Journalism and Mass Communication

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (120 units)

General 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 or a double-major. 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.

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism

Specific Requirements for the Journalism Degree

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)
Prerequisite: None
JOUR 110 Introduction to Mass Communications (3)
Prerequisite/Corequisite: One GE Foundation.
JOUR 120 Writing Across the Media (3)
Prerequisite: None

Upper Division:

Take all of the following:

JOUR 311 Reporting and Information Gathering (3)
Prerequisites: JOUR 120 with a grade of "C" or better.
JOUR 340 Introduction to Online Media (3)
Prerequisite: JOUR 311 with a grade of "C" or better.
JOUR 430 Law of Mass Communications (3)
Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing.
JOUR 431 Mass Media Ethics (3)
Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing.
JOUR 495 Senior Seminar (3)
Prerequisite: JOUR 311 with a grade of "C" or better, senior standing.

Take two courses chosen from the following:

JOUR 312, 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, 318, 320, 321, 331, 374, 380, 382, 405, 420, 422, 440, 471, 478, 480, 482, 490, 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.

Specialization in Public Relations

Requirements

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)
Prerequisite: None
JOUR 110 Introduction to Mass Communications (3)
Prerequisite/Corequisite: One GE Foundation.
JOUR 120 Writing Across the Media (3)
Prerequisite: None

Upper Division:

Take all the following courses:

JOUR 311 Reporting and Information Gathering (3)
Prerequisites: JOUR 120 with a grade of "C" or better.
JOUR 370 Principles of Public Relations (3)
Prerequisite: None
JOUR 374 Written Communication Public Relations (3)
Prerequisites: JOUR 120 with a grade of "C" or better, 370.
JOUR 430 Law of Mass Communications (3)
Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing.
JOUR 431 Mass Media Ethics (3)
Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing.
JOUR 471 Public Relations Mgmt and Campaigns (3)
Prerequisites: JOUR 311 with a grade of "C" or better, 374.
JOUR 478 Public Relations Case Studies (3)
Prerequisites: JOUR 311 with a grade of "C" or better, 374.

Take three units total from the following:

JOUR 497, 498

Take three courses from the following:

JOUR 300, 305 (recommended for public relations), 310, 312, 315, 316, 318, 320, 321, 331, 340 (recommended for public relations), 380, 382, 405, 412, 415, 418, 420, 422, 440, 480, 482, 490, 494 (highly recommended for public relations), 495 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 specializing in Public Relations must earn a "C" or better in each of these core courses: