Journalism, BS

Since 1936, SJSU’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications has built a global reputation for developing aspiring reporters and editors into top-notch professionals. Silicon Valley employers prefer to hire our grads because of their well-rounded cross-platform skills and strong, time-honored media ethics. JMC’s lineup of student media outlets provides young journalists with venues to display and develop their talents in traditional, social and digital media.

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Roadmaps

The 4-Year Roadmap is available online. Roadmaps should be used in consultation with the catalog and your advisor to identify additional requirements for completing the major (for example, course grade minimums). Associate Degrees (ADT) Pathways are also available online.

1. Complete the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Students must satisfy the specific degree requirements for their undergraduate major and fulfill the following University degree requirements:

Academic (program total units with an average 2.0 GPA - “C” or better)
General Education (GE) (34 Lower Division + 9 Upper Division)
American Institutions (AI) (0-6 units) (may be satisfied in GE Areas 3A, 3B, 4, UD 3, or UD 4)
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) 3 units (see Writing in the Disciplines)
Physical Education (PE) (0-2 units)
Units in Residence (30 units, including 24 upper division and 12 in major)
Upper Division Units (40 units, including 12 upper div in major for BA, 18 upper div in major for BS)
Undergraduate Policies & Procedures

Apply for Graduation
Information about the Commencement Ceremony and Conferral of the Degree

Summary of Degree Units

Core Lower Division General Education: 22 (6 units may be satisfied by major coursework)

American Institutions/ US123 Requirements: 6 (Note: may be satisfied by GE coursework)

Upper Division General Education: 9

Physical Education: 2

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR): 0 (3 units may be satisfied by MCOM 100W)

Lower Division Humanities & the Arts College Requirement: 3

Upper Division Humanities & the Arts College Requirement: 2-4

Major Preparation: 15

Major Requirements: 42

University Electives: 17-19

Total: 120

2. Lower Division College of Humanities & the Arts Requirement (3 units):

3. Upper Division College of Humanities & the Arts Requirement (2-4 units):

Complete a course offered by the College of Humanities & the Arts in a discipline other than your major.

4. Major Preparation (15 units)

JOUR 50 - Navigating the News 3 unit(s) (GE Area 4 / Formerly Area D)
MCOM 63 - New Media 3 unit(s)
MCOM 72 - Mass Communication and Society 3 unit(s)
MCOM 100W - Writing Workshop: Mass Communications 3 unit(s) (WID)
MCOM 163 - Advanced New Media Technologies 3 unit(s)

5. Major Requirements (42 units)

Core Courses (33 units)

JOUR 61 - Writing for Print, Electronic and Online Media 3 unit(s)
JOUR 95 - Beginning Digital News Photography 3 unit(s)
JOUR 132 - Magazine Reporting, Print and Online 3 unit(s)
JOUR 133 - Editing and News Management 3 unit(s)
JOUR 150 - News Media Management 3 unit(s)
Student must be an Editor on a Student Media Publication (JOUR 140A , JOUR 140B , JOUR 140C , or JOUR 140D ) to enroll in JOUR 150 .
MCOM 101 - Media Law and Ethics 3 unit(s)
MCOM 104 - Introduction to Mass Communications Research 3 unit(s)
MCOM 111 - Mass Communications Internship 3 unit(s)
Student must be enrolled in MCOM 111 at the same time as their internships to receive credit.

Mass Communications (3 units)

Complete one course from:

MCOM 105 - Lifestyles, Diversity and the Media 3 unit(s)
MCOM 106 - Global Mass Communication 3 unit(s)

Media Production (6 units)

Complete two courses from the following list. The courses must be from different student media outlets. All courses are repeatable for credit.

JOUR 140A - Student Media Production: Update News 1-3 unit(s) (3 units required)
JOUR 140B - Student Media Production: Spartan Daily 1-3 unit(s) (3 units required)
JOUR 140C - Student Media Production: The Spear 3 unit(s)
JOUR 140D - Student Media Production: Magazine 3 unit(s)

Major Electives (9 units)

JOUR 130 - Student Media Apprentice 3 unit(s)
JOUR 136 - Newspaper and Magazine Design 3 unit(s)
JOUR 140A - Student Media Production: Update News 1-3 unit(s) (repeatable up to 3 times for credit)
JOUR 140B - Student Media Production: Spartan Daily 1-3 unit(s) (repeatable up to 3 times for credit)
JOUR 140C - Student Media Production: The Spear 3 unit(s) (repeatable up to 3 times for credit)
JOUR 140D - Student Media Production: Magazine 3 unit(s) (repeatable up to 3 times for credit)
JOUR 150 - News Media Management 3 unit(s) (repeatable up to 2 times for credit)
JOUR 167 - Television News Magazine 3 unit(s)
JOUR 176A - Documentary Unit I - Short Form Feature Production 3 unit(s)
JOUR 176B - Documentary Unit II - Long Form/Series Production 3 unit(s)
MCOM 70 - Visual Communication for Modern Media 3 unit(s)
MCOM 105 - Lifestyles, Diversity and the Media 3 unit(s)
MCOM 106 - Global Mass Communication 3 unit(s)
MCOM 107 - Audio Podcasting, Aesthetics and Invention 3 unit(s)
MCOM 108 - Virtual Worlds, Virtual Reality and Mass Media 3 unit(s)
MCOM 139 - Special Topics Seminar 3 unit(s)
MCOM 180 - Independent Study 1-6 unit(s) (repeatable up to 3 times for credit)
MCOM 180ITL - JMC International Experience 1-6 unit(s) (repeatable up to 3 times for credit)
PR 195 - Strategic Sport Communication and Media 3 unit(s)

6. University Electives (17-19 units)

Academic Focus or Minor (optional) (0-13 units)

Optional: Complete an advisor-approved academic focus of 15 units consisting of a minor with approved courses. Academic foci include: Science, Justice Studies, Human Rights, Sports Journalism, or Visual Journalism & News Documentary. Must include at least 6 units of upper division. For more information, contact the major department. An Academic focus will only appear on a student’s diploma or transcript if it is an officially declared minor .

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