Dec 12, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Journalism, B.A.


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About the Journalism Bachelor’s Program


The journalism degree program prepares students for meaningful careers in today’s leading news organizations. Journalism classes are steeped in traditional journalism values and emphasize the importance of storytelling, clarity, conciseness, accuracy, and fairness in reporting.

Augmenting journalism education based in valued traditions, the College of Media & Communication journalism faculty and staff work with news organizations in the Southwest to provide students with meaningful internships and other career-advancing opportunities.

Texas Tech offers a multi-platform journalism program. All journalism majors study the unique attributes of print, broadcast, and online news content and production. Students have the opportunity to produce news and information using a variety of media including social, print, broadcast, and online.

Learning Outcome 1: Core Skills & Knowledge. Each student will master and demonstrate the skills and knowledge necessary for the responsible reporting, writing, editing, fact-checking, and presentation of news stories. Each student will demonstrate an understanding of the branches of government at the federal, state, and city/county levels.

Learning Outcome 2: Professional Standards. Each student will demonstrate knowledge of ethical journalistic practices and media law.

Learning Outcome 3: News Production and Dissemination Competence. Each student will demonstrate proficiency in producing news packages for print, broadcast, online, and social media in different contexts.

Learning Outcome 4: Reporting Technologies. Each student will master and demonstrate the skills of data journalism, public record use, information gathering through social media, and news curation.

Students choosing to major in journalism are required to pass the college’s Basics of Writing (BOW) exam with a 70 or higher; pass ENGL 1301  and ENGL 1302  with at least a C; and have a TTU 2.5 GPA prior to enrolling in any JOUR course with a number higher than 2300.

In order to ensure expertise in a content area, journalism majors are required to choose either a 15-credit interdisciplinary concentration, an 18-21 credit minor, or a second major/degree. Suggested concentrations include strategic communication, media economics and management, visual communication, international/intercultural communication, education, social issues, political journalism, health/science/environmental studies, and digital/social media studies. Students may pursue additional cognates with advisor and department chair approval.

Communication Literacy Requirement. Students majoring in journalism are expected to demonstrate communication proficiency in courses across the degree curriculum. In particular, the journalism faculty wish to ensure that students are first and foremost capable writers, but also that they are able to communicate visually, digitally, aurally, within an organization, and interpersonally among various professional constituencies. The CL plan for the journalism major is comprised of 15 credits (five courses): JOUR 2310 , JOUR 3311 , JOUR 3314 , JOUR 4350 ; ADV 4313  or COMS 3332  or CMI 3358  or JOUR 3370  or PRSC 4351 .

 

Journalism Concentrations


Digital and Social Media Studies


Students must choose three (3) from:

Students must choose two (2) from:

Education and Social Issues


Students must choose two (2) from:

Students must choose three (3) from:

Health, Science and Environmental Journalism


Students must complete:

Students must also choose four (4) from:

International/Intercultural Communication


Students must choose two (2) from:

Students must choose three (3) from:

Media Economics and Management


Students must complete:

Students must choose four (4) from:

Political Journalism


Students must choose two (2) from:

Students must choose three (3) from:

Strategic Communication


Students must choose two (2) from:

Students must choose three (3) from any 3000- or 4000-level ADV or PRSC courses

Visual Communication


Students must choose two (2) from:

Students must choose three (3) from:

Recommended Sample Curriculum


First Year


Fall


Total: 17

Spring


Total: 15

Second Year


Fall


Total: 16

Spring


Total: 15

Third Year


Fall


Total: 15

Spring


Total: 15

Fourth Year


Fall


Total: 15

Spring


Total: 12

Total Hours: 120


Students majoring in journalism are required to complete 58 hours from the following core courses: MCOM 1100  or one-hour JOUR practicum; MCOM 1300 , MCOM 1301 , MCOM 2350 , MCOM 3300 , MCOM 3320 , JCMI 2301 , JCMI 2302 , JOUR 2300 , JOUR 2310 , JOUR 3311 , JOUR 3312 , JOUR 3314 , JOUR 3350 , JOUR 3355 , JOUR 3380 , JOUR 3390 , JOUR 4350 , JOUR 4370 , PHOT 3310 .

Journalism students must also choose either a 15-hour interdisciplinary concentration, an 18-hour minor, or a second major.

 

MCOM Global Communication Courses


Choose from MCOM 2350 , ADV 4313 , COMS 3332 , CMI 3309 , CMI 3355 , CMI 3358 , JOUR 3370 , or PRSC 4351 . Other courses, including special topics courses (any course listed as 4301), may be approved for Global Communication credit by the department chairperson in consultation with the College of Media & Communication Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs. Any foreign language taken at the college level in which a grade of C or better is earned will count as a Global Communication credit.

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