Journalism Major, B.A./B.S.

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37-44 credit hours

Journalism prepares students for the world of news and information gathering, writing, editing, photography, design, and publishing for print, electronic broadcast, and online media. Students learn journalism skills along with professional values and ethical standards in courses where both convergence and diversity are emphasized. Graduates succeed in any field where writing and a command of the language are needed.

Required Foundation and Advanced Communications Core (10 hours)

COMM 192 - Introduction to Mass Communication Credits: 3
COMM 494 - Mass Communication Law and Ethics Credits: 3
COMM 495 - Mass Communication Research Credits: 3
COMM 497 - Career Planning and Professional Development Credits: 1

Required Visual, Design and Copyediting Sequence (6 hours)

(Choose JRN 273 and then one 300-level course to complete sequence.)

JRN 273 - Digital Photography Credits: 3
JRN 374 - Internet Communications Credits: 3
JRN 386 - Editing and Layout Credits: 3

Required Reporting, Writing, and Editing Sequence (9 hours)

JRN 281 - Basic Reporting Credits: 3
JRN 381 - Advanced Reporting Credits: 3
JRN 481 - Reporting Public Affairs Credits: 3

Required Convergence Course (3 hours)

JRN 388 - Online Journalism Credits: 3

Communications Electives (9-10 hours)

JRN 180 - Journalism Workshop Credits: 3 (one hour/semester, up to three hours total)
RTV 255 - Media Production Credits: 3
ADV 347 - Advertising Copywriting Credits: 3
PRL 362 - Writing for Public Relations Credits: 3
JRN 371 - Advanced Photography Credits: 3
JRN 383 - Editorial Writing Credits: 3
JRN 384 - Feature Writing Credits: 3
JRN 400 - Independent Study in Journalism Credits: 1-3
JRN 473 - Photojournalism Credits: 3
COMM 477 - Comparative Structures of Mass Media in a Global Community Credits: 3
JRN 484 - Literary Journalism Credits: 3
JRN 488 - Digital Storytelling Credits: 3
JRN 496 - Media Ethics Credits: 3
JRN 498 - Internship in Journalism Credits: 3
JRN 499 - Special Topics Credits: 3

Additional Information

Journalism major requires diversity cognates: six hours (See Communications information above.)

Journalism students may count no more than three hours each from JRN 180 , JRN 400 , and JRN 498 as directed electives.

An internship in the print or electronic media and work on the campus newspaper, The Shield, is highly recommended.