Journalism, B.A.

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Return to: 3200 Department of Communication

Journalism is the practice of collecting, evaluating, and disseminating current, relevant information and opinion. The journalism major prepares students for a variety of careers as multimedia news producers or public relations practitioners. Journalism courses are also useful electives for students planning to enter other vocations who wish to deepen and expand their media-literacy.

University Grade-Point Average and Grade Requirements

Georgia State University undergraduate students must achieve an overall institutional grade-point average of 2.0 and a major GPA of 2.0 in Areas G and H to receive a bachelor’s degree from the university. Grades of C- can be used to satisfy graduation requirements. However, some courses have prerequisites that require a grade of C or higher. (See GPA Requirement for additional information.)

Major Eligibility Requirements

Effective fall semester 2013, to be eligible for the Journalism major and to enroll in 3000-4000 level Journalism courses (i.e., JOUR courses), students must fulfill the following requirements:

Complete all courses with the JOUR prefix that are in Journalism’s Area F (with a minimum grade of “C” in the first attempt) and
Earn a 2.5 grade-point average in all Area F JOUR courses. This GPA will be calculated based on the first attempt at these JOUR courses at Georgia State University. WFs counts as an attempt. Transfer students who transfer these course(s) into Georgia State, may use the grades in the transferred course(s) to calculate the GPA or they may attempt them once at Georgia State.
Courses retaken using the university Repeat to Replace policy are not counted as first attempts.
Once a student is eligible to take 3000-4000 Journalism courses, they remain eligible to take them as long as they are eligible to enroll at Georgia State University.

In addition to the Major Eligibility Requirements for Journalism, students must fulfill the College of Arts and Sciences Degree Requirements (see College Degree Requirements) and the University Degree Requirements (see 1400 University Degree Requirements and Graduation).

Degree Requirements

Area F: Courses Appropriate to the Major Field (18 Hours)

* Students must have a 2.5 grade-point average in these Area F JOUR courses to be eligible for the B.A. in Journalism and to take 3000- and 4000-level JOUR courses. (See Major Eligibility Requirements.)

Required Courses (12 Hours)

(minimum grade of “C” required.)

JOUR 1000 - Introduction to Mass Communication 3 Credit Hours *
JOUR 1010 - Basic News Writing 3 Credit Hours *
JOUR 2500 - Foundations of Media Research 3 Credit Hours *
SCOM 1500 - Public Speaking 3 Credit Hours

World Language Requirements

World Language at the 1002 level or higher 3 Hours
(See “World Language Requirement for B.A. and B.I.S. Majors,” previously described.)

Elective Courses

Select one course

AAS 1141 - Introduction to African and African American History to 1865 3 Credit Hours
or
HIST 1141 - Introduction to African and African American History to 1865 3 Credit Hours
AAS 1142 - Introduction to African American History Since 1865 3 Credit Hours
or
HIST 1142 - Introduction to African American History Since 1865 3 Credit Hours
AAS 2010 - Introduction to Africana Studies 3 Credit Hours
ANTH 2020 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 3 Credit Hours
ECON 2105 - Principles of Macroeconomics 3 Credit Hours
ECON 2106 - Principles of Microeconomics 3 Credit Hours
FLME 2700 - History of the Motion Pictures 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 1101 - Introduction to Human Geography 3 Credit Hours
HIST 1111 - Survey of World History to 1500 3 Credit Hours
HIST 1112 - Survey of World History since 1500 3 Credit Hours
HIST 2110 - Survey of United States History 3 Credit Hours
MUA 1500 - Jazz: Its Origins, Styles, and Influence 3 Credit Hours
MUA 1930 - Music, Society, and Culture 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 2010 - Introduction to Philosophy 3 Credit Hours
POLS 2101 - Introduction to Political Science 3 Credit Hours
POLS 2401 - Global Issues 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 1101 - Introduction to General Psychology 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 1101 - Introduction to Sociology 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 1160 - Introduction to Social Problems 3 Credit Hours
SCOM 1010 - Improving Voice and Articulation 3 Credit Hours
THEA 2040 - Introduction to the Theatre 3 Credit Hours
WGSS 2010 - Introduction to Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies 3 Credit Hours
World language 1001 (if no previous experience with language)
World language at the 2001 or 2002 level

Area G (24 Hours)

H: Minor and Additional Courses

Majors in the Department of Communication’s two B.A. programs must select a minor consisting of at least 15 hours of courses in a discipline within the Department of Communication other than the major (journalism or speech communication) or in another academic department/school/institute that offers a baccalaureate degree. At least nine semester hours of minor courses must be at the 3000 level or above, unless otherwise specified by the minor-granting department/school/institute. A grade of C or higher is required in all minor courses.

Additional Information

Internships

Credit for special projects and internships is available in all majors. Internships provide students who have already completed all other requirements to gain experience in a variety of professional sectors in the metropolitan area and to tailor programs to their specific career goals.

Graduation with Distinction in the Major

This unit offers undergraduate students with the opportunity to earn the designation of graduation with distinction in the major. Please contact the undergraduate director for the specific criteria for this honor.