Oct 03, 2024  
Course Catalog 2022-2023 
    
Course Catalog 2022-2023 [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 consult with a member of the concentration advisory group and complete the Integrative Concentration form. The form requires the signature of one of the concentration co-chairs.

Co-Chairs
Jan Cooper (Writing and Communication, English)
Geoffrey Pingree (Cinema Studies, English)

arrow See the full list of Journalism Integrative Concentration Advisory Group Members

Journalism Integrative Concentration Course Lists


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  • If a student is enrolled in or has completed a course that is not listed below, they can petition the curricular committee to apply the course toward the concentration.
  • Students should be aware that some of the below listed courses have prerequisites and should plan their schedules accordingly.

Experiential Component


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The experiential component may be fulfilled through work done on- or off-campus. 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 WRCP 107  credit. 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 opportunities may be identified by drawing from connections to alumni working in journalism and communication with the help of the Career Development Center, especially through career communities such as Arts and Creative Professions. 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.

Journalism Integrative Concentration Advisory Group


Jan Cooper (Writing and Communication, English), co-chair
Geoff Pingree (Cinema Studies, English), co-chair
Sebastiaan Faber (Hispanic Studies)