Communication, Journalism, And Related ProgramsSpecialization of Journalism

Best institutions to study Cultural Journalism

CIP 09.0406New in CIP 2020

A program of study that prepares individuals to be journalists who critically examine current culture as expressed through the visual and performing arts, design, film, music, radio, television, dance, theater, and written text.

1 U.S. institutions graduated 2 Cultural Journalism students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 09.0406, a specialization of Journalism (CIP 09.04), and leads most directly to the News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists occupation (BLS SOC 27-3023).

Institutions
1
offering CIP 09.0406
States offered
1
with graduates reported
Graduates / yr
2
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Women
0%
share of graduates
US median pay · News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
$62,200
BLS OEWS May 2025
Share of Journalism
0.0%
of all Journalism graduates

About Cultural Journalism programs

Official NCES definition · CIP 09.0406
A program of study that prepares individuals to be journalists who critically examine current culture as expressed through the visual and performing arts, design, film, music, radio, television, dance, theater, and written text. Includes instruction in arts criticism, art and entertainment reporting, cultural critique, investigative reporting, newspaper reporting, photojournalism, and writing.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).

The Cultural Journalism program prepares students to become journalists who critically engage with contemporary culture as expressed through various art forms, including visual and performing arts, film, music, and more. This program is ideal for individuals passionate about arts criticism and cultural critique, aiming to explore the intersection of journalism and culture.

What you'll learn

Students in this program will develop essential skills in writing, speaking, and critical thinking. Coursework includes arts criticism, cultural reporting, investigative journalism, and photojournalism, equipping graduates with a comprehensive understanding of communications and media.

Credentials awarded

What Cultural Journalism graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).

  • Bachelor's degree2 graduates / yr · 1 institution
    100%

Top 1 institutions for Cultural Journalism, ranked by graduates

Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.

#InstitutionGraduates / yrGrad rateNet price
1Keene State College
Keene, NHPublicBachelor's
260%—

Offered in 1 states

Where Cultural Journalism graduates come from. Each state links to all Journalism programs offered there.

StateInstitutionsGraduates / yrTop institution by graduates
New Hampshire12Keene State College2 / yr

Careers & outlook

The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3023, News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists, and its national outlook.

Graduates of the Cultural Journalism program typically pursue careers as news analysts, reporters, and journalists. The job outlook for this field is projected to decline by 3.9%, with approximately 4,100 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is around $60,280, and a bachelor's degree is typically required.

Projected growth (2024–2034)
-3.9%
Decline
Openings / yr (US)
~4,100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$60,280
typically Bachelor's degree
National employment
39,250
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
US average pay
$102,460
annual, BLS OEWS May 2025
US median pay
$62,200
annual

Top-paying metros

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
$263,250avg
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
$151,310avg
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
$104,580avg
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
$98,290avg
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
$98,170avg

Career pathways for CIP 09.0406

The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.

OccupationUS median payGrowthOpenings / yrTypical entry education
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalistsprimary
SOC 27-3023
$62,200-3.9%
Decline
~4,100Bachelor's degree
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC 25-1122
$78,580+2.1%
About as fast as average
~2,700Doctoral or professional degree
Preparation needed

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

Education
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Related careers

News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
$102,460 avg · 39,250 jobs
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary
$90,010 avg · 29,420 jobs

Skills & knowledge in Cultural Journalism programs

From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.

Skills you'll build

Speaking
Writing
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Active Learning
Monitoring
Learning Strategies

Knowledge areas

English Language
Communications and Media
Law and Government
Computers and Electronics
Telecommunications
Customer and Personal Service

Abilities that matter most

Oral Expression
Speech Clarity
Written Expression
Oral Comprehension
Speech Recognition
Written Comprehension

Day-to-day work activities

Getting Information
Communicating with People Outside the Organization
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

What graduates do on the job

  • Write commentaries, columns, or scripts, using computers.
  • Coordinate and serve as an anchor on news broadcast programs.
  • Examine news items of local, national, and international significance to determine topics to address, or obtain assignments from editorial staff members.
  • Analyze and interpret news and information received from various sources to broadcast the information.
  • Receive assignments or evaluate leads or tips to develop story ideas.
  • Research a story's background information to provide complete and accurate information.

Tools and technology used

Adobe After EffectsAdobe InDesignAdobe PhotoshopAdobe Premiere ProApple Final Cut ProAudion Laboratories VoxProAvid Technology Pro ToolsDesktop Technologies NewsBoss

Other Journalism specializations

The 6 other 6-digit CIP codes under Journalism (CIP 09.04).

Common questions

What degree do I earn from this program?+

You will earn a Bachelor's degree.

What skills will I develop?+

You will develop skills in writing, speaking, critical thinking, and media analysis.

What careers can I pursue after graduation?+

You can work as a news analyst, reporter, or journalist.

What is the job outlook for cultural journalism?+

The job outlook is declining, with a projected decrease of 3.9%.

What is the CIP code for Cultural Journalism?+

Cultural Journalism is CIP 09.0406 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Journalism (CIP 09.04). NCES defines it as: A program of study that prepares individuals to be journalists who critically examine current culture as expressed through the visual and performing arts, design, film, music, radio, television, dance, theater, and written text. Includes instruction in arts criticism, art and entertainment reporting, cultural critique, investigative reporting, newspaper reporting, photojournalism, and writing.

How many institutions offer Cultural Journalism programs?+

1 U.S. institutions reported Cultural Journalism graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 1 states, awarding 2 credentials in the year. That is 0.0% of all Journalism graduates.

How much do Cultural Journalism graduates earn?+

Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists occupation, which Cultural Journalism most directly leads to, pays a median of $62,200 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Journalism by stateNew Hampshire

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.

Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.

Explore every U.S. college in one conversation

Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.

Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card