Journalism: Media Studies (BA/BS)

http://journalism.uoregon.edu

With a degree in media studies, you don’t just learn how to create media. You ask why it matters. You examine its history, research its forms, and explore its effect on some of the most pressing issues of our time, from free speech to issues of gender, diversity, and politics. At the SOJC, you’ll unpack the latest research with guidance from some of the field’s leading minds and develop the skills employers need.

The undergraduate media studies major has as its goal to produce students who display purposeful, reflective judgment concerning what to believe or what to do, especially as relates to the media and to communication as a whole. The media studies faculty has delineated 11 core competencies, similar to those of ACEJMC, but has recast them to reflect the sequence goal.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Understand the range of freedom of expression around the world and apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech to their profession/field.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of how professionals and institutions shaped communications relevant to their profession/field.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of diversity in domestic and global society and its impact as relevant to their profession/field.
  • Demonstrate a conceptual understanding of the use and presentation of images and information and apply them to their profession/field.
  • Understand and apply ethical principles appropriate to their profession/field.
  • Think critically, creatively and independently.
  • Conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to their profession/field.
  • Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate to their profession/field.
  • Critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness.
  • Apply basic numerical and statistical concepts.
  • Apply tools and technologies appropriate to their profession/field, including verbal and visual presentation as apt.

Journalism: Media Studies Major Requirements

PLATFORM COURSES
JCOM 101Media Professions4
JCOM 102Story Craft Audio2
JCOM 103Story Craft Visual2
JCOM 201Making Sense of Media4
JCOM 202How Stories Work4
JCOM 203Writing as Practice4
CORE CONTEXT COURSES 1
JCOM 301Gender, Media and Diversity4
JCOM 302Communication Law4
JCOM 303Media Ethics4
JCOM 304Business of Media4
JCOM 305Media History4
or JCOM 306 Global Communications
SEQUENCE REQUIREMENTS
JCOM 221Media Studies Production2
JCOM 311Introduction to Media Studies4
JCOM 312Media Studies Research Methods4
JCOM 426 (Media Studies Capstone)4
Choose one track:16
Documentary Studies
Media Technologies and Structures
Culture, Power and the Media
Total Credits70
1

SOJC majors in this selective program do the 20-credit version of the Core Context requirement (SOJC Honors Program, see below). Must be taken graded and passed with a C- or better.

SOJC Honors Program

JCOM 329H (Media Theory and Research)4
JCOM 429H (Issues in Media Theory & Research (taken twice))8
JCOM 302Communication Law4
JCOM 303Media Ethics4
Honors Thesis
Thesis Prospectus Workshop
Thesis Project

Documentary Studies

JCOM 220Introduction to Documentary Production4
JCOM 320 (Survey of the Documentary)4
Choose two courses:8
JCOM 318
Documenting International Human Rights
JCOM 319
 (Documenting Civil Rights)
JCOM 321
 (Documentary Filmmaking Aesthetics)
JCOM 322
Documentary Screening and Guests
JCOM 323
 (Documentary Master Directors [Topic])
JCOM 423
 (Law & Business for Media)
JCOM 424
 (Latin American Cinema)
JCOM 427M
Latino Roots I
JCOM 428M
Latino Roots II
Total Credits16

Media Technologies and Structures

Choose three courses:12
JCOM 314
Understanding Disney
JCOM 323
 (Documentary Master DIrectors [Topic])
JCOM 380
The Games Industry
JCOM 383
Understanding E-Sports
JCOM 411M
US Film Industry
JCOM 412
 (Internet Law and Regulation)
JCOM 413
 (Data/Media/Surveillance)
JCOM 414
 (Media Technologies & Structures [Topic])
JCOM 418
 (Global Television)
JCOM 480
Gamification and the Media
JCOM 481
 (Making the Virtual a Reality)
JCOM 483
 (Game Journalism and Newsgames)
Choose one course from Culture, Power and the Media track4
Total Credits16

Culture, Power and the Media

Choose three courses:12
JCOM 315
Indigenous Media
JCOM 316
Black American Media
JCOM 317
Media and Religion
JCOM 318
Documenting International Human Rights
JCOM 319
 (Documenting Civil Rights)
JCOM 381
Theories of Play in Media and Communication
JCOM 382
Game Design and Critique
JCOM 415
 (Culture/Power/Media [Topic})
JCOM 416
 (Black American Television)
JCOM 417
 (Cross Cultural Monster Narratives)
JCOM 419
Reality Television
JCOM 424
 (Latin American Cinema)
JCOM 482
 (Analog Games)
Choose one course from Media Technologies and Structures4
Total Credits16

Additional Requirements

  • JCOM courses used to fulfill the major requirements must be passed with a letter grade of at least C- or a P* where pass/no pass is the only grading option for the course.
  • Minimum 70 JCOM credits
  • Minimum 70 non-JCOM credits (any subject code other than JCOM)
  • Minimum 40 upper division JCOM credits
  • Students must also complete one of the following:
    • SOJC concentration (16 credits)
    • SOJC minor (24 credits)
    • Other UO minor (24-40 credits)

Four-Year Degree Plan

Requirements for the School of Journalism and Communication are complex, and students are strongly encouraged to consult with an advisor in the school’s Student Services Center to ensure accurate interpretation of requirements and timely degree completion. For more information on student services and academic requirements, visit the website.