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

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

College of Liberal Arts >> Communications

37 hours plus 6 hours of Cognates; C or better required in all courses; 2.25 major GPA required

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)

JRN 273 - Digital Photography Credits: 3
JRN 374 - Internet Communications Credits: 3 or
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)

ADV 347 - Advertising Copywriting Credits: 3
COMM 477 - Comparative Structures of Mass Media in a Global Community Credits: 3
JRN 180 - Journalism Workshop Credits: 1 (one hour/semester, up to three hours total)
JRN 371 - Advanced Photography Credits: 3
JRN 374 - Internet Communications Credits: 3
JRN 383 - Editorial Writing Credits: 3
JRN 384 - Feature Writing Credits: 3
JRN 386 - Editing and Layout Credits: 3
JRN 400 - Independent Study in Journalism Credits: 1-3 (up to three hours total)
JRN 473 - Photojournalism Credits: 3
JRN 484 - Literary Journalism Credits: 3
JRN 488 - Digital Storytelling Credits: 3
JRN 489 - Internship in Journalism Credits: 1-3
JRN 496 - Media Ethics Credits: 3
JRN 499 - Special Topics Credits: 3
PRL 362 - Writing for Public Relations Credits: 3
RTV 255 - Media Production Credits: 3
NOTE: Some upper-level courses are offered alternating years.

Mass Communication Majors, Ethnic Cultures Cognate (3 hours)

Journalism majors may also select
JRN 496 - Media Ethics
ADV 499 - Special Topics Credits: 3
(approved ADV 499 topic: Advertising & Cultural Perceptions)
ANTH 111 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology Credits: 3
ANTH 326 - Peoples of Africa Credits: 3
CMST 308 - Rhetoric and Diversity Credits: 3
CMST 317 - Intercultural Communication Credits: 3
COMM 477 - Comparative Structures of Mass Media in a Global Community Credits: 3
COMM 486 - Diversity in Mass Media Credits: 3
ENG 231 - African American Literature Credits: 3
ENG 330 - Ethnic Literature in America Credits: 3
HIST 385 - History of Africa since 1800 Credits: 3
HIST 400 - Topics in American History Credits: 3 Seminar: African Americans U.S.
JRN 499 - Special Topics Credits: 3
(approved JRN 499 topics: Covering Diverse Cultures; Diversity & Mass Media)
PRL 499 - Special Topics Credits: 3
(approved PRL 499 topic: PR in a Global Community)
RTV 499 - Special Topics Credits: 3
(approved RTV 499 topic: Race, Ethnicity & the Media)
SOC 370 - Seminar in Sociology Credits: 3
(approved SOC 370 topics: Globalization; Hate Groups/Hate Crimes; Race, Class, Gen-Pop Culture)
SOC 421 - Race and Ethnicity Credits: 3
WLC 337 - The African Diaspora in Latin American Literature and Culture Credits: 3

Mass Communication Majors, Gender Studies Cognate (3 hours)

CMST 402 - Gender, Communication, and Culture Credits: 3
CMST 430 - Seminar in Rhetoric Credits: 3 Seminar in GLBT Rhetoric
COMM 486 - Diversity in Mass Media Credits: 3
CMST 499 - Special Topics in Communication Studies Credits: 3
(approved CMST499 topic: Rhetoric of Family & Gender)
ENG 288 - Introduction to Women in Literature Credits: 3
ENG 387 - Women’s Literature and Gender Issues: 19th- and 20th-Century Theory Credits: 3
GNDR 111 - Intro to Gender Studies Credits: 3
GNDR 333 - Perspectives on Gender Credits: 3
GNDR 449 - Seminar in Gender Studies: Special Topics Credits: 3 /PHIL 361 (Queer Theory) or GNDR 449 (GLBT Discourse)
HIST 311 - Women and Gender in America Credits: 3
HIST 498 - Senior Seminar in American History Credits: 3
(approved HIST498 topic: Women/Gender to 1920)
JRN 499 - Special Topics Credits: 3
(approved JRN 499 topic: Diversity & Mass Media)
PHIL 364 - Gender and Philosophy Credits: 3
PSY 381 - Psychology of Gender Credits: 3
RTV 499 - Special Topics Credits: 3
(approved RTV 499 topic: Media & Female Athletes)
SOC 370 - Seminar in Sociology Credits: 3
(approved SOC 370 topics: Hate Groups/Hate Crimes; Race, Class, Gen-Pop Culture; Gender at Work; Women & Work)
SOC 431 - Gender and Society Credits: 3

Additional Information

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