Arkansas State University to no longer offer journalism as a major

College students who wish to major in journalism at Arkansas State University will no longer have that option. School officials have opted to discontinue the degree program, and it will no longer accept new students starting in the spring of 2024.

Students currently in the program will be able to get their degrees, A-State Chancellor Todd Shields said. Low graduation numbers and low numbers of students majoring in the program were the two factors that led to shelving the program that will no longer exist after 2027.

“We have collected data showing that while A-State has experienced significant declines in journalism graduates since 2010, other universities in the state and around the country have fared better – either through growth or maintaining student numbers,” Shields said.

The Arkansas Division of Higher Education tracks “non-viable” programs at colleges and universities each year. Its latest report noted that only three students graduated from the program in 2022; only six in 2021; and only four in 2020.

It was also noted that only 36 students majored in the program in 2022. That was down from the 43 students in 2021, and the 59 students that majored in journalism in 2020.

Shields said that the multimedia journalism degree program was among nine that the ADE discontinued at the school due to low participation and graduation numbers.The chancellor noted that there have been declines in the number of journalism students nationwide in recent years.

“To be sure, the journalism industry is experiencing headwinds. A recent study by Northwestern University showed the nation has lost 3,000, or one-third, of its newspapers and 43,000, or two-thirds, of its newspaper journalists since 2005. At A-State, we must provide a journalism program that provides the education and skills to meet today’s evolving media climate and opportunities,” he said.

Shields and A-State Provost Calvin White met with the faculty in the School of Media and Journalism in July to discuss possibly developing a new program that incorporates digital elements. He said the staff is formulating a proposal, but it has not been received yet.

“We remain optimistic that the faculty will work together, not only to save a rich and historically strong program, but also for the benefit of our students and university. Students currently in the multimedia journalism program have been notified and assured that they will be able to complete their degree as planned,” he said. “Meanwhile, we hear, understand and agree with concerns about the potential loss of this important program. We will continue to address viability issues and seek collaboration for the future of journalism at Arkansas State.”