University of Michigan. Department of journalism

The study of journalism at the University of Michigan began in 1890/91 when Fred Newton Scott, assistant professor of rhetoric, started a course on rapid writing. This course was dropped in 1893/94, and no further journalistic instruction was offered until 1903 when Scott brought together various courses to form a Rhetoric Department. One of these courses was Rhetoric 13 (Newspaper writing), which continued with modest additions until 1916 when a special program in journalism was-established. In 1921/22, the name of the Department of Rhetoric was officially changed to the Department of Rhetoric and Journalism to reflect more accurately the increased emphasis on this discipline. In 1929, journalism became a separate department with the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA).

Over the years the curriculum of the department has expanded. In 1933 the department began to offer graduate courses. In 1938, this part of the program was revised so that only those with a BA in journalism would be admitted. One of the strong points of the curriculum has been the experience of those who taught; virtually all of the faculty have had professional experience.

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