Is A Journalism Degree Necessary?

Q: I am a communications major and professional writing minor at UCSB. I have always been interested in journalism and it is the field I would like to get into once I graduate. How important is it to have a degree in journalism?

A:I am also a communications major and want to pursue a career in journalism. I think more important than a degree in journalism, is experince in the field. Internships or working on a college newspaper is really important. Although some of the jobs I am applying for state that they perfer a journalism degree, I think overall what employeers want to see are a few good clippings, along with what other experince in journalism you have had. A journalism degree offers some benefits to other liberal arts degrees, but they aren't essential. If you have a journalism degree, you're more likely to be at a college

with better facilities for journalism education -- which go far beyond the classroom. Campus publications or stations, connections for internships, lab materials (from computers to 2-point rule) are more likely to be offered in a journalism program. But with a little diligent effort, you can get a similar journalism education through other means. Is a journalism degree needed for what? A career in journalism? No. A good university education helps some people in some ways. I have to be careful not to come across as an old fogey here, but not so long ago (in the countries I've lived and worked in) there were no degrees in any media subjects - journalism included.