Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Journalism Department

Degrees offered

The Journalism Department, one of the programs in Cal Poly's College of Liberal Arts, offers a Bachelor of Science in Journalism with emphases in broadcasting, multimedia, news-editorial, public relations, and media innovation.

Programs and emphasis

Journalism courses make up roughly 76 of the 180 units required for the degree. The department emphasizes Cal Poly's "learn-by-doing" philosophy, evidence-based and data-driven reporting, and an entrepreneurial approach to a changing media landscape, reflecting the university's polytechnic focus on science and technology reporting. The department has received full program accreditation.

History

The Journalism Department traces its roots to the 1920s and to the student press at Cal Poly, which marked its 100th anniversary in 2016. Students work through the converged Mustang Media Group, one of the first integrated college media centers in the country, combining Mustang News (print and online), KCPR FM radio, and CPTV student television with a student-run public relations firm, CCPR.

Key faculty and leadership

Kate Murphy: Dean of Cal Poly's College of Liberal Arts since July 2025, having previously served as interim dean during 2024-25 and as associate dean for student success from 2021.

Student-run media

Mustang News (print and online student newspaper), KCPR (student FM radio station), CPTV (student television), and CCPR (student-run public relations firm), together operated as the Mustang Media Group.

Location and contact info

Address
Journalism Department, Bldg. 26, Rm. 228
California Polytechnic State University
1 Grand Avenue
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405-0329
Phone
805-756-2508
Email
jour@calpoly.edu
Website
https://journalism.calpoly.edu