Journalism, BA/BS

Why Major in Journalism?

Students participate at the 2023 Nashville Mayoral Debate At Belmont University, journalism is more than a profession — it’s a commitment to truth, storytelling and ethical reporting in a rapidly evolving media landscape. Our journalism degree in Nashville is designed to prepare aspiring reporters, editors, producers and multimedia storytellers for impactful careers in print, broadcast and digital media.

Located in one of the South’s fastest-growing creative cities, Belmont’s program puts you at the center of civic, cultural and entertainment news. Faculty past and present have led Emmy-winning productions, national media outlets and Pulitzer-level investigations, ensuring you'll receive hands-on mentorship while building a strong journalistic foundation.

As Tennessee’s capital and a thriving media market, Nashville is a newsroom waiting to be covered. From politics and healthcare to music and justice reform, our students gain experience in one of the most dynamic storytelling cities in the country.
Through our connections with The Tennessean, NewsChannel 5, PRSA and the Associated Press, you’ll be on the front lines of civic engagement and industry innovation.

Request Information

Ready to Apply?

Start Your Application

Student Experience

At Belmont, journalism students don’t just learn the craft — they live it. From day one, you’ll be immersed in experiential learning through student media, documentary work and real-world reporting projects. Our journalism program is designed to integrate classroom learning with professional experiences that prepare you to lead in today’s dynamic media environment.

Belmont Vision – Our nationally recognized online student newsroom serves as a launchpad for aspiring journalists. Students cover campus news, politics, culture and more through multimedia content, podcasting, editorials and video. The Vision consistently brings home awards from the Southeast Journalism Conference, including:

1st Place: Best Website
1st Place: Best Video Newscast
1st Place: Best Radio Reporter and Journalist

AP Partnership – In a landmark collaboration, The Associated Press, one of the world’s most trusted news organizations, now houses its Nashville bureau inside Belmont’s Johnson Center. This move creates exclusive access to AP journalists and their newsroom operations.

What You'll Learn

AP Stylebook in a classroom Our students graduate with a news reporting experience that’s both practice-ready and future-proof. You’ll learn:

Associated Press (AP) Style and newsroom standards
Multimedia storytelling across print, web and video platforms
Ethics, law and investigative journalism practices
Video production, photography and editing for broadcast and social media
Data journalism and content analytics
Civic engagement and public affairs coverage

Program Details

Curriculum

The journalism major leads to either a bachelor of science or a bachelor of arts. It requires 128 hours of coursework.

BELL Core requirements: 53 hours
Major requirements: 36 hours
Minor requirements: 18 hours
General electives: 27 hours

View all program requirements

Courses You'll Take

MDS 4110 Media Ethics
A study of the social ethic for mass communication, establishing a system of checks and balances to measure fair and truthful news and diversified entertainment. Coursework involved case study analysis to help understand the roles of the communicator and the audience as individuals and groups.
MDS 1130 Writing for New Media
An introduction to the journalistic field focusing on the structure, purpose and function of news from story inception to completion. Students will also be exposed to storytelling for print, the web and broadcast. Ethics and legal limitations and rights of the journalist will also be introduced.
MDS 1450 Survey of Digital Production
This is a foundational course for creative digital media production and communication across multiple media platforms. The course will introduce students to the Mac OS and Adobe Creative cloud for Audio/Video production and post-production. It will help develop essential content creation and communication skills.
MDS 2300 Entrepreneurial Media
A study of the business of media, startups, mobile application development and marketing. Students will present revenue models focusing on entrepreneurship and the media and develop mobile applications. Legal and ethical issues in the new media world will be addressed.
MDS 1100 Foundations of Journalism
An examination of the craft of journalism, from the required skills of observation, critical thinking and concise writing to the literal aspects of producing journalism for changing platforms. A segment of the course will emphasize grammar, punctuation and style in preparation for Media Writing I and Media Writing II.
MDS 2110 Digital Content Creation
An introduction to the fundamentals of digital content creation from the required skills of building and maintaining a website, blog and vlog to the development of a personal brand on multiple social media platforms. Basic SEO techniques are studies to understand how brands succeed.
MDS 2130 Advance Storytelling for New Media
This course is an in depth writing course focusing on advance storytelling techniques including interviewing, writing and photography. Students will further their own writing voice in this course by reading, analyzing and writing long-form feature stories. Students are also taught how to freelance out. Fieldwork is required.
MDS 4100 Communication Law
Examines governmental regulations affecting news media, advertising, radio broadcasting and telecasting, and the direct effects of such regulations upon management and daily operations.

No doubt, internships are a cornerstone of our program. Our students have interned at network news organizations, local news outlets, newspapers, magazines and renowned podcasts. These opportunities are virtually limitless and prepare you for a successful career in journalism.

Many other opportunities exist for gaining real-world experience, including these past examples:

Exit 207: The Soul of Nashville – This student-created, award-winning documentary explores the gentrification of Jefferson Street, a historically Black community in North Nashville. The film was screened at the National Museum of African American Music and earned top honors at local and international film festivals.

Dolly U Documentary Project – Through Belmont’s partnership with Dolly Parton and CTK Enterprises, journalism students co-produced “Dolly: The Making of a Musical,” gaining professional experience with Broadway-bound media content.

Reevo Creative – Join a cross-disciplinary, student-run marketing agency that collaborates with real clients on campaigns and branding projects. Journalism students contribute writing, content strategy and media production expertise.

Public Engagement & Editorials – Students regularly publish op-eds and report on high-profile events like the Nashville Mayoral Debates, hosted at Belmont’s Fisher Center. These civic experiences foster storytelling that matters — local journalism that serves the public good.

Outcomes & Alumni Successes

Belmont journalism graduates are thriving in newsrooms, boardrooms and creative studios across the country. With an education rooted in ethics, multimedia storytelling and real-world experience, our alumni are equipped to lead and adapt in a fast-changing industry.

Where Our Graduates Work:

National networks like ABC and CBS
Digital media leaders such as CNET and NPR
Local and regional outlets including The Tennessean and NewsChannel 5
Corporate communications and nonprofit storytelling roles

Recent Alumni Highlights:

Sarah Maniger serves as a news producer at ABC, where she builds on her leadership experience from her time as managing editor of the Belmont Vision.
Erin Carson, a Belmont alumna and former instructor, spent a decade reporting on tech, science and culture for CNET, covering NASA, SXSW and more.
Michelle Williams, a 1989 graduate and retired AP editor, returned to Belmont as an adjunct professor following her 35-year journalism career.

We're committed to your success

Curb College's Professional Development team helps students and graduates grow their skills and networks, preparing them to enter the entertainment industry. To support this, our team offers one-on-one meetings, weekly workshops led by industry experts, off-campus networking events, and hundreds of internships each semester. We serve as ambassadors and connectors for Curb College students and graduates through active involvement in the entertainment world.

It's no wonder that 98% percent of Curb College graduates are employed, pursuing continuing education, or enlisted in the military within 6 months of graduation and 89% of employed graduates are in positions that align with their short or long term career goals.

Learn more about Career & Professional Development

Alumni Testimonials

Sarah Maniger

Journalism

News Producer, ABC

"The journalism program at Belmont completely exceeded my hopes and expectations. After transferring here, I learned everything from ethics to broadcasting and production. I was able to put all that into practice through the Vision, where I served as managing editor and later editor."

Alumni Testimonials

Madeleine Bradford

Class of 2025

Journalism

Associate Editor, Nfocus Magazine

"My professional relationships with faculty and friendships with my classmates allowed me to develop confidence in myself and my skillset. This faith from my professors encouraged me to actively pursue opportunities, which inevitably led me to my current role."

Alumni Testimonials

Gus Sneh

Class of 2023

Journalism

"I’ve honed my interview and writing skills, but also the technical aspects of media production like filming, editing and photography. For the Documentary Project course, we’re guided by experienced media industry faculty who afford us the freedom to express ourselves while preparing us for our future endeavors."

Career Possibilities

You'll graduate equipped to:

Report for newspapers, magazines and digital publications
Produce for television and radio networks
Launch podcasts and documentaries
Work as an investigative journalist or editor
Serve as a grant writer, technical writer or content strategist
Enter fields such as public affairs, nonprofit communications or political journalism

Career Paths Include:

News Producer
Reporter or Anchor
Editor (Digital/Print)
Video or Photojournalist
Communications Manager
Political Correspondent
Investigative Journalist

Learn from Industry Veterans

At Belmont, our journalism faculty are more than educators — they’re accomplished media professionals who bring real-world expertise into every classroom. Nationally recognized authors and editors, our instructors have worked at top news organizations, covered major events and shaped the future of journalism across platforms. They’ve produced groundbreaking documentaries, led national newsrooms and pioneered digital reporting. As mentors, they’re committed to equipping you with the skills, ethics and creativity to thrive in today’s fast-paced media environment.