Journalism (BA/BS)
This is not your parents’ journalism degree. We’re one of the oldest journalism schools in the nation, but we’re pioneering and teaching new and innovative approaches to the field—like solutions journalism, engaged journalism, data journalism, and more.
Our commitment to ethics define us as journalists. In our accredited program, you’ll develop the skills to tell an ethical, accurate, and compelling story in any medium while exploring new communication forms. You’ll learn about the roles of communication media in society, the history of journalism, research and writing for mass media, visual communication techniques, and the ethical, legal, and social responsibilities of the media in modern society.
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 Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Journalism Premajor Requirements* | ||
| J 100 | Media Professions | 2 |
| J 101 | Grammar for Communicators | 2 |
| J 201 | Media and Society | 4 |
| Journalism Major Requirements | ||
| J 211 | Gateway to Media | 8 |
| J 212 | Writing for Communicators | 4 |
| J 213 | Fact or Fiction | 4 |
| Core Context Requirement | ||
| J 320 | Gender, Media, and Diversity | 4 |
| J 385 | Communication Law | 4 |
| J 397 | Media Ethics | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Media History | ||
| International Communication | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Media Technologies and Society: [Topic] | ||
| Culture and Power in the Media: [Topic] | ||
| Media Structures and Regulation: [Topic] | ||
| Research Methods: [Topic] | ||
| Journalism Major Requirements | ||
| J 361 | Reporting I | 4 |
| J 462 | Reporting II | 4 |
| J 463 | Specialized Reporting: [Topic] | 4 |
| Select two from either the writing or the visual concentration: | 8 | |
| Writing Concentration | ||
| Feature Writing I | ||
| Newspaper Editing | ||
| Advanced News Editing | ||
J 472 | ||
| The Journalistic Interview | ||
| Visual Concentration | ||
| Digital Video Production | ||
| Photojournalism | ||
| Documentary Production | ||
| Reporting for Electronic Media | ||
| Advanced Television News | ||
| Media Design: [Topic] | ||
| Advanced Photojournalism: [Topic] | ||
| Four additional credits from the following: | 4 | |
| Internship: [Topic] | ||
| Practicum: [Topic] | ||
| Workshop: [Topic] 1 | ||
| Specialized Reporting: [Topic] | ||
| OR Magazine | ||
| Flux Production | ||
| And any additional concentration course not previously taken | ||
| Elective: At least four journalism credits are needed to reach the minimum 72 | 4 | |
| General Studies Requirements | 104 | |
| At least 104 non-journalism credits, including one of the following: | ||
A non-SOJC minor | ||
A non-SOJC concentration 2 | ||
A non-SOJC double major | ||
| Minimum 2.9 cumulative UO GPA | ||
| Total Credits | 176 | |
| 1 | Only J408 workshops intended for journalism majors will be eligible. J408 workshops intended for media studies, advertising and public relations majors are not suitable for this section. |
| 2 | A non-SOJC concentration is at least 24 credits from the same non-SOJC subject code. 12 must be upper division credits and 4 of those 12 must be a 400-level course. All courses must be taken graded and passed with a C- or better. Not all subjects are suitable for a concentration; consult an SOJC advisor. |
Additional Requirements
- Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 72 credits and a maximum of 76 credits in journalism, of which at least 27 must be taken at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication and at least 40 must be upper-division
- Satisfactory completion of at least 104 credits in academic fields other than journalism. A student who graduates with 180 credits must count no more than 76 credits (including transfer credits) in journalism toward the degree. The 104 credits must include a minor or area of concentration outside of the School of Journalism and Communication
- Majors and premajors must take all school courses for letter grades unless a course is only offered pass/no pass (P/N). All graded journalism courses taken to satisfy the major must be passed with a grade of better than a C-.
- A cumulative GPA of 2.70 or better in courses taken in the School of Journalism and Communication at the time of graduation
Internship
A major may earn no more than 9 credits in Internship: [Topic] (J 404).
Honors Program
The honors program provides high-achieving students the opportunity to develop analytic, creative, critical thinking and research skills in small-group, discussion-oriented courses. The program develops a small multidisciplinary community of communications scholars from all the majors within the School of Journalism and Communication.
Students take three honors courses focusing on media theory, research, or issues, which partially fulfill the context course requirement. In addition, students complete an original piece of scholarship or creative work in the senior year.
The program targets journalism majors entering their junior year who have a minimum 3.50 cumulative UO GPA. Applications are accepted each spring for the following year’s cohort. Clark Honors College students are eligible to apply. More information is available on the school's website.
Second Bachelor’s Degree
Students who already have a bachelor’s degree and want to earn a second bachelor’s degree in the School of Journalism and Communication may apply for premajor status through the university’s Office of Admissions. Upon fulfilling the requirements for application for admission, they may apply for major status. Students must complete all of the school’s requirements for graduation including the school’s nonjournalism requirement and university requirements for the BA or BS. Credits, including transfer credits, earned for the first bachelor’s degree may count toward meeting the requirements as long as they conform to the transfer-credit policy outlined previously.
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.