B.A. in Journalism

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 124 units

See "Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree" in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared for both the Public Relations and News-Editorial options to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. Please click on the desired journalism option below to view the MAP and other current advising information on the CSU, Chico Web.

Please see General Education, Cultural Diversity, American Institutions, and Literacy Requirements under the B.A. in Communication Studies.

Taken directly from the 2007-2009 University Catalog

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Course Requirements for the Major: 34-35 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this degree. Additional required courses, depending upon the selected option or advising pattern, are outlined following the degree core program requirements. Course descriptions.

National accreditation standards require a journalism major to take a 34/35-unit journalism/communication curriculum. Of the 124-unit degree program, 80 units must be taken outside the journalism/communication curriculum. Overall, 65 of the units must be in liberal arts and sciences. The following courses, if taken as General Education or upper-division theme, will apply to the 80 outside units: CMST 131, CMST 132, CMST 255, CMST 334. Community college transfer students may apply 6 units (e.g., JOUR 260 and JOUR 101) to the 34/35-unit major. Other transfer units in journalism (to a maximum of 9-10) may apply to the 89-90 units beyond the major.

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Major Core Program: 9 units

2 courses required:

This course is also offered as CDES 101.

Prerequisites: ENGL 130.

1 course selected from:

Prerequisites: JOUR 101, JOUR 260. For Option in News-Editorial: JOUR 321. For Option in Public Relations: JOUR 341.

Prerequisites: Admission to the Honors in the Major program; JOUR 101, JOUR 260. For Option in News-Editorial: JOUR 321. For Option in Public Relations: JOUR 341.

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Formal Minor Requirement

Journalism majors with options in News-Editorial and Public Relations are required to complete a formal minor in a department outside the School of Communication.

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Major Option Course Requirements: 25-26 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required dependent upon the option chosen. Students must select one of the following options for completion of the major course requirements.

Click here for requirements for the News-Editorial Option.

Click here for requirements for the Public Relations Option.

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The Option in News-Editorial: 25-26 units

4 courses required:

Prerequisites: JOUR 101, JOUR 260.

Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, HIST 130, JOUR 260, POLS 155.

Prerequisites: JOUR 260.

Prerequisites: JOUR 260; JOUR 327 or JOUR 341; or faculty permission.

14-15 units selected from:

Group A

2 courses selected from:

Prerequisites: Sophomore standing; concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of JOUR 260.

This course is also offered as POLS 144.

Prerequisites: ENGL 130.

This course is also offered as WMST 311.

Prerequisites: JOUR 260.

Prerequisites: JOUR 260.

Prerequisites: CMST 131, CMST 330, CMST 331, and CMST 350, and CMST 370 with a grade of C- or higher for CMST majors only.

This course is also offered as CMST 424, and POLS 424.

Prerequisites: CMST 131, CMST 330, CMST 331, and CMST 350, and CMST 370 with a grade of C- or higher for CMST majors only; faculty permission.

This course is also offered as CMST 428, and POLS 428.

Group B

5-6 units selected from:

Prerequisites: JOUR 260.

Prerequisites: JOUR 260; JOUR 327 or JOUR 341; or faculty permission.

Prerequisites: JOUR 329 and faculty permission.

Prerequisites: JOUR 260; JOUR 244 and JOUR 341 for public relations option; JOUR 321 for news-editorial option.

Prerequisites: JOUR 260.

Prerequisites: JOUR 260; JOUR 321 or 325 for news-editorial option; JOUR 335 or 341 for public relations option.

Prerequisites: Faculty permission.

JOUR 329 is repeatable, with instructor and advisor permission, up to 4 units to count toward the major: 2 units for the option core; 2 units toward Group B; and up to 4 units as electives.

JOUR 489 is repeatable, with instructor and advisor permission, up to 3 units, with 1 unit counting toward Group B and up to 2 units as electives.

Group C - Visual Literacy

1 course selected from:

Prerequisites: JOUR 260; JOUR 244 and JOUR 341 for public relations option; JOUR 321 for news-editorial option.

Prerequisites: JOUR 260.

Prerequisites: JOUR 260.

Note: JOUR 355 may be used to fulfill requirements in either Group B or Group C in the News-Editorial Option. JOUR 351 and JOUR 355 may be used to fulfill requirements in either Group B or Group C in the Public Relations Option.

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The Option in Public Relations: 25-26 units

4 courses required:

Prerequisites: Sophomore standing; concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of JOUR 260.

This course is also offered as POLS 144.

Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, JOUR 244, JOUR 260.

Prerequisites: JOUR 244, JOUR 260, JOUR 341.

Prerequisites: JOUR 244, JOUR 260, JOUR 341, JOUR 344.

14 units selected from:

Group A

2 courses selected from:

Prerequisites: ENGL 130.

This course is also offered as WMST 311.

Prerequisites: JOUR 101, JOUR 260.

Prerequisites: JOUR 260.

Prerequisites: JOUR 260.

Prerequisites: CMST 131, CMST 330, CMST 331, and CMST 350, and CMST 370 with a grade of C- or higher for CMST majors only.

This course is also offered as CMST 424, and POLS 424.

Prerequisites: JOUR 244, JOUR 260, JOUR 341.

Group B

5-6 units selected from:

Prerequisites: CDES 103 or JOUR 260.

Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, HIST 130, JOUR 260, POLS 155.

Prerequisites: JOUR 260.

Prerequisites: JOUR 260.

Prerequisites: JOUR 260; JOUR 327 or JOUR 341; or faculty permission.

Prerequisites: JOUR 260; JOUR 244 and JOUR 341 for public relations option; JOUR 321 for news-editorial option.

Prerequisites: JOUR 260.

Prerequisites: JOUR 260; JOUR 321 or 325 for news-editorial option; JOUR 335 or 341 for public relations option.

Prerequisites: JOUR 244, JOUR 260, JOUR 341, JOUR 344, JOUR 445.

Prerequisites: JOUR 244, JOUR 260, JOUR 341, JOUR 344.

Prerequisites: Faculty permission.

JOUR 329 and JOUR 445 are repeatable, with instructor and advisor permission, for a total of 8 units: 2 units for the option core, 2 units toward Group B, and up to 4 units as electives.

JOUR 489 is repeatable, with instructor and advisor permission, up to 3 units, with 1 unit counting toward Group B and 2 units as electives.

Group C - Visual Literacy

1 course selected from:

Prerequisites: JOUR 260; JOUR 244 and JOUR 341 for public relations option; JOUR 321 for news-editorial option.

Prerequisites: JOUR 260.

Prerequisites: JOUR 260.

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Please see the Electives, Grading, and Advising Requirements under the BA in Communication Studies.

Please see Honors in the Major under the BA in Communication Studies.

Note: Students majoring in journalism who elect to complete the minor in Management of Human Resources or Marketing should see their adviser.

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