2019-2020 Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog

Journalism, B.A.

A minor is required with this major.

The BA in Journalism is a 40-credit program that prepares students for entry into journalism and related fields where information-gathering, writing, editing, and awareness of public affairs are important. Students choose one of two tracks, print or broadcast, but all students receive training in multimedia reporting. Resources such as the Robert Vance Endowed Chair in Journalism and Mass Communication allow the program to bring in visiting professionals on a regular basis to supplement the curriculum. A PORTFOLIO IS REQUIRED.

Requirements: (40 credits)

1. Common Core

Total Credit Hours:25

Students must take

JRN 200Introduction to Journalism

3

JRN 235News Writing and Reporting I

3

JRN 237Introduction to the Profession

1

JRN 255Multimedia Journalism

3

JRN 336News Writing and Reporting II

3

JRN 383Responsibilities of Journalism

3

JRN 384Journalism History

3

JRN 412Editing

3

and three credits from the following:

JRN 370Global News in Context

3

JRN 400Journalism Theory

3

JRN 410/COMM 410Public Opinion

3

Important Notes:

JRN 200: prereq. WRT 110

JRN 235: To be taken concurrently with JRN 255

JRN 255: To be taken concurrently with JRN 235

JRN 237: preferably taken concurrently with JRN 235 or JRN 336

2. Three Sequences: Print/Digital, Broadcast, Sports Journalism

Total Credit Hours:15

Print/Online sequence: 15 credits

a. Required: Two courses from the following:
JRN 371Reporting Cultural Diversity

3

JRN 380Feature Writing

3

JRN 381Opinion Writing

3

WRT 382Travel Writing

3

JRN 385Mobile and Social Media Journalism

3

JRN 416Magazine Writing

3

JRN 418Studies in Journalism

3

Students may take JRN 418 twice provided the courses are on different topics.

Students may take JRN 450 more than once for electives.

Students may take JRN 495 Internship twice if venue is different.

b. Nine credits of directed electives chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor.

These electives may include courses in Journalism not used to fulfill other requirements, including JRN 350 Professional Seminar, JRN 450 Journalism Studies Abroad, JRN 491 Campus Newspaper Critique and JRN 495 Internship, or courses in other departments and schools at CCSU. It is highly recommended that students take JRN 385 Mobile and Social Media Journalism as an elective if it is not taken to fulfill another requirement. Students are encouraged to choose courses that will allow them to build an area of expertise that will help their future work in journalism and related media fields.

Broadcast sequence: 15 credits

Total Credit Hours:15
a. Required:
JRN 340Introduction to Broadcast News

3

JRN 385Mobile and Social Media Journalism

3

JRN 440TV News Practicum

4

b. Five credits of directed electives chosen in consultant with a faculty advisor.

These electives may include courses in Journalism not being used to fulfill other requirements, including JRN 350 Professional Seminar, JRN 450 Journalism Studies Abroad, JRN 491 Campus Newspaper Critique, JRN 495 Internship, JRN 440 TV News Practicum for a second time, or courses in other departments and schools at CCSU.  Students are encouraged to choose courses that will allow them to build an area of expertise that will help their future work in journalism and related media fields.

COMM 231Communication Technologies

3

COMM 420Principles of Digital Photography for Convergent Media

4

COMM 428Digital Film Production II

4

COMM 495Special Topics in Strategic Communication

3 to 4

JRN 495Internship in Journalism

3

JRN 350Professional Seminar

1

JRN 385Mobile and Social Media Journalism

3

JRN 498Capstone Preparation

1

JRN 499Capstone

3

Sports Journalism: 15 credits

Total Credit Hours:15
a. Required:
JRN 360Multimedia Sports Journalism

3

JRN 361Data Analysis for Sports Journalism

3

JRN 462Issues in Sports Journalism

3

b. Six credits of directed electives in consultation with advisor.
These electives may include journalism courses not used for other requirements, and courses from other departments.
Total Credit Hours:6

Journalism Major- General Education Requirements

All majors:

1. One of the following courses:

HIST 161American History to 1877

3

or

HIST 162American History from 1877 to Present

3

2. One of the following courses:

STAT 104Elementary Statistics

3

or

STAT 215Statistics for Behavioral Sciences I

3

3. One of the following courses:

PS 110American Government & Politics

3

or

PS 230American State and Local Government

3

All Majors1:

4. Diversity requirement. Students can meet this requirement in one of a few ways.

a. Select one of the following:
ANTH 200/AFAM 200Dimensions of Diversity and Inequality

3

SOC 212Race, Class, and Gender

3

HIST 319/LTN 319Race, Ethnicity and Migration in the U.S.

3

HIST 369African-American History

3

b. Choose a more advanced course in consultation with an adviser
c. Take JRN 371: Reporting Cultural Diversity.

5. COMM 230 is a recommended Gen Ed elective for all JRN majors (also counts towards broadcast sequence)

Broadcast Sequence

COMM 140Public Speaking

3

Courses that count toward the major:

Journalism (JRN) courses:

JRN 200Introduction to Journalism

3

JRN 235News Writing and Reporting I

3

JRN 255Multimedia Journalism

3

JRN 336News Writing and Reporting II

3

JRN 237Introduction to the Profession

1

JRN 340Introduction to Broadcast News

3

JRN 370Global News in Context

3

JRN 371Reporting Cultural Diversity

3

JRN 380Feature Writing

3

JRN 381Opinion Writing

3

JRN 383Responsibilities of Journalism

3

JRN 384Journalism History

3

JRN 400Journalism Theory

3

JRN 410/COMM 410Public Opinion

3

JRN 412Editing

3

JRN 416Magazine Writing

3

JRN 418Studies in Journalism

3

JRN 440TV News Practicum

4

JRN 450Journalism Studies Abroad

3

JRN 490Individual Guided Projects

1-3

JRN 491Campus Newspaper Critique

1

JRN 495Internship in Journalism

3

Communication (COMM):

COMM 230Introduction to Mass Media

3

COMM 231Communication Technologies

3

COMM 255Visual Communication

3

COMM 330

COMM 335

COMM 420Principles of Digital Photography for Convergent Media

4

COMM 427Studio Production

4

COMM 428Digital Film Production II

4

COMM 480

COMM 495Special Topics in Strategic Communication

3 to 4

English (ENG):

WRT 382Travel Writing

3

Total Credit Hours: 40