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The Minor in Journalism

The purpose of the Minor in Journalism is to offer students the opportunity to build a knowledge and skills base in the professional fields of news and public relations. Students selecting this minor can enhance their employment desirability by learning an array of media writing and conceptual skills. Students also can expect to achieve a detailed understanding of the role of journalism in society, thus enhancing a general liberal arts education.

Course Requirements for the Minor: 21 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this minor.

Select one of the following patterns.

Public Relations Pattern: 21 units

Pattern Core: 12 units

4 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
JOUR 244 Introduction to Public Relations   3.0 FS  
Prerequisites: Sophomore standing; concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of JOUR 260 for Journalism majors.
 This course is also offered as POLS 244.
A survey of public relations: problems and issues, organization and operations, skills and techniques, careers and opportunities. 3 hours lecture. (001995)
JOUR 255 Media Literacy and Civic Engagement   3.0 FS  GE
The mass media are changing more rapidly now than at any time in the past century, and this course gives a context to those changes and provides an overview of what citizens need to know for understanding the role of the mass media in their public lives. Students explore the structure of media organizations; the professional and ethical values of journalists; the needs, desires, and influences of culture on media consumers; and the impact of changing technologies - both visual and written - on public relations and traditional news gathering. This includes critical analysis of the relationship of journalism and society and their effect on democracy, as well as the psychological, political, economic, and cultural values of citizens. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. (020555)

OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
JOUR 255I Media Literacy and Civic Engagement - Writing Intensive   3.0 FS  GE  WI
The mass media are changing more rapidly now than at any time in the past century, and this course gives a context to those changes and provides an overview of what citizens need to know for understanding the role of the mass media in their public lives. Students explore the structure of media organizations; the professional and ethical values of journalists; the needs, desires, and influences of culture on media consumers; and the impact of changing technologies - both visual and written - on public relations and traditional news gathering. This includes critical analysis of the relationship of journalism and society and their effect on democracy, as well as the psychological, political, economic, and cultural values of citizens. 3 hours lecture.This is an approved Writing Intensive course. This is an approved General Education course. (021263)
JOUR 260 Writing for Mass Media   3.0 FS  
Prerequisites: ENGL 130I.
Techniques of information gathering and writing for various audiences in the mass media. Required course for the Options in News-Editorial and Public Relations. Students must earn a grade of C or higher to advance to subsequent writing courses in the Department of Journalism. Students who do not receive at least a C may repeat the course. 2 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. (004838)
JOUR 341 Writing For Public Relations   3.0 FS  GW
Prerequisites: ENGL 130I or JOUR 130I (or equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, JOUR 244, JOUR 260.
Principles and practices of writing styles for public relations. Emphasis will be on writing tailored to an organization's communication needs. Required for majors. Journalism majors in the public relations option who earn below a C- in JOUR 341 are required to repeat the course and are expected to earn a C- or higher to receive writing proficiency credit. 2 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. (004844)

Electives: 9 units

3 courses selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
JOUR 210 Popular Culture, Mass Media, and American Values   3.0 FS  GE  USD
Prerequisites: ENGL 130I or JOUR 130I.
Popular mediated culture has evolved with communication during the past century to establish institutions that help define our shared identity. This course is about the resulting culture that appears in mass media and how it reflects, creates, or diminishes values central to the United States by examining the resulting forms, messages, and impacts within society and societal institutions. 3 hours discussion. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved US Diversity course. (021224)
JOUR 211 Women, Men, and the Media   3.0 FS  GE
This course is also offered as WMST 211.
The purpose of this course is to educate students to be informed consumers of media, to examine actual portrayals of women in the various media, and to explore how the media industry treats women. These objectives will result in a raised awareness of how both sexes can participate equally in the world around them. 3 hours discussion. This is an approved General Education course. (021252)
JOUR 313 International Communication   3.0 FS  
How the press operates in other societies, both free and authoritarian: the role of journalism in shaping foreign policy in America and abroad; the role of the press in developing countries; the part journalism plays in international and world organizations; the history of significant foreign press systems; the American press in an international context. Open to non-majors. 3 hours lecture. (002034)
JOUR 322 History of American Journalism   3.0 FA  
Prerequisites: JOUR 260.
Study of the American media, from the Colonial period to the present time. Emphasis is placed upon changing trends and the outstanding people who shaped the development of modern media, noting the influence of the past upon the present. 3 hours lecture. (004851)

News-Editorial Pattern: 21 units

Pattern Core: 12 units

3 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
JOUR 255 Media Literacy and Civic Engagement   3.0 FS  GE
The mass media are changing more rapidly now than at any time in the past century, and this course gives a context to those changes and provides an overview of what citizens need to know for understanding the role of the mass media in their public lives. Students explore the structure of media organizations; the professional and ethical values of journalists; the needs, desires, and influences of culture on media consumers; and the impact of changing technologies - both visual and written - on public relations and traditional news gathering. This includes critical analysis of the relationship of journalism and society and their effect on democracy, as well as the psychological, political, economic, and cultural values of citizens. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. (020555)

OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
JOUR 255I Media Literacy and Civic Engagement - Writing Intensive   3.0 FS  GE  WI
The mass media are changing more rapidly now than at any time in the past century, and this course gives a context to those changes and provides an overview of what citizens need to know for understanding the role of the mass media in their public lives. Students explore the structure of media organizations; the professional and ethical values of journalists; the needs, desires, and influences of culture on media consumers; and the impact of changing technologies - both visual and written - on public relations and traditional news gathering. This includes critical analysis of the relationship of journalism and society and their effect on democracy, as well as the psychological, political, economic, and cultural values of citizens. 3 hours lecture.This is an approved Writing Intensive course. This is an approved General Education course. (021263)
JOUR 260 Writing for Mass Media   3.0 FS  
Prerequisites: ENGL 130I.
Techniques of information gathering and writing for various audiences in the mass media. Required course for the Options in News-Editorial and Public Relations. Students must earn a grade of C or higher to advance to subsequent writing courses in the Department of Journalism. Students who do not receive at least a C may repeat the course. 2 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. (004838)
JOUR 320 Mass Communication Law   3.0 SP  
Prerequisites: JOUR 101, JOUR 260.
The law as it applies to the press, pictures, and broadcasting. Philosophical basis and historical evolution of legal precedent governing the media. Practical limitations of libel, slander, privacy, copyright, information access, free press-fair trial, contempt and reporter's rights, advertising and media concentration as they affect freedom of the press. Required for news-editorial option; elective for public relations option. 3 hours lecture. (002032)

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
JOUR 321 Public Affairs Reporting   3.0 FS  GW
Prerequisites: ENGL 130I or JOUR 130I (or equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, HIST 130, JOUR 260, POLS 155.
Designed for students planning reporting or editing careers. Development of greater skills in story recognition and judgment, information gathering, and finished written presentation, including specialized reporting and ethics. Stress is placed on leads, the complex story, and polished writing. Journalism majors in the news-editorial option who earn below a C- in JOUR 321 are required to repeat the course and are expected to earn a C- or higher to receive writing proficiency credit. 2 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. (002000)
JOUR 327 Media Editing, Proofreading, and Entry-level Layout   3.0 FS  
Prerequisites: JOUR 260.
Evaluating and editing newspaper copy; perfecting copyreading skills; typography, headline writing, page makeup and layout, and newspaper design. 2 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. (002007)

Electives: 9 units

3 courses selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
JOUR 210 Popular Culture, Mass Media, and American Values   3.0 FS  GE  USD
Prerequisites: ENGL 130I or JOUR 130I.
Popular mediated culture has evolved with communication during the past century to establish institutions that help define our shared identity. This course is about the resulting culture that appears in mass media and how it reflects, creates, or diminishes values central to the United States by examining the resulting forms, messages, and impacts within society and societal institutions. 3 hours discussion. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved US Diversity course. (021224)
JOUR 211 Women, Men, and the Media   3.0 FS  GE
This course is also offered as WMST 211.
The purpose of this course is to educate students to be informed consumers of media, to examine actual portrayals of women in the various media, and to explore how the media industry treats women. These objectives will result in a raised awareness of how both sexes can participate equally in the world around them. 3 hours discussion. This is an approved General Education course. (021252)
JOUR 313 International Communication   3.0 FS  
How the press operates in other societies, both free and authoritarian: the role of journalism in shaping foreign policy in America and abroad; the role of the press in developing countries; the part journalism plays in international and world organizations; the history of significant foreign press systems; the American press in an international context. Open to non-majors. 3 hours lecture. (002034)
JOUR 322 History of American Journalism   3.0 FA  
Prerequisites: JOUR 260.
Study of the American media, from the Colonial period to the present time. Emphasis is placed upon changing trends and the outstanding people who shaped the development of modern media, noting the influence of the past upon the present. 3 hours lecture. (004851)

Substitutions in course electives or prerequisites for either minor pattern may be allowed with the permission of the departmental chair.

Catalog Cycle:15