Journalism
A major or minor in Journalism is designed to help students know how to use public print and/or broadcast communication media.
The curricular structure of the Journalism program is listed below for students entering the program. The major consists of two tracks: Print and Broadcasting. Each track has separate requirements and students must choose one track. Students must complete an applied capstone course.
Major Requirements
Major: Journalism
Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 122
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Degree Requirements
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree – The completion of a minor program of study, a second major, or a second degree is required.
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree – Second year language proficiency required.
General Education Requirements
| First Year Experience (F): | ||
| UNIV 189 | Skills For Academic Success (Students transferring in 24 or more credits do not need to take UNIV 189.) | 1 |
| Communication (C): | ||
| ENGL 110 | College Composition I | 3 |
| ENGL 120 | College Composition II | 3 |
| One course Upper Level Writing. Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Business and Professional Writing | ||
| Writing in the Technical Professions | ||
| Creative Writing II | ||
| Writing in the Sciences | ||
| Writing in the Health Professions | ||
| Visual Culture and Language | ||
| Writing in the Humanities and Social Sciences | ||
| Researching and Writing Grants and Proposal | ||
| COMM 110 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning (R): Select from current general education list | 3 | |
| Science & Technology (S): | ||
| A one-credit lab must be taken as a co-requisite with a general education science/technology course unless the course includes an embedded lab experience equivalent to a one-credit course. Select from current general education list. | 10 | |
| Humanities & Fine Arts (A): Select from current general education list | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (B): | 6 | |
Courses needed to fulfill this category will be completed as part of the pre-communication requirements. | ||
| Wellness (W): Select from current general education list | 2 | |
| Cultural Diversity (D): | ||
| COMM 216 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| Global Perspecitves (G): Select from current general education list | ||
| Total Credits | 40 | |
Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences College Requirements
An additional 9 credits are required by the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences for all Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degree programs of study, except the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, the Bachelor of Music degree, Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree, and the Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree:
| AH&SS College Requirements | ||
Courses used to satisfy any general education requirement cannot be used to also count toward the AH&SS College Requirements. A minimum of three credits is required in each of the 3 following areas for a total of 9 credits. Choose only those courses with the prefixes listed for each area. A course with the WGS prefix can only be used in one area. | ||
| Area One: Humanities | 3 | |
ARB, ENGL, FREN, GERM, HIST, HUM, PHIL, RELS, SPAN, or WGS | ||
| Area Two: Social Sciences | 3 | |
ANTH, CJ, COMM, EMGT, POLS, SOC, or WGS | ||
| Area Three: Fine Arts | 3 | |
ARCH, ART, ENVD, LA, MUSC, or THEA | ||
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Major requirements
| General Education Requirements | 40 | |
| AHSS College Requirements | 9 | |
| Pre-Communication Requirements | ||
| Students must complete 21 credits of selected courses with a grade of 'B' or above to become a communication major. These courses may be repeated only once for this major. | ||
| ENGL 120 | College Composition II | 3 |
| COMM 110 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| or COMM 111 | Honors Public Speaking | |
| COMM 112 | Understanding Media and Social Change | 3 |
| COMM 114 | Human Communication | 3 |
| COMM 212 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMM 216 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Introduction to Political Science | ||
| Introduction to Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Criminal Justice | ||
| Professional Journalism Major | ||
| Journalism Core: | ||
| COMM 200 | Introduction to Media Writing * | 3 |
| COMM 301 | Rhetorical Traditions | 3 |
| or COMM 321 | Introduction to Communication Theory | |
| COMM 310 | Advanced Media Writing | 3 |
| COMM 320 | Communication Analysis * | 3 |
| COMM 431 | Communication Ethics | 3 |
| COMM 434 | Communication Law | 3 |
| COMM 496 | Field Experience | 3 |
| Choose one of the following tracks: | 9 | |
| Print Track: | ||
| Basic Photography for the Mass Media | ||
| Editorial Processes | ||
| Specialty Writing (Capstone) | ||
| Broadcasting Track: | ||
| Principles of Broadcast Production | ||
| Digital Media and Society | ||
| Advanced Broadcast Production (Capstone) | ||
| Additional Communication Electives: 300-400 level electives | 6 | |
| Degree Requirements: Potential of 28 credits to reach 122 | 28 | |
| Total Credits | 122 | |
| * | A grade of ‘B’ or better is required in COMM 200 Introduction to Media Writing & COMM 320 Communication Analysis. |
Minor Requirements
Journalism Minor
Minor Requirements
Required Credits: 21
| Required Courses | ||
| COMM 112 | Understanding Media and Social Change | 3 |
| COMM 114 | Human Communication | 3 |
| COMM 212 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMM 216 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| Professional Specialization: Select 3 of the following: | 9 | |
| Principles of Internet Web-Based Design | ||
| Editorial Processes (Pre-req. COMM 200) | ||
| Principles of Broadcast Production | ||
| Basic Photography for the Mass Media | ||
| History of Journalism | ||
| Critical Approaches to Popular Culture | ||
| Total Credits | 21 | |
Minor Requirements and Notes
- A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.
