Like the Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media, this degree develops student's career-ready skills in five areas--communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and curiosity--but with a special focus on science and technology and the use of scientific tools for gathering and disseminating information. We live in a time when scientific literacy is a public concern. This program bridges the strengths of the journalism/media courses with those in science areas: biology and other life sciences, physical and related earth sciences, chemistry, computer science, health sciences, physics, and the emerging field of sustainability.

The objective of program is to produce career-ready graduates who can more accurately and authentically communicate, in person and in writing, about science. Student select one of two tracks, Multi-Media Journalism or Public Relations, to further focus their studies. 

Student Learning Goals

1. Students will develop an appreciation for the values of the role of journalism and media
   in a democratic society, both domestically and globally; will evaluate and assess how values are
   applied by others; and will apply those values to professional work.
   1. Students will identify and apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech and press
      for the United States, and compare to the U.S. system the range of systems of freedom of
      expression around the world, including the right to dissent, to monitor and criticize power, and
      assemble and to petition for redress of grievances.
   2. Students will identify major historical figures and movements, and they will discuss how
      they contributed to the development of journalism and media professions and institutions.
   3. Students will identify and discuss how gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and, as
      appropriate, other forms of diversity in domestic society play a role in journalism and media
      professions, and how journalism and media play a role in societal conceptualizations of
      diversity issues.
   4. Students will identify and discuss the diversity of peoples and cultures in a broader
      global society, and will discuss the significance and impact of journalism and media in that
      broader global society.
   5. Students will identify and discuss ethical principles, standards, and codes of professional
      journalism and media work, and they will apply those ethical principles, standards and codes to
      professional practice, especially in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity.
2. Students will demonstrate core communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and curiosity skills (the five C’s) in their journalism and media professional practice.
   1. Students will identify and apply theories of mass and mediated communication in the use and presentation of images and information.
   2. Students will critically evaluate and assess information in its truthfulness, use, and effectiveness in public communication messages.
   3. Students will demonstrate creativity in their development of messages and strategies to inform and engage audiences and publics.
   4. Students will develop strategies to work independently and collaboratively in groups to accomplish goals.
   5. Students will conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the journalism and media professions in which they work
3. Students will demonstrate professional skills in the journalism and media professions in which they work, and they will be able to self-evaluate and evaluate others in application of professional skills.
   1. Students will identify and evaluate the information needs of appropriate audiences, publics, and communities they might serve in journalism and media professions.
   2. Students will write correctly, clearly, and effectively in forms and styles appropriate for the journalism and media professions, audiences and purposes they serve.
   3. Students will identify and apply basic concepts of visual communication in developing messages.
   4. Students will critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness.
   5. Students will apply basic numerical and statistical concepts to their professional work.
   6. Students will apply basic tools and technologies appropriate for the journalism and media professions in which they work.
   7. Students will develop career communication skills necessary to explain the broad value of journalism and media skills as they are applied both within and beyond traditional journalism/media professions

Scholarships/Awards

Mike Spencer Scholarship; Jeff Owen Journalism Award.

Degree Requirements 

General

Complete 120 total credit hours, with at least 30 at the 300-400 (upper division) level, with a program cumulative grade point average of 2.0 

General Education Requirements (30 credit hours)

Complete the University General Education curriculum requirements. Generally students are free to pick amongst the approved courses to fulfill General Education; however, for maximum degree completion efficiency for this degree, select the following courses to satisfy these areas of the General Education curriculum: 

For other areas of the General Education curriculum, select any approved course.  

Breadth Requirements Beyond General Education Specific to the Bachelor of Science (16 credit hours) 

Complete all classes below.

Complete nine additional credit hours in computer, life, physical, or social science discipline, which include courses offered under these headings: AHLT, AST, BIOL, CHEM, CJUS, CSCI, ECON, GEOG, GEOL, HIM. HIST, INFO, MATH, MICR, NURS, PHSL, PHYS, POLS, PSY, SOC, SPH, SUST, and ZOOL. The courses listed in the grid below are recommended. Courses marked with an asterisk*, when combined withe the required INFO classes above, result in a concurrent minor in informatics. 

Major Requirements - Core (21 credit hours)

All students in both tracks complete the following core classes 

Track Requirements - Multimedia Journalism (21 Credit hours)

 Electives 

Track Requirements - Public Relations Track (27 Credit hours)

Electives