ASU engineering, journalism schools announce innovative dual degree program
Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering will begin offering dual degrees in journalism and graphic information technology in fall 2015.
The announcement marks the first of a series of dual undergraduate degrees to be offered by the Cronkite School in concert with other ASU schools in the coming months. The initiative allows students to pursue two separate degrees in less time by streamlining the admissions process and course requirements.
Under the Cronkite-Fulton partnership, ASU students can simultaneously earn a bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication and a bachelor of science in graphic information technology by taking between 122 and 137 credit hours, depending on English and foreign language placement. Prior to the program, students would typically take more than 170 credit hours for the two degrees.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, one of the best and most innovative,” said Christopher Callahan, Cronkite School dean and university vice provost. “Deep journalism knowledge coupled with a sophisticated understanding of Web development is a powerful combination in today’s digital media market.”
Students pursuing dual degrees in journalism and graphic information technology will engage in immersive, hands-on learning in areas such as digital reporting, videography, news writing, Web design and development and news game creation.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for students, given the expanding role of technology in communicating complex messages, ideas and news in our rapidly changing world,” said Paul C. Johnson, Fulton Schools dean. “The Fulton Schools of Engineering are excited to be teaming with the world-renowned Cronkite School in this first of what we hope will be many unique programs linking our schools at the intersection of journalism, communications and technology.”
With the graphic information technology degree, students select between Web development and gaming animation as an area of focus. Cronkite’s journalism degree requires a professional internship as well as participation in the school’s New Media Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab, where students design and create cutting-edge digital media products for regional and national media companies and other organizations.
The graphic information technology program at ASU is part of the Polytechnic School, one of ASU’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering. For more information on the dual degree program, visit cronkite.asu.edu/dual-degree-program.