Schools
School of Social Sciences
Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Media
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.
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:
| Dept. | Course Number | Title | Credit Hours | Minimum Grade |
| Written Communication | ||||
| ENG-W | 131 | Reading, Writing & Inquiry I | 3 | C |
| and | ||||
| JOUR-J | 200 | Writing for Mass Media | 3 | C |
| Oral Communication | ||||
| COMM-S | 121 | Public Speaking | 3 | D- |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||||
| MATH-M | 118 | Finite Mathematics | 3 | D- |
| or higher | ||||
| Social and Behavioral Sciences | ||||
| JOUR-C | 200 | Introduction to Mass Communications | 3 | C |
| Reasoning About Ethical Issues/Diversity | ||||
| JOUR-J | 280 | Seminar in Journalism Ethics | 3 | C |
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.
| Dept. | Course Number | Title | Credit Hours | Minimum Grade |
| INFO-I | 110 | Basic Tools of Informatics I | 1.5 | C |
| INFO-I | 111 | Basic Tools of Informatics II | 1.5 | C |
| INFO-I | 101 | Introduction to Informatics | 4.0 | C |
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.
| Dept. | Number | Title | Credit Hours | Minimum Grade |
| INFO-I | 202 | Social Informatics* | 3 | C |
| INFO-I | 303 | Organizational Informatics* | 3 | C |
| INFO-I | 330 | Legal & Social Informatics of Security* | 3 | C |
| CSCI-A | 212 | Spreadsheet Applications | 3 | C |
| CSCI-A | 221 | Multimedia Programming | 3 | C |
| CSCI-A | 213 | Database Applications | 3 | C |
| GEOG-G | 333 | Introductory Cartography | 3 | C |
| GEOG-G | 338 | Geographic Information Science | 3 | C |
| GEOG-G | 438 | Advanced Geographic Information Science | 3 | C |
Major Requirements - Core (21 credit hours)
All students in both tracks complete the following core classes
| Dept. | Number | Title | Credit Hours | Minimum Grade |
| JOUR-C | 200 | Introduction to Mass Communications | 3 | C |
| JOUR-J | 170 | Wordsmithing | 2 | C |
| JOUR-J | 200 | Reporting, Writing, & Editing I | 3 | C |
| JOUR-J | 210 | Visual Communication | 3 | C |
| JOUR-J | 280 | Seminar in Journalism Ethics | 3 | C |
| JOUR-J | 300 | Communications Law | 3 | C |
| JOUR-J | 301 | Social Media Strategies | 3 | C |
| JOUR-J | 307 | Media Career PLanning | 1 | C |
Track Requirements - Multimedia Journalism (21 Credit hours)
| Dept. | Number | Title | Credit Hours | Minimum Grade |
| JOUR-J | 303 | Online Journalism | 3 | C |
| JOUR-J | 362 | Journalism Multimedia Storytelling | 3 | C |
| JOUR-J | 344 | Photo Journalism Reporting | 3 | C |
| or | ||||
| JOUR-J | 354 | Photo Journalism Editing | 3 | C |
| or | ||||
| JOUR-J | 384 | Video Journalism | 3 | C |
| Complete 2 semesters of | ||||
| JOUR-J | 327 | Writing for Publication (The Horizon) | 6 | C |
Electives
| Dept. | Course Number | Title | Credit Hours | Minimum Grade |
| Two three-credit electives are required. CHOOSE ANY TWO elective courses listed below. | ||||
| JOUR-J | 320 | Principles of Creative Advertising | 3 | C |
| JOUR-J | 340 | PR Tactics and Techniques | 3 | C |
| CMCL-C | 202 | Media in Global Context | 3 | C |
| TEL-R | 440 | Advertising Strategies | 3 | C |
| Any other Journalism or Advertising elective approved by a faculty advisor | ||||
| A for-credit internship in journalism. PR, or a related field may be counted as a journalism/PR elective. | ||||
Track Requirements - Public Relations Track (27 Credit hours)
| Dept. | Course Number | Title | Credit Hours | Minimum Grade |
| JOUR-J | 321 | Principles of Public Relations | 3 | C |
| JOUR-J | 349 | Public Relations Writing | 3 | C |
| JOUR-J | 429 | Public Relations Campaigns | 3 | C |
| CMCL-I | 324 |
Persuasion
Required for students starting the program fall 2022 and beyond. |
3 | C |
| CMCL-I | 424 |
Communication Research Methods
Required for students starting the program fall 2022 and beyond. |
3 | C |
| COMM-S | 307 |
Crisis Management
Required for students starting the program fall 2022 and beyond. |
3 | C |
| BUS-M | 300 | Introduction to Marketing | 3 | C |
Electives
| Dept. | Course Number | Title | Credit Hours | Minimum Grade |
| Two three-credit electives are required. CHOOSE ANY TWO elective courses listed below. | ||||
| JOUR-J | 320 | Principles of Creative Advertising | 3 | C |
| JOUR-J | 340 | PR Tactics and Techniques | 3 | C |
| CMCL-C | 202 | Media in Global Context | 3 | C |
| TEL-R | 440 | Advertising Strategies | 3 | C |
| Any other Journalism or Advertising elective approved by a faculty advisor | ||||
| A for-credit internship in journalism. PR, or a related field may be counted as a journalism/PR elective. | ||||