Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Public Communications

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Journalism and Public Communications (JPC) prepares students to engage in the role that free expression and communication play in a global society. Students create professional-quality projects in print, audio, video, and multimedia. Graduates are prepared for careers and graduate school because of hands-on experience and an emphasis on ethics, effective communication in a variety of contexts and formats, critical thinking, and community-engaged research and creative activity. 

Admission Requirements

• Complete the Admission Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.

Graduation Requirements

• Complete the General University Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
• Complete the General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
• Submit a completed ePortfolio.
• Complete at least 72 credits from outside the major.
• Complete the major requirements below, which includes 42 credits of JPC coursework.

A minimum of 120 credits is required for the degree, of which 39 credits must be upper-division.

Honors in Journalism and Public Communications

Students majoring in journalism and public communications are eligible to graduate with departmental honors if they satisfy all of the following requirements:

• Meet the requirements for a BA in Journalism and Public Communications;
• Maintain an overall and JPC specific minimum GPA of 3.50;
• Complete JPC A403 or JPC A492 with a minimum grade of B.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Public Communications will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the history and the role of journalism and public communications in society;
• Demonstrate an understanding of diversity in a global society in relationship to communications;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical concepts, legal rights and responsibilities, considerations and practices that guide public communications and research in the field;
• Gather, critically evaluate, and synthesize information from various sources;
• Demonstrate the ability to think independently and evaluate their own work and the work of others for accuracy, fairness, clarity, style and correctness;
• Communicate effectively in a variety of contexts and formats;
• Apply basic numerical and statistical concepts and methods appropriate for the communications professions.

Sample Plan

The academic plan below is one pathway through the degree/certificate. It includes all requirements, taking into account recommendations from program faculty. Each student’s plan may vary according to their initial course placement, intended course load, additional majors and/or minors, and their placement into required prerequisite courses. Any change in the plan below can have an unforeseen impact on the rest of the plan. Therefore, it is very important to meet with your academic advisor to verify your personal academic plan.

Please review the following terms, definitions, and resources associated with the sample academic plan below.

• Each course in the far left column links to a pop-up bubble with a course description, prerequisite requirements, and associations with university requirements. For example, if a course fulfills a general education requirement, you will see that in the pop-up bubble.
• GER: indicates a General Education Requirement. GERs that also count toward degree/certificate requirements appear as a specific course in the plan. For these courses, "GER" is not indicated explicitly in the table, but if you click on the course, you will see the course's GER status in the pop-up bubble.
• Program Elective: indicates a specific course selection determined by program faculty to fulfill a degree/certificate requirement. Students should seek assistance from their academic advisor.
• Elective: indicates an open selection of 100-400 level university courses to fulfill elective credits needed to meet the minimum total credits toward the degree/certificate.
• Upper Division Program Elective: indicates a specific 300-400 level course selection determined by the program faculty to fulfill a degree/certificate requirement. Students should seek assistance from their academic advisor.
• Upper Division Elective: indicates an open selection of 300-400 level courses to fulfill elective credits needed to meet the minimum total credits toward the degree/certificate. These courses must be upper division in order to meet General University Requirements for the particular degree/certificate type.