College of Liberal Arts & Sciences The University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication The University of Iowa

Iowa's Learning Portfolioportfolio

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication requires that all students keep a learning portfolio while taking courses at the School. Portfolios must be reviewed by at least one faculty member and submitted to the Internship and Assessment Coordinator before you graduate.

Fall Due date for Learning Portfolios is
October 20 by 5:00 PM

Learning Portfolio Requirements
Learning Portfolio Faculty Review

Your learning portfolio can help you integrate learning from different classes, identify career goals and chart your progress toward those goals. While some professors will incorporate the portfolio into courses, it is not tied to any particular class. Maintaining the learning portfolio is YOUR responsibility. It contains:

    1. An up-to-date one page resume.
    2. Best Work samples:
      • Annotated list of work samples that you will be including in your portfolio (one sentence describing each sample and two or three sentences analyzing its relationship to elements of the Iowa Dozen).
      • No more than 5 to 10 samples from your educational experience, including four journalistic writing samples. Other items can include: clips, images, design work, Web sites, resume tapes, work created in J-MC conceptual courses, work from second area courses, internships and other relevant experiences.
    3. A two-page, single-spaced self-analysis that addresses:
      • Your progress toward professional goals and a description of your personal strengths related to these goals.
      • Your understanding of The Iowa Dozen.
      • Your strategy to continue professional growth and development.
    4. Reviewer form from at least one faculty member.

Portfolio reviews are your chance to get a real-world perspective on your work and to ask questions about the industry and your preparedness for it. While it is not a graduation requirement to have a professional review your portfolio, there will still be opportunities for you to meet with visiting professionals.

In order to graduate from the School, you must provide the IAC with a final portfolio by the eighth week in your final semester. You will be notified via your UI e-mail account if the portfolio is acceptable or of what measures must be taken to make it complete.

A complete list of those students with acceptable or unacceptable portfolios will be provided to the Director of the School and to Graduation Analysis. If there are questions or appeals, the Director and/or a faculty hearing committee will hear the appeal.