Journalism: Media Studies (BA/BS)
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.
Media Studies (MEST) minors may not also earn a major in Jour: Media Studies (JMS).
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
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PLATFORM COURSES | ||
JCOM 101 | Media Professions | 4 |
JCOM 102 | Story Craft Audio | 2 |
JCOM 103 | Story Craft Visual | 2 |
JCOM 201 | Making Sense of Media | 4 |
JCOM 202 | How Stories Work | 4 |
JCOM 203 | Writing as Practice | 4 |
CORE CONTEXT COURSES 1 | ||
JCOM 301 | Gender, Media and Diversity | 4 |
JCOM 302 | Communication Law | 4 |
JCOM 303 | Media Ethics | 4 |
JCOM 304 | The Media Business | 4 |
JCOM 305 | Media History | 4 |
or JCOM 306 | Global Communications | |
SEQUENCE REQUIREMENTS | ||
JCOM 221 | Media Studies Production | 2 |
JCOM 311 | Introduction to Media Studies | 4 |
JCOM 312 | Media Studies Research Methods | 4 |
JCOM 426 | Media Studies Capstone | 4 |
Choose one track: | 16 | |
Documentary Studies | ||
Media Technologies and Structures | ||
Culture, Power and the Media | ||
Total Credits | 70 |
- 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
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
JCOM 329H | Honors Media Theory and Research | 4 |
JCOM 429H | Honors Theory and Research: [Topic] (taken twice) | 8 |
JCOM 302 | Communication Law | 4 |
JCOM 303 | Media Ethics | 4 |
Honors Thesis | ||
Thesis Prospectus Workshop | ||
Thesis Project |
Documentary Studies
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
JCOM 220 | Introduction to Documentary Production | 4 |
JCOM 320 | Survey of the Documentary | 4 |
Choose two courses: | 8 | |
Documenting International Human Rights | ||
Documenting Civil Rights | ||
Documentary Filmmaking Aesthetics | ||
Documentary Screening and Guests | ||
JCOM 323 | (Documentary Master Directors [Topic]) | |
JCOM 423 | (Law & Business for Media) | |
Latin American Cinema | ||
Latino Roots I | ||
Latino Roots II | ||
Total Credits | 16 |
Media Technologies and Structures
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Choose three courses: | 12 | |
Understanding Disney | ||
JCOM 323 | (Documentary Master DIrectors [Topic]) | |
The Games Industry | ||
Understanding E-Sports | ||
US Film Industry | ||
Internet Law and Regulation | ||
Data, Media, Surveillance | ||
Media Technologies and Structures: [Topic] | ||
Global Television | ||
Gamification and the Media | ||
Making the Virtual a Reality | ||
JCOM 483 | (Game Journalism and Newsgames) | |
Choose one course from Culture, Power and the Media track | 4 | |
Total Credits | 16 |
Culture, Power and the Media
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Choose three courses: | 12 | |
Indigenous Media | ||
Black American Media | ||
Media and Religion | ||
Documenting International Human Rights | ||
Documenting Civil Rights | ||
Theories of Play in Media and Communication | ||
Game Design and Critique | ||
Culture, Power, Media: [Topic] | ||
Black American Television | ||
Cross Cultural Monster Narratives | ||
Reality Television | ||
Latin American Cinema | ||
Analog Games | ||
Choose one course from Media Technologies and Structures | 4 | |
Total Credits | 16 |
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 minor (24 credits)
- Other UO minor (24-40 credits)
- SOJC students who opt to minor within the SOJC may only overlap one JCOM course with the major and minor requirements.
- Upper division multilisted courses can only count toward programs in the School of Journalism and Communication if taken under the JCOM subject.
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 Success Center in 134 Allen Hall to ensure accurate interpretation of requirements and timely degree completion. For more information, visit the website.