Communication, Journalism Concentration, B.A.

The Journalism concentration emphasizes the acquisition of both reporting skills and the practices essential for the production of meaningful multimedia journalism. Through an examination of the organization and operation of news industries, as well as social and professional issues encountered by journalists, students deepen their understanding of the role journalism plays as a social force. Elective courses in the concentration allow students to explore a variety of journalistic specialties.

Requirements for the Communication Major - 45 Credits

Required Major Core - 27 Credits

COMM 0101 - Introduction to Mass Communication Credits: 3
COMM 0102 - Introduction to Human Communication Credits: 3
COMM 0201 - Introduction to Communication Technology Credits: 3
COMM 0204 - Writing for the Media Credits: 3
COMM 0207 - Communication Ethics Credits: 3
COMM 0209 - Global Communication Credits: 3
COMM 0221 - Communication Theory Credits: 3
COMM 0307 - Communication Law Credits: 3
COMM 0320 - Foundations of Communication Research Credits: 3

Note:

STUDENTS MUST ELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CONCENTRATIONS: Communication and Culture, Journalism, Public Relations, Media Arts and Analysis, or the Student-Defined Concentration. In addition to the required courses for each concentration, students are required to take electives, one of which must bear a COMM designation. If the concentration requires three or more electives, one of the remaining electives may be chosen from the approved elective list from any of the other concentrations.

Journalism - 18 Credits

Required - 9 Credits

Students must choose any three required courses from the following:

COMM 0394 - News Editing Credits: 3
or ENGL 0394 - News Editing Credits: 3
COMM 0275 - Journalism I Credits: 3
or ENGL 0275 - Journalism I Credits: 3
COMM 0308 - Multimedia Journalism Credits: 3
COMM 0309 - Broadcast Journalism Credits: 3
COMM 0339 - Journalism and Society Credits: 3

Electives - 9 Credits

Students must choose any three elective courses from the following:

COMM 0106 - Video Production I Credits: 3
COMM 0202 - Introduction to Photography Credits: 3
COMM 0206 - Video Production II Credits: 3
COMM 0223 - Web Page Design and Construction I Credits: 3
COMM 0230 - Audio Production I Credits: 3
COMM 0233 - Documentary Film Credits: 4
COMM 0240 - Communication History Credits: 3
COMM 0308 - Multimedia Journalism Credits: 3
COMM 0309 - Broadcast Journalism Credits: 3
COMM 0310 - Digital Video Editing Credits: 3
COMM 0312 - Media Criticism Credits: 3
COMM 0316 - Special Topics in Communication Credits: 3 (when applicable)
COMM 0321 - Political Communication Credits: 3
COMM 0325 - Photojournalism Credits: 3
COMM 0329 - Crime and the Media Credits: 3
or CRJU 0329 - Crime and the Media Credits: 3
COMM 0332 - Writing for the Interactive Media Credits: 3
COMM 0342 - Public Relations Writing Credits: 3
COMM 0375 - Journalism II Credits: 3
or ENGL 0375 - Journalism II Credits: 3
COMM 0394 - News Editing Credits: 3
COMM 0395 - Sports Writing Credits: 3
or ENGL 0395 - Sports Writing Credits: 3
ENGL 0276 - Writing About the Arts Credits: 3
ENGL 0377 - Feature Writing Credits: 3
ENGL 0392 - Business and Technical Writing Credits: 3

Additional Graduation Requirements

All students must meet the University Graduation Requirements and complete a general education or common core of studies, distributed among the different academic areas as detailed in General Education: WISE or Common Core .

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Westfield State University