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The Major
The Journalism major has a distinguished, award-winning faculty including winners of the Pulitzer Prize and the Freedom Forum Journalism Teacher of the Year Award. It draws a diverse group of students who graduate to jobs in newspapers, magazines, television, online journalism, and other fields requiring skills in reporting and writing. The major emphasizes both the theory and practice of journalism. Students receive a thorough grounding in the ethics and traditions of journalism as well as the nuts and bolts of reporting and writing. Although graduates of the program end up in a variety of fields including law, government, public relations, and teaching, the major is geared for students who want to work in journalism: daily or weekly newspapers, magazines, online publications, and broadcast media. Alumni work at the New York Times, the Boston Globe, National Public Radio, Dateline NBC, The Associated Press, and dozens of top media outlets around the world. Requirements for students accepted into the major before the Fall 2013 semester: 1. JOURNAL 300 Newswriting and Reporting (4 cr), plus at least one advanced writing course offered by the program. 2. Any two of the following courses: JOURNAL 312 Journalism and Law; JOURNAL 320 History of American Journalism; JOURNAL 345 Media Criticism; JOURNAL 460 Journalism Ethics; JOURNAL 494MI: Media, Technology and Culture. 3. At least four additional elective courses from the department, numbered 200 and above, for a total of at least 26 credits in Journalism courses. Neither Pass/Fail credits nor internship credits may be counted toward these requirements. No more than three credits of independent study may be applied to the major. 4. A formal minor or certificate from outside the Department of Communication, or, when no formal minor exists, 15 credits in courses numbered 200 or above in an individual concentration, with the approval of the Chief Undergraduate Advisor. Students are encouraged to consider studying at a university outside the United States whenever possible, or completing an internship. International study and mastery of a language other than English enrich the academic experience, and internships enhance career opportunties in journalism and related fields. Requirements for students accepted into the major during or after the Fall 2013 semester: 1. JOURNAL 300 Newswriting and Reporting (4 cr) 2. Two Advanced Writing/Reporting classes (4 cr. each) 3. One Multimedia course, to be chosen from the following options: JOURNAL 301 Intro to Multimedia Journalism; JOURNAL 333: Intro to Digital Journalism; JOURNAL 397G: Multimedia Journalism; JOURNAL 435: Web Design for Journalists. 3. Any two of the following courses: JOURNAL 312 Journalism and Law; JOURNAL 320 History of American Journalism; JOURNAL 345 Media Criticism; JOURNAL 460 Journalism Ethics; JOURNAL 494MI: Media, Technology and Culture. 4. At least two additional elective courses from the department, numbered 200 and above. Neither Pass/Fail credits nor internship credits may be counted toward these requirements. No more than three credits of independent study may be applied to the major. 5. A formal minor or certificate from outside the Department of Communication, or, when no formal minor exists, 15 credits in courses numbered 200 or above in an individual concentration, with the approval of the Chief Undergraduate Advisor. For students who have joined the major during Fall 2015 or later, Communication is a viable option for this requirement. Students are encouraged to consider studying at a university outside the United States whenever possible, or completing an internship. International study and mastery of a language other than English enrich the academic experience, and internships enhance career opportunties in journalism and related fields. Sports Journalism Concentration The Journalism major offers a special Sports Journalism Concentration. Admission to the Concentration is by application. Students interested in taking the Concentration should contact Professor Steve Fox (sjfox1@comm.umass.edu) in the Spring semester of their sophomore year. Requirements for completing the Concentration: 1. JOURNAL 300 Newswriting and Reporting 2. JOURNAL 332 Sports Journalism 3. JOURNAL 341 Images in Sports 4. JOURNAL 392T Issues in Sports 5. Take either JOURNAL 425 The Politics of Sport OR JOURNAL 428 Sports in Film, Journalism and Literature 6. JOURNAL 398 Practicum (Internship; at least 3 credits) 7. One Multimedia course. Choose from the following:
8. Two of the following courses:
9. An academic minor in another department or program, except for Communication. Another major or a certificate will also satisfy this requirement. For students who have joined the major during Fall 2015 or later, Communication is a viable option for this requirement. |
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