Multimedia Journalism
Journalists are explorers who witness the world. They also share it. At SAU, you'll learn the art of balancing facts, perspective, and personal stories.
You'll build your ethics and creativity and gain the ability to inform readers and viewers in a thought-provoking manner. SAUtv, KALA radio, and The Buzz student newspaper give you hands-on opportunities to build your writing and technical skills. Start making your mark in journalism now.
Our students work at Freemont (Neb.) Tribune, NerdWerks, TownNews.com, WNWO-TV, Nickelodeon, CCTV America, and many others.
Ambrose Advantages
- Learn by Doing: SAUtv and The Buzz newspaper
- State-of-the-Art Technical Equipment
- Faculty Who Teach & Mentor
Be inquisitive. Ask questions. Collect answers. Then share your dedication to the truth with the world. Through SAUtv and The Buzz student newspaper, you can inform readers and viewers about events, words, and actions that impact their lives, and those of people across the world. Be guided by faculty who are dedicated to helping you become an ethical, creative journalist.
see our fact sheet on the multimedia journalism major
Dateline SAU
SAUtv: University Television Station
SAUtv is a 24/7 station that offers programming on education and technology. Our students produce a weekly newscast, operate cameras, edit video on state-of-the-art equipment, broadcast live sporting events, and work as on-air talent.
More Information on the Multimedia Journalism Major
There are so many ways to share information and our Multimedia Journalism majors gain skills in them all. You'll learn to write news stories, in-depth features, sports, and advertising for print, radio, TV, and digital media.
You'll take courses in media law; build research skills; practice interviewing techniques; and learn to operate the technologies used in the field today.
On-Campus Radio, TV Station, and Newspaper
We don't want you to sit still. Instead, we encourage you to explore the field of journalism, and here is your chance through our multimedia outlets:
- The Buzz is SAU's student newspaper. Join the staff and help choose content, report and edit stories, design and layout pages, take photos, and sell and design advertising.
- SAUtv is our 24/7 TV station. Our students produce a weekly newscast, operate cameras, edit video on state-of-the-art equipment, broadcast live sporting events, and work as on-air talent. Check out the SAUtv YouTube Channel.
- KALA Radio broadcasts 24/7 on 88.5 and 106.1 FM, featuring everything from blues to gospel to urban to rock. The Stinger is an online-only radio station featuring pop, alternative, and country music. At SAU, you can choose the shows, music, edit news specials, volunteer at community events, and broadcast live sporting events.
Internships
Intern and you get marketable experience, learn from professionals, and network with your future colleagues. Our Career Center and Communication Department faculty have deep connections in media which give you so many opportunities to learn in the field.
- Journalism students have interned with local NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX affiliates, and newspapers including the Quad-City Times and The Dispatch/Rock Island Argus.
- Radio and Television majors have interned with local NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX affiliates, and with many area radio stations.
Our graduates are successful writers, reporters, and editors with newspapers, magazines, non-profit organizations, corporate communication departments and creative agencies.
Others built careers in closely-related fields such as advertising and public relations. Some have landed careers in political communications and public affairs.
Our multimedia journalism major can be a first step to graduate study in communication, business administration, public administration, law and more.
- Fabiola Orozco '14 double-majored in English and Journalism, a natural combination for her job as a Marketing Communications Assistant at UnityPoint Health.
- Shelby Steger '15 works at HON in Muscatine, Iowa, as a Representative and Recruiter. She talks about her education in this video.
- Jessica Denney '09 is Coordinator of Development at the Creative Arts Academy in Davenport. She also paired her journalism major with a Radio/TV major and a theatre minor.
Jim Baumann, PhD, Professor and Chair
Brett Billman, PhD, Assoc. Professor
Marianne Fenn, PhD, Assoc. Professor
Liz Lareau, MS, Lecturer
Communication Center/SAUtv and KALA Radio Staff and Instructors
Greg Armstrong, SAUtv Operations
Dave Baker, KALA Operations Manager
Jordan Franks, Production Specialist
Degree Requirements
All courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted.
View courses and descriptions in the online course catalog
Required:
+ENGL 101 English Composition
COMM 224 Digital Media Production, 4 credits
COMM 225 Introduction to Visual Communication
COMM 230 Media Writing
+COMM 232 Media & Society
COMM 305 Media Theory & Ethics
COMM 326 Communication & Technology
COMM 331 Advanced Media Writing
COMM 332 The Buzz Student Newspaper
COMM 340 Global Communication
COMM 334 Digital Media Writing
COMM 337 Digital Media Practicum
COMM 432 Media Law
COMM 454 Contemporary Journalism
One of the following:
ENGL 315 Written Business Communication
ENGL 316 Expository Writing Workshop
ENGL 317 Creative Writing Workshop
ENGL 319 Writing About Place
ENGL 320 Writing Topics
C+ Average required throughout the major.
Required:
ENGL 101 English Composition
COMM 225 Introduction to Visual Communication
COMM 230 Media Writing
COMM 232 Media & Society
COMM 331 Advanced Media Writing
COMM 332 The Buzz
COMM 432 Media Law
Required:
COMM 203 Interpersonal Communication
COMM 232 Media and Society
COMM 326 Communication and Technology
COMM 340 Global Communication
COMM 327 Organizational Communication OR COMM 361 Topics in Strategic Communication
This is the suggested plan of study to graduate in four years with a degree in Multimedia Journalism. Current students should use MySAU Portal Student Planning and consult with an advisor to determine graduation requirements.
This plan assumes the student has not taken three years of foreign language in high school. Check the online course catalog for prerequisites.
Year One
| Fall | Credit | Spring | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| +COMM 232 Media and Society | 3 | COMM 230 Media Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 101 Composition | 3 | Humanities | 3 |
| Oral Communication | 3 | COMM 224 Digital Media Production | 4 |
| Foreign Language 101 | 3 | Theology or Philosophy | 3 |
| NSS 101 New Student Seminar | 1 | Foreign Language 102 | 3 |
| Wellness Concepts | 1 | Information Literacy | 1 |
| Total Credits | 14 | Total Credits | 17 |
Year Two
| Fall | Credit | Spring | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| COMM 332 The Buzz | 1 | Electives | 6 |
| STBE 137 Quantitative Reasoning in Business | 3 | COMM 332 The Buzz | 1 |
| Social Science | 3 | THEO/PHIL | 3 |
| Humanities | 3 | Natural Science | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Creative Arts | 2-3 |
| KIN Activity | 1-2 | ||
| Total Credits | 14-15 | Total Credits | 15-16 |
Year Three
| Fall | Credit | Spring | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| COMM 331 Advanced Media Writing | 3 | COMM 337 Digital Media Practicum | 3 |
| COMM 326 Communication and Technology | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| COMM 332 The Buzz | 1 | COMM 340 Global Communication | 3 |
| Social Science | 3 | ENGL 315, 316, 317, 319, or 320 | 3 |
| Humanities | 3 | THEO/PHIL | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| Total Credits | 16 | Total Credits | 15 |
Year Four
| Fall | Credit | Spring | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| COMM 305 Media Theory and Ethics | 3 | COMM 454 Contemporary Journalism | 3 |
| COMM 334 Digital Media Writing | 3 | Theology or Philosophy (300-400 level) | 3 |
| Electives | 9 | Electives | 6 |
| COMM 432 Media Law | 3 | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | Total Credits | 15 |
+satisfies a general education requirement
Scholarships and Grants
St. Ambrose offers excellent scholarships and grants, work-study and other financial aid options! Full-time students may be eligible based upon your strong academic performance in college, your talent in fine arts or athletics or your demonstrated financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The SAU school code for the FAFSA is 001889.
We want to recognize the time it took to stay on top of important steps in your college search. You'll be ahead of the crowd when you earn your $1,000* Bee Ready Bonus!
*$500 if living off campus. Bonus is one-time for first-year students enrolling full-time in fall 2023.
Eligible students need to complete the following three steps between June 1 and November 15, 2022:
- Visit SAU
- Apply and be admitted
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and send it to SAU
Download helpful PDFs of this information here: First-Year Iowa Residents and First-Year Out of State Residents
IOWA RESIDENTS LIVING ON CAMPUS
Iowa Resident On Campus Merit-Based Scholarships
Trustee Scholar: $25,000 per year
Criteria: unweighted 3.9 GPA and minimum 29 ACT or 1340 SAT score. Must maintain 3.25 cumulative GPA in successive years. Invited to compete for an Ambrose Scholar full-tuition award.
Academic Scholarships: $15,000-21,000 per year
Criteria: based on unweighted GPA and test scores (optional)
University Grant: $13,000 per year
Criteria: based on unweighted GPA and test scores (optional)
Iowa Resident On Campus Additional Institutional Aid
Ambrose Advantage Full-Tuition Scholarship (more information here)
Iowa resident, Pell Grant and Iowa Tuition Grant eligible, 2023 high school graduate, minimum unweighted 2.5 GPA, admitted and file FAFSA filed by March 15. To remain eligible in subsequent years, students must maintain 2.5 GPA.
Fr. Welch Alumni Scholarships: $1,000 per year
Parent is a St. Ambrose graduate
Catholic Traditions Scholarship: $1,000 per year
Students with Catholic religious denomination or plans to graduate from Catholic high school
Minority Scholarship: $500 per year
Ethnically diverse student
Athletic Scholarships: varies
Performance and ability
Fine Arts Scholarships: varies
Performance and ability in music, art and theatre
Student Leader Scholarship: $2,000 per year (more information here)
Involvement in select student clubs and organizations, additional application required by Dec. 31, 2022. Cannot be combined with athletics or fine arts scholarships.
Faith Learning Justice Scholarship: $2,000 per year (more information here)
Involvement in campus ministry, additional application required by Dec. 31, 2022. Cannot be combined with athletics or fine arts scholarships.
IOWA RESIDENTS LIVING OFF CAMPUS
Iowa Resident Off Campus Merit-Based Scholarships
Academic Scholarships: $13,000-$16,000 per year
Based on unweighted GPA and test scores (optional)
University Grant: $11,000 per year
Based on unweighted GPA and test scores (optional)
Iowa Resident Off Campus Additional Institutional Scholarships
Ambrose Advantage Full-Tuition Scholarship (more information here)
Iowa resident, Pell Grant and Iowa Tuition Grant eligible, 2023 high school graduate, minimum unweighted 2.5 GPA, admitted and file FAFSA filed by March 15. To remain eligible in subsequent years, students must maintain 2.5 GPA.
Fr. Welch Alumni Scholarships: $500 per year
Parent is a St. Ambrose graduate
Catholic Traditions Scholarship: $1,000 per year
Students with Catholic religious denomination or plans to graduate from Catholic high school
Minority Scholarship: $500 per year
Ethnically diverse student
Athletic Scholarships: varies
Performance and ability
Fine Arts Scholarships: varies
Performance and ability in music, art and theatre
Student Leader Scholarship: $2,000 per year (more information here)
Involvement in select student clubs and organizations, additional application required by Dec. 31, 2022. Cannot be combined with athletics or fine arts scholarships.
Faith Learning Justice Scholarship: $2,000 per year (more information here)
Involvement in campus ministry, additional application required by Dec. 31, 2022. Cannot be combined with athletics or fine arts scholarships.
OUT OF STATE RESIDENTS LIVING ON CAMPUS
Out of State On Campus Merit-Based Scholarships
Trustee Scholar: $25,000 per year
Unweighted 3.90 GPA and minimum 29 ACT or 1340 SAT score. Must maintain 3.25 cumulative GPA in successive years. Invited to compete for an Ambrose Scholar full-tuition award.
Academic Scholarships: $17,000-$23,000 per year
Criteria: based on unweighted GPA and test scores (optional)
University Grant: $13,000 per year
Based on unweighted GPA and test scores (optional)
Out of State On Campus Additional Institutional Aid
Fr. Welch Alumni Scholarships: $1,000 per year
Parent is a St. Ambrose graduate
Catholic Traditions Scholarship: $1,000 per year
Students with Catholic religious denomination or plans to graduate from Catholic high school
Minority Scholarship: $500 per year
Ethnically diverse student
Athletic Scholarships: varies
Performance and ability
Fine Arts Scholarships: varies
Performance and ability in music, art and theatre
Student Leader Scholarship: $2,000 per year (more information here)
Involvement in select student clubs and organizations, additional application required by Dec. 31, 2022. Cannot be combined with athletics or fine arts scholarships.
Faith Learning Justice Scholarship: $2,000 per year (more information here)
Involvement in campus ministry, additional application required by Dec. 31, 2022. Cannot be combined with athletics or fine arts scholarships.
OUT OF STATE RESIDENTS LIVING OFF CAMPUS
Out of State Off Campus Merit-Based Scholarships
Academic Scholarships: $14,000-$17,000 per year
Criteria: based on unweighted GPA and test scores (optional)
University Grants: $13,000 per year
Based on unweighted test scores
Out of State Off Campus Additional Institutional Scholarships
Fr. Welch Alumni Scholarships: $500 per year
Parent is a St. Ambrose graduate
Catholic Traditions Scholarship: $1,000 per year
Students with Catholic religious denomination or plans to graduate from Catholic high school
Minority Scholarship: $500 per year
Ethnically diverse student
Athletic Scholarships: varies
Performance and ability
Fine Arts Scholarships: varies
Performance and ability in music, art and theatre
Student Leader Scholarship: $2,000 per year (more information here)
Involvement in select student clubs and organizations, additional application required by Dec. 31, 2022. Cannot be combined with athletics or fine arts scholarships.
Faith Learning Justice Scholarship: $2,000 per year (more information here)
Involvement in campus ministry, additional application required by Dec. 31, 2022. Cannot be combined with athletics or fine arts scholarships.
Grants are money that you don't repay, and they can come from government or private sources. SAU receives all financial aid funds directly - including loans and grants - then applies them to your account: once in the fall term and once in the spring term. Grants can be used to cover your tuition, books, and housing costs. You must apply for grants each academic year. If you have any loan funds in excess of your costs, you may receive a refund. If you are a first-time borrower, there is a 30-day hold on your first disbursement. For all of these grants, you must complete the Free Application Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after October 1.
Iowa Tuition Grant
To be eligible for the Iowa Tuition Grant, you must be a resident of Iowa as defined by the State Board of Regents and currently enrolled or planning to enroll in an undergraduate degree program at an eligible Iowa college or university (SAU is eligible). Iowa College Aid administers need-based college financial aid for Iowans, such as the Iowa Tuition Grant. FAFSA deadline is July 1.
Award: $6,800
Federal Pell Grant
Awarded to students of the highest need based on how much your family can contribute to your education. The U.S. Department of Education sets a Expected Family Contribution (EFC) threshold. Then, when you file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), it computes where you land within that threshold and determines if you qualify for the grant and for how much.
Award: $6,895 maximum
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
To qualify, you must file a FAFSA by the priority deadline of March 15 and you must qualify for a Pell Grant. This grant is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to students who have submitted all required documents for review and in time for the review to be complete. If you are eligible for a Pell Grant or SEOG, the awards will appear on your financial aid award letter.
Award: $400 maximum
Federal Work Study
Must secrute campus employment.
Award: $2,560
Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
Provides aid to students intending to teach in a high-need field at a school that serves low-income families (as determined by the U.S. Department of Education or a state education agency). Review criteria and all details here.
Award: up to $4,000
There are many opportunities to receive scholarships from outside sources, here are a few websites to begin researching your options:
- Fastweb
- College Board Scholarship Search
- Scholarships.com
- Peterson's Award Database
- Scholly (app download)
Another tip: Next time you're on campus, check out the bulletin board outside Bee Central where we post more flyers and applications for outside scholarships.
Shelby Steger '15
Shelby graduated in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in Communications and Journalism. She currently works at HON in Muscatine, Iowa, as a recruiter.
Read Shelby's story
Shelby Steger
Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Multimedia Journalism,Class of 2015
An internship can reaffirm a career passion or challenge a student to consider another direction – as was the case for Shelby. While she was hands-on working in broadcast journalism, she discovered it was not the career she wanted. She refocused her efforts and discovered a new field that perfectly fit her education and goals. Today, Shelby is the Human Resources Coordinator for BITCO Insurance Companies in Davenport, Iowa.
Contact
Jim Baumann, PhD, Chairperson
Communication Department
Galvin Fine Arts Center, Office 35
518 W. Locust St.
Davenport, IA 52803
563-333-6048
BaumannJamesA@sau.edu