In today’s environment of converging media, successful journalists need the necessary skills and concepts to tell meaningful stories for a variety of outlets. In this major, students learn how to conceive ideas and collect and present information using words, pictures, and sounds to craft news stories that are accurate, fair, clear, and compelling. Whether destined for print, online or broadcast presentation, the focus is on preparing students to research, report and communicate news and non-fiction stories that engage audiences and make a difference in people’s lives. Students will learn how to build an online platform for their journalism and how to engage with their audience. Students will also understand the ethical, legal, historical and societal environment of journalism and the fundamental role media plays in our social, political and economic systems. Students must complete the communication foundation courses prior to acceptance into the journalism major.

Program Requirements
Students must complete the two communication foundation courses (COM 201 and COM 207) with an overall average of B, in order to graduate from the major.

Program Learner Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Create news and feature stories by discovering, evaluating and interviewing diverse sources, observing, working a beat, doing computer- assisted research and requesting and accessing documents.  Students will be able to write thorough and compelling articles in a variety of styles, produce quality audio and video, and build effective Web sites.
• Understand the historical, socio-political, legal and cultural context for the ethical decisions they must make. Students will be able to uphold the legal and ethical principles and responsibilities of a free press, and will be committed to the First Amendment and to the press’s role as a “watchdog” in society.
• Know in-depth at least one journalism specialization: print, online, or broadcast. Demonstrate professional-quality work in one field.
• Work as a team to produce media products for general distribution.

Communication Foundation Core Requirements (10 credits)
    COM 201 - Introduction to Mass Communication Credits: (5)
    COM 207 - Introduction to Human Communication Credits: (5)

Digital Journalism Core Requirements (38 credits)
All digital journalism majors are required to take all the courses in the digital journalism core requirements.
    ENG 220 - Grammar for Writers Credits: (2) (pre- or co-requisite for COM 226)
    COM 226 - Introduction to Writing and Reporting for Digital Journalism Credits: (5)
    COM 303 - Online and Social Media Strategies Credits: (5)
    COM 308 - Public Affairs Reporting and Writing Credits: (5)
    COM 321 - Visual Storytelling Credits: (5)
    FILM 340 - Production I Credits: (5)
    COM 460 - Communication Law Credits: (5)
    COM 489 - Portfolio Assessment Credits: (1)
    COM 490 - Cooperative Education Credits: (1-12) (Must be taken for 5 credits)

Student Choice Courses (13 credits)
Select one course from each pair of options below.
    COM 310 - Writing and Reporting for Broadcast Journalism Credits: (5)
      OR  COM 408 - Feature Writing and Freelancing Credits: (5)
    COM 342 - Broadcast News Producing Credits: (4)
      OR  COM 347 - Copy Editing Credits: (4)
    COM 348 - Publication Design Credits: (4)
      OR  COM 375 - Interviewing Principles and Techniques Credits: (4)

Media Requirements (14 credits)
Select at least one course in each section. Courses may be repeated to reach the 14 credit total.
CentralNewsWatch
    COM 442 - CentralNewsWatch Reporting Credits: (3)
    COM 462 - CentralNewsWatch Management Credits: (3)
Pulse
    COM 446 - Pulse Credits: (2)
    COM 478 - Advanced Newspaper Editing Credits: (3-6)
Observer
    COM 468 - Observer Credits: (1-3)
    COM 478 - Advanced Newspaper Editing Credits: (3-6)

TOTAL CREDITS: 75

APPLY