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.

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