Getting Started (Majors Guide)

College: SBS

 (Revised Spring 2018)  

Suggested Courses for First-Year Students

Suggested General Education Courses

Under the new guidelines students are still required to take two courses, one in U.S. Diversity and one in Global Diversity. Students entering in Fall 2018 are expected to take one of these diversity courses, either U.S. or Global, in their first year on campus.  For Fall 2018 Registration, look for courses with DU (formerly U) and DG (formerly G) to help students stay on track.  Any course labled DU will satisfy the requirement for a U.S. diversity course and any course labeled DG will satisfy the the requirement for Global diversity course. Course planning guidelines, including guidelines for students, are available at www.umass.edu/gened.

Students are advised to work on their General Education requirements and their minor, if known. Students can take JOURNAL 201 or JOURNAL 250 as a Gen Ed SB. They are also encouraged to work at the Collegian, AmherstWire.com, WMUA and UVC-19.

Suggested Major and Pre-requisite Courses

First-year Journalism majors are encouraged to enroll in JOURNAL 191: Journalism Success. They may enroll in JOURNAL 201: Introduction to Journalism (Gen Ed: SB), JOURNAL 250: News Literacy (Gen Ed: SB), and JOURNAL 225: Readings in Journalism, as well as begin to take General Education courses.

How to Declare the Major

Current on-campus students may apply to the major online at www.umass.edu/journalism/major/admissions.

Transfer Students:

Students can declare when they enter the university. They should meet with an advisor in the Journalism Department, preferably during a transfer advising session or before the first day of classes.

Summary of Requirements for the Major

Minimum total # of credits required: 45 (30 in Journalism and 15 in a minor/certificate/other major)

These requirements apply to students entering the University of Massachusetts in fall 2018 or later. For requirements for earlier entry years see archived Guides to Undergraduate Programs.

  • JOURNAL 201
  • JOURNAL 300 (Fulfills Junior Year Writing Requirement). If space is available, it may be taken in the sophomore year.
  • JOURNAL 460
  • One advanced writing/reporting course
  • Two of the following multimedia/visual courses: JOURNAL 301, JOURNAL 333, JOURNAL 397G, JOURNAL 435, JOURNAL 390S, JOURNAL 391SB, JOURNAL 395N, JOURNAL 397DJ, JOURNAL 495BP, JOURNAL 495N
  • One of the following: JOURNAL 320, JOURNAL 445, JOURNAL 345, JOURNAL 494MI, JOURNAL 395M, JOURNAL 392T
  • One international course from the following menu: JOURNAL 310, JOURNAL 225, one course taken during departmentally approved study abroad, one foreign language course at any level.
  • Two Journalism electives
  • A formal minor in another program, or an official certificate, or fifteen credits in courses numbered 200 and above in an individual concentration approved by the Journalism advisor.

Is there a minor? If so what are the requirements?
No.

For further information, contact:
Beth Wallace
Integrative Learning Center room S421; 545-1122
bwallace@umass.edu