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Duluth Campus

Journalism B.A.

Communication
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Program Type: Baccalaureate
  • Requirements for this program are current for Fall 2021
  • Required credits to graduate with this degree: 120
  • Required credits within the major: 41
  • Degree: Bachelor of Arts
In an ever-changing media environment, the journalism major is designed to be innovative and dynamic, while adhering to a critical understanding of media’s role in a diverse, global society. The major emphasizes community engagement and global competence. Our program gives students a toolbox of skills and a critical study of mass media. The program starts with courses in journalism and communication that provide a core set of skills and a critical exploration of journalism. It then requires students to create a program of study that offers flexibility in how they apply journalism. These skills are further honed through application in a professional media setting. Students take courses from four categories: • Craft: courses in journalism and communication that develop skills in the practice of journalism. • Critical Inquiry: courses in journalism and communication that offer critical and theoretical study of journalism and mass media. • Application: courses where students apply their skills in a real-world situation through a practicum class, an internship, or working at campus media (e.g. The Bark, KUMD). This is the capstone experience. • Electives: courses that allow students to specialize their journalism studies based on their skills, interests and long-term goals.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
  • via classroom (the majority of instruction is face-to-face)
Admission Requirements
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the Office of Admissions website.
General Requirements
  1. Students must meet all course and credit requirements of the departments and colleges or schools in which they are enrolled including an advanced writing course. Students seeking two degrees must fulfill the requirements of both degrees. However, two degrees cannot be awarded for the same major.
  2. Students must complete all requirements of the Liberal Education Program or its approved equivalent.
  3. Students must complete a minimum of 120 semester credits completed in compliance with University of Minnesota Duluth academic policies with credit limits (e.g., Satisfactory/Non-Satisfactory Grading Policy, Credit for Prior Learning, etc).
  4. At least 30 semester credits must be earned through UMD, and 15 of the last 30 credits earned immediately before graduation must be awarded by UMD.
  5. At least half of upper-division (3xxx-level or higher) credits that satisfy major requirements (major requirements includes all courses required for the major, including courses in a subplan) through UMD.
  6. If a minor is required, students must take at least three upper division credits in their minor field from UMD.
  7. For certificate programs, at least 3 upper-division credits that satisfy requirements for the certificate must be taken through UMD. If the program does not require upper division credits students must take at least one course from the certificate program from UMD.
  8. The minimum cumulative University of Minnesota (UMN) GPA required for graduation is 2.00 and includes only University of Minnesota coursework. A minimum UMN GPA of 2.00 is required in each UMD undergraduate major, minor, and certificate. No academic unit may impose a higher GPA standard to graduate.
  9. Diploma, transcripts, licensure, and certification will be withheld until all financial obligations to the University have been met.
Program Requirements
1) A second field of study (either a minor, another major or dual degree) is required. 2) Study abroad is encouraged for all students and the department makes every effort to support such experiences.
Learning in Community (1 cr)
Requirement will be waived for transfer students with at least 30 credits taken post high school, for UMD students who started in a UMD collegiate unit where this is not required, and upon request for first-year students with 30 PSEO credits.
UST 1000 - Learning in Community (1.0-2.0 cr)
or EHS 1000 - Into the World [GLOBAL PER] (3.0 cr)
or ES 1000 - Global Cultural Perspectives on Environmental Sustainability [GLOBAL PER] (3.0 cr)
or LING 1000 - Language and Culture in the U.S. What does it Mean to Speak American [CDIVERSITY] (3.0 cr)
or PSY 1100 - Living Your Best Life: Applying Positive Psychology [CDIVERSITY] (3.0 cr)
Craft (13 cr)
JOUR 2001 - Introduction to Journalism (3.0 cr)
JOUR 2101 - Journalist's Toolbox (3.0 cr)
JOUR 3401 - Digital Storytelling (4.0 cr)
Take one of the following courses:
COMM 3505 - Media Communications (3.0 cr)
or JOUR 3001 - Local Journalism (3.0 cr)
or JOUR 4001 - Specialized Reporting: Narrative Nonfiction (3.0 cr)
or JOUR 4021 - Outdoor and Environmental Journalism (3.0 cr)
Critical Inquiry (9 cr)
JOUR 2501 - History of American Media (3.0 cr)
JOUR 3700 - Media Law and Ethics (3.0 cr)
Take one of the following courses:
COMM 2101 - Foundations of Mass Communication [LE CAT8, SOC SCI] (3.0 cr)
or JOUR 2300 - Visual Journalism (3.0 cr)
or JOUR 2400 - Community and Journalism [GLOBAL PER] (3.0 cr)
Application (3 cr)
JOUR 4102 - Newsroom Practicum (3.0 cr)
or JOUR 4197 - Journalism Internship (1.0-3.0 cr)
Electives (12 cr)
Students take at least one course from the Journalism Electives list.
Journalism Electives
JOUR courses not fulfilling a requirement elsewhere in the major will apply here.
Take 1 - 4 course(s) from the following:
· JOUR 3001 - Local Journalism (3.0 cr)
· JOUR 3095 - Special Topics: Journalism Inquiry (theory) (Titles to be assigned). (3.0 cr)
· JOUR 3195 - Special Topics: Journalism Craft (skills) (Titles to be Assigned) (3.0 cr)
· JOUR 3501 - Audio Stories for Podcasts and Radio (3.0 cr)
· JOUR 3555 - Data Journalism (3.0 cr)
· JOUR 4200 - Social Media in the Digital Age: From Pictographs to Pixels (3.0 cr)
· JOUR 2xxx-4xxx
· Optional Experience (consent required)
Take 0 - 3 credit(s) from the following:
· JOUR 3991 - Independent Study (1.0-3.0 cr)
Optional Complementary Electives
Students are encouraged to look campus-wide for complementary courses. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor about their elective choices and alternative complementary courses. Specific COMM courses not fulfilling a requirement elsewhere in the major will apply here (COMM 2101, 3505).
Take 0 - 3 course(s) from the following:
· ART 1605 - Fundamentals of Photography [LE CAT, FINE ARTS] (3.0 cr)
· COMM 3211 - Communication and Technology in the Information Age (3.0 cr)
· COMM 3405 - Health Campaigns (3.0 cr)
· COMM 3520 - Media Effects [SOC SCI] (3.0 cr)
· COMM 3525 - Deciding What's News (3.0 cr)
· COMM 3550 - Children and Media (3.0 cr)
· COMM 3615 - Analysis of Public Discourse (3.0 cr)
· COMM 4505 - Media Theory and Research (3.0 cr)
· WRIT 1506 - Literacy, Technology and Society [LE CAT, HUMANITIES] (3.0 cr)
· WRIT 4100 - Introduction to Grant Writing and Project Planning (3.0 cr)
· WRIT 4250 - New Media Writing (3.0 cr)
Advanced Writing (3 cr)
WRIT 31xx - Adv Writing (3 cr)
 
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· College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

View future requirement(s):
· Fall 2023
· Fall 2022

View sample plan(s):
· Journalism B.A.
· Study Abroad (one term)

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· Journalism B.A.
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UST 1000 - Learning in Community
Credits: 1.0 -2.0 [max 2.0]
Course Equivalencies: EHS 1000/UST 1000/ ES 1000
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Facilitates the successful transition into college learning and student life at UMD. Credit will not be granted if already received for EHS 1000.
EHS 1000 - Into the World (GLOBAL PER)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: EHS 1000/UST 1000/ ES 1000
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
This course fulfills the UST 1000 requirement. Facilitates the transition into college learning and student life at UMD and the College of Education and Human Service Professions. Introduces the promise and peril of global challenges in the 21st century and relates these challenges to local communities. pre-req: 1st semester CEHSP student
ES 1000 - Global Cultural Perspectives on Environmental Sustainability (GLOBAL PER)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
This course fulfills the UST 1000 requirement. This course explores the global cultural context of sustainability while facilitating the successful transition into college learning and student life at UMD. Examine the topic of environmental sustainability through the context of global culture and affairs. Explore different cultural approaches to solving environmental issues, compare and contrast these approaches with those taken in the US. Investigate the concept of outsourcing with respect to the peoples and ecosystems that are impacted by the practice. pre-req: less than 30 credits earned
LING 1000 - Language and Culture in the U.S. What does it Mean to Speak American (CDIVERSITY)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
This course fulfills the UST 1000 requirement. Facilitates the successful transition into college learning and student life at UMD while simultaneously fulfilling other core requirements. Examines the topic of Cultural Diversity in the U.S. through the context of language and dialect in American English. Explores the impact language has on the broad spectrum of American culture, and conversely, the ways in which various American cultures and their diverse heritages have influenced the many ways language is spoken in the United States. Investigates concepts of linguistic competency, perceptions and biases toward language, power structures manifested in language, and influences of class, race, ethnicity, and heritage on spoken language. pre-req: less than 30 credits
PSY 1100 - Living Your Best Life: Applying Positive Psychology (CDIVERSITY)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
This course fulfills the UST 1000 requirement. Facilitate the successful transition into college learning and student life at UMD; applications of positive psychology across cultures and positive behavior change; the examination of diverse perspectives in positive psychology; the promotion of student well-being, community and inclusivity, and time- and stress-management techniques. pre-req: less than 30 credits
JOUR 2001 - Introduction to Journalism
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Gateway course for journalism. Draws on a craft-based, digital-first approach to introduce students to fundamentals used by all journalists: information gathering, audience engagement, writing stories, basic news practices and ethics, news style, structure and readability, and interviewing techniques. Students also analyze various styles of journalism and talk about core theoretical concepts behind journalism and mass communication.
JOUR 2101 - Journalist's Toolbox
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Exposes students to the always-changing tools that can be used in journalistic storytelling. The course is designed for students interested in using these journalistic tools in myriad disciplines: journalism, public relations, marketing, design and various communication-related disciplines. prereq: 2001, WRIT 1120; credit will not be granted if already received for 3101
JOUR 3401 - Digital Storytelling
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Produce various forms of digital news stories drawing on photography, audio, video and other digital forms of storytelling. Learn the style differences between writing electronic news scripts and writing for print. Learn basic field recording techniques and production skills for audio and video. prereq: 2001
COMM 3505 - Media Communications
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Survey of journalistic, critical, public relations and advertising writing techniques. Students write radio essays, newsletter articles, news stories, press releases. They also prepare communication strategies for a mini advertising campaign, write a movie review and develop a feature article for a newspaper. prereq: WRIT 1120
JOUR 3001 - Local Journalism
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Skills-based that builds on JOUR 2001. Write publishable news stories based on field work and interviews. Emphasis on fully-developed, multi-source news stories that are fair and complete. Expand interview and research skills, and become familiar with the wide range of information available in public documents. prereq: 2001
JOUR 4001 - Specialized Reporting: Narrative Nonfiction
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Survey of different styles of narrative nonfiction writing including science writing, food and agricultural journalism, travel writing and other specialized forms of journalism. Read and critique examples. Produce work in an area of specialization. prereq: 2001; no grad credit
JOUR 4021 - Outdoor and Environmental Journalism
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
Covers the basics of outdoor and environmental journalism as it pertains to newspapers, magazine, television and online. Read and critique examples and produce work in this genre.
JOUR 2501 - History of American Media
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Explores the social and cultural history of journalism in the United States. Explore examples of journalism in various forms and critiques of journalism from time periods and study key moments in journalism history. Examines the practice of journalism, its core values, and how these have changed over time. Explores how technological, social and economic change shape journalism.
JOUR 3700 - Media Law and Ethics
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer
Examines laws, regulations and major court decisions that affect journalists and news organizations. Topics include First Amendment principles of press freedom, libel, invasion of privacy, prior restraint, access to information, and the regulation of electronic media content. prereq: Writ 1120
COMM 2101 - Foundations of Mass Communication (LE CAT8, SOC SCI)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer
Theories, research, regulation, and ethical concerns surrounding contemporary mass media. Identifies U.S. media's role within the international marketplace. Survey of contemporary media content, industry structures, technology, and delivery systems.
JOUR 2300 - Visual Journalism
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
This course is an introduction to visual journalism and other forms of visual media. Class covers the basics of photojournalism, visual persuasion, visual literary and ethical image-making. Course also covers the basics of data visualization and other visual displays of information.
JOUR 2400 - Community and Journalism (GLOBAL PER)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: JOUR 2400/FORS 2400
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer
Examines the role of journalism in defining communities. Exposure to various concepts of community and the role journalism has in defining these communities on both a local and global scale. Analyze a specific case study of one community journalism entity, and explore the ramifications of technology on the transformation of community. (Course may be offered as a short-term study abroad program.)
JOUR 4102 - Newsroom Practicum
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Jour 4102/Jour 5102
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Experience in a working newsroom. Apply skills from other journalism classes to plan, produce and manage an online news publication. Basic principles as well as practical skills with advanced computer programs. Includes editing, managing and reporting, as well as the discussion of both journalism and leadership issues. Advance theory and practice in news selection, preparation, and display for newspaper, magazine, broadcast and photojournalism media. Emphasis on the ethical and professional responsibility of the journalist. prereq: 2001; no grad credit
JOUR 4197 - Journalism Internship
Credits: 1.0 -3.0 [max 6.0]
Course Equivalencies: Jour 4197/Jour 5197
Grading Basis: S-N only
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Supervised professional experience as a working staff member with a newspaper, magazine, broadcast station or other communications organization. prereq: 2001, 3700, minimum 60 credits, instructor consent, no grad credit
JOUR 3001 - Local Journalism
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Skills-based that builds on JOUR 2001. Write publishable news stories based on field work and interviews. Emphasis on fully-developed, multi-source news stories that are fair and complete. Expand interview and research skills, and become familiar with the wide range of information available in public documents. prereq: 2001
JOUR 3095 - Special Topics: Journalism Inquiry (theory) (Titles to be assigned).
Credits: 3.0 [max 12.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Topics not included in regular curriculum. Courses will focus on theory and critical inquiry course relevant to the study of journalism and mass communication. New topics will be proposed through the required procedure but could include journalism in the digital media age, the impact of social media on journalism, citizen journalism, etc.
JOUR 3195 - Special Topics: Journalism Craft (skills) (Titles to be Assigned)
Credits: 3.0 [max 12.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Topics not included in regular curriculum. Courses will focus on skills and craft courses relevant to the production of journalism and media content. New topics will be proposed through the required procedure but could include journalism advance digital storytelling, magazine writing, podcast production, etc.
JOUR 3501 - Audio Stories for Podcasts and Radio
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
This course teaches students how to record audio interviews and natural sound and assemble professional-quality audio stories. Students will learn how to use audio recording field gear and digital audio editing software. They will learn how to write for the ear. They will critique professional audio productions and produce their own multi-layer documentary-style audio projects, suitable for use on radio, podcasts, or in multimedia installations online or in real world settings. They will learn how podcasts and other audio productions fit into the current digital information landscape. pre-req: JOUR 2001
JOUR 3555 - Data Journalism
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Discover the stories hiding in the numbers. Learn the basic techniques of computer-assisted reporting, data practices laws, using government documents, business reports, and statistical methods. Introduces the basics in creating graphs, charts and other forms of data visualization. prereq: JOUR 2001
JOUR 4200 - Social Media in the Digital Age: From Pictographs to Pixels
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
This course introduces students to social, political, historical, and economic aspects of social media in everyday life. Through both hands-on and analytical activities, students will explore and discover the evoluation of social media and apply best practices to using and engaging with social media. Students will study new and use social media tools, such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Reddit to source, create, verify and share news and information. Understanding social media as both an innovation and a disruption, students will learn how emerging and evolving practices impact and shape their personal and professional identity.
JOUR 3991 - Independent Study
Credits: 1.0 -3.0 [max 5.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Directed reading and research in journalism. prereq: 2001, instructor consent
ART 1605 - Fundamentals of Photography (LE CAT, FINE ARTS)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Art 2600/1600/1605/1607
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Introduction to photography and its roles in the communications culture. Basic photographic principles and introduction to digital darkroom. Assignments emphasize creative thinking. Requires digital camera with adjustable shutter speeds and apertures. Instruction presented only on macOS. NOTE: Art majors/minors and Photo minor take ART 2600 (prereq ART 1013). Course Equivalent: ART 2600
COMM 3211 - Communication and Technology in the Information Age
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Explores communication technologies in the information society; introduces students to new technologies used in contemporary organizations; explores implications of those technologies for human communication; and provides hands-on experience within a theoretical framework.
COMM 3405 - Health Campaigns
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Survey course examines how individual and community models of health behavior change are used to design, implement, and evaluate campaigns that promote healthy behaviors and reduce high-risk health behaviors.
COMM 3520 - Media Effects (SOC SCI)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Theory and research on the effects of media. Topics include media violence effects, sexual media content, fight reactions to media, news and political content effects, the impact of stereotyping, advertising effects, and the impact of new media technologies. prereq: credit will not be granted if already received for COMM 2102
COMM 3525 - Deciding What's News
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Review history of news in the United States, examine definitions of news, engage in critical evaluations of news in its various genres (news magazines, infotainment, investigative journalism, checkbook journalism, tabloid journalism, etc.).
COMM 3550 - Children and Media
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Theory and research on the impact of media on children.
COMM 3615 - Analysis of Public Discourse
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Guided historical, critical, and theoretical investigation of public discourse, examining the rhetorical practice manifest in traditional models of public oratory, mass media texts, and messages that address us via new media. Topics and periods vary. prereq: credit will not be granted if already received for COMM 2505
COMM 4505 - Media Theory and Research
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Theoretical concepts and research perspectives currently used to understand intricacies of a mediated society. Introduction and application of basic research methods to study questions concerning impact of media on society and individuals.
WRIT 1506 - Literacy, Technology and Society (LE CAT, HUMANITIES)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Historical survey of cultures without writing systems and cultures with writing systems and then later with printing, telegraph, radio, telephone, television, computers as well as other forms of technology. Survey of attitudes toward technology from Thoreau to Gandhi and beyond.
WRIT 4100 - Introduction to Grant Writing and Project Planning
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Writ 4100/5100
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Introduction to basic grant writing principles, including common types of grants, project planning, locating and researching funders, and writing effective narratives, preparing budgets, and evaluating program outcomes. Course utilizes lectures, discussion, group work, and guest speakers. prereq: 1120, min 60 cr, no grad credit
WRIT 4250 - New Media Writing
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Writ 4250/5250
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Combines the theory and production of new media writing--digital, verbal practices in converged media--through the application of readings and discussion to five projects that progress from written, print-based genres to new-media presentation. prereq: minimum 60 cr, no grad credit