Bachelor of Arts in Journalism: Concentration in Print and Online Journalism
To earn the Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, students must complete 43 journalism units. Only ten journalism units may be lower-division for print/online majors —JOUR 205 and JOUR 221, JOUR 222 and JOUR 226. Only 13 units may be lower-division for photojournalism majors — JOUR 205 JOUR 221, JOUR 222, JOUR 226 and JOUR 235, or their equivalents completed elsewhere. Courses numbered 300 and above are not open to first-year students. Upon enrolling in journalism classes, students will be required to use their SF State email accounts. These email addresses will be used as the primary source of communication between students and the department.
To ensure that every journalism student's education is as rich and varied as possible, the department has established these requirements:
- A journalism major must complete a minor in one of the areas of study approved by faculty advisors. A list of approved disciplines for this requirement is posted at http://journalism.sfsu.edu/pages/list-approved-minors. Students should consult with an academic advisor in journalism to determine the minor that best meets their interests and professional goals.
- A journalism major must have a minimum of 72 non-journalism units in the 120 minimum overall units required for graduation. Included in these 72 units must be a minor in a single subject area chosen in consultation with the advisor. The 72 unit requirement is consistent with the department's philosophy that a well-rounded education is crucial preparation for journalism and is consistent with the standards of the national accrediting agency (ACEJMC) that evaluates journalism education programs. These standards exclude classes in broadcasting (BECA), public relations (MKTG), and advertising (MKTG) from qualifying as non-journalism units. Photography and film production classes in Art and Cinema are also excluded.
Student Learning Outcomes
- News Judgment: Work demonstrates news judgment that identifies and develops story ideas through observation, reading and paying attention to their environment
- Critical and Independent Thinking: Work demonstrates an ability to synthesize information and think independently and work through problems using inference and logic.
- Cultural Competence: Work demonstrates an understanding of a variety of cultures and how those cultures influence perspectives, attitudes and personal interaction with the world.
- Writing: Work demonstrates concise, clear, and accurate writing that engages the audience with compelling storytelling.
- Analytical Competence: Work demonstrates an ability to discern and weigh the quality of information they gather, as well as know how to analyze and interpret it.
- Research and Reporting: Work demonstrates an ability to methodically find information through personal interviews, public documents and the Internet.
- Media Literacy: Work demonstrates an ability to competently navigate through a rapidly changing media world, understanding media’s influence on society, community and the democratic process, and that students also understand the power of visual storytelling in shaping society’s understanding of the world.
- Ethics, Integrity and the Law: Work demonstrates knowledge and practice of ethical standards and constitutional laws that guide journalism excellence.
- Critical Evaluation: Work demonstrates critical evaluation of their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness.
- Data and Numbers: Work demonstrates an ability to apply basic numerical and statistical concepts.
- Technology: Work demonstrates an ability to know when and how to apply technology in their professional work.
- Visual Competence: Work demonstrates a technically competent ability to research, find, and capture a concise and compelling story that reflects the gamut of human experience in a variety of formats.
Journalism (B.A.): Concentration Print and Online Journalism — 43 Units
Core (25 Units)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 205 | Social Impact of Journalism | 3 |
| JOUR 221 | Newswriting | 3 |
| JOUR 222 | Newswriting Lab | 1 |
| JOUR 226 | Digital News Gathering | 3 |
| JOUR 300GW | Reporting - GWAR | 3 |
| JOUR 307 | News Media Law and Ethics | 3 |
| JOUR 395 | Online Journalism | 3 |
| JOUR 400 | Multimedia Journalism | 3 |
| JOUR 610 | Cultural Diversity and News Media | 3 |
Concentration Print and Online Journalism (12 Units)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 330 | Editing | 3 |
Advanced Journalism Elective
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Select two courses with at least one from Writing: | 6 | |
| Writing | ||
| Investigative Reporting | ||
| Feature Writing | ||
| Opinion Writing | ||
| Community Media | ||
| Environmental Journalism | ||
| Magazine Writing | ||
| Seminar: Contemporary News | ||
| Seminar: Topics in Journalism | ||
| Specialized Journalism | ||
| Data Journalism | ||
| Profiles | ||
| Contemporary Magazines | ||
| Social Media Journalism | ||
| News Entrepreneurship | ||
| Advanced Multimedia Journalism | ||
Visual Journalism
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Select one: | 3 | |
| Photojournalism I | ||
| Publication Design and Graphics | ||
Capstone (6 Units)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 609 | Publication Laboratory | 3 |
| For the Second Semester Capstone Elective select one: | ||
| JOUR 609 | Publication Laboratory | 3 |
| JOUR 617 | Journalism Internship | 3 |
| JOUR 695 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
Skills Courses
Skills courses offered by the Department of Journalism impart the various skills and crafts necessary to the practice of journalism. There are three levels of skills courses: foundational, advanced, and capstone. The capstone skills courses provide students a culminating opportunity to integrate skills acquired in foundational and advanced courses, working and learning collaboratively. Journalism majors and minors must earn grades of C or better in all foundational, advanced, and capstone skills courses.
Non-journalism units (includes required minor): 72 Units
These 72 units must include a single subject minor chosen in consultation with an advisor. Classes in broadcasting (BECA), public relations (MKTG), advertising (MKTG), and production classes in film (CINE) and photography (ART) do not qualify as non-journalism units.
Complementary Studies
Twelve units of complementary studies are required of all candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism. Students completing the Bachelor of Arts in Journalism must complete a minor that has been approved by the department. The minor fulfills the Complementary Studies Requirement.
How GWAR is satisfied for the Journalism major: JOUR 300GW, required for all majors.
Total units for Degree: 120
General Education Requirements
Note: LD = Lower-Division; UD = Upper-Division.
General Advising Information for Transfer Students
- Before transfer, complete as many lower-division requirements or electives for this major as possible.
- The following courses are not required for admission but are required for graduation. Students are strongly encouraged to complete these units before transfer; doing so will provide more flexibility in course selection after transfer.
- a course in U.S. History
- a course in U.S. & California Government
- a 2nd-semester course in written English composition
For information about satisfying the requirements described in (1) and (2) above at a California Community College (CCC), please visit http://www.assist.org. Check any geographically accessible CCCs; sometimes options include more than one college. Use ASSIST to determine:
- Which courses at a CCC satisfy any lower division major requirements for this major, including 2nd-semester composition;
- Which courses at a CCC satisfy CSU GE, US History, and US & CA Government.
Remedial courses are not transferable and do not apply to the minimum 60 units/90 quarters required for admission.
Additional units for courses that are repeated do not apply to the minimum 60 units required for upper division transfer (for example, if course was not passed on the first attempt, or was taken to earn a better grade).
Before leaving the last California Community College of attendance, obtain a summary of completion of lower division General Education units (IGETC or CSU GE Breadth). This is often referred to as a GE certification worksheet. SF State does not require delivery of this certification to Admissions, but students should retain this document for verifying degree progress after transfer.
Credit for Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or College-Level Examination Program courses: AP/IB/CLEP credit is not automatically transferred from the previous institution. Units are transferred only when an official score report is delivered to SF State. Credit is based on the academic year during which exams were taken. Refer to the University Bulletin in effect during the year of AP/IB/CLEP examination(s) for details regarding the award of credit for AP/IB/CLEP.
Students pursuing majors in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines often defer 6-9 units of lower-division general education in areas C and D until after transfer to focus on preparation courses for the major. (This advice does not apply to students pursuing associate degree completion before transfer.)
Transferring from institutions other than CCCs or CSUs
Review SF State's lower division General Education requirements. Note that, as described below, the four basic skills courses required for admission meet A1, A2, A3, and B4 in the SF State GE pattern. Courses that fulfill the remaining areas of SF State’s lower division GE pattern are available at most two-year and four-year colleges and universities.
Of the four required basic skills courses, a course in critical thinking (GE A3) may not be widely offered outside the CCC and CSU systems. Students should attempt to identify and take an appropriate course no later than the term of application to the CSU. To review more information about the A3 requirement, please visit http://bulletin.sfsu.edu/undergraduate-education/general-education/lower-division/#AAEL.
Identify and complete a 2nd-semester written English composition course before transfer. This is usually the next course after the typical “freshman comp” course, with a focus on writing, reading and critical analytical skills for academic purposes, and developing skills in composing, revising, and the use of rhetorical strategies.
Waiting until after transfer to take a single course at SF State that meets both US and CA/local government requirements may be an appropriate option, particularly if transferring from outside of California.
All students must meet the transfer eligibility requirements outlined below for admission. For more information, visit the Undergraduate Admissions section.
- Complete 60 or more transferable semester units or 90 or more quarter units
- Earn a college grade point average of 2.00 or better in all transferable courses. Non-local area residents may be held to a higher GPA standard.
- Be in good standing at the last college or university attended
- Complete 30-semester units (45-quarter units) of general education, including four basic skills courses:
- One course in oral communication (same as CSU GE Area A1)
- One course in written composition (same as CSU GE Area A2)
- One course in critical thinking (same as CSU GE Area A3)
- One course in mathematics or quantitative reasoning (same as CSU GE Area B4)
- The four basic skills courses and a minimum of 60 transferable semester units (90-quarter units) must be completed by the spring semester prior to fall admission, or by the fall semester prior to spring admission. Earn a "C-" or better grade in each basic skills course.
