Major in Journalism

Journalism students may pursue either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science. Each major has different requirements, outlined below. However, all students must complete the seven core classes, at least one upper-level writing class and at least one seminar class.

Both degrees require a minor. Additionally, students may pursue a specialty by fulfilling requirements for a certificate in broadcast journalism, outlined below.

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts must complete 120 hours, 33 hours of which are in journalism. Along with the required classes listed below, students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts must complete five hours of journalism electives.

This degree also requires proven competency at the fourth semester of college-level foreign language (the equivalent of 12 hours, which can be accomplished either through taking courses or testing out through examinations as required by the foreign language programs on campus). This requirement is consistent with international opportunities in emerging media.

Bachelor of Science in Journalism

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science must complete 120 hours, 39 hours of which are in journalism. Along with the required classes listed below, students must complete 11 hours of journalism electives.

Required courses for all journalism majors

In addition, all journalism majors must complete at least one of the following upper-level reporting classes:

JOUR 10113 Media Writing and Editing 3 hours
JOUR 10203 Introduction to Journalism 3 hours
JOUR 10303 Introduction to Visual Journalism 3 hours
JOUR 20003 Diversity and the Media 3 hours
JOUR 30204 Reporting 4 hours
JOUR 40523 Law and Ethics of Mass Communication 3 hours
JOUR 40983 Multi-Platform Capstone 3 hours

 

At least one upper-level reporting class:

JOUR 40203 Advanced News Production 3 hours
JOUR 40453 Business Journalism 3 hours
JOUR 40463 Public Affairs Reporting 3 hours
JOUR 40483 Sports Journalism* 3 hours
JOUR 40643 Long-Form Journalism 3 hours
JOUR 40820 Washington Internship 1-6 hours

*Sports Journalism currently only counts toward the BS in Journalism.

At least one seminar class:

JOUR 30853 Historical Development of Mass Media 3 hours
JOUR 40443 Issues in Coverage of Business and the Economy 3 hours
JOUR 40493 Opinion and Commentary 3 hours
JOUR 40553 Issues in News 3 hours
JOUR 40563 Media Management 3 hours
JOUR 40573 Contemporary Issues in Sports Journalism 3 hours
JOUR 40613 Media Ethics 3 hours
JOUR 40813 Media in Washington 3 hours
JOUR 40993 Mass Media and Society 3 hours

Broadcast Journalism Certificate

Students may also pursue a certificate in broadcast journalism by combining electives and required courses. Students must declare their intent to earn specific certificates in the semester in which they intend to graduate and prior to the beginning of academic advising in that semester. Declaration is made in writing to the chair or the chair’s designee.

Choose 6 credit hours, or two courses, from this list:

JOUR 30303 News Production 3 hours
JOUR 40203 Advanced News Production 3 hours
JOUR 40553 Issues in News 3 hours

 

Updated August 2024: The information on this page is compiled from the 2024-2025 undergraduate student catalog