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.