Journalism
The Department of Journalism consistently ranks among the best journalism programs in the country. It is housed in a college professionally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. The department's mission is to teach the art and craft of journalism and to foster an appreciation for accuracy, fairness, truth and diversity.
Overview
The courses enable students to develop their storytelling talent - in words or pictures - and prepare them for careers as writers, photographers, editors or designers. The flexible curriculum allows students to work in magazines, newspapers and online publications. Excellent writing skills are essential. Graduates of the program work with major organizations in the field and have won prolific honors, including the Pulitzer Prize.
In this curriculum, core courses offer students basic preparation and professional electives allow students to develop strengths in one or more areas.
Coursework for the Major
Required Core Coursework
- JOU 3101 Reporting * (3)
- JOU 3109C Multimedia Writing * (3)
- JOU 3110 Applied Fact Finding * (3)
- JOU 4201 Editing * (3)
- MMC 1009 Introduction to Media and Communications * (1)
- MMC 2604 Mass Media and You * (3)
- MMC 2121 Writing Fundamentals for Communicators * (3)
- MMC 3030 Personal Branding for Communicators * (1)
- MMC 3203 Ethics and Problems in Mass Communications * (3)
- MMC 4200 Law of Mass Communication (3)
- VIC 3001 Sight, Sound and Motion * (4)
- Capstone Course * (3)
- Professional electives: 19 credits
At the beginning of the junior year, journalism majors meet with their assigned faculty adviser to plot the last two years of courses. Students select a capstone course from one of these areas: editing, design, magazines, online media, photojournalism, journalism studies and reporting. The capstone course is taken in the last semester. With the faculty adviser, the student maps a two-year program leading toward the capstone course.
Capstone Courses, by Emphasis Area
- Editing: JOU 4202 Advanced Editing and Design
- Design: JOU 4412 Advanced Design
- Magazines: JOU 4445C Applied Magazine Publishing or
JOU 4311 Advanced Magazine Writing
- Online Media: JOU 4946 Applied Online Journalism
- Photojournalism: JOU 4605 Advanced Photojournalism 2
- Reporting: JOU 4111 Advanced Reporting or
JOU 4123 Investigative Reporting
- Journalism Studies: JOU 4502 Journalism Studies
One of the requirements of the capstone course will be submission of a professional portfolio. Instructor permission is a prerequisite for enrollment in any capstone course.
Selecting an area of emphasis does not preclude students from taking courses in other areas. Students are able to create personalized degree plans in collaboration with a faculty adviser.
Minimum grades of C are required in all journalism courses.
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Critical Tracking
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.
Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students
Semester 1
- 2.0 GPA on all work at all institutions
Semester 2
- Complete 2 of 6 critical-tracking courses: AMH 2010, AMH 2020, an approved English elective (ENC 1102 recommended), JOU 3109C, POS 2041 and one of the following: CPO 2001 or INR 2001 or POS 2112 (preferred)
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.5 GPA on all work at all institutions
Semester 3
- Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.5 GPA on all work at all institutions
Semester 4
- Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.5 GPA on all work at all institutions
Recommended Semester Plan
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.
| Semester 1 |
Credits |
|---|
| AMH 2010 United States to 1877 (GE-H) |
3 |
CPO 2001 Comparative Politics or
INR 2001 Introduction to International Relations or
POS 2112 American State and Local Government (preferred) (GE-S) |
3 |
| ENC 1101 Expository and Argumentative Writing (GE-C) * |
3 |
| MMC 1009 Introduction to Media and Communications * |
1 |
| Mathematics (GE-M) * |
3 |
| Physical or Biological Science (GE-P or B) * |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 2 |
Credits |
|---|
| AMH 2020 United States Since 1877 (GE-H) |
3 |
| ENC 1102 Argument and Persuasion * |
3 |
| HUM 2305 What is the Good Life (GE-H) |
3 |
| MMC 2604 Mass Media and You * |
3 |
| Foreign language * or quantitative option |
3 |
| Mathematics (GE-M) * |
3 |
| Total |
18 |
| Semester 3 |
Credits |
|---|
| JOU 3109C Multimedia Writing * |
3 |
| MMC 2121 Writing Fundamentals for Communicators * |
3 |
| POS 2041 American Federal Government (GE-S) |
3 |
| Foreign language * or quantitative option |
3 |
| Physical or Biological Science (GE-P or B) * |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 4 |
Credits |
|---|
ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics or
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (both GE-S) |
4 |
| JOU 3101 Reporting * |
3 |
| JOU 3110 Applied Fact Finding * |
3 |
SPC 2608 Introduction to Public Speaking or
ORI 2000 Oral Performance of Literature 1 * |
3 |
| English elective * |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 5 |
Credits |
|---|
| JOU 4201 Editing * |
3 |
| MMC 3030 Personal Branding * |
1 |
| VIC 3001 Sight, Sound and Motion * |
4 |
| Outside concentration |
3 |
| Professional electives * |
5 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 6 |
Credits |
|---|
| MMC 3203 Ethics and Problems in Mass Communications |
3 |
| Outside concentration |
3 |
| Professional electives * |
9
|
| Total |
15 |
For semesters 7-8, students must complete two professional courses.
| Semester 7 |
Credits |
|---|
| Electives outside college |
6 |
| Outside concentration |
3 |
| Professional electives * |
5 |
| Total |
14 |
| Semester 8 |
Credits |
|---|
| JOU capstone course * |
3 |
| MMC 4200 Law of Mass Communication |
3 |
| Electives outside college |
5 |
| Outside concentration |
3 |
| Total |
14 |
Professional Electives: 19 credits
| JOU 3184 Beat Reporting |
3 |
| JOU 3411 Design |
3 |
| JOU 3413 Magazine Design |
3 |
| JOU 3601 Photojournalism |
3 |
| JOU 4004 History of Journalism |
3 |
| JOU 4121 Journalism Research |
3 |
| JOU 4301 Literary Journalism |
3 |
| JOU 4302 Public Opinion and Editorial Analysis |
3 |
| JOU 4308 Magazine and Feature Writing |
3 |
| JOU 4313C Sports Reporting |
3 |
| JOU 4341 Reporting and Writing for Online Media |
3 |
| JOU 4510 Magazine Management |
3 |
| JOU 4603 Specialized Journalistic Photography |
3 |
| JOU 4604 Advanced Photojournalism 1 |
3 |
| JOU 4905 Independent Study |
1-3 |
| JOU 4930 Special Study in Journalism |
1-3 |
| JOU 4943 Photojournalism Practicum |
1 |
| JOU 4940 Internship |
1-3 |
| MMC 3260 Communications on the Internet |
3 |
| MMC 3703 Sports Media and Society |
3 |
| MMC 3614 Media and Politics |
3 |
| MMC 4302 World Communication Systems |
3 |
| MMC 4341L Advanced Online Media Production |
3 |
| PGY 3610 Survey of Photojournalism |
2 |
| RTV 3405 Television and American Society |
3 |
| RTV 3411 Race, Gender, Class and the Media |
3 |
Up to six credits of professional internship credit may count toward graduation.
* Minimum grade of C required in these courses.
Equipment Requirement
All students who major in journalism are required to own a Mac laptop computer with the appropriate software, a digital audio recorder and a digital camera.
Equipment requirement details.
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