JournalismCollege of Journalism and Communications
Journalism courses train professional journalists in newspaper and magazine reporting, writing, editing, layout, graphics and photography. Students should also refer to college course offerings in advertising, public relations, technical communications and telecommunication.
Students not admitted to this college must have a 3.0 overall grade point average to enroll in journalism courses other than MMC 1000, MMC 2100, PUR 3000 and RTV 2100.
Credits: 1.
Overview of journalism in its many forms. A series of professional journalists introduce students to the news and information business. The course also offers preparation for a career in journalism.
Credits: 1.
Prepares media writers for professional work, with a focus on mastering the basics of grammar, punctuation and spelling.
Credits: 3; Prereq: JOU 2005 and JOU 3109C with minimum grades of C; Coreq: JOU 3346L.
Instruction and practice reporting and writing basic news stories. Emphasis on style, clarity, accuracy and responsibility in handling news. (WR)
Credits: 3. Prereq: ENC 1102 and one of the following: JOU 1001 or JOU 1100 or MMC 2604 or PUR 3000, with minimum grade of C.
Introduces students to news and public relations writing and the use of multimedia tools in gathering and disseminating information. Students learn how to use multimedia tools for journalism work, interviewing techniques, AP style and the elements that make a story newsworthy. The course consists of two hours of lecture and a three-hour lab each week.
Credits: 3. Prereq: JOU 3109C with minimum grade of C and JM designation.
Instruction and practice in researching and solving complex news problems. Emphasis on enterprise, documentation and use of multiple sources, using standard reference works and public records.
Credits: 3. Prereq: JOU 3101 and JOU 3110 with minimum grades of C.
Experience in reporting on a number of beats of significant public interest. Emphasizes responsible coverage of law enforcement, courts, schools, city and county government, health and the environment.
Credits: 3. Prereq: JOU 1100 with minimum grade of C and JM designation.
Learn how words and visuals work together to tell a story. Develop the skills to interpret and evaluate photographs, maps, charts, interactive graphics, websites and motion graphics. Learn and apply basic design principles. Gain proficiency in Photoshop, InDesign and other software.
Credits: 1. Prereq: JOU 3109C with minimum grade of C; Coreq: JOU 3101.
Learn to use digital tools in reporting for Internet news sites and other online media. Focus is using the tools to gather audio and visual material that helps to tell a journalistic story.
Credits: 3; Prereq: JOU 3109C and JOU 3220C with minimum grades of C.
Design of various forms of print media. Emphasis on basic principles of design. Use of typography and photographs together.
Credits: 3; Prereq: JOU 3109C and JOU 3220C with minimum grades of C.
Discover the principles and practice of design for various types of magazines. Learn how to use typography, photographs, illustrations and layouts to match graphic style to content for specific target audiences.
Credits: 3; Prereq: junior standing in college.
Study and practice of photography as a major component of print journalism. Emphasis on basic color picture-taking; electronic scanning; selection and use of photographs; ethical, historical, legal and stylistic aspects. Cameras and some supplies provided.
Credits: 3.
Origin, development and potentiality of print and broadcast media. Analyzes the evolution of standards, policies, methods and controls.
Credits: 3; Prereq: JOU 3110 and JOU 3184 with minimum grades of C, or instructor permission.
Produce quality news and feature stories for publication. Gain experience enhancing your news gathering and writing skills. Produce clips for your portfolio and as possible entries in the Hearst Journalism Awards Program.
Credits: 3. Prereq: MMC 2100.
Introduction to the methods or research commonly used by newspapers and magazines and the typical types of studies (readership/circulation, typography/ makeup, readability and accuracy). Material is approached from a newsroom perspective, including use of statistical techniques as reporting tools.
Credits: 3. Prereq: JOU 3110 and JOU 3184 with minimum grades of C and instructor permission.
Learn to develop and execute an investigative reporting project employing various story platforms. Students investigate a data-driven topic of public interest over the course of the semester; melding both primary research and in-depth interviewing.
Credits: 3; Prereq: JOU 3101 with minimum grade of C and JOU 3110.
Instruction and practice in basic public affairs reporting, with emphasis on responsible coverage of courts, schools and city and county government.
Credits: 3; Prereq: JOU 3101.
Fundamental instruction and practice in essentials of news editing. Included are copy-reading, headline writing, makeup, technology and typography.
Credits: 3; Prereq: JOU 4201 with minimum grade of C and instructor permission.
Career newspaper editing; emphasis on creativity in editing, layout and design, color, decision making, news selection and judgment, technology and production, and publication trends.
Credits: 3; Prereq: JOU 3101.
Study and practice in literary journalism. Students may select a specialty and may work in writing or in writing and photography together.
JOU 4302 Public Opinion and Editorial Analysis
Credits: 3; Prereq: senior standing.
Public opinion as a force in government and daily life; introduction to persuasive writing as a practical means of influencing public opinion.
Credits: 3; Prereq: JOU 3101.
Preparation of features and articles for publication in newspapers and magazines coordinated with study of magazine editing problems. Supervised marketing of pieces produced in the course.
Credits: 3; Prereq: JOU 4308 with minimum grade of B and instructor permission.
An advanced writing course in which students create article ideas, research and write magazine-length nonfiction articles and submit them for publication.
Credits: 3; Prereq: JOU 3101.
Instruction and practice in reporting sports with special emphasis on game coverage and interviewing techniques. Includes features, sidebars, advances and press conference coverage. Opportunities for publication of stories.
JOU 4341 Reporting and Writing for Online Media
Credits: 3; Prereq: MMC 3260, and JOU 3101 or RTV 3303.
Explore ways to adapt reporting practices to online media. Develop original journalistic stories in chunks and link them in usable structures that readers can navigate according to their own choices. Students focus on writing and on editing their own work as a necessary part of the process of writing. Emphasis on information design, not graphic design. Students produce both individual and group projects.
Credits: 3; Prereq: JOU 3101 and JOU 3411 with minimum grades of C and instructor permission.
Advanced design and production of various forms of print media. Emphasis on advanced principles, picture editing, typography and use of other design elements.
Credits: 3; Prereq: JOU 3411, JOU 4201 and JOU 4308 with minimum grades of C and instructor permission.
A course designed to give students experience in editing and publishing a magazine.
Credits: 3; Prereq: JOU 4201 with minimum grade of C and instructor permission.
Gain media literacy and become an educated consumer, critical thinker and researcher of/about the media. Learn about research methods, media-business models and the connections between the media and economics.
JOU 4510 Magazine Management and Publication
Credits: 3; Prereq: JOU 4201, JOU 3411 and JOU 4308.
To provide knowledge and training in magazine writing, editing, design, production and administration for magazine sequence majors. Stresses organization, concept, audience, budget, printing, advertising, circulation and promotion of magazines.
JOU 4603 Specialized Journalistic Photography
Credits: 3; Prereq: JOU 3601 with minimum grade of C or instructor permission.
Journalistic still photography emphasizing technical proficiency. Specialized techniques and equipment stressed. Emphasis on color portraiture, studio products, lighting, flash and related skills. Assignments prepared using digital scanning. Students furnish some 35mm equipment and most supplies.
JOU 4604 Advanced Photographic Journalism 1
Credits: 3; Prereq: ARH 2002, JOU 3601 and a 3JM designation.
Primary concern is portfolio-quality single story-telling pictures and multiple picture packages, including picture stories. Introduces computer page layout. Deadline pressure emphasized; overview of picture editor duties; trends; social implications; portfolio preparation. Assignments involve computer programs. Students furnish supplies, most 35mm camera equipment and flash.
JOU 4605 Advanced Photographic Journalism 2
Credits: 3; Prereq: JOU 4604 with minimum grade of C and instructor permission.
Continuation of JOU 4604 with emphasis on the picture story, layouts and the study of historical figures in photojournalism. Pays particular attention to magazines, color and new developments in the profession. Duties of the picture editor covered in depth. Prior knowledge of computer scanning and layout programs expected. Portfolio preparation concluded. Terminal course in the sequence. Students furnish supplies and most equipment.
JOU 4700 Problems and Ethics of Journalism in Society
Credits: 3; Prereq: 4JM designation.
Reading, analysis and planning in current and projected issues in journalism, both in their professional and societal aspects.
JOU 4905 Individual Problems in Journalism
Credits: 1 to 3; Prereq: at least 10 credits of journalism in the upper division and department permission.
Students and the instructor concerned will choose a problem or project which will give the student actual experience in his or her major field.
Credits: 1 to 3; Prereq: instructor permission.
Variable content providing opportunity for study in academic areas of journalism, such as the literature of journalism and other fields within the province of the college.
Credits: 1 to 3; Prereq: minimum 3.0 GPA and completion of specialized courses in journalism appropriate to the internship. Must have department approval to receive credit.
Student and instructor will select an appropriate work area related to the field of journalism for on-the-job training. Student will work a minimum of 100 hours on the job for every credit to be received. Progress reports and summary required. (S-U)
JOU 4943 Photographic Journalism Practicum
Credits: 1; Prereq: JOU 3601 and photojournalism coordinator permission.
Immersion in daily newspaper photo operations with particular attention to interacting with staff photographers through week-long visits to newspapers. Papers visited require permission of photojournalism coordinator. Student is responsible for personal expenses and must furnish appropriate equipment.
Credits: 3; Prereq: MMC 3260 with minimum grade of C; one or more of JOU 3601, JOU 4341 or MMC 4341L with minimum grade(s) of C, and instructor permission.
A senior-level course that brings together the work of the preceding news courses into actual experience and newsroom training in the preparation and handling of news copy, pictures and syndicated materials. Special section offered for electronic publishing.
MMC 1000 Introduction to Mass Communication
Credits: 3.
Introduction to the various mass communication media, with special emphasis on their roles and responsibilities to society and the public.
MMC 1009 Introduction to Media and Communications
Credits: 1.
Introduces students to the tools, resources and academic and extra-curricular activities offered by the College of Journalism and Communications. Includes lessons on the history and organization of the college and academic and career preparation.
MMC 1702 Rock 'n Roll and American Society
Credits: 3; can be repeated once with a change in content: Rock 'n Roll and American Society Part 1 and Rock 'n Roll American Society Part 2.
Course studies the role of popular music in American culture. It is not a music course but a look at the effects of recorded sound on popular culture. Part 1 emphasizes rock 'n roll and its impact from 1954-1970. Part 2 covers 1970 to the present.
MMC 2121 Writing Fundamentals for Communicators
Credits: 3.
One-third of the course is to ensure students have sufficient skill in grammar and punctuation to write with clarity. In two-thirds of the course, students will put principles of good writing into practice with short writing assignments that have real-world applications.
MMC 2265 Technology, Change and Communications
Credits: 3.
Exploration of how technologies of communication affect societies and interact with changing institutions such as art, economy, education, entertainment, government and religion. Comparison of the adoption and uses of newer digital technologies and earlier technologies, including alphabets, paper, the printing press, photography, the telegraph, radio, TV and the Internet.
Credits: 3.
Examines roles and effects of contemporary mass media on modern societies. Considers rights, responsibilities and ethics of media, explores relationships between governments, audiences and media companies and reviews economic, political and social determinants of media content.
Credits: 3.
Designed to provide a broader understanding of media's impact on today's society. Examine media's cultural context and review the potential effects, uses and constructs of media messages. A variety of exercises aid in developing skills for critical analysis and evaluation of media.
MMC 3030 Personal Branding for Communicators
Credits: 1; Prereq: 3JM designation.
A professional development course that teaches students how to communicate and connect as professionals. The emphasis is on mastery of writing, speaking, presentation and employment-seeking skills, working with media, handling media interviews and using social media to establish a professional identity.
MMC 3203 Ethics and Problems in Mass Communications
Credits: 3; Prereq: 2JM designation and ADV 3008, JOU 1001, PUR 3000 or RTV 3007 with minimum grade of C.
A cross-disciplinary introduction to ethics-relevant situations faced by media professionals. Topics include professional standards of conduct, audience representation and engagement and issues associated with the production, presentation and delivery of messages that reflect the best interests of audiences, clients and stakeholders.
Credits: 1; Prereq: sophomore standing.
Introduces students to media entrepreneurship with a focus on how digital technologies are transforming industries. Students will work in teams to develop new digital media businesses. Students will develop and pitch ideas, explore market analysis, develop business and financial plans and study social media strategies.
Credits: 3; Prereq: 3JM designation or instructor permission.
History, development and current state of online communications from teletext to the World Wide Web. Focuses on how online services relate to mass media in the past, present and future. Analyzes content methods, audiences and income sources. Students create online projects related to mass communication.
MMC 3420 Consumer and Audience Analytics
Credits: 3; Prereq: 3JM designation.
Designed to provide students with practical analytical skill-sets, benefiting those who plan careers in analytics/research, social media, media business, advertising/marketing and public relations.
Credits: 3.
Provides an understanding of the role of the media in the political system. Course topics include televised debates, political advertising, political journalism, internet and alternative media.
Credits: 3; Prereq: sophomore standing.
The course covers the relationships between sports, athletes, media and audience. Content includes the evolution of sports media from the early sportswriters to the day when athletes control their own messages via Twitter. Course covers the various mediums (newspapers, magazines, books, radio, TV, online, forums, blogs and social media) in terms of their history, function and impact.
Credits: 3; Prereq: 4JM designation.
Understanding the law, which guarantees and protects the privileges and defines the responsibilities of the mass media. Includes problems of constitutional law, libel, privacy and governmental regulations.
Credits: 3.
Theoretical bases of world mass media systems, international channels of communications, analysis of press and broadcasting systems by regional and national categories.
Credits: 3; Prereq: JOU 3601 and MMC 3260.
Advanced skills in appropriate technologies for producing online journalism. Sophisticated design of navigation interfaces for online information; screen/page design and site structure planning; Web video, audio, photos and animation; Web forms and databases. Emphasis on professional techniques and standards. Several software packages used; students must be able to take initiative in learning. Students complete a final portfolio project.
Credits: 2; Prereq: 3JM designation.
Course not open to photojournalism majors. Introduction to still photography; selection and use of photographs in the print media; legal, historical, stylistic, ethical and technical aspects. Picture-taking minimal compared to JOU 3601. Shared cameras provided.