Major Requirements | Department of Journalism

Marie Shanahan helps students create a website./Journalism Department File

Required Courses

Students must earn a minimum of 27 credits at the 2000+ level in journalism through a mix of required and elective classes. One or more internships, while not required, are STRONGLY encouraged so students can gain professional experience prior to graduation. One internship may be taken for 3 elective credits in journalism.

JOUR1002 – Press in America, a 1000-level history of journalism course that fulfills a General Education requirement (Content Area 1: Arts and Humanities), is also prerequisite for the required Journalism Ethics (JOUR3002) class.

Required classes are:

Newswriting I: Learn the essentials of reporting and writing in a nonfiction, journalistic style.
Newswriting II: Hone the essentials of reporting and writing nonfiction; expand skills into longer, in-depth pieces.
Ethics: Use the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics, as applied in extraordinary circumstances and day-to-day reporting.
Law: Learn the history of media law and libel and how it is used today.
Editor’s Craft: Use knowledge of lead-writing, AP Style & article construction to edit and lay out pieces (online & print) so they are interesting, fair & balanced.
1 Advanced Course: Use writing techniques learned in earlier classes as a foundation to produce in-depth written pieces. Advanced courses are: JOUR 3000 (Public Affairs Reporting), 3012W (Feature Writing), 3013W (Magazine Journalism), 3041 (Reporting and Editing TV News), 3045 (Specialized Journalism), 3046 (Environmental Journalism), 4035 (Investigative Reporting), or other advanced courses if accepted with the consent of the department.
2 Electives: Expand your knowledge in a particular area or try something new.
Portfolio: These three, 1-credit classes result in a professional website students can use to promote their skills and gain employment. Sophomores should take the first course, 2111, which focuses on photography. The following course, 3111, is for junior-level journalism majors and requires already produced written pieces, photography and video. Students will additionally produce data visualization, slideshow and a resume. In 4111, which should be taken only in senior year, students fine-tune their portfolios.

For class numbers and the department’s Plan of Study for your academic year, see the links below.

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Required Media Kit

Students will need these basic items for most journalism classes. Accessory items, such as cameras and microphones, are available for checkout in the Journalism Department office in Oak Hall 468:

iOS device: Apple iPad mini, iPhone, etc.
Students will be asked to upload inexpensive apps
1 terabyte portable hard drive

Optional Multimedia DSLR Kit

Environmental Journalism students in the field. / Journalism Department File

The DSLR option is designed for students who wish to compete at a higher level in the new media job market. Cameras and microphones also are available for checkout in the Journalism Department office in Oak Hall 468: