Program Learning Objectives
Graduates with a BS in Journalism will:
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Apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech and of the press.
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Recognize key events in the history of journalism and mass communication and key principles in the main theories of journalism and mass communication.
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Demonstrate a broad understanding of how diverse personal, cultural, social, economic, and political factors intersect with the design and delivery of journalism and mass communication.
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Apply journalism and mass communication concepts and theories in the use and presentation of images and information.
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Uphold the personal and professional ethics and values of journalism. These include the pursuit of truth, fairness and accuracy.
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Think critically, creatively and independently.
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Critically evaluate their own work and that of others to create effective journalism and mass communication messages that are appropriately styled, grammatically correct and relevant to their audiences.
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Collect and evaluate information to achieve journalism and mass communication goals.
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Innovate and employ appropriate communication tools and techniques.
Degree Requirements and Curriculum
In addition to the program requirements listed on this page, students must also satisfy requirements outlined in more detail in the Minimum Requirements for Graduation section of this catalog, including:
- 60 units of upper-division courses
- Graduation Writing Requirement (GWR)
- 2.0 GPA
- U.S. Cultural Pluralism (USCP)
A minimum of 104 units must be taken outside of Journalism/Media/Mass Communication. These are taken in Approved Electives, Support Courses and General Education.
Note: Up to 4 units of credit/no credit grading may be selected for courses in Major or Support.
| MAJOR COURSES | ||
| Journalism Core | ||
| JOUR 102 | Introduction to Journalism | 1 |
| JOUR 203 | News Reporting and Writing | 4 |
| JOUR/COMS 218 | Media, Self and Society (E) 1 | 4 |
| JOUR 285 | Introduction to Multimedia Journalism | 4 |
| JOUR 302 | Mass Media Law | 4 |
| JOUR 402 | Journalism Ethics | 4 |
| JOUR 444 | Media Internship | 3 |
| JOUR 462 | Senior Media Practicum 2 | 4 |
| Media Technologies | ||
| Select from the following: | 8 | |
| Web Audio and Video | ||
| Data Journalism | ||
| Visual Communication for the Mass Media | ||
| Multimedia Production for Public Relations and Advertising | ||
| Advanced Digital Journalism | ||
| Global and Cultural Perpectives | ||
| Select from the following: | 4 | |
| Multicultural Society and the Mass Media | ||
| Global Communication | ||
| Select the News Track or the Public Relations Track: | 20 | |
News Track | ||
Select 12 units from the following: | ||
| Public Affairs Reporting | ||
| Broadcast News | ||
| Editing | ||
| Broadcast Announcing and Production | ||
| Electronic News Gathering | ||
| Feature Writing | ||
Select 8 units from the following (may be repeated): | ||
| Advanced Newspaper Reporting Practicum | ||
| Advanced Broadcast Journalism Practicum | ||
Public Relations Track | ||
Select 12 units from the following: | ||
| Public Affairs Reporting | ||
or JOUR 333 | Broadcast News | |
or JOUR 334 | Editing | |
| Public Relations | ||
| Advanced Newspaper Reporting Practicum | ||
or JOUR 353 | Advanced Broadcast Journalism Practicum | |
Select 8 units from the following: | ||
| Public Relations Writing and Editing | ||
| Public Relations and Crisis Management | ||
or JOUR 413 | Public Relations Campaigns | |
| Advanced Public Relations Practice: CCPR | ||
| Journalism/ Media/ Mass Communication Courses | ||
| No more than 16 units of these courses can be applied toward the degree: 3 | 16 | |
Any JOUR course, including those listed above, if not used to meet Major requirements, and: | ||
| News Media and Democracy | ||
| Agricultural Communications | ||
| Introduction to Radio Broadcasting | ||
| Selected Topics | ||
| Cal Poly Radio Laboratory | ||
| Contemporary Advertising | ||
| Advanced Sportscasting | ||
| Media Innovation and Entrepreneurship | ||
| Special Problems for Advanced Undergraduates | ||
| Copyright, Trademark, Patent and Commercial Speech in Digital Media | ||
| Media Management Laboratory | ||
| Selected Advanced Topics | ||
| Selected Advanced Laboratory | ||
Media/ Mass Communication courses offered by other departments: | ||
| Orientation to Agricultural Communication | ||
| Special Problems in Agricultural Communication | ||
| Software Applications for Agricultural Publications | ||
| Selected Topics | ||
| New Media Communication Strategies in Agriculture | ||
| Internship in Agricultural Communications | ||
| Advanced Special Problems in Agricultural Communication | ||
| Agricultural Publications | ||
| Presentation Methods in Agricultural Communication | ||
| Interaction Design I | ||
| Digital Video I | ||
| Digital and New Media Marketing | ||
| Social Media's Role in Integrated Marketing Communications | ||
| Technology and Human Communication | ||
| Media Effects | ||
| Media Criticism | ||
| Technical Editing | ||
| Information Design and Production | ||
| New Media Arts I | ||
| New Media Arts II | ||
| Introduction to Graphic Communication | ||
| Web Development and Content Management 4 | ||
| Web Design and Production 4 | ||
| Web and Print Publishing | ||
| Graphic Communication in Integrated Marketing Communications 4 | ||
| Mobile User Experience 4 | ||
| Magazine Design Technology 4 | ||
| Emerging Technologies in Graphic Communication 4 | ||
| Design Reproduction Topics in Graphic Communication 4 | ||
| Introduction to Media Arts and Technologies | ||
| Topics and Issues in Values, Media and Culture | ||
| Media Arts and Technologies: Storytelling | ||
| Media Arts and Technologies: Cinematic Process | ||
| Approved Electives 5 | ||
| Students are encouraged to pursue minors or develop other areas of interest outside of Journalism, Media, and Mass Communication through Approved Electives and with the following restrictions: | 36 | |
At least 24 units must be upper-division courses with a lecture or seminar component. This excludes activity-only, lab-only, or supervision courses such as internships. | ||
No Approved Electives may be taken in the area of Journalism/Media/Mass Communication. These include media/ mass communication courses offered in other departments. See the Restricted list above. 3 | ||
| SUPPORT COURSES | ||
| Select from the following (B4): 1 | 4 | |
| Statistical Reasoning | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Concepts and Methods | ||
| Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences | ||
| Statistical Inference for Management I | ||
| GENERAL EDUCATION (GE) | ||
| (See GE program requirements below.) | 64 | |
| FREE ELECTIVES | ||
| Free Electives 6, 7 | 0 | |
| Total units | 180 | |
| 1 | Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement. |
| 2 | JOUR 460 Senior Project may substitute for JOUR 462 Senior Media Practicum with consent of department head. |
| 3 | This is particularly relevant to students pursuing minors in Agricultural Communication; Art & Design; Communication Studies; English; Graphic Communication; Integrated Marketing Communications; and Media Arts, Society and Technology. |
| 4 | Graphic Communication majors have priority for registration in these highly impacted courses. |
| 5 | These courses count toward the 104 units required outside Journalism/Media/Mass Communication courses. |
| 6 | If a General Education (GE) course is used to satisfy a Major or Support requirement, additional units of Free Electives may be needed to complete the total units required for the degree. |
| 7 | Free Electives cannot be Journalism/Media/Mass Communication courses. |
General Education (GE) Requirements
- 72 units required, 8 of which are specified in Major and/or Support.
- If any of the remaining 64 units is used to satisfy a Major or Support requirement, additional units of Free Electives may be needed to complete the total units required for the degree.
- See the complete GE course listing.
- A grade of C- or better is required in one course in each of the following GE Areas: A1 (Oral Communication), A2 (Written Communication), A3 (Critical Thinking), and B4 (Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning).
| Area A | English Language Communication and Critical Thinking | |
| A1 | Oral Communication | 4 |
| A2 | Written Communication | 4 |
| A3 | Critical Thinking | 4 |
| Area B | Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning | |
| B1 | Physical Science | 4 |
| B2 | Life Science | 4 |
| B3 | One lab taken with either a B1 or B2 course | |
| B4 | Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (4 units in Support) 1 | 0 |
| Upper-Division B | 4 | |
| Area C | Arts and Humanities | |
| Lower-division courses in Area C must come from three different subject prefixes. | ||
| C1 | Arts: Arts, Cinema, Dance, Music, Theater | 4 |
| C2 | Humanities: Literature, Philosophy, Languages other than English | 4 |
| Lower-Division C Elective - Select a course from either C1 or C2 | 4 | |
| Upper-Division C | 4 | |
| Area D | Social Sciences | |
| D1 | American Institutions (Title 5, Section 40404 Requirement) | 4 |
| D2 | Lower-Division D - Select courses from two different subject prefixes. | 8 |
| Upper-Division D | 4 | |
| Area E | Lifelong Learning and Self-Development | |
| Lower-Division E (4 units in Major) 1 | 0 | |
| GE Electives in Areas B, C, and D | ||
| Select courses from two different areas; may be lower-division or upper-division courses. | ||
| GE Electives | 8 | |
| Total units | 64 | |
| 1 | Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement. |
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