Classes affiliated with MSU's Knight Center for Environmental Journalism
April 2007 update: Get a comprehensive list of MSU's environmental courses here (opens PDF).
MSU students can enroll in a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in environmental, health and science journalism. Check the MSU course catalog for when they run.
Environmental Television Production
(CAS 490/890)
When this is offered, students can enroll in an independent study
course to help develop an environmental journalism program for
television. Students will learn how to create environmental videos by
working with Lou D'Aria, a veteran environmental video producer and
editor. They will also work with Jim Detjen, Lou D'Aria and
others to help design a pilot program that may be aired on WKAR-TV or
other television station. Students may enroll in this course for
one, two or three credits. They must get permission from the
instructors to enroll.
Wilderness Experience and Environmental Writing (CAS 492)
On a September weekend, students camp in a Michigan wilderness area, observe nature and keep nature journals. They write nature essays based upon their experience, eat gourmet camping meals and bond with each other. Instructors are Knight Center faculty and Laurie Thorp, director of the Residential Initiative for the Study of the Environment (RISE) Enrollment is limited to 25. One credit. Download the Syllabus.
Great Lakes Wiki (JRN 408)
Beginning in fall 2006 as an experiment in
the burgeoning area of citizen journalism, students in this course study the citizen journalism movement. Student will create an online community that reports on
environmental issues relating to the Great Lakes. The project uses wiki
software to create a "many to many" media outlet that democratizes Great
Lakes journalism. Students will populate the wiki with text, images and video. They
are also responsible for marketing the project to Great Lakes groups,
citizens, scientists and others who will continue as citizen journalists
when the class ends. This effort is one of 10
citizen journalism experiments supported this year by grants from the J-Lab:
The Institute for Interactive Journalism at the University of Maryland.
The course is taught by Dave Poulson, associate director of the Knight Center, and Cliff Lampe, assistant professor of telecom.
Advanced Environmental Reporting (JRN 892)
The purpose of this graduate-level course is to teach students how to effectively report and write articles for the news media about environmental issues. The topics covered range from the history of environmental journalism to how to cover environmental emergencies. Students will learn how to use a variety of tools in environmental journalism, including qualitative research techniques. This is a core class for environmental journalism graduate students and is taught by Jim Detjen. Download the syllabus.
Environmental Writing (JRN 412)
This is the core course in the environmental journalism program and taught by Knight Center Director Jim Detjen. It is usually scheduled for the spring semester. Students learn about the history of environmental writing and how to research, report and write about the environment. Students will write an in-depth article about an environmental issue with the goal of publishing it in a magazine. Environmental journalists from all media are guest lecturers. Three credits. Download the Syllabus.
Investigative Environmental Reporting (JRN 408)
Knight Center Associate Director Dave Poulson teaches this class usually in the fall semester. Students study advanced reporting techniques and analyze investigative stories. Veteran journalists and environmental experts are guest speakers. The major task is to develop and execute an environmental news project. Previous classes have reported on Michigan's contaminated sites and examined the environmental impact of Spartan football. Versions of the projects and stories about them have been published in daily newspapers and aired on television and radio. You need not be a journalism major. Writers, photographers, Web designers, copy editors, broadcasters and others are sought. Enrollment is limited and students need instructor permission to enroll. Download an application or contact Dave. Three credits. Download the Syllabus.
Computer-assisted Reporting (JRN 407)
Knight Center Associate Director Dave Poulson usually teaches this course during the fall and spring semesters. Students learn to analyze data with spreadsheet, database and geographic information systems software. Although students are not confined to environmental issues, there is a desperate need for savvy journalists who can ferret out and analyze environmental data and turn it into compelling stories. This class teaches you how. Three credits. Download the Syllabus.
Environmental Filmmaking (JRN 408)
This course will be co-taught in the spring of 2006 by Jim Detjen and Louis D'Aria, a veteran television producer who has made scientific and environmental programs for KRON-TV in San Francisco. Students work in teams to produce a short documentary about an environmental issue. The films will be shown at a public showcase. The class is limited to 12. Students need instructor permission to enroll. Three credits. Download the Syllabus.
Muckraking (JRN 408)
This course taught by Knight Center Director Jim Detjen examines efforts by journalists to bring about social change – including conservation and the environmental protection - through reporting, writing, cartooning, photography and other tools. Students read and discuss the works of crusading journalists such as Ida Tarbell, Ray Stannard Baker, Joseph Pulitzer, Jacob Riis, Lewis Hine, Lincoln Steffens, Nellie Bly and others. Three credits. Download the Syllabus.
Health and Science Writing (JRN 824)
This popular graduate course teaches students to effectively write about complex medical, health and science issues. It is taught by Knight Center Director Jim Detjen.
Past classes have toured and met with experts at the MSU Abrams Planetarium, MSU National Food Safety and Toxicology Center, MSU Cyclotron, Sparrow Hospital and other research centers to learn how to communicate about complex scientific issues. Three credits. Download the Syllabus.
Coverage of Environmental, Health and Science Controversies (JRN 892)
This graduate seminar examines the role of the media in reporting about science, environmental and health controversies. Students read extensively, participate in class discussions and write an in-depth analytical piece about a controversy. The class examines the role the media played in such controversies as the Great Alaskan Land Fraud, the Donora Smog episode, the PBB contamination of Michigan livestock, Mad Cow Disease, AIDS, tobacco, SARS and exposure to Anthrax. Three credits. Download the Syllabus.
Australia: Media, Environment and Culture
This summer study abroad class has a strong environmental component. It is taught by a variety of J-School faculty, including instructors at the Knight Center. Read more here.
Other courses that have been taught by Knight Center faculty:
- Reporting on Land Use and the Environment Syllabus
- Nature Writing
- Reporting about Great Lakes Environmental Issues
- Reporting in the British Isles
See a list of other journalism courses offered at MSU's School of Journalism.
See a list of other environmental courses offered at MSU's School of Journalism.
Chelsea McMellen, a senior, wins a copy of "Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Seasons of Life and Land," for having the highest score on a science quiz in "
The spring 2006 "
Jim Detjen walks along the shores of Lake Michigan near Nordhouse Dunes as part of his "
From left: Matt Hund, Irene Stibitz, Jim Detjen, Jennifer Roebuck, Terry Ladd, Jessica Knoblauch and Choi Soe Yoon camp at Nordhouse Dunes during the Knight Center's 
