The B.A. in Journalism prepares students for positions in media production, reporting, editing and design. There are two tracks for students majoring in journalism, journalism and journalism broadcast and digital media. The curriculum offers a blend of courses to support this goal. The coursework begins with basic photo, video, writing, reporting and visual literacy skills. These are then followed by courses that focus on design, and advanced reporting and writing projects. Those on the journalism studies track will take a series of electives and interdisciplinary courses, to build skills in interviewing, writing, social media and specialized journalism.
Other on-campus outlets for student writing and productions include the Penguin Review, the *yo magazine, The Jenny, Rookery Radio, and thejambar.com. Internships and other writing opportunities are available at local media outlets including local TV, radio and newspapers. The Business Journal, The Vindicator, and the Tribune Chronicle. Additionally, Journalism majors are encouraged to declare minors that support their specific career objectives, such as public relations, political science, telecommunications, or art/design.
Complementary Minors
• Advertising and Public Relations
• American Politics
• Business
• Communication Studies
• Creative Writing
• Criminal Justice System or Juvenile Justice System
• Digital Media or Graphic Design (for Non-Art Majors)
• Economics
• Entrepreneurship
• Marketing
• Multimedia and Web Design
• Photography (for Non-Art Majors)
• Professional and Technical Writing
• Public Health
• Social Media Campaigns
• Statistics
• Web Communications
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Core Competencies | 12 | |
| Writing 1 | ||
| Writing 2 | ||
| Communication Foundations | ||
| Arts and Humanities | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences | 7 | |
| Social Science | 6 | |
| Social and Personal Awareness | 6 | |
| General Education Elective or First-Year Experience Course (e.g., CCAC 1500) | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 1550 | 4 | |
| Foreign Language 2600 | 4 | |
| Required Core Courses | ||
| JOUR 3725 | News Reporting 1 | 3 |
| JOUR 2624 | Imaging and Design of Media | 3 |
| JOUR 3726 | American Journalism | 3 |
| JOUR 3721L | Journalism Workshop | 3 |
| JOUR 3723 | Advanced Journalism Editing and Design | 3 |
| JOUR 4860 | News Reporting 2 | 3 |
| JOUR 4824 | Press Law and Ethics | 3 |
| JOUR 4893 | Journalism Senior Project | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select 12 s.h. from the following: 1 | 12 | |
| Journalism as Literature (WR/MG/JS) | ||
| Introduction to Photojournalism (WR/MG/E/JS) | ||
| Introduction to Magazine Journalism (MG/JS) | ||
| Editorial and Opinion Writing (WR/E/JS) | ||
| Magazine Journalism Workshop (MG/JS) | ||
| Radio News Workshop (WR/E/JS) | ||
| Projects in Working Class Reporting (MG/JS) | ||
| Sports Journalism (WR/E/JS) | ||
| New Media Journalism (WR/E/JS) | ||
| Political Reporting (WR/E/JS) | ||
| Magazine Writing and Reporting (MG/JS) | ||
| In-Depth Reporting (WR/MG/JS) | ||
| Selected Topics in Journalism (WR/MG/E/JS) | ||
| Journalism Internship (WR/MG/E/JS repeatable up to 6 s.h.) | ||
| Required Support Courses | ||
| CMST 3756 | Interviewing | 3 |
| CMST 4850 | Social Media Campaigns | 3 |
| or CMST 3740 | Social Media Communication | |
| Support Required Elective Courses | ||
| Select two of the following or any JOUR upper division courses: | 6 | |
| Advanced Writing | ||
| Professional and Technical Writing | ||
| Writing for Online Environments | ||
| Professional and Technical Editing | ||
| Sociolinguistics | ||
| Foundations of Environmental Studies | ||
| Law and Society | ||
| American Public Opinion | ||
| State and Local Government | ||
| Introduction to Telecommunication Studies | ||
| Global Electronic Information Resources | ||
| Financial Accounting | ||
| Communication Theory | ||
| Policing | ||
| Criminal Courts | ||
| Introductory Statistics | ||
| Minor Requirements (some minors require more than 18 credits) | 18 | |
| Electives (students must complete 48 hours of upper division courses; 37xx and above) | 6 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120 | |
| 1 | Be sure to choose those that are appropriate for your selected option.
|
Please see your advisers for help with scheduling.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | S.H. | |
| JOUR 2624 | Imaging and Design of Media | 3 |
| CCAC 1500 | College Success | 3 |
| ENGL 1550 | Writing 1 | 3 |
| FNLG 1550 | Elementary Foreign Language | 4 |
| MATH XXXX Approved General Education | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| JOUR 3726 | American Journalism | 3 |
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| FNLG 2600 | Intermediate Foreign Language | 4 |
| AH XXXX GER Arts & Humanities | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| JOUR 3725 | News Reporting 1 | 3 |
| JOUR Elective (see Journalism Electives list below) | 3 | |
| Minor course | 3 | |
| NS XXXX Natural Science GER + lab | 4 | |
| SPA XXXX GER Social & Personal Awareness | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| JOUR 3721L | Journalism Workshop | 3 |
| Minor course | 3 | |
| AH XXXX Arts & Humanities GER | 3 | |
| NS XXXX Natural Science GER | 3 | |
| SS XXXX Social Sciences GER | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| JOUR 3723 | Advanced Journalism Editing and Design | 3 |
| CMST 3756 | Interviewing (this is a required support course) | 3 |
| JOUR 4860 | News Reporting 2 | 3 |
| Upper-division Minor Course | 3 | |
| SS XXXX Social Sciences GER | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| JOUR 4824 | Press Law and Ethics | 3 |
| CMST 4850 | Social Media Campaigns (this is a required support course) | 3 |
| JOUR Elective Support Course (see Elective Support Courses list below) | 3 | |
| Upper-division Minor Course | 3 | |
| SPA XXXX GER Social & Personal Awareness | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Upper-division JOUR Elective (see Journalism Electives list below; possible internship) | 3 | |
| Upper-division JOUR Elective (see Journalism Electives list below) | 3 | |
| Upper-division JOUR Elective Support Course (see Elective Support Courses list below) | 3 | |
| Upper-division Minor Course | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| JOUR 4893 | Journalism Senior Project | 3 |
| Upper-division JOUR Elective (see Journalism Electives list below) | 3 | |
| Upper-division Minor Course | 3 | |
| Upper-division Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120 | |
Journalism Electives
Select four of the following (or a total of 12 s.h.):
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 2605 | Journalism as Literature | 3 |
| JOUR 2632 | Introduction to Photojournalism | 3 |
| JOUR 3716 | Introduction to Magazine Journalism | 3 |
| JOUR 3717 | Editorial and Opinion Writing | 3 |
| JOUR 3720L | Magazine Journalism Workshop | 1 |
| JOUR 3722L | Radio News Workshop | 3 |
| JOUR 3758 | Projects in Working Class Reporting | 3 |
| JOUR 3759 | Sports Journalism | 3 |
| JOUR 3761 | New Media Journalism | 3 |
| JOUR 3762 | Political Reporting | 3 |
| JOUR 4822 | Magazine Writing and Reporting | 3 |
| JOUR 4823 | In-Depth Reporting | 3 |
| JOUR 4825 | Selected Topics in Journalism | 3 |
| JOUR 4894 | Journalism Internship | 3 |
Elective Support Courses
Select two of the following (or a total of 6 s.h.):
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 2602 | Financial Accounting | 3 |
| CJFS 2601 | Policing | 3 |
| CJFS 2602 | Criminal Courts | 3 |
| CMST 2600 | Communication Theory | 3 |
| CSIS 1510 | Global Electronic Information Resources | 3 |
| ENGL 3740 | Advanced Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 3743 | Professional and Technical Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 3745 | Writing for Online Environments | 3 |
| ENGL 4849 | Professional and Technical Editing | 3 |
| ENGL 4850 | Sociolinguistics | 3 |
| POL 3702 | Law and Society | 3 |
| POL 3714 | American Public Opinion | 3 |
| POL 3722 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| STAT 2601 | Introductory Statistics | 3 |
| TCOM 1580 | Introduction to Telecommunication Studies | 3 |
Learning Outcomes
The Communication Department has established the following learning outcomes for students completing the journalism major. Journalism students will demonstrate an understanding of:
- what constitutes news.
- practical applications of First Amendment law.
- strategies for finding and extracting news.
- writing and editing stories for various audiences and media formats.
- principles and practices of ethical and professional news.