BJ in Journalism
Degree Program Description
Journalism is the study and practice of analyzing, gathering, creating and presenting news and information through different media.
The curriculum includes focused study and hands-on experience within the career paths of broadcasting, cross-platform editing and producing, photojournalism and documentary journalism, reporting and writing, and social and audience strategy.
Students customize their degree through elective courses that allow them to gain depth and breadth in a wide array of subject areas and specializations. Upon graduation, students pursue careers in a wide range of journalism and communication professions including: account management, art direction, audience engagement, audience development, audience research, business journalism, data analysis and visualization, digital content editing, digital strategy, documentary editing and producing, international journalism, investigative reporting, media planning, media production, magazine editing, mobile production, multimedia editing, news editing, photo editing, photography, podcasting, public relations, project management, product management, science communication, SEO strategy, social media producing, sports reporting, sports and entertainment promotion, strategic communication, television news reporting or production, television sports reporting or production, radio reporting and production, videography, website editing and writing.
Major Program Requirements
The Bachelor of Journalism degree requires 120 credits. The faculty expects each student to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be considered in good standing.
To obtain the Bachelor of Journalism degree, a student must complete the following:
- University Graduation Requirements
- University General Education
- Major Core: 27 credit hours
- Major Career Path: 6 credit hours
- Major Capstone: 3 credit hours
- Major Specialty Areas: 15 credit hours
- Non-Journalism Electives: 25 credit hours
| ENGLSH 1000 | Writing and Rhetoric (Minimum grade of B- required) | 3 |
| General Education: Math and Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | |
| General Education: Behavioral Science | 3 | |
| General Education: Math/Science | 9 | |
| Must include 9 credits in these sciences: biological science, physical science, and/or mathematical science including at least one biological or physical science and its related laboratory component and representing two different areas of science. If taking math courses to satisfy this requirement, they Must be courses in mathematics or statistics with any one of MATH 1050: Quantitative Reasoning, MATH 1100: College Algebra, MATH 1160: Precalculus Mathematics, or STAT 1200: Introductory Statistical Reasoning as a prerequisite. | ||
| General Education: Humanities | 3 | |
| Foreign Language (from same language) | 12 | |
| ECONOM 1014 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| or ABM 1041 | Applied Microeconomics | |
| ECONOM 1015 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| or ABM 1042 | Applied Macroeconomics | |
| HIST 1100 | Survey of American History to 1865 ^ | 3 |
| or HIST 1200 | Survey of American History Since 1865 | |
| POL_SC 1100 | American Government | 3 |
| or POL_SC 2100 | State Government | |
| Journalism Core Requirements | ||
| JOURN 1100 | Principles of Journalism in Democracy | 3 |
| JOURN 1200 | Fundamentals of Visual Journalism and Strategic Communication | 3 |
| JOURN 1300 | Fundamentals of Written Journalism and Strategic Communication | 3 |
| JOURN 1400 | Applied Projects for Journalism and Strategic Communication | 3 |
| JOURN 2000 | Cross-Cultural Journalism | 3 |
| JOURN 2200 | Audiences and Persuasion | 2 |
| JOURN 4160 | Social Media Foundations and Practice | 1 |
| JOURN 4180 | Newsroom Content Creation | 3 |
| JOURN 3000 | History of American Journalism | 3 |
| or JOURN 4568 | History of Photojournalism | |
| JOURN 4000 | Communications Law | 3 |
| Career Path (minimum of two courses from one area required) | 6 | |
Television JOURN 4300 & JOURN 4304 | ||
Cross-Platform Editing and Producing JOURN 4830 & JOURN 4832 | ||
Photojournalism and Documentary JOURN 4540 & JOURN 4560 | ||
Reporting and Writing JOURN 4450 & JOURN 4490 | ||
Social and Audience Strategy JOURN 4820 & JOURN 4824 | ||
| Specialty Areas (may choose from several)* | 15 | |
Accelerated Graduate Program, Account Management, Art Direction, Arts and Culture Journalism, Audience Experience, Broadcast Radio News, Broadcast TV News, Business Journalism, Copywriting, Design, Digital Strategy, Documentary Journalism, Editing, Government Journalism, Innovation and Technology, International Journalism, Investigative and Data Journalism, Magazine Writing, Media Planning, Novak Leadership, Photojournalism Stills and Video, Podcasting, Public Relations, Print and Digital Reporting, Science, Health, and Environment, Social Leadership, Sports and Entertainment Promotion, Sports Journalism, Strategic Communication Research, Strategic Communication Visual Storytelling, Visual Editing and Management | ||
| Capstone (Complete one three credit hour capstone) * | 3 | |
| JOURN 4310 | News Producing | 3 |
| JOURN 4320 | Advanced Broadcast Reporting | 3 |
| JOURN 4379 | Documentary Post Production | 3 |
| JOURN 4406 | Digital News Editing | 3 |
| JOURN 4972 | Photo and Visual Editing | 3 |
| JOURN 4978 | Media Management and Leadership | 3 |
| JOURN 4980 | The Picture Story and Photographic Essay | 3 |
| JOURN 4984 | Magazine Staff | 3 |
| JOURN 4986 | Advanced Writing | 3 |
| JOURN 4990 | Journalism and Democracy | 3 |
| JOURN 4992 | Innovation and Audience Research in Digital Media | 3 |
| JOURN 4994 | Magazine Publishing | 3 |
| Non-Journalism Electives from the areas below: | 25 | |
| (Course must be numbered 2000 or above) | ||
| Area 1 | 3 | |
Students choose from one of these areas: Animal Science, Anthropology, Astronomy, Atmospheric Science, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Food Science, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Plant Science, Psychology, Rural Sociology, Sociology or Statistics. | ||
Honor’s College students can also choose from: GN_HON 2243H, GN_HON 2310H, GN_HON 2244H, GN_HON 2461H, GN_HON 2462H, GN_HON 3210H, GN_HON 3242H. | ||
| Area 2 | 6 | |
Students choose from the following areas: Agribusiness Management, Black Studies, Economics, Geography, History, Peace Studies, Political Science, Textile and Apparel Management, and Women's and Gender Studies. | ||
Honor’s College students can also choose from: GN_HON 2230H, GN_HON 2245H, GN_HON 2246H, GN_HON 3230H. | ||
| Area 3 | 6 | |
Students choose from the following areas: Ancient Mediterranean Studies, Arabic, Architectural Studies, all Art prefixes, Chinese, Classical Humanities, Classics, Communication**, English**, Film Studies**, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, all Music prefixes, Philosophy, Portuguese, Religious Studies, Russian, South Asia Studies, Spanish, Theater, and Visual Studies-Art History | ||
Honor’s College students can also choose from: GN_HON 2015H, GN_HON 2111H, GN_HON 2112H, GN_HON 2113H, GN_HON 2114H, GN_HON 2120H, GN_HON 3120H | ||
| Area 4 | 10 | |
Any non-journalism course** | ||
- ^
See your advisor for additional choices to fulfill this requirement
- *
Students can earn credit in courses from additional Career Path and capstone courses. These additional credits will apply to the fifteen credit hours in the Specialty Area requirements.
- **
Some courses are prohibited in the Bachelor of Journalism. Students should consult with their academic advisor for questions regarding courses in these areas.
General Electives
Electives may be necessary to complete a minimum of 72 credits of non-journalism classes and 120 total credits. Any course acceptable to the School of Journalism is allowed.
Accelerated BJ in Journalism to MA in Journalism
The accelerated bachelor to master's degree program was designed for students in the Missouri School of Journalism to attain a graduate education. The new program will allow students to apply and begin their master’s program in the senior year of undergraduate program. Students in the program complete requirements as outlined for the Bachelor of Journalism degree and then spend one more year (approximately 12 months) to earn a master’s degree. The program requires students to carry 9-12 credits each semester. Course work in the program builds on the undergraduate program and enhances student’s skills and understanding of the chosen area of journalism. At the present time, areas include strategic communication, newspaper design, broadcast management, computer-assisted reporting and magazine areas such as magazine writing and magazine design.
Semester Plan
The following four-year plan is a sample. A student's path to graduation may vary based on a host of factors. Working with an academic advisor is necessary to determine the best plan for each student.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGLSH 1000 | 3 | Second Language II | 4 |
| Second Language I | 4 | JOURN 1300 or 1200 | 3 |
| Math and Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | HIST 1100 or 1200 | 3 |
| JOURN 1200 or 1300 | 3 | Gen Ed Sci Non Lab | 3 |
| JOURN 1100 | 3 | Humanities | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Second Language III | 4 | ECONOM 1014 | 3 |
| Gen Ed Sci Non Lab | 3 | Gen Ed Lab Science | 3 |
| JOURN 1400 | 3 | JOURN 2200 | 2 |
| JOURN 2000 | 3 | Behavioral Science | 3 |
| POL_SC 1100 | 3 | JOURN 4180W | 3 |
| JOURN 4160 | 1 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Journalism Specialty | 3 | Journalism Specialty | 6 |
| Career Path I | 3 | JOURN 3000 | 3 |
| Area 2 | 3 | Area 3 | 3 |
| Area 1 | 3 | Career Path II | 3 |
| ECONOM 1015 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Journalism Specialty | 6 | Journalism Specialty | 3 |
| JOURN 4000 | 3 | Capstone | 3 |
| Area 3 | 3 | Area 4 | 3 |
| Area 4 - WI | 3 | Area 4 | 3 |
| 15 | 12 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
Degree Audit
The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree.
MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.
Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.
Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.
For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.
Major and Career Exploration
The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.
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If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.
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If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major.
- If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit:
- the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog,
- the MU Majors website.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.