Four-Year Degree Plan for Major in Journalism
Note that this is a sample four-year plan. There are other course sequences that will allow a student to graduate within four years as long as prerequisite courses are taken in the proper sequence. This sample plan does not guarantee course availability, and adjustments to students’ plans may be necessary if they are unable to take specific courses during specific semesters. Students who are placed into lower level FYW, MAT or other prerequisite courses will need to adjust their four-year plans accordingly. Similarly, students who bring in Advanced Placement, dual enrollment or transfer credit for courses will need to adjust their four-year plans. A minimum of a 2.0 GPA both overall and in the major is required for graduation. In addition to major requirements, all components of the Baccalaureate Experience must be completed in order to successfully graduate.
Degree Requirements
First (Freshman) Year - Fall Semester
| Humanities/Fine Arts or Social Science (Bacc. Exp.) | 4 |
| Social Science (Bacc. Exp.) | 3-4 |
| General elective | 4 |
| ITM 200 | Introduction to Computers | 1 |
| FYW 101 | Writing and Inquiry | 4 |
| GTW 101 | Gateways | 1 |
| or | |
| HON 101 | Pathways to Honors 1 | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17-18 |
First (Freshman) Year - Spring Semester
| Humanities/Fine Arts or Social Science (Bacc. Exp.) | 4 |
| Social Science (Bacc. Exp.) | 3-4 |
| MAT 155 | Finite Mathematics for Liberal Arts | 4 |
| or | |
| MAT 160 | College Algebra | 4 |
| FYW 102 | Writing & Research | 4 |
| GTW 102 | Gateways II | 1 |
| or | |
| HON 102 | Pathways to Honors 2 | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16-17 |
Second (Sophomore) Year - Fall Semester
| JOU 101 | Introduction to Journalism | 4 |
| General elective | 4 |
| Natural Science (Bacc. Exp.) | 3-4 |
| Humanities/Fine Arts or Social Science (Bacc. Exp.) | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15-16 |
Second (Sophomore) Year - Spring Semester
| COM 241/ART 241 | Introduction to Sound, Image and Motion | 4 |
JOU
| Elective for Journalism Major | 4 |
| Natural Science (Bacc. Exp.) | 4 |
| Social Science (Bacc. Exp.) | 3-4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15-18 |
Third (Junior) Year - Fall Semester
| JOU 271/WRI 271/COM 271 | News Reporting and Writing | 4 |
| JOU 242/WRI 242 | Publication Editing and Design | 4 |
COM/WRI
| Elective for Journalism Major | 4 |
COM/WRI
| Elective for Journalism Major | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16-18 |
Third (Junior) Year - Spring Semester
| JOU 371/COM 371/WRI 371 | Feature Writing | 4 |
| JOU 304 | Multimedia Journalism | 4 |
JOU/WRI/COM
| Elective for Journalism Major | 4 |
JOU
| Elective for Journalism Major | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16-18 |
Fourth (Senior) Year - Fall Semester
JOU/WRI/COM
| Elective for Journalism Major | 4 |
JOU/WRI/COM
| Elective for Journalism Major | 4 |
JOU/WRI/COM
| Elective for Journalism Major | 4 |
| General elective | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16-18 |
Fourth (Senior) Year - Spring Semester
| JOU 401 | Major Project in Journalism | 4 |
| JOU 499 | Journalism Colloquium/Portfolio | 2 |
JOU/WRI/COM
| Elective for Journalism Major | 4 |
JOU/WRI/COM
| Elective for Journalism Major | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Total Credit Hours: 129-141
Portfolio
In the final semester of study, graduating journalism majors are required to take the senior colloquium/portfolio course, from which students will submit to the department a portfolio of their best writing from each year of study. A preface should include a discussion of the student’s growth as a writer. Department faculty members evaluate portfolios and select the most distinguished for awards.