Susquehanna University

What you'll study

The programme combines foundational journalism courses with specialised investigative techniques, emphasising rigorous reporting, verification and storytelling across multiple media. You will study news writing and reporting, media law and ethics, data journalism and visualisation, long-form feature writing and multimedia production. Coursework balances practical newsroom skills with research methods used in investigative reporting, including public-records requests, source development, fact-checking and digital open-source investigation.

• Core reporting and writing: news reporting, feature writing, interviewing and newsroom practice.
• Investigative methods: advanced reporting seminars focused on project design, source cultivation, document analysis and legal considerations.
• Data and digital skills: data journalism, spreadsheets and databases, data visualisation, introductory coding for reporters and social-media verification.
• Media law and ethics: freedom of information, libel/defamation basics, privacy considerations and ethical decision-making in investigative work.
• Multimedia production: audio/video storytelling, podcasting and online publishing for long-form investigations.
• Capstone/project: a supervised investigative project or portfolio that demonstrates the ability to conceive, research, report and present an extended piece of public-interest journalism.
• Experiential learning: opportunities for internships, campus media involvement and collaboration with faculty on research and reporting projects.

Entry requirements

Admission to Susquehanna University’s journalism programme follows the university's undergraduate application process. Typical requirements include a completed secondary-school qualification (for example, high-school diploma), academic transcripts and a personal statement. Admissions decisions consider overall academic preparation and the applicant's potential for success in a liberal-arts environment.

Competitive applicants for the investigative journalism concentration often submit a short portfolio or writing sample that demonstrates reporting, critical thinking and writing ability. Letters of recommendation, evidence of extracurricular experience (such as school newspaper, radio, debate or community reporting) and an interview with faculty may strengthen an application. Standardised-test submission policies align with the university's current admissions guidance.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for careers in investigative and public-interest journalism across newspapers, magazines, broadcast and digital media, as well as in nonprofit newsrooms and watchdog organisations. Typical roles include investigative reporter, data journalist, enterprise reporter, multimedia journalist, fact-checker and editor. The skill set also transfers to related fields such as communications research, public affairs, legal reporting, policy analysis, and roles in civic technology or data-driven nonprofits.

Alumni commonly pursue internships and entry-level reporting positions in local and regional news organisations before moving into specialised investigative beats or long-form reporting. The combination of reporting, data and multimedia skills supports freelance work, collaborative investigative projects and roles in organisations that require clear, evidence-based storytelling.

Why study at Susquehanna University

Susquehanna University offers a liberal-arts environment with small class sizes and close faculty mentorship, allowing journalism students to get extensive feedback on their reporting and writing. The university emphasises experiential learning: students can gain practical experience through campus media outlets, client-based reporting projects and industry internships arranged with regional media organisations.

The programme integrates cross-disciplinary study—combining humanities, social sciences and technical skills—to support investigative work that requires context, critical analysis and methodological rigor. Students benefit from personalised advising, opportunities to publish and present investigative work, and preparation for both entry-level newsroom roles and continued study in journalism or related fields.