HOW TO BECOME A JOURNALISM MAJOR
Preparing for the competitive journalism fieldThe focus of the journalism department is to prepare students to meet the challenges of a global information age by combining a theoretical and ethical foundation with hands-on practical skills. While students learn about ethical and legal issues in the classroom, they also are out on the street learning how to become working reporters and photographers. The skills gained by students prepare them for producing news reports for print, broadcast, cable and Web-based media.
The journalism department, part of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism. Three areas of concentration are available. One is in print for those interested in newspapers and magazines. Within this area, a focus on photojournalism is available. The second area is in broadcast news, and the third is online journalism.
The department also participates in an interdisciplinary international journalism program with the university's Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Middle Eastern Studies and the Department of Near Eastern Studies. Students can go to a Central or South American country to produce stories, still photos and video on social, economic or political issues. Others can learn the challenges of reporting in the Middle East by attending a program at the American University in Cairo, Egypt, starting summer 2007.
Overall graduation requirements
The university requires 120 credit hours to graduate. Of the 120 credits, 42 need to be earned in 300- and 400-level classes. The minimum required grade point average to enter the journalism major is 2.5. The GPA required for graduation is 2.0 in the major, minor and overall. No more than 64 units may be transferred from two-year community colleges. A minimum of 30 units must be awarded as UA credit. Of the final 30 units, 18 must be UA credits.
The 120 units are earned in these areas: foundation courses, general education courses, journalism pre-major, journalism major, minor (or double major) and elective courses. Here are the details:
Foundation courses
-- Two semesters (generally 6 hours) of first-year English composition. That is, English 101 and 102, 103H and 104H, 107 and 108 or 109H (only one semester).
-- One semester (3 or 4 hours) of math.
-- Four semesters (at least 16 hours) of a second language. Any language is acceptable, but all semesters have to be the same language. If you are fluent in a language, you may be able to test out of some or all of this requirement.
General education
-- Six Tier I (freshman-level) courses of student's choosing, selected from a broad collection focusing on Traditions and Cultures (TRADs), Individuals and Societies (INDVs) and Natural Sciences (NATS).
-- Four Tier II (sophomore-level) classes, selected from a group focusing on the arts, humanities, natural sciences and gender, race, class, ethnicity or non-western area studies.
Journalism pre-major
University students under the 2005 or earlier catalogs meet these requirements:
1. Complete 2 semesters of first-year English composition with a B average or better.
2. Attend a mandatory major information session (see www.journalism.arizona.edu for dates). Students are admitted only at one of these meetings.
Students entering the UA for the first time in the Fall of 2006 and after will need to complete a more rigorous pre-major before they will be able to apply for admission to the major. These are the new requirements:
1. Complete 2 semesters of first-year English composition with a grade of B or better in each semester.
2. Finish 1 semester of math with a grade of B or better (105, 109, 110 or 112 can be used; 109 is most useful to journalism majors). PHIL 110 and LING 178, allowed by the general university math requirement, are not acceptable.
3. Earn an overall GPA of 2.5 for all UA and transfer courses up to and including the semester when application is made for admission into the major.
4. Have sophomore standing (25 or more completed hours by the start of the semester in which you take your first journalism classes).
5. Attend a major information meeting at which you will complete an application for admission to the major. Students are admitted only at one of these meetings.
Journalism major
The professional program has three areas of concentration. Besides the required courses shown here, elective classes also are available for those interested in specialized areas.
Print news
203 Photojournalism
205 Reporting the News
206 Advanced Reporting
208 Law of the Press
320A Editing
411 Feature Writing
413 Reporting Public Affairs
439 Ethics in the News Media
or
470 Press and Society
450 Epitaph
or
451 El Independiente
Photojournalism
In addition to the required course, 203, two other courses are available as electives:
406 Magazine Color Photography
497B Advanced Photojournalism
Broadcast news
203 Photojournalism
205 Reporting the News
206 Advanced Reporting
208 Law of the Press
320A Editing
380 Writing News and Documentary
413 Reporting Public Affairs
439 Ethics in the News Media
or
470 Press and Society
480 Reporting Broadcast News
Internet news
203 Photojournalism
205 Reporting the News
206 Advanced Reporting
208 Law of the Press
320A Editing
380 Writing News and Documentary
or
411 Feature Writing
413 Reporting Public Affairs
439 Ethics and the News Media
or
470 Press and Society
498D Online Journalism
Students are encouraged to take 496M Directions in News Technology, an elective, as preparation for 498D.
For more information
Karen Weaver
Academic Advisor
323A Marshall Building
521/621-5712
karenw@email.arizona.edu
Walk-in advising hours:
11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday or
By appointment