Undergraduate Major
On Campus
Wondering whether a degree in journalism and public relations might be right for you? Contact our office to ask questions or set up a conversation with one of our advisors.
Phone: 530-898-4779
Email: jour@csuchico.edu
Join our program to see your stories come to life and your curiosity rewarded. Gain real-world experience by participating in our student-run public relations agency and newspaper.
Learn to craft compelling narratives, sharpen your research skills, and pick up work experience that will set you apart. From developing social media strategies for nonprofits to covering city council meetings, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the community. Your skills in writing, research, editing, critical thinking, and visual storytelling are valuable across industries, whether you're passionate about sports, health and wellness, fashion and beauty, entertainment, technology, or event planning.
Master the skills you need to succeed in the modern media landscape. Learn to work in teams, conduct interviews and research, and write across platforms with courses in data journalism, photojournalism, and public relations strategy. Build a strong foundation in multimedia storytelling, and law and ethics.
Our program offers two options. Choose the one that's right for you and become a change agent and storyteller across platforms—from traditional media to social media.
As a journalist, you will serve an essential role in a functioning democracy. You will provide accurate, timely, and unbiased information to the public about a wide range of topics, and deliver compelling stories through radio and podcasts, websites and blogs, social media, and video platforms.
Be the voice and face of an organization, brand, movement, or topic. It’s currently the top creative media profession in the US, handling everything from digital content to crisis communications to event management to influencer relations.
Given the wide range of skills you can develop, a BA in Journalism and Public Relations can lead to a variety of competitive career opportunities, such as communications specialist, social media manager, or public information officer. In fact, 73% of employers seek candidates with strong writing skills.
Where our alumni work:
The internship experience the program provides is going to help you immensely.
Get experience working with paying clients from nonprofit organizations to local businesses in our student-run PR agency. You will help create social media campaigns and craft media pitching for clients like Girls on the Run, Red Hot Metals, and more.
Every semester, our students have the opportunity to travel to New York, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Sacramento to gain a deeper understanding of the world of PR and connect with alumni and other professionals.
In our independent student-managed news organization, you will write and edit stories while developing your leadership skills. Build your portfolio and sharpen your reporting prowess while covering city council meetings, attending court hearings, or reviewing the latest concert.
The Orion
times
student publications
Work with Media, Entertainment and Technology Experience (METX) to create innovative storytelling projects for clients such as Sierra Nevada Brewery, or with the health and human services and agriculture programs if you’re interested in healthcare and agriculture reporting.
In our program, you will have three spaces to call your own on campus. The Mac lab, the Tehama Group Communications office, and The Orion headquarters are essential to student development.
Cheyenne Cameron-Pruitt has put the valuable experience she gained in Chico State’s journalism program to practice at FleishmanHillard (FH), a leading-edge public relations firm.
Journalism alums and reporters Malaika Fraley, Rick Hurd, and Katrina Cameron earned a Pulitzer Prize for their team coverage of the devastation and aftermath of the “Ghost Ship” fire in Oakland in 2016.
Cheyenne Cameron-Pruitt has put the valuable experience she gained in Chico State’s journalism program to practice at FleishmanHillard (FH), a leading-edge public relations firm.
Journalism alums and reporters Malaika Fraley, Rick Hurd, and Katrina Cameron earned a Pulitzer Prize for their team coverage of the devastation and aftermath of the “Ghost Ship” fire in Oakland in 2016.
Wondering whether a degree in journalism and public relations might be right for you? Contact our office to ask questions or set up a conversation with one of our advisors.
Phone: 530-898-4779
Email: jour@csuchico.edu