Journalism, Bachelor of Arts

Requirements

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree

See the "Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree" in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

Elective Requirements

Completion of elective courses (beyond the requirements listed below) to reach a total of a minimum of 120 units.

General Education Requirements (43 units)

See the "General Education" requirements in the University Catalog or the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education requirements and course offerings.

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (3 Units)

See the "Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement" section in the University Catalog.

Statutory Requirements: United States History, Constitution and American Ideals (6 Units)

See the "Statutory Requirements" section in the University Catalog. 

Major Requirements (48-51 units)

The following courses, or their approved equivalents, are required of all candidates for this degree. The academic standards of the department require that all Journalism majors pass all required and prerequisite courses with grades of “C” or better.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Lower Division Required Courses
COM 100	Media & Society	3
COM 106 & COM 107	Digital Toolkit and Digital Toolkit Lab	3
COM 110 & COM 111	Introduction to Digital Media Production and Introduction to Digital Media Production Laboratory	3
COM 250	Writing for the Media	3
Upper Division Required Courses
COM 301	News and Information Literacy	3
COM 302	Media Law and Ethics	3
COM 338	Cross-Cultural Journalism	3
COM 346	News Gathering & Reporting	3
COM 355	News Production Workshop	3
COM 358	Storytelling With Data and Design	3
COM 380	The Evolution of News	3
Choose one
Select 3 units from the following		3
COM 316	Broadcast News Production
COM 333	Digital and Mobile Journalism Production
COM 388	Digital Magazine Production
Capstone Experience
COM 490	Senior Project	3
COM 496	Internship In Communications	3
Electives
Select 6-9 units from the following:		6-9
COM 206	Photojournalism
COM 314	Broadcast Journalism
COM 315	Broadcast Journalism Lab
COM 320	Sports Journalism
COM 328	Entertainment and Lifestyle Journalism
COM 339	Latinx culture and the news media in the USA
COM 347	Multimedia Interviewing Practices
COM 352	Feature And Critical Writing
COM 368	Investigative Reporting
COM 435	Media Psychology
COM 494	Independent Study
COM 495	Special Topics:
Total Hours		48-51

¹

Note: COM 355 News Production Workshop is repeatable for credit.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Journalism program, a degree recipient will be able to:

• Apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech and press, in a global context, and for the United States.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the multicultural history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping Journalism.
• Demonstrate culturally proficient communication that empowers those traditionally disenfranchised in society, especially as grounded in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and ability, domestically and globally, across Journalism contexts.
• Present images and information effectively and creatively, using appropriate tools and technologies.
• Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the Journalism professions, audiences and purposes they serve.
• Demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity.
• Apply critical thinking skills in conducting research and evaluating information by methods appropriate to Journalism professions.
• Effectively and correctly apply basic numerical and statistical concepts.
• Critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness.
• Apply tools and technologies appropriate for the Journalism professions.

Journalism

4-Year Roadmap

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Hours
GE Area A2 Written Communication		3
GE Area C1 Arts Courses		3
GE Area D1 Perspectives on Individuals, Groups, and Society		3
GE Area F Ethnic Studies		3
GE Area E Lifelong Learning and Self-Development		3
	Hours	15
Spring
HIS 101 or POL 101	History Of United States or American Institutions	3
GE Area B1 or B2		3
GE Area B4 Quantitative Reasoning		3
COM 100	Media & Society (satisfies GE Area C2 Letters Course)	3
Additional GE in Area C1 or C2		3
	Hours	15
Second Year
Fall
THE 120	Fundamentals of Speech (Satisfies GE Area A1)	3
GE Area B1 or B2		3
GE Area B3		1
GE Area D2 Global and Historical Perspectives		3
COM 106	Digital Toolkit	2
COM 107	Digital Toolkit Lab	1
Elective to meet 120 units		3
	Hours	16
Spring
COM 110	Introduction to Digital Media Production	2
COM 111	Introduction to Digital Media Production Laboratory	1
COM 250	Newswriting For Media	3
COM 301	News and Information Literacy	3
HIS 101 or POL 101	History Of United States or American Institutions	3
GE Area A3 Logic/Critical Thinking		3
	Hours	15
Third Year
Fall
GE Area C3		3
ENG 350	Advanced Composition (GWAR satisfying course)	3
COM 302	Media Law and Ethics	3
Journalism Elective 1		3
UD Elective Course		3
	Hours	15
Spring
GE Area B5		3
COM 338	Cross-Cultural Journalism	3
COM 346	News Gathering & Reporting	3
COM 379	Media Industries	3
Journalism Elective 1		3
	Hours	15
Fourth Year
Fall
GE Area D3		3
COM 355	News Production Workshop 2	3
Journalism Elective 1		3
UD Elective Course		3
UD Elective Course		3
	Hours	15
Spring
COM 490	Senior Project	3
COM 496	Internship In Communications	3
COM 355	News Production Workshop (or Journalism Elective) 1	3
UD Elective Course		3
Elective Course		2
	Hours	14
	Total Hours	120

¹

Students select Journalism elective from: COM 206, COM 314/315, COM 320, COM 328, COM 333/334, COM 347, COM 348, COM 352, COM 358, COM 360, COM 368, COM 388/389, COM 400, COM 435, COM 495

²

Students who take COM 355 twice may only take 3 Journalism electives. 

2-Year Roadmap

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Hours
GE Area C3		3
GWAR Requirement		3
COM 100	Media & Society	3
COM 106	Digital Toolkit	2
COM 107	Digital Toolkit Lab	1
COM 110	Introduction to Digital Media Production	2
COM 111	Introduction to Digital Media Production Laboratory	1
	Hours	15
Spring
COM 250	Newswriting For Media	3
COM 301	News and Information Literacy	3
COM 302	Media Law and Ethics	3
COM 338	Cross-Cultural Journalism	3
COM 346	News Gathering & Reporting	3
	Hours	15
Second Year
Fall
GE Area B5 or D3		3
COM 355	News Production Workshop	3
COM 379	Media Industries	3
Journalism Elective 1		3
Journalism Elective 1		3
	Hours	15
Spring
COM 490	Senior Project	3
COM 496	Internship In Communications	3
Journalism Elective 1		3
GE Area B5 or D3		3
UD Elective Course		3
	Hours	15
	Total Hours	60

¹

Students select Journalism elective from: COM 206, COM 314/315, COM 320, COM 328, COM 333/334, COM 347, COM 348, COM 352, COM 358, COM 360, COM 368, COM 388/389, COM 400, COM 435, COM 495