Journalism
How To Apply
Program Details
- Program Code6402
- SchoolSchool of Communications, Media, Arts and Design
- CredentialOntario College Advanced Diploma
- Program TypePost-secondary program
- Program Length3 years/ 6 semesters
- LocationStory Arts Centre
- Emailmvallis@centenialcollege.ca
- Telephone416-289-5000
- Technology Requirements
- Program Overview
- Courses
- Career Options and Education Pathways
- Admission Requirements
- How to Apply
- Tuition and Fees
- Technology Requirements
- Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
- Field Placement FAQs
- Faculty Bios
- Advising
- Entrepreneurism
In Centennial College's three-year Journalism program, you'll develop the skills and confidence to succeed in an evolving industry. Your path will take you from the classroom to the newsroom as you develop expertise in telling and sharing the stories that people need and want to know.
In this advanced diploma program, you will:
- Hone the critical skills you need to build a foundation for your career as a journalist or wherever communications and media skills are in demand
- Develop multimedia expertise in storytelling with words, data, pictures and video
- Expand your toolkit with advanced mobile journalism, social media, podcasting and video techniques
- Apply your skills in a collaborative newsroom, publishing your content to an award-winning community news website, www.torontoobserver.ca
As a journalist, you'll be responsible for reporting events, interviewing newsmakers and examining the important and interesting issues of our times.
Follow @CentennialJourn and @TorontoObserver on Twitter.
Program Overview
In Centennial College's three-year Journalism program, you'll develop the skills and confidence to succeed in an evolving industry. Your path will take you from the classroom to the newsroom as you develop expertise in telling and sharing the stories that people need and want to know.
In this advanced diploma program, you will:
- Hone the critical skills you need to build a foundation for your career as a journalist or wherever communications and media skills are in demand
- Develop multimedia expertise in storytelling with words, data, pictures and video
- Expand your toolkit with advanced mobile journalism, social media, podcasting and video techniques
- Apply your skills in a collaborative newsroom, publishing your content to an award-winning community news website, www.torontoobserver.ca
As a journalist, you'll be responsible for reporting events, interviewing newsmakers and examining the important and interesting issues of our times.
Follow @CentennialJourn and @TorontoObserver on Twitter.
Courses
Career Options and Education Pathways
Companies Offering Jobs
Yes, there are great careers in journalism!
Just ask some of our recent Centennial College Journalism program graduates working at The National Post, CTV News, Bloomberg, CTS and more.
Other companies that have hired program graduates include: Toronto Sun, Canoe.com, TSN, Canadian Living Online, Global TV, Sportsnet, Toronto Star and 680 News.
Program Highlights
- You'll experience one-on-one interaction with faculty members who are contemporary multimedia journalists with credits across Canada's major media outlets.
- The Story Arts Centre, where the Journalism program is facilitated, will offer you access to publishing, podcasting and video facilities and equipment.
- Hands-on, real-world experience will be available through the Toronto Observer, an award-winning community news website.
- Connect and network with leading journalists and newsmakers who regularly visit the campus to conduct workshops, lectures or seek students for special projects.
- Have two opportunities to work in the industry before graduation – through our innovative Storyworks course and a full-semester field placement.
- Gain real-world experience working from home, just as the professionals in the industry are doing.
Career Outlook
- Reporter
- Photographer
- Writer
- Editor
- Producer
- Layout artist
Education Pathways
Graduates of this Journalism advanced diploma program have the opportunity to apply learning achieved at Centennial for credits toward further study at the degree level. Listed below are the degrees from partnering institutions that are available for this program.
Please note that each partner has minimum admission requirements to be met in order to qualify for transfer credits, which are assessed by the receiving partner institution.
| Partner Institution | Degree Program |
|---|---|
| Algoma University | Bachelor or Honours Bachelor of Arts in multiple majors |
| Bachelor or Honours Bachelor of Science in multiple majors | |
| Griffith University | Bachelor of Communication and Journalism |
| Guelph-Humber, University of | Honours Bachelor of Applied Arts in Media and Communications Studies |
| Humber College | Honours Bachelor of Creative and Professional Writing |
| Lakehead University | Bachelor or Honours Bachelor degree in any major |
| Laurentian University | Bachelor or Honours Bachelor of Arts in multiple majors |
| Nipissing University | Bachelor or Honours Bachelor of Arts in multiple majors |
| Ontario Tech University | Honours Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Digital Media Studies |
| Honours Bachelor of Arts Educational Studies | |
| Ottawa, University of | Honours Bachelor of Commerce |
| Royal Roads University | Bachelor of Arts In Professional Communications |
| Seneca Polytechnic | Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies |
| Wilfrid Laurier University | Honours Bachelor of Arts in multiple majors |
| York University | Bachelor or Honours Bachelor degree in any major |
| Honours Bachelor of Communication Studies | |
| Bachelor or Honours Bachelor of Arts / Social Science (English or French) |
Please visit our website at //centennial.adv-pub.moveonca.com/outgoing-home/ for more information on articulation agreements.
For pathways to other Ontario post-secondary institutions, please visit ONTransfer.
Areas of Employment
- Large and small newspapers
- Magazines
- Online publications
- Radio and television newsrooms
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older)
- Grade 12 English (C or U), or equivalent (minimum grade required), or take the Centennial English Admission Test (score of 170 or 171 required)
Additional Requirements
Note:
Students who are accepted into the program will be invited to:
- Submit a resume and/or complete an intake questionnaire after receiving their offer
- Attend a mandatory Program Welcome Session* online, prior to program start up
*All new students must attend a session prior to their program start date.
How to Apply
1. Apply Online
Domestic Students
If you are applying through the Better Jobs Ontario Program, please apply at the Employment Training Centre (Progress Campus). The Better Jobs Ontario Program is a funding initiative for those who have been laid-off and are in need of training. For more information go to Better Jobs Ontario Program.
If you have previously attended a full-time program at Centennial College, you may be eligible for a Program Transfer. Visit Enrolment Services at any Campus for information.
All other applicants must apply online at Ontariocolleges.ca. A non-refundable application fee of $125 must accompany applications. The fee is payable online, by telephone, online banking, by mail, or in-person to Ontariocolleges.ca. For more information go to Ontariocolleges.ca Application Fees.
International Students
Apply directly to Centennial College here.
2. Submit Documents
Domestic Applicants
Current Ontario high school students and graduates from Ontario high schools: Notify your guidance counsellor that you have applied to college and your school will forward transcripts to Centennial College via Ontariocolleges.ca.
Graduates of college/university, or high school outside Ontario but within Canada: You are responsible for requesting that your educational institute sends any required documents and transcripts to Ontariocolleges.ca.
Domestic applicants who attended school outside of Canada: If you are submitting transcripts to meet admission requirements, you must have the transcripts assessed by an independent credential assessment agency such as World Education Services (WES) or International Credential Assessment Service (ICAS). For more information go to Submitting your Transcripts.
International Applicants
Please refer to the International Education Application Guide.
3. Confirm Your Offer of Admission
Offers of Admission are sent by mail to eligible applicants. When you receive your offer, you must login to your account at Ontariocolleges.ca and confirm before the Deadline to Confirm noted in your offer letter.
You may confirm only one college and one program offer at a time.
You must confirm your offer by the Deadline to Confirm noted in your Offer of Admission letter or your seat may be given to another applicant.
When you confirm your Offer of Admission at Centennial College you are given access to your personal myCentennial account where you can check your email, grades, register for courses, pay tuition fees, and see your class timetable.
4. Pay Fees
Centennial fees statements are sent by email to your personal email account and to your myCentennial email account. Fees statements are not mailed.
You must make a minimum payment by the Fees Deadline noted in your Fees Statement or your seat may be given to another applicant.
5. Build Your Timetable (Register for Courses)
Build your timetable (web-register for courses) at my.centennialcollege.ca.
Fall registration begins mid-July
January registration begins mid-December
May registration begins mid-April
Your web-registration will not open if:
You have not submitted your minimum fee payment by the deadline
You received a Conditional Offer of Admission and you have not met the conditions of your offer.
Once you have paid your fees or have made appropriate arrangements, register for your courses online through myCentennial.
Tuition and Fees
Fees noted below are estimates only. Tuition is based on two semesters, beginning Fall 2024.
| Student | Tuition (2 Semesters) | Ancillary Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian | $2,721.00 | $1,137.34 | $3,858.34 |
| International | $16,649.00 | $1,625.52 | $18,274.52 |
Technology Requirements
Technology Requirements
Bring IT programs will require students to own and use a mobile computing device that meets or exceeds the recommended hardware requirements.
Note: If you require accommodation for a documented disability, please consider your adaptive technology needs when you select a device for your BringIT programs (click for recommendations). If you wish to access disability services, please make an appointment with the Centre for Accessible Learning and Counselling Services, by calling 416-289-5000, ext. 3850, or by email at calcs@centennialcollege.ca.
Have questions? Check out Frequently Asked Questions for our Bring IT Program.
Students from this program will require to own/purchase a device and software relevant to the program:
Minimum Recommended Hardware Specifications
- MacBook Pro 13-inch, 8GB RAM
- Smartphone with a minimum of 64 GB internal storage
- FiLMiC Pro app and LumaFusion editing app (iPhones) or Kinemaster (free) (Android).
- Earbuds and/or headphones, simple external lavalier (lapel) microphone and cable that fits smartphone and DSLR camera.
- Large capacity external hard drive, USB key, Google Drive or Dropbox
Minimum Required Software
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) 2010 or higher version
- Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and Audition, or Adobe Creative Cloud
- Final Cut Pro
Recommended Hardware
- Tripod and mic stand
DSLR camera and gear
Students should look for a DSLR that offers the following key functions and technologies:
- Minimum four-thirds or DX type sensor
- Minimum 12 megapixel
- Interchangeable lenses
- Optional manual exposure mode
- Ability to manually change aperture, shutter speed and ISO
- Raw format capabilities
- Ability to capture video with minimum 720-pixel resolution
- Ability to accept off-camera microphone
- Ability to accept external flash
- Through-the-lens viewing
Recommended entry level DSLRs from Nikon and Canon:
- Nikon D 5200 (with 18-55mm lens)
- Nikon D 3200 (with 18-55mm VR and 55-200mm lens)
- Canon EOS Rebel SL1 W (EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens)
- Canon EOS Rebel T5i (with lens)
- Canon EOS Rebel T3i (with lens)
You will need regular access to a computer with an internet connection. High speed broadband access (LAN, Cable or DSL) with minimum 10mbps download speed is highly recommended. Some courses have more advanced system requirements.
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes describe what graduates of the program have demonstrated they can do with the knowledge and skills they have achieved during their studies. The outcomes are closely tied to the needs of the workplace. Through assessment (e.g., assignments and tests), students verify their ability to reliably perform these outcomes before graduating.
- Report on a range of stories in an accurate, detailed, balanced, professional, and timely manner.
- Apply computer and technical skills to a range of production and research functions in journalism.
- Provide leadership within editorial and production teams, while valuing independence and fostering collaboration.
- Analyze knowledge from communities, current events and public affairs, and history to interpret and express the context for a range of journalism publications and/or productions.
- Develop strategies for personal and professional development.
- Comply with and promote adherence to relevant Canadian legislation, standards, and the principles and practices of journalism.
- Write and edit complex content for a range of media platforms.
- Publish and broadcast content for a range of media platforms.
- Apply production skills and use production equipment in the preparation and distribution of content for a range of media platforms.
Field Placement FAQs
Field Placement FAQs
What is Field Placement?
It's a course that provides the final bridge between your academic and practical experience "in here" and the workplace "out there."
After ramping up your abilities in increasingly realistic journalism situations — culminating in your experience on our genuine news platforms, the (East York and online) Observers — we put you in an outside, real-world newsroom. There, under established editors and news directors, and alongside working front-line journalists, you apply the principles you've learned in Centennial's Journalism program: techniques around reporting, editing and production, and professional practices around collaboration with supervisors, newsroom culture, etc.
Immersion in this environment, full-time for 14 weeks, is the final building block in your education here.
What are the benefits of taking Field Placement?
In some cases, you might get a job out of it. But in most cases, the most tangible benefits are a resume entry from a professional news organization and a portfolio of published or broadcast work from that organization that you can use in your job search — even before graduating. Of course, the intangibles — the honing of your technical skills and the orientation to professional journalism culture — are also key.
What credits or courses do I need in order to be eligible for Field Placement?
You must have succeeded in every single course of the program (both journalism courses and non-journalism courses, without exception) before going out on Field Placement. Most students achieve this by the end of the fall semester of their final year — making them eligible for internships (as Field Placements are sometimes called) that run from January or February until April or May. But sometimes students have academic loose ends to tie up — and they become technically eligible for Field Placement only at the start of the summer, or the start of the fall. Please be advised that we can't guarantee a Field Placement at that time; you may have to wait until the following January and go out with the "crop" of other interns then. (This is for insurance reasons, among others.)
How do I register for Field Placement?
Field Placement is a tuitioned course similar to your previous semester courses, and is part of your final academic year. Fee statements are issued for this semester in fall. Please observe your fees deadline. When web-registration opens for winter semester, be sure to visit myCentennial and build your timetable as you would for other semesters. If you do not register for Field Placement, you will not be allowed to report to your agency.
Why do I pay for Field Placement?
Your Field Placement hours are part of your program and contribute to the mandatory hours required to complete your program, as approved by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. Payment for your entire program is distributed over the number of semesters you attend.
Mandatory non-tuition fees are also included in your fees for Field Placement semester. These fees are reviewed and approved each new academic year by several committees and your Student Association.
During your Field Placement you are still considered a student of Centennial College with all associated privileges and responsibilities. You will have access to the campus computer labs and college libraries, and your Workplace Safety and Insurance Board premiums are covered by the college.
Will I be paid while on Field Placement?
Field Placement is your final semester, during which you apply your skills, usually without pay, in a professional environment.
Will the program find me a Field Placement?
In fall semester, senior students are asked for their top three choices for a Field Placement. Most of the resulting lists ask for "name-brand" Toronto news media, like the Toronto Star, CBC News, Maclean's, etc. In those cases, faculty assess the requesting student's academic performance (did the student who wants 680 News do well in the radio news course, for instance, thereby increasing the chances of a good fit?) and, when appropriate, the teachers recommend one or more students to newsroom management.
Some news organizations are familiar enough with Centennial interns that they don't even require an interview before agreeing to take the student on; others require some competition. In those cases where one of our candidates strikes out (for whatever reason), we then proceed to his/her next choice.
In any event, faculty prefer to manage the assignment of interns to the more popular media, because those media expect us to "gate-keep" rather than just allow many students to simultaneously approach them. With teacher permission, however, prospective interns may be allowed to make their own approaches to smaller, "off-beat" placement venues (say, the community newspaper in your hometown). It's the students' responsibility to make appropriate "ancillary" arrangements for placement; teachers do not, for instance, arrange lodging for an out-of-town placement, and we don't handle the legal/immigration/health insurance paperwork for an out-of-country placement, etc.
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Student Work
Louise Allyn Palma, UTSC Joint Program GraduateAt Centennial, I felt lucky to have had the opportunity to be taught by skillful journalists who were knowledgeable and ready to provide us with advice from their experiences.
I felt that the teachers in our program paid close attention to every student’s strengths and weaknesses, and made themselves readily available to assist and provide information to each student. More importantly, every moment in the newsroom was a learning experience. Every day was different, and whether I made a mistake or successfully completed a story, I was always excited and motivated to learn more.
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