<p>Which schools have strong journalism programs? Preferably not too liberal-biased, although that is like impossible.</p>
<p>U Missouri has the best program in the country. Northwestern and NYU are also very good for undergraduates. Most people recommend to major in something else for an undergraduate degree, then go to graduate school for journalism. All the previously mentioned schools have great grad schools, as well as Columbia.</p>
<p>What about Washington University in St. Louis? Is their journalism program good? I might double major in journalism and biochem so I want a school that has both at the undergraduate lever.</p>
<p>"Most people recommend to major in something else for an undergraduate degree, then go to graduate school for journalism."</p>
<p>The other school of thought is, go to a great j-school undergrad, get hands on experience during summer internships, after graduation start working as a journalist. Grad J-school is a waste of money.</p>
<p>What superfuzzy said haha. You'll find that most journalists do this.</p>
<p>Do your undergraduate work in something like economics, history, sociology, finance, biology, environmental science, etc. This way you have a speciality that you understand more than the average person. Then go to grad school for journalism so that you learn how to write and report professionally. When you're done with school, you will have more options and advance quicker than someone who majored in journalism as an UG and doesn't have the depth of knowledge in your chosen area that you do. </p>
<p>Of course, if you've majored in business or economics, you will probably make lots more money NOT being a journalist!</p>
<p>Aside from Northwestern, NYU, and Mizzou, some other universities with reputable journalism programs (and most have a biochem major as well) are Syracuse, University of Southern California, University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign, University of Wisconsin - Madison, and Marquette. </p>
<p>WUSTL is a very reputable school, regardless of what you choose to major in. The town of St. Louis is great for internships and overall opportunities for journalists.</p>
<p>When I think of journalism, I think of Syracuse, Mizzou, Northwestern. </p>
<p>One great name that hasn't been mentioned is UNC-Chapel Hill, and also apparently Ohio University. For political news writing, UMCP is good.</p>
<p>From doing internships/talking to journalists, the gist of it that I get is that most journalists do not have a degree in journalism...at all. BUT - going for an undergrad degree in journalism will give you a leg up as far as getting experience quickly and putting you in the best place for a job. You should just combine that with a major in another topic of interest to you, like others have said, to round out your education and teach you to write well outside of that formulaic news style.</p>
<p>Also, this is the mistake I made...I was afraid to put down good schools on my list that didn't have j-schools. I think that if you can get into a school with great academics and a great journalism school, you should do that...but if you don't, but can get into a school with just great academics, I'd choose that over a school that has just a great journalism program, if you know what I mean. I.e. I'd choose UChic over Mizzou, journalism degree or not! If you're educated about the world and can write and connect with people...those are the skills that make a great journalist, not a degree. </p>
<p>I think it is generally regarded that grad school for journalism is a little silly...</p>
<p>Grad school for journalism is a "little silly" . . . ? Pardon me, but who exactly is included in the "generally regarded" group who said that?</p>
<p>journalists</p>
<p>Oh. Thanks for clearing that up with such a specific answer.</p>
<p>haha sorry</p>
<p>I am a student columnist/reporter for a regional newspaper and I don't think I've met any reporter or editor that went to grad school for journalism. I also did a high school internship at the same paper over the summer and it was stressed over and over that grad school was a waste of time & money and was highly advised against it...even from the editor in chief!</p>
<p>I've been a journalist for 25+ years and now teach in the j department of a major university. I tell all the time NOT to major in journalism but instead to major in another subject area, to take journalism classes, and above all, to work on the college newspaper to get clips. It is also helpful to find internships --- which sometimes is easy if you're affiliated with the journalism department. I agree that, if you want to get a journalism education, it makes more sense to get it in grad school than in undergrad.</p>
<p>Columbia, Missouri, Northwestern, NYU, Syracuse</p>
<p>I would also look at Arizona State University, the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism is supposed to be top-notch.</p>