Department of Journalism and Communication

Contact the department

The Department of Journalism and Communication offers two undergraduate majors: Journalism and Science and Environmental Writing. It also offers minors in Journalism and Science and Environmental Writing and an interdisciplinary Communication minor. A graduate program is under consideration but not currently offered.

Journalism is crucial to the public life of a democracy. At its best, journalism serves as a watchdog to government, offers a voice for the powerless at home and abroad, entertains and instructs the public, represents the views of varied constituencies, monitors and protects the environment and public resources, and provides a common memory for a people.

The purpose of the journalism and communication program is to provide students with the knowledge and skills to fulfill such roles. The program emphasizes research, writing, editing, critical thinking and online communication. Students integrate the newest communication technology with legal and ethical thinking as well as a global perspective that will prepare them for numerous opportunities in and out of journalism.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES: Students enjoy numerous career opportunities in newspapers, wire services, magazines, broadcast stations, cable networks, radio stations, Web sites and other media outlets. Lehigh graduates find work in the top ranks of American media including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Rodale Press, the Associated Press, CNN and MSNBC.

The department is also recognized as providing excellent preparation for graduate study and advanced study in other fields. Students have gone directly from Lehigh as journalism majors to Harvard Law School, Stanford Law School, The Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, the Medill Graduate School at Northwestern University and others.

Students also find work in public relations positions, with responsibilities in government, corporations, hospitals, health care organizations, universities, sports information, nonprofit agencies and other groups.

Students in science writing can expect to pursue careers in science, health and environmental journalism in both the traditional and online media; public relations for scientific societies, government agencies, universities or hospitals; technical writing for industry and government agencies, and other areas, such as management, administration and teaching. The program also prepares students for graduate study in science writing, journalism and other disciplines.

The interdisciplinary minor in communication will be useful to students interested in organizational and written communication, law, business, philosophy, government, marketing, teaching, telecommunication or other careers where successful communication is important.

To contact the Department of Journalism & Communication:

Chair: Professor Wally Trimble, wwt1@lehigh.edu
Coordinator: Linda Lipko, lcl1@lehigh.edu
Assistant coordinator: Diane Dymek, dd04@lehigh.edu

Mailing address:

Department of Journalism & Communication
33 Coppee Drive
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA 18015

Fax: 610-758-6198
Phone: 610-758-4454