Please see the section on Course Description Symbols and Terms in the University Catalog for an explanation of course description terminology and symbols, the course numbering system, and course credit units. All courses are lecture and discussion and employ letter grading unless otherwise stated. Some prerequisites may be waived with faculty permission. Many syllabi are available on the Chico Web.

Journalism & Public Relations Course Offerings

Journalism and Public Relations Course Offerings

SUBJ NUM	Title	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
JOUR 101	Introduction to Communication	3.0	FS
This course is also offered as MADT 101. This course teaches the concepts, history, and applications of communication. The implications and ethical issues of media and the communication process are covered. 3 hours lecture. (001636)
JOUR 130W	Professional Writing for Public Audiences (W)	3.0	FS	GE W
Prerequisite: Open to GE Written Communication Ready students. An intensive writing course designed to introduce students to professional expository writing by using media content as models and a platform. Emphasis is on clarity, conciseness, and consistency in style, along with form, content, context, and effectiveness of communication. Writing for various audiences will feature the Internet, academic writing, persuasion, description and other rhetorical models. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Writing Course. This is an approved General Education course. (021092)
JOUR 210	Popular Culture, Mass Media, and American Values	3.0	FS	GE USD
Prerequisite: ENGL 130W or JOUR 130W. 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 255	Digital 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 evolving media technologies on public discourse. 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)
JOUR 255W	Digital Media Literacy and Civic Engagement (W)	3.0	FS	GE W
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 evolving media technologies on public discourse. 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 Course. This is an approved General Education course. (021263)
JOUR 260W	Writing for Mass Media (W)	3.0	FS	W
Prerequisite: ENGL 130W or JOUR 130W. 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. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Writing Course. (004838)
JOUR 265	Survey of PR and Media Relations	3.0	FS
Prerequisites: Sophomore standing; JOUR 260W (may be taken concurrently) for Journalism majors. A survey of public relations: problems and issues, organization and operations, skills and techniques, careers and opportunities. 3 hours lecture. (001995)
JOUR 298	Special Topics	1.0 -3.0	FS
This course is for special topics offered for 1.0-3.0 units. Typically the topic is offered on a one-time-only basis and may vary from term to term and be different for different sections. See the Class Schedule for the specific topic being offered. 3 hours lecture. (005345)
JOUR 301	Data Journalism	3.0	FS
Prerequisite: JOUR 260W. The unprecedented availability of "big data" constitutes a surfeit of digital information that is utilized by academics, government institutions, private industry, and digital firms. This course trains students to use the tools (software, methods, and theory) required to access, process, analyze, and compose findings in the manner of public interest and social science journalism. 3 hours lecture. (021760)
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 320	Mass Communication Law	3.0	SP
Prerequisites: JOUR 260W. 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)
JOUR 321W	Public Affairs Reporting (W)	3.0	FS	GW W
Prerequisites: Completion of GE Written Communication (A2) requirement, HIST 130, JOUR 260W, 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. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. This is an approved Writing Course. (002000)
JOUR 322	History of American Journalism	3.0	FA
Prerequisite: JOUR 260W. 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)
JOUR 325W	Magazine Writing (W)	3.0	FS	W
Prerequisite: JOUR 260W. Techniques of writing nonfiction articles and features for publication; where to find material, markets. Student writings may appear in campus publications such as Orion. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Writing Course. (001667)
JOUR 327	Media Editing, Proofreading, and Entry-level Layout	3.0	FS
Prerequisite: JOUR 260W. 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)
JOUR 329	News Laboratory/The Orion	3.0	FS
Prerequisites: JOUR 260W, JOUR 327, faculty permission. Students learn and apply journalism fundamentals - deadline-driven, multi-platform writing and editing, print/digital/audio/video presentation - by working as staff members of The Orion, Chico State's award-winning weekly newspaper and daily digital website/app. The Orion is entirely student operated and has been an independent campus news source since 1975. Two hours of lecture, with one hour of onsite instruction at The Orion. 3 hours lecture. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (005351)
JOUR 331	News Laboratory Management/The Orion	3.0	FS
Prerequisites: JOUR 260W, JOUR 320, JOUR 321W, JOUR 327, JOUR 329; or instructor permission. PR option students may substitute JOUR 341W for JOUR 321W. This course is for journalism majors who manage The Orion, Chico State's independent students news organization. Students supervise their peers and work as a team to publish news and other content for a weekly newspaper and daily digital website/app. Two hours of lecture, with one hour of onsite instruction at The Orion. 3 hours discussion. (020118)
JOUR 341W	Writing for Public Relations (W)	3.0	FS	GW W
Prerequisites: Completion of GE Written Communication (A2) requirement, JOUR 260W, JOUR 265 . 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. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. This is an approved Writing Course. (004844)
JOUR 342	Public Relations Research, Measurement and Evaluation	3.0	FS
Prerequisite: JOUR 265. The overall objective of this course is to equip students with the skills to conduct qualitative and quantitative public relations research including measurement and performance evaluation. The emphasis will be on measurement of tangible results in evaluating effectiveness. The impact of culture and diversity will be considered. Process and techniques to be studied include public-opinion polling, focus groups and interviews, survey research, experimental design, fact-finding and applied research. 3 hours lecture. (020558)
JOUR 344	Public Relations Strategy	3.0	FS
Prerequisites: JOUR 244, JOUR 260W, JOUR 341W, JOUR 342. Theory and norms used in strategies for public relations activities and programs. Emphasis on selection of strategies under varying kinds of information conditions. Major areas addressed are strategy formulation, strategy implementation, and strategic control. Required for majors. 3 hours lecture. (002003)
JOUR 351	Public Relations Publications	3.0	FA
Prerequisite: JOUR 260W. Instruction in persuasive writing, design, and production of public relations publications via desktop publishing. Publications include fliers, institutional advertisements, brochures, and newsletters that are produced to promote the views, products, or services of organizations or companies. 2 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. (005352)
JOUR 353	Photojournalism	3.0	FS
Prerequisite: JOUR 260W for Journalism majors only. Theory and practice of news photography, including picture-taking for college publications, as well as special photographic projects. 3 hours lecture. (002011)
JOUR 354	Multiplatform Storytelling for News & Public Relations	3.0	FS
Prerequisite: JOUR 260W. This course is designed to teach students intensive, hands-on visual and audio storytelling using smart phones, digital cameras and mobile production applications for news and public relations audiences using web-based and traditional publishing. 3 hours lecture. (021948)
JOUR 355	Online Presentation of News and PR	3.0	FS
Prerequisites: JOUR 255, JOUR 260W. This course focuses on skills required to create and publish Web sites that feature interactive journalism. Students learn effective strategies in the production of multimedia news and public relations for online readers. 3 hours discussion. (005357)
JOUR 358	Emerging Technologies in Media and Entertainment	3.0	FA
Prerequisites: CAGD 112, CAGD 180 for CAGD majors; JOUR 255 or 255W, JOUR 260W for JOUR majors; MADT 206 for MADT majors. This course is also offered as CAGD 358, MADT 358. This professional skills and technology course teaches students in media, entertainment, and technology fields about new and emerging trends in media and entertainment technologies, including, but not limited to, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Photogrammetry, LIDAR scanning, 360 degree photo-scanning, and Motion Capture. The course is focused on the exploration of emerging technologies, as it applies to the various industries in media and entertainment, including, but not limited to, journalism, storytelling, and game development. 3 hours discussion. (021966)
JOUR 398	Special Topics	1.0 -3.0	FS
This course is for special topics offered for 1.0-3.0 units. Typically the topic is offered on a one-time-only basis and may vary from term to term and be different for different sections. See the Class Schedule for the specific topic being offered. 3 hours lecture. (005354)
JOUR 399	Special Problems	1.0 -3.0	FS
Prerequisites: Faculty permission. This course is an independent study of special problems offered for 1.0-3.0 units. You must register directly with a supervising faculty member. Special projects (research or production) in media study. 9 hours supervision. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. Credit/no credit grading. (005355)
JOUR 411	Race and Diversity in Media	3.0	FS
Prerequisite: JOUR 260W. Introduces students to the social constructions of ethnicity and how they are involved in the production, distribution and consumption of the U.S. mass media. 3 hours lecture. (005356)
JOUR 424	Public Opinion and Propaganda	3.0	FS
Prerequisites: CMST 131, CMST 330, CMST 331W, CMST 350 with a grade of C- or higher for CMST majors only. This course is also offered as CMST 424, POLS 424. Analysis of major factors in group and individual opinion formation, with emphasis on politics, opinion measurement, and the role of mass media in the political process. 3 hours lecture. (002029)
JOUR 428	Politics and the Media	3.0	FA
Prerequisites: CMST 131, CMST 330, CMST 331W, and CMST 350 with a grade of C- or higher for CMST majors only. This course is also offered as CMST 428, POLS 428. An examination of the relationships of politics and the mass media. Topics may include politics, visual rhetoric, the public sphere studies, media analysis, public policy decisions, political media campaigns, and social movements. 3 hours seminar. (002246)
JOUR 444	News and Public Relations Job Hunting and Professional Skills	3.0	SP
Prerequisites: Options in News majors take JOUR 255, JOUR 260W, JOUR 265. Option in Public Relations students take JOUR 260W, JOUR 265, JOUR 341W, JOUR 342. This course is designed to provide senior-level Journalism majors in the News and PR options with the opportunity to explore their professions and develop the job hunting skills necessary to apply for entry-level positions. 3 hours discussion. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 3.0 units. (005358)
JOUR 445	Public Relations Laboratory	3.0	FS
Prerequisites: JOUR 260W, JOUR 265, JOUR 341W, JOUR 344. News option majors take JOUR 260W, JOUR 327 only. Advanced public relations field experience. Repeating this course for credit requires faculty permission. 3 hours discussion. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (004852)
JOUR 451	Digital Media Innovation for News and PR	3.0	FS
Prerequisites: JOUR 255 (or equivalent), JOUR 260W. This course explores how the Silicon Valley startup culture is changing the state of news in the digital sphere. From Medium to Jezebel to Mashable, digital entrepreneurs who are also writers are creating new media ecosystems that create, share, and engage with readers in ways that can be profitable. Through guest speakers, media analysis, and case studies, students explore how these digital entrepreneurs are using core journalistic skills, public relations strategy, creativity, and drive to create their own jobs and careers in digital journalism. 3 hours lecture. (021612)
JOUR 453	Advanced Photojournalism	3.0	SP
Prerequisites: ARTS 240 or CAGD 112 or MADT 206 or JOUR 353. This course deals with the advanced skills, theory, history, and ethics of newspaper and magazine photojournalism. It builds on basics from the prerequisite course to develop the photography skills of students who seek to become professional photojournalists. 2 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. (020492)
JOUR 458	Applied Emerging Technologies in Media and Entertainment	3.0	SP
Prerequisites: CAGD 112, CAGD 180 for CAGD majors; JOUR 255 or JOUR 255W, JOUR 260W for JOUR majors; MADT 206 for MADT majors. This course is also offered as CAGD 458, MADT 458. This professional skills and technology project-based course engages students in new and emerging technologies in media and entertainment through applied projects requiring students to work in multidisciplinary teams to create completed visual content projects. The course is focused on the application of new and emerging technologies with relevance in various media and entertainment industries, including, but not limited to, journalism, storytelling, and game development. 3 hours discussion. (021969)
JOUR 460W	Ethical Problems in Mass Media (W)	3.0	FS	W
Prerequisites: JOUR 260W. For Option in News: JOUR 321W. For Option in Public Relations: JOUR 341W. Ethical principles and case studies will be used to help students develop insights or responses to ethically challenging events or situations in mass media. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Writing Course. (005360)
JOUR 489	Journalism Internship	1.0 -3.0	FS
Prerequisites: Faculty permission. You must register directly with a supervising faculty member. Students will experience a wide range of professional situations, conditions, and practice in the journalism/public relations professional setting prior to graduation. Length of internship will vary according to type of placement. Students will be supervised by a practicing member of the profession. Repeatable for credit toward the major up to 3 units with instructor permission. 3 hours supervision. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 15.0 units. (005362)
JOUR 498	Special Topics	1.0 -3.0	FS
This course is for special topics offered for 1.0-3.0 units. Typically the topic is offered on a one-time-only basis and may vary from term to term and be different for different sections. See the Class Schedule for the specific topic being offered. 3 hours supervision. (005366)
JOUR 499	Special Problems	1.0 -3.0	FS
Prerequisites: Faculty permission. This course is an independent study of special problems offered for 1.0-3.0 units. You must register directly with a supervising faculty member. 3 hours supervision. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. Credit/no credit grading. (005367)