Students will be guided by the outline of baccalaureate degrees, the University Core Curriculum and the concentration areas listed below. Students majoring in the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication are encouraged to meet with an advisor in the school within the first semester of the program. Prior to graduation, majors must complete an exit exam. Students will receive instructions on exam completion during their final semester of enrollment.
Students are encouraged to select a second major or minor that will complement their major. Some program areas in the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication may not be combined. Students may wish to consider optional add-on concentrations in Cultural and Entertainment Reporting, Entrepreneurship, Media Analytics, Non-Profit Storytelling, Public Media, and Student Media. Please check with an advisor in the school before selecting a complementary major, minor, or concentration.
48-51 credits
Core, 15 credits
Students pursuing a journalism major will complete the core and at least one of the required concentrations listed below. Students must complete a minimum of three credits in JOUR 369 (internship).
Required Concentration
Students must select one of the required concentrations in Magazine Media, Mass Communications, News Writing and Reporting, Photographic Storytelling or Sports Writing and Multimedia.
Magazine Media concentration, 33 credits
3 credits from:
6 credits from:
Students may choose any six credits from the courses listed below. Content Strategy course options include JOUR 182, JOUR 282, JOUR 382, and JOUR 482. Multimedia options include EMDD 101, EMDD 212, EMDD 213, EMDD 214, and EMDD 234. Strategic Communication options include JOUR 250, JOUR 261, JOUR 348, JOUR 354, and JOUR 386.
Mass Communication concentration, 36 credits
The mass communication concentration is not open to students in the following areas: Advertising, Public Relations, Magazine Media, News Writing and Reporting, Photographic Storytelling, Media Design and Development, Strategic Communication: Advertising or Strategic Communication: Public Relations.
| EMDD 101 | The Digital World | 3 |
| EMDD 103 | Introduction to Media Design | 3 |
| EMDD 210 | Introduction to Social Media | 3 |
| JOUR 250 | Introduction to Advertising | 3 |
| JOUR 261 | Principles of Public Relations | 3 |
| JOUR 382 | Strategic Communication Theory and Research | 3 |
| NEWS 105 | Journalistic Storytelling: Introduction | 3 |
3 credits from:
12 credits from EMDD, JOUR or NEWS
At least 6 credits must be at 300- or 400-level.
| 12 credits from EMDD, JOUR, or NEWS courses (At least 6 credits must be at 300- or 400-level) | 12 |
News Writing and Reporting concentration, 35 credits
3 credits from:
12 credits from:
Students may not count more than three credits from JOUR 182, JOUR 282 or JOUR 482 when fulfilling this requirement.
Photographic Storytelling concentration, 33 credits
Students are required to complete six credits in JOUR 437, which must be taken in three credit increments.
3 credits from EMDD, JOUR, or NEWS
At least 3 credits must be 100, 200, 300 or 400-level courses in EMDD, JOUR or NEWS.
| 3 credits from 100, 200, 300 or 400-level courses in EMDD, JOUR or NEWS | 3 |
Sports Writing and Multimedia Storytelling, 36 credits
| CCIM 125 | Fundamentals of Sports Content Creation | 3 |
| COMM 355 | Communication and Sports | 3 |
| JOUR 122 | Sports Media and Strategic Communication | 3 |
| JOUR 314 | Strategic Communication I: Esports and Sports | 3 |
| JOUR 322 | Sportswriting and Reporting | 3 |
| JOUR 413 | Advanced Writing and Reporting | 3 |
| JOUR 419 | Career Readiness and Freelance | 3 |
| MDIA 383 | Digital Sports Seminar | 3-6 |
| NEWS 215 | News Editing | 3 |
| NEWS 221 | Journalistic Storytelling: Covering Issues | 3 |
| NEWS 233 | Specialized Story Form Strategy | 3 |
3 credits from:
| MDIA 326 | Podcasts, Play by Play, and Presentation | 3 |
| MDIA 424 | Advanced Sports Reporting and Delivery | 3-6 |
Optional add-on concentrations
Cultural and Entertainment Reporting concentration, 12 credits
The Cultural and Entertainment Reporting concentration is open only to students enrolled in the magazine media and news writing and reporting concentrations.
| JOUR 316 | Topics in Cultural and Entertainment Reporting and Presentation | 3 |
9 credits from:
Courses taken for the Cultural and Entertainment Reporting concentration may not be used in any other concentration.
Entrepreneurship concentration, 12 credits
The Entrepreneurship concentration is open only to students with concentrations in Magazine Media, News and Photographic Storytelling.
3 credits from:
9 credits from:
Students can choose either ENT 241 or ENT 244 but cannot use both within the Entrepreneurship concentration. Courses taken for the Entrepreneurship concentration may not be used in any other concentration.
Media Analytics concentration, 12 credits
The Media Analytics concentration is open only to students with concentrations in Magazine Media, Mass Communication, News and Photographic Storytelling.
3 credits from:
9 credits from:
Courses taken for the Media Analytics concentration may not be used in any other concentration.
Non-Profit Storytelling concentration, 12 credits
The Non-Profit Storytelling concentration is open only to students with concentrations in Magazine Media, News and Photographic Storytelling.
3 credits from:
| ENT 244 | Social Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| JOUR 348 | Social Media Management and Practice | 3 |
| JOUR 382 | Strategic Communication Theory and Research | 3 |
Courses taken for the Non-Profit Storytelling concentration may not be used in any other concentration.
Public Media Concentration, 12 credits
The Public Media concentration is open only to students with concentrations in Magazine Media, Mass Communication, News and Photographic Storytelling.
Students can take up to 12 credits in JOUR 497 or TCOM 497.
12 credits from:
Courses taken for the Public Media concentration may not be used in any other concentration.
Student Media Concentration, 12 credits
The Student Media concentration is open only to students with concentrations in Magazine Media, Mass Communication, News and Photographic Storytelling.
Students can take up to 12 credits in JOUR 179 or TCOM 197.
12 credits from:
| JOUR 179 | Student Media and Agency Practicum | 0-12 |
| MDIA 179 | Introduction to Student Media | 1-6 |
Courses taken for the Student Media concentration may not be used in any other concentration.