in my experience. You might find some classes are more abstract than you thought. (like, my IR class, for example, which I’m taking to complete the major, which is focused on theory vs. history/current events- even though they are certainly referenced, folks are often surprised this isn’t the focus) However, how different individuals think about the world, what assumptions they make, how this affects decision making & the like is all so important no matter how you grapple with law & policy. </p>
<p>Also, I’m concerned, but hardly surprised, that you’re just a sophomore in high school & so set on what you want to do. Granted recognizing an interest in writing & politics are important to helping you shape your path for sure, but it’s another to possibly limit yourself. I’ve ALWAYS been interested in poli sci & of course that still very much remains, but by not being so focused on One Career, I’ve been able to learn about so many different ways to engage in law & policy I never thought twice about. And isn’t that the whole point of a liberal arts education?</p>
<p>Well, i don’t think she said she was focused on just “one career,” she just said that she wants to double major in journalism and poli-sci. It’s not all that uncommon to stake out a major (or what you think you’ll major in) when you’re at the very beginning of the college process because you don’t really have a good idea of what colleges offer and what you’re looking for, so you kind of go with a gut instinct. Doesn’t mean you’re locking yourself in tight.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone for all the great information! This has helped so much and given me a much better idea of what to look for. MeredithBelle, I think it’s a really good point not to limit myself to one career. I used to be totally certain I wanted to become a journalist but lately I have been pursuing my political interests more and have started to consider careers like becoming a political aide (perhaps after a career in journalism?), so I hope I’m starting to let my interests branch out. I suppose I just said political science and journalism because those are the two majors I’m most interested in at this point and want an idea of how good different schools are academically in these fields. CarolynB, that article was fascinating and your insight has helped a lot; I now understand that not all aspiring journalists must go to a school with a journalism department. SmithieandProud, you also gave me a lot of information and helped me realize that a school without a journalism department can be just as (if not more) helpful to a journalism career than one without. Thank you so much! TheDad, I’ve definitely had the same concerns about newspapers and journalism in general, and it’s a very interesting point that many journalism majors end up in PR. Jyber209, that is also fascinating and I know the industry is changing rapidly. Thanks again everyone!</p>
<p>KS, you might find yourself working on the media relations side of things in a political office. My D worked in the press operations side of things when she interned for a Senator in DC and it was regarded as one of the best intern assignments in the office. She learned a lot and was fortunate enough to eventually be given some small writing assignments. She’s now working for a politically connected non-profit in DC and her writing assignments have kept growing. She’s one of two or three co-authors on several papers put out by the shop, recently had her first “lead draft” assignment (not that high falutin’…goes through several drafts with input from several people…but it’s a start), and has done the nuts and bolts for several presentations, some done by her others by others.</p>
<p>Then again as a soph in HS my D loved English and Theater - As a freshman she is now looking at a Bio major and taking classes we never thought would in interest her! That is also the great thing about a place like Smith which has no requirements and about being open to new interests. She also has a list of unrelated classes she wants to take thanks to friends with other interests like art history. Look for a college you really like as a whole - you will most likely find good gov/poli sci stuff at most liberal arts colleges.</p>