COLLEGE of ARTS and SCIENCES
JOURNALISM and MASS COMMUNICATIONS
Professor Frank Thayer, department head
Professors McCleneghan; Assistant Professors Chung, Lamonica; Instructors Berman, Gromatzky, Porter, Scholz
(575) 646-1034
DEGREE: Bachelor of Arts
MAJOR: Journalism and Mass Communications
MINOR: Journalism and Mass Communications
Study in Journalism and Mass Communications prepares students for careers in mass media, including print, broadcasting, advertising, public relations and photojournalism. The curriculum emphasizes the skills of gathering, evaluating and disseminating of information and related skills. Students also are instructed in the theory, law, history and professional guidelines of mass media. The program is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC).
DEGREE: Bachelor of Arts
MAJOR: Journalism and Mass Communications
Students are required to complete a 13-hour core of courses, pass a language-skills examination and then complete an additional 27 hours of courses in the department, bringing the allowable maximum to 40 hours. Students must complete at least 88 hours of courses outside the department, and must have at least 65 hours of credit in the liberal arts and sciences. An 18-credit minor in the department is available to students majoring in other fields.
Core Requirements (required of all majors)
| JOUR 105G, Introduction to Mass Communications. | 3 |
| JOUR 110, Introduction to Mass Media Writing | 3 |
| JOUR 210, Print Newswriting | 3 |
| JOUR 400, Senior Seminar | 1 |
| JOUR 493, Mass Communications Law. | 3 |
Three core courses (JOUR 105G, 110 and 210) are prerequisites to other courses in the department, as noted in course descriptions. Students must pass the Grammar-Spelling-Punctuation (GSP) Test in order to be accepted into the major and to enroll in JOUR 110 and higher level courses.
Advanced Requirements
Students must complete 27 hours of non-core courses, including at least one course from each category listed below. Entry into courses is subject to successful completion of appropriate prerequisites.
Category I: Intermediate Professional
| JOUR 306, Feature Article Writing | 3 |
| JOUR 310, Intermediate Print Reporting | 3 |
| JOUR 312, Creative Strategy/Copywriting | 3 |
| JOUR 313, Radio Reporting | 3 |
| JOUR 314, Television Reporting | 3 |
| JOUR 317, News Editing | 3 |
| JOUR 319, Basic Photography for the Journalist | 3 |
| JOUR 320, Photojournalism | 3 |
| JOUR 374, Principles of Public Relations | 3 |
| JOUR 407, Media Internship | 3 |
| JOUR 408, Media Practicum | 3 |
Category II: Advanced Professional
| JOUR 412, Documentary Photojournalism | 3 |
| JOUR 414, RTV Scriptwriting and Announcing | 3 |
| JOUR 423, Computer-Assisted News Reporting | 3 |
| JOUR 430, Electronic Field Production | 3 |
| JOUR 476, Public Relations Cases and Problems | 3 |
| JOUR 490, Advertising Campaigns | 3 |
Category III: Mass Communications
| JOUR 300, Introduction to Advertising | 3 |
| JOUR 321, Print Media Graphic Design | 3 |
| JOUR 350, History of Mass Media | 3 |
| JOUR 377, Mass Media Ethics | 3 |
| JOUR 380, Women and the Mass Media | 3 |
| JOUR 450, Media Management. | 3 |
| JOUR 460, Sports and Media in Contemporary Society | 3 |
| JOUR 474, Community Journalism | 3 |
| JOUR 482, Broadcast Business and Regulation | 3 |
| JOUR 489, Mass Media Research | 3 |
| JOUR 494, Special Topics | 3 |
| JOUR 495, Mass Communication Theory | 3 |
| JOUR 499, Independent Study in Mass Communications | 1-3 |
Category IV: Sequence Courses
| JOUR 302, Broadcast Studio Operations (recommended for students specializing in broadcasting) | 3 |
| JOUR 307, Television Production (recommended for students specializing in broadcasting) | 3 |
| JOUR 425, Media Planning and Buying (recommended for students specializing in advertising) | 3 |
| JOUR 484, Public Opinion (recommended for students specializing in print or public relations) | 3 |
MINOR: Journalism and Mass Communications
Students may not earn both a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications and minor in Journalism and Mass Communications
| JOUR 105G, Introduction to Mass Communications | 3 |
| JOUR 110, Introduction to Mass Media Writing | 3 |
| JOUR 210, Print Newswriting | 3 |
| Upper division JOUR courses totaling 9 upper division credits | 9 |
Note: students must pass the Grammar-Spelling-Punctuation (GSP) examination prior to enrolling in JOUR 110 and higher JOUR courses.