Important Information for Journalism students:
Effective the Fall 2011 semester, new major requirements are in place. Students beginning their Journalism program as a Journalism major or minor in Fall 2011 will come under the new program requirements. It is critical for you to contact your department advisor to ensure that you are following the proper catalog requirements.
Computer Prerequisites to Entering Journalism Classes:
All students entering journalism skills courses must be familiar with at least one established word-processing program at the level of at least 40 words per minute.
Professional Skills:
JOUR 101, 120 and 311 are the basic writing and reporting courses for journalism and are prerequisites for most upper division skills courses in the department.
Residency Requirements:
Transfer students must complete at least 50 percent of their upper-division journalism units at CSULB. Journalism courses taken on another campus may not be substituted for CSULB journalism courses without the approval of the CSULB Department of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Distribution of Units: Journalism majors may apply no more than 40 units of journalism courses toward the 120 units required for the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Students should meet with a journalism adviser before declaring the major and the minor.
Journalism majors are required to have a minor. Each CSULB department defines its own minor, and these vary between 18 and 24 units. Students interested in pursuing the Single-Subject Credential in English/Journalism should consult the teaching credential adviser in the Department of English.
By default, students are placed in the Journalism program but may also choose to pursue a Specialization in Public Relations.
This degree program requires 40 units in the major, of which seven are lower division and 33 are upper division.
Lower Division:
Take all the following courses:
JOUR 101 English for Media Writers (1)
JOUR 110 Introduction to Mass Communications (3)
JOUR 120 Writing Across the Media (3)
Upper Division:
Take all of the following:
JOUR 311 Reporting and Information Gathering (3)
JOUR 340 Introduction to Online Media (3)
JOUR 430 Law of Mass Communications (3)
JOUR 431 Mass Media Ethics (3)
JOUR 495 Senior Seminar (3)
Take two courses chosen from the following:
JOUR 312I, 315, 370, 412, 415, 418, 494
Take three units total from the following:
JOUR 497, 498
Take three courses from the following:
JOUR 300, 305, 310, 316, 320, 321, 331, 374, 380, 382, 420, 422, 440, 471, 478, 480, 482, 490, and 499
In addition to the "C" average in the overall major and the "C" average in the upper division major at CSULB, both of which are required by the University, journalism majors must earn a "C" or better in each of these core courses: JOUR 110, 120, 311, 340, 430, 431 and 495.
This specialization requires 40 units in the major, of which seven are lower division and 33 are upper division.
Lower Division:
Take all the following courses:
JOUR 101 English for Media Writers (1)
JOUR 110 Introduction to Mass Communications (3)
JOUR 120 Writing Across the Media (3)
Upper Division:
Take all the following courses:
JOUR 311 Reporting and Information Gathering (3)
JOUR 370 Principles of Public Relations (3)
JOUR 374 Written Communication Public Relations (3)
JOUR 430 Law of Mass Communications (3)
JOUR 431 Mass Media Ethics (3)
JOUR 471 Public Relations Mgmt and Campaigns (3)
JOUR 478 Public Relations Case Studies (3)
Take three units total from the following:
JOUR 497, 498
Take three courses from the following:
JOUR 300, 305 (recommended for public relations), 310, 312I, 315, 316, 320, 321, 331, 340 (recommended for public relations), 380, 382, 412, 415, 418, 420, 422, 440, 480, 482, 490, 494 (highly recommended for public relations), 495 and 499
Minor in Journalism (code JOURUM01)
A minimum of 21 units including the following:
JOUR 110 Introduction to Mass Communications (3)
JOUR 120 Writing Across the Media (3)
JOUR 311 Reporting and Information Gathering (3)
JOUR 430 Law of Mass Communications (3)
JOUR 431 Mass Media Ethics (3)
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
This degree requires a minimum of 34 and a maximum of 40 units in the major, of which seven are lower division and 27 to 33 are upper division.
Lower Division:
Take all the following courses:
JOUR 101 English for Media Writers (1)
JOUR 110 Introduction to Mass Communications (3)
JOUR 120 Writing Across the Media (3)
Upper Division:
Take all the following courses:
JOUR 311 Reporting and Information Gathering (3)
JOUR 430 Law of Mass Communications (3)
JOUR 431 Mass Media Ethics (3)
JOUR 495 Senior Seminar (3)
Take two courses chosen from the following:
JOUR 312I, 315, 370, 412, 415, 418, 494
Take three courses from the following:
JOUR 300, 305, 310, 316, 320, 321, 331, 340, 374, 380, 382, 420, 422, 440, 471, 478, 480 and 482
Take up to six additional units chosen from either of the preceding two lists and/or the following:
JOUR 490, 498 and 499.
In addition to the “C” average in the overall major and the “C” average in the upper division major at CSULB, both of which are required by the University, students must earn a “C” or better in each of the following courses: JOUR 110, 120, 311, 430, 431 and 495.
Specialization in Public Relations
Lower Division:
Take all the following courses:
JOUR 101 English for Media Writers (1)
JOUR 110 Introduction to Mass Communications (3)
JOUR 120 Writing Across the Media (3)
Upper Division:
Take all the following courses:
JOUR 311 Reporting and Information Gathering (3)
JOUR 370 Principles of Public Relations (3)
JOUR 374 Written Communication Public Relations (3)
JOUR 430 Law of Mass Communications (3)
JOUR 431 Mass Media Ethics (3)
JOUR 471 Public Relations Mgmt and Campaigns (3)
JOUR 478 Public Relations Case Studies (3)
Take a minimum of two courses and up to a maximum of four courses chosen from among JOUR 300, 305 (recommended for public relations), 310, 312I, 315, 316, 320, 321, 331, 340, 380, 382, 412, 415, 418, 420, 422, 440, 480, 482, 490, 494 (highly recommended for public relations), 495, 498 (highly recommended for public relations), and 499.
In addition to the “C” average in the overall major and the “C” average in the upper division major at CSULB, both of which are required by the University, students must earn a “C” or better in each of the following courses: JOUR 110, 120, 311, 430, and 431.
Minor in Journalism
A minimum of 21 units including: JOUR 110, 120, 311, 430 and 431.
Course Descriptions
For a description of all courses offered by the Department of Journalism & Mass Communication (CSULB Catalog 2011-2012), please view the following information:
