If you are going to study journalism and work for an AA or transfer at Cerritos College there are a number of classes you want to consider, including the newspaper courses.

For the AA there are three categories of classes defined by the department and a fourth (general education) defined by the college. You will want to take Core Courses, Publication Courses and Electives.

If you talk to counselors, you'll probably be counseled to concentrate on general education courses and to stay away from journalism courses until you're done with the others. Don't listen to them. Everyone who does wishes that he (or she) had done some of the hands-on courses earlier, especially because you can repeat them for credit multiple semesters because they are so much fun. Before you talk to a counselor, read this.…

The mission of the Cerritos College Journalism Program is to instill an appreciation for the mass media and First Amendment speech/press freedoms, to train journalists for tomorrow and to provide the campus with student news outlets.

The Journalism Program goals are to introduce students to the major mass media, both as consumers and as potential practitioners. Students will be introduced to the communication tools of the media and trained in objective, accurate communication.

An appreciation for First Amendment rights and responsibilities -legalities and ethics-and varied cultural perspectives will be emphasized in all journalism courses. more…