MAJOR

The major requires a total of 32 points in the Department of Journalism, distributed as described below, plus a mandatory second major in another CAS department or program. Thus, all journalism majors are double majors. Students cannot take more than 36 points in journalism.

All majors must take the department’s two required lectures, Foundations of Journalism, V54.0501, and Journalism Ethics and First Amendment Law, V54.0502, and its three required skills courses, Journalistic Inquiry, V54.0101, The Beat, V54.0201, and Advanced Reporting, V54.0301 or V54.0351, which includes a capstone project. The expository writing requirement precedes Foundations of Journalism, the department’s entry course. Foundations is the prerequisite for Journalistic Inquiry, which is the prerequisite for all second-level skills courses. The Beat is a prerequisite for the third-level skills courses. We offer both print and broadcast sections in each. All students must pass Foundations and Inquiry with a grade of C or better to take any second-level courses. In addition, students are required to take three electives, one each from any of the following: Journalism and Society, Journalism as Literature, Issues and Ideas, Media Criticism, Methods and Practice, and Production and Publication. Elective Senior Seminars are offered each term as well. Required courses are as follows:

General and investigative reporting, print/online/broadcast: Foundations of Journalism, V54.0501; Journalism Ethics and First Amendment Law, V54.0502: Journalistic Inquiry, V54.0101; The Beat (print and broadcast sections), V54.0201; Advanced Reporting (print and broadcast sections), V54.0301 or V54.0351; plus three electives, one each from the following groups: Journalism and Society, V54.0503; Issues and Ideas, V54.0505; Media Criticism, V54.0061; Journalism as Literature, V54.0504; Methods and Practice, V54.0202; Production and Publication, V54.0302; Senior Seminar, V54.0401.

Media analysis and criticism core: Foundations of Journalism, V54.0501; Journalism Ethics and First Amendment Law, V54.0502; and five other courses from the elective list.

Note: Admission into broadcast-oriented skills courses at any level may be restricted, depending on availability of facilities.

Journalism majors and minors must achieve a grade of C (not C-) or better in all journalism courses to meet department degree requirements. Grades below C do not count toward the major or minor. Students earning grades lower than C must either repeat the course or take an equivalent course, if permitted.

HONORS

Juniors and seniors who have maintained a 3.65 overall GPA and a 3.65 in the journalism major are eligible for the two-course, 8-point honors program. Students take special sections of Advanced Reporting and Senior Seminar to complete a two-semester capstone project.