Visual Journalism (GrDip)
Graduate Diploma (GrDip)
Offered by:Department of Journalism, Faculty of Arts & Science
Why pursue a Graduate Diploma in Visual Journalism?
Photojournalists and videographers know that when they are on the scene of a breaking story, their traditional role is to help a reporter enhance their work through strong visual elements. With the emergence of digital media, the responsibility to report, shoot video and take pictures often now fall on the shoulders of one individual. We need critical and aesthetically oriented thinkers to accurately recount impactful visual stories through the use of photography and video.
The Graduate Diploma in Visual Journalism provides an environment for you to interact with the strong visual culture that has been produced in the press over the last decade. Offered over an 11-month period that begins in June and finishes the following April, our program focuses on digital and visual journalism production, giving you the necessary skills and training to tell factual narratives through images and video.
Under the guidance of acclaimed faculty members, recipients of prestigious honours like the Pulitzer Prize and the Society of News Design Award of Excellence, you will explore various topics related to visual journalism, including documentary and studio photography, photojournalism, and videography. Seminars and courses also supply you with a foundation grounded in the theoretical and analytical dimensions of journalism.
With opportunities to grow professionally through internships and network with working journalists, our alumni have terrific success securing jobs in visual journalism or communication.
Program details
Requirements for the Diploma
- Credits. A fully-qualified candidate is required to complete a minimum of 33 credits.
Courses. All students are required to complete 33 credits in the following sequence:
Summer Term (9 credits)
JOUR 502 Introduction to Reporting
JOUR 503 Introduction to Visual Journalism
JOUR 507 Basics of Digital ImagingFall Term (12 credits)
JOUR 500 Critical Approaches to Journalism
JOUR 521 Visual Story-Telling
JOUR 523 News and Feature Photography
JOUR 527 Elements of Lighting for Visual JournalismWinter Term (12 credits)
JOUR 513 Journalism Ethics and the Law
JOUR 537 Visual Journalism Portfolio
And two of the following courses:
JOUR 508 Research Project
JOUR 528 The Digital Magazine
JOUR 531 Visual Journalism Photo Editing
JOUR 532 Documentary Video and Radio
JOUR 535 Documentary and Photographic Series
Admission Requirements. The normal admission requirement for admission into the graduate Diploma is an undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 3.00 on a 4.30 scale. Some experience in journalism, photojournalism or a media-related field is considered an asset. Applicants should understand that admission is contingent upon a sound undergraduate academic record, strong letters of recommendation, and a convincing letter of intent, which clearly describes their interest in the program. Students should be aware that course instruction and assignments are in English, and although it does not determine acceptance, applicants are advised that a working knowledge of French is important.
Your completed application will include:
- Application form and Fee
- Three Academic Assessment forms and their attached Confidential Letters of Reference (2 must be from academic sources)
- Letter of Intent (approximately 600 words), outlining your background, work experience, and desire to be a journalist
- Transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended
- Proof of Canadian citizenship (if applicable)
- Applicants whose primary language is not English, are required to submit official language test scores, unless exempted.
Please apply online. Read the how-to guide for application procedures.
| DEGREE |
FALL (September) |
WINTER (January) |
SUMMER (May/June) |
| Visual Journalism | Diploma | n/a | n/a | Jan. 15* |
*Late applications may be considered, please contact the Program Director.
Courses typically offered include:
- News and Feature Photography
- Documentary and Photographic Series
- Documentary Video and Radio
- Critical Approaches to Journalism
- Journalism Ethics and the Law
Consult the graduate calendar for a complete list of current courses. All courses and assignments are conducted in English.
Teaching assistantships are available and awarded to students exhibiting strong writing or visual skills. These positions are awarded on a competitive basis and valued at $18 per hour.
A number of departmental awards are also available for graduate students, including the Sportsnet Diploma Scholarship in Journalism, valued at $4,000, and the Visual Journalism Award.
Please also consult Concordia’s graduate funding page and Financial Aid and Awards.
State-of-the-art facilities provide you a vibrant digital news environment with access to radio newsrooms, a television studio and editing labs.
Students work with the latest digital equipment and software. The Equipment Depot houses professional grade equipment where you can reserve production equipment, such as Canon XA25 TV camera kits, kits for Canon 5D camera kits for photography and GoPro cameras, as well as Jn Roland 09 recorders for audio and written assignments.
The Learning Center also has numerous resources available, including:
- a dubbing room for the duplication of multiple media formats
- a complete selection of CD sound effects
- 8 OS X Apple computers with Internet access
- an extensive video archive
Faculty members are former or currently working journalists. They bring practical experience into the classrooms and are dedicated to producing professional journalists trained to ask important and critical questions about our world.
Their research and creation interests include:
- Visual storytelling
- Photojournalism
- Documentary
- Long form narrative and literary journalism
- Investigative and data journalism
- Audio podcasting
- Digital storytelling
- Journalism law and ethics
- Political economy of media
- Issues of race, gender and ethnicity
- Science journalism
- New models in journalism
Opportunities for paid and unpaid internships are usually available on a competitive basis. Our internship coordinator facilitates opportunities for interested students whenever possible and organizes summer and fall internships. Former students have interned at a plethora of sites, including:
- Montreal Gazette
- CBC/Radio-Canada
- CTV
- CJAD
- Sportsnet
- Eastern Door
- The Suburban
Many students have also won the prestigious CBC News Joan Donaldson Scholarship, an intensive four-month paid internship at one or more locations within CBC News and Centres.
Our graduates are nationally recognized journalists striving to fight injustice in world awash with misinformation. They are known for their intelligence and rigour.
Our alumni find great success as photojournalists, videographers, documentary filmmakers, producers, television hosts, and editors in news and media outlets around the world.
Recent graduates can be found working at:
- Al Jazeera
- BuzzFeed
- CBC/Radio-Canada
- CNN
- CTV News
- Montreal Gazette
- Vice
