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
General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree
- A dynamic list of approved general education courses offered by term is available on the NDSU General Education Requirements website.
- General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review the major, minor, and program emphases requirements for minimum grade restrictions, if applicable.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Experience (F) | 1 | |
| Skills For Academic Success (Also offered with the following prefixes: ABEN, AGRI, BUSN, HD&E, ME, NURS, PHRM) | ||
| Communication (C) | 12 | |
| College Composition I | ||
| College Composition II | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
Upper Division Writing † | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning (R) † | 3 | |
| Science and Technology (S) † | 10 | |
| Humanities and Fine Arts (A) † | 6 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (B) † | 6 | |
| Wellness (W) † | 2 | |
| Cultural Diversity (D) *† | ||
| Global Perspectives (G) *† | ||
| Total Credits | 40 | |
| * | May be satisfied by completing courses in another General Education category. |
| † | May be satisfied with courses required in the major. Review major requirements to determine if a specific upper division writing course is required. |
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 at college level required.
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:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| 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 | |
Major requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 40 | |
| AHSS College Requirements | 9 | |
| Pre-Communication Requirements | ||
| Students must complete 21 credits of selected courses with a grade of 'A' or 'B' 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 |
| 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 Criminal Justice | ||
| Introduction to Political Science | ||
| Introduction to Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Professional Major - 36 credits | ||
| 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 and Law | 3 |
| COMM 496 | Field Experience | 3 |
| Choose one of the following tracks: | 9 | |
| Print Track: | ||
| COMM 313 | Editorial Processes | 3 |
| COMM 330 | Photography for the Media | 3 |
| COMM 465 | Convergence Media | 3 |
| Broadcasting Track: | ||
| COMM 245 | Principles of Broadcast Production | 3 |
| COMM 442 | Digital Media and Society | 3 |
| COMM 445 | Advanced Broadcast Production (Capstone) | 3 |
| Major Electives: | 9 | |
| Principles of Broadcast Production | ||
| Introduction to Web Design | ||
| Editorial Processes | ||
| Photography for the Media | ||
| Television On-Air Performance | ||
| Television Studio Production | ||
| Principles of Design For Print | ||
| History of Journalism | ||
| Advanced Broadcast Production | ||
| Issues in Communication | ||
| Convergence Media | ||
| 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 and COMM 320: Communication Analysis. |
NOTE: No more than 6 credits from this communication major may be applied to any minor in the Department of Communication.
Minor Requirements
Journalism Minor
Minor Requirements
Required Credits: 21
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| COMM 112 | Understanding Media and Social Change | 3 |
| COMM 200 | Introduction to Media Writing | 3 |
| COMM 245 | Principles of Broadcast Production | 3 |
| or COMM 310 | Advanced Media Writing | |
| Professional Specialization | 12 | |
| Principles of Broadcast Production | ||
| Introduction to Web Design | ||
| Advanced Media Writing | ||
| Editorial Processes (Pre-req. COMM 200) | ||
| Photography for the Media | ||
| Television On-Air Performance | ||
| Television Studio Production | ||
| Principles of Design For Print | ||
| History of Journalism | ||
| Advanced Broadcast Production | ||
| Convergence Media | ||
| Total Credits | 21 | |
Minor Requirements and Notes
- Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.75 in courses applied to the minor.
- No more than 6 credits from this communication minor may be applied to any major in the Department of Communication.
- A minimum of 9 credits must be taken at NDSU.
