Head start on a journalism career
Want to improve your skills and get a head start on a journalism career? Here are a few options in the University of Hawai'i system:
Each fall a maximum of 40 students are accepted into the major. An overall GPA of 3.0 is preferred.
The UH School of Communications recommends that students take pre-journalism major courses such as JOURN 150, 205 and 285 or 297 at the UH community colleges or UH-Hilo and work on a student newspaper to gain practical experience and critical thinking skills. While taking these courses will not guarantee admission as a journalism major, students can improve their skills and chances of acceptance to the UH-Mänoa program through training at the freshman-sophomore level.
Courses available at the UH community colleges:
JOURN 150 (3 credits) provides an introduction to mass media and its role in a diverse society, including development, responsibilities, issues and trends.
JOURN 205 (3 credits) is an introductory course in news writing, news gathering and journalistic ethics. Students learn how to interview, assemble facts into a readable story, edit for conciseness and produce fair, accurate and interesting articles based on ethical reporting. (Prerequisite: English 100).
JOURN 285 or 297 (newspaper production 1 –3 credits) is a hands-on lab that offers experience in publishing the campus newspaper and real world problem-solving. Includes practice in writing, editing, newspaper production, page design, photography, ad sales and development of critical thinking skills. (Prerequisite: varies by campus).
Registration: A student enrolled at any UH system campus may take courses at more than one campus through the MyUH on-line registration system. Register at: http://myuhportal.hawaii.edu or contact a counselor.
Journalism courses and instructors at UH community colleges:
Kapiolani CC – JOURN 150, 205, 285 (Catherine Toth, advisor, 734-9120 ctoth@hawaii.edu) Student newspaper: Kapi‘o.
Windward CC – JOURN 205, 285V (Libby Young, advisor, 235-7396 libby@hawaii.edu ) Student newspaper: Ka ‘Ohana.
Leeward CC – JOURN 205, 297 (Ann Berner, advisor, 455-0327 aniber@aol.com ) Student newspaper: Ka Mana‘o.
Honolulu CC – Check college Web site for current courses. (Emily Kukulies, Director of Student Life, 845-9498 emily@hcc.hawaii.edu). Student newspaper: Ka Lä.
Kauai CC – Check college Web site for current courses. (Gerald Browne, English and division chair, 245-8277 gbrowne@hawaii.edu ). Student newspaper (being developed): Ka Leo o KCC.
Maui CC – JOURN 205 (Josh Cooper, advisor, 984-3331 joshua@hawaii.edu) Student newspaper: Ho‘oulu.
Hawaii CC – (see UH-Hilo)
Courses available at UH four-year campuses:
University of Hawai'i at Hilo
- COM/ENG 297A, Journalism Practicum, a lab course with lectures to produce the campus newspaper (Patsy Iwasaki, advisor, 974-7504 piwasaki@hawaii.edu ). Student newspaper: Ke Kalahea.
- COM/ENG 298, News Writing (WI) – offered in spring semesters as an introduction to news writing and journalism basics. (Chris Loos, instructor, 896-4746 cloos@hawaii.edu).
University of Hawai'i - West O'ahu – Check college Web site for current courses. No student newspaper at this time.
For more information on the UH-Manoa journalism degree program, call the School of Communications at 956-8881, 2550 Campus Road, Crawford Hall 320, Honolulu, HI 96822-2217, email jour@hawaii.edu or see <http://www.communications.hawaii.edu/journ/index.html> To learn about MAnoa’s daily student newspaper, Ka Leo O Hawai‘i, go to www.kaleo.org or call Jay Hartwell, advisor, (808) 956-3217 hartwell@hawaii.edu