Bachelor of Science
In Journalism
Join the only top-10 university with an undergraduate degree in journalism
If you are deeply curious about the world and want to research, report and produce journalism that matters, Medill offers the combination of a top-ranked university, a best-in-class journalism education and a Big Ten college experience.
Take a Northwestern Direction to experience our life-changing degree.
Why pursue a bachelor's in journalism at Medill?
- Learn from real-world experiences in local, national and international environments.
- Benefit from the reputation of Northwestern, a top 10 university.
- Join a high-quality network of more than 18,000 alumni working in journalism, media, communications and other industries all over the world.
- Study with a mix of academic scholars and experienced professionals who have won some of the top prizes in journalism for their work.
- Take core courses to learn the foundations of reporting, writing, editing, and critical thinking, and pursue journalism electives to build expertise in areas you’re passionate about.
- Get involved in student media organizations to practice skills while building community.
- Build a portfolio of meaningful published work.
- Earn a STEM-designation through our program.
- Program quick facts
- Total Students176(Class of 2025)
- States Represented32(Class of 2025)
- Countries Represented9(Class of 2025)
- Double Majored, Minored Or Earned A Certificate92%(Class of 2025)
My Medill Story
Discover the 4 components of the Bachelor's in Journalism Curriculum
Core Curriculum
Journalism Electives
Double Major, Minor or Certificate Opportunity
Journalism Residency
Journalism Values, Practice and Trends
Explore Journalism Values, Practice, TrendsFundamentals of Reporting and Writing News
Explore Fundamentals of Reporting and WritingFundamentals of Video Journalism
Explore Fundamentals of Video JournalismJournalism in Practice
Explore Journalism in PracticeMedia Law and Ethics
Explore Media Law and EthicsJournalism Residency
Explore Journalism ResidencyFramed: The Media and the Marginalized
Explore Framed: The Media and the MarginalizedDocumentary
Explore DocumentaryJournalism of Empathy
Explore Journalism of EmpathyMedia Design
Explore Media DesignSports Commentary
Explore Sports CommentaryAudio storytelling
Explore Audio storytellingYour Medill Journalism Network
Ndidi Massay (BSJ89)Vice President, Workplace Culture & Diversity Initiatives, CBS Sports
Robert Samuels (BSJ06)Co-author of "His Name is George Floyd: One Man's Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice"
Andre Gaines (BSJ01)Producer, Cinemation Studios
Melissa Brotz (BSJ90)Chief Marketing Officer, Abbott
Melissa Brotz is Abbott's vice president of global marketing and external affairs, and serves as the company's chief marketing, communications and sustainability officer. Brotz also serves as president of the Abbott Fund, Abbott's philanthropic foundation. She was appointed to her current role in September 2018. She joined Abbott in 1996 after several years with leading public relations agencies, and rose through a series of positions in its pharmaceuticals business and corporate office, most recently heading the company's global communications group.
Joe Fryer (BSJ00)News Anchor/Correspondent, NBC News
Joe Fryer is an American journalist working for NBC News as a west coast correspondent based at the NBC News West Coast Bureau in Universal City, California. He joined NBC News in 2013 as a part-time correspondent and officially joined NBC News as a full-time correspondent in October of 2013. He reports for NBC Nightly News, TODAY, MSNBC, NBC News Now and other NBCUniversal properties.
Brian Rosenthal (BSJ11)Pulitzer Prize Winner and Investigative reporter at The New York Times
Cassidy Hubbarth (BSJ07)Host and reporter, ESPN NBA
J.A. Adande (BSJ92)Associate Professor and Director of Sports Journalism
Patti WolterHelen Gurley Brown Magazine Professor and Charles Deering McCormick Distinguished Clinical Professor
Mei-Ling HopgoodProfessor
Karen SpringenAssistant Professor
Craig DuffProfessor
Elise De Los SantosLecturer
Elise De Los Santos is a lecturer at Medill and the editor of Medill Reports. She teaches undergraduate and graduate classes on reporting and writing.
Chris BensonAssociate Professor
Christopher Benson, a journalist and lawyer, is an associate professor of journalism. As a professional journalist, Benson has worked as Washington editor for Ebony magazine, city hall reporter in Chicago for WBMX-FM, and as a contributor for The Chicago Reporter, writing a weekly online column on justice, race and media issues.
Ceci RodgersAssistant Professor and Director of Global Journalism Learning
Ceci Rodgers is an assistant professor and director of global journalism learning at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and president-elect of the Faculty Senate. Rodgers teaches business and economics reporting courses, as well as video journalism and basic writing and reporting to graduate and undergraduate students.
Arionne NettlesLecturer and Director of Audio Journalism Programming
Arionne Nettles is a lecturer and director of audio journalism programming at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications. As a culture reporter in print and audio, her stories often look into Chicago history, culture, gun violence, policing and race & class disparities as a contributor to the New York Times Opinion, Chicago Reader, The Trace, Medium's ZORA and Momentum, Chicago PBS station WTTW and NPR affiliate WBEZ.
Jeremy GilbertKnight Professor in Digital Media Strategy
Jeremy Gilbert is the Knight Professor of Digital Media Strategy. Both his work and teaching focus on the content and revenue strategies of existing and emerging media companies. He explores the intersection of technology and media, examining how new tools and techniques will affect the creation, consumption and distribution of media.