Mar 29, 2024  
Course Catalog 2021-2022 
    
Course Catalog 2021-2022 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Journalism Integrative Concentration


The integrative concentration consists of a minimum of 5 full courses (or the equivalent), 1 co-curricular course, an experiential component, and a learning portfolio.

Note: Students must earn minimum grades of C- or P for all courses that apply toward the integrative concentration.


Oberlin has long produced outstanding journalists, defined broadly as individuals who communicate with a non-specialized audience in non-fiction genres about current matters. These genres may include newspaper or magazine reporting, creative nonfiction, science communication, arts reviewing, editing, writing book-length nonfiction accounts, audio production, or documentary filmmaking.

Oberlin’s Journalism Integrative Concentration offers students pathways to careers in journalism by combining the broad preparation that a liberal arts college provides with Oberlin’s culture of engagement with the world. 

arrow Visit the Journalism webpage for more information.


Students may declare the integrative concentration at any point in their college career but are encouraged to do so no later than the middle of their junior year. Students wishing to complete the integrative concentration should complete the Integrative Concentration Add or Drop form. The form requires the signature of the chair, Jan Cooper.

arrow Download the Integrative Concentration Add or Drop form. 

Faculty Advisors
Jan Cooper, John C. Reid Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Composition and English
Sebastiaan Faber, Professor of Hispanic Studies
Laurie McMillin, Professor of Rhetoric and Composition
Geoff Pingree, Professor of Cinema Studies and English

Journalism Integrative Concentration Course Lists


Experiential Component


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The experiential component may be fulfilled through work done on-campus or off. Off-campus work may be done in the United States or abroad in a wide variety of settings (e.g., a news organization in print, radio, television or online news; a communications office in another work environment such as a research hospital; or the public relations office of a non-profit organization). Off-campus work may be facilitated through the Career Development Center or the career community of Oberlin alumni working in journalism and communication. On-campus work may include working as a writer for an academic or administrative department or as an editor for a campus publication not for RTCP 107 (Practicum in Journalism) credit. Either on- or off-campus work may take the shape of a Winter Term project.

Learning Portfolio


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Students assemble a learning portfolio consisting of a clip file of journalistic work and a written reflection (800-1000 words) that looks back on the work done for the concentration and considers any next steps post-graduation. The portfolio, which should be started when students declare the concentration, will be the basis for assessment and serve as a curated sample of work for graduate school or prospective employers.