Mar 28, 2024  
2016-2017 EIU Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2016-2017 EIU Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]


Department of Journalism

Journalism (B.A.)



Total Semester Hours required for the Degree: 120 semester hours

Semester Hours required for the Journalism Major: 76 semester hours

Major


Journalism majors may apply no more than 12 transfer credit hours, nor more than 46 total credit hours in journalism courses, toward the 120-hour graduation requirement. Journalism majors must successfully complete HIS 3940 and either PLS 1153G or HIS 3600G. A minimum grade of C is required for all Journalism courses. A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required for all Journalism coursework.

The Journalism major consists of 75-76 hours in three required areas and a fourth voluntary area of co-curricular activities.

I. Journalism Course Work - Total Hours: 45-46


* This requirement may be waived by the department chair with evidence of equivalent experience.

Core:  33 or 34 hours

Plus one Media and Society Course from:


Electives - Total Hours: 12


Students must choose 12 hours of elective courses in Journalism to complete the 45- or 46-hour requirement, or nine of which may be one of the concentrations (listed later in this section) in a specific area of Journalism. With the assistance of their academic advisors, students should choose their Block A and Block B courses to complement their concentrations.

II. Liberal Arts Area (Block A) - Total Hours: 18


With consultation of the academic advisor, include a course from three of these four areas: Political Science, History, Sociology, and Economics. With permission of advisor and chair, student may substitute other courses at same level (e.g., 2000, 3000) or higher for listed courses within the same field of study.

  • Foreign Language 2201G
  • any upper division course in Geography
  • any upper division course in International History
  • any upper division course in Philosophy
  • any upper division course in International Political Science
  • any upper division course in Psychology
  • any upper-division course in Sociology.

III. Non-Journalism Specialty (Block B) - Total Hours: 12


Selection of these upper-division courses [numbered 3000 and 4000], ordinarily in a block from a single department or related courses offered by more than one academic department, requires consultation with student’s advisor. Upon recommendation of advisor, chair may approve one lower division course if it is a prerequisite for upper division courses. Courses must be integrated into student’s program in Journalism. Block A courses cannot be counted toward Block B. A second major or a non-journalism minor meets the Block B requirement.

IV. Co-Curricular Volunteer Activities


Students who have worked on student media have found co-curricular learning activities and experiences to be invaluable. Opportunities available on student media: news, business and advertising staffs of The Daily Eastern News, DENNews.com, the Warbler yearbook, WEIU-TV-FM, the Agency.

Organizations that offer significant learning experiences include the Public Relations Student Society of America, National Association of Black Journalists, Student Illinois News Broadcasters Association, Mid-America Press Institute, and Society for Collegiate Journalists.
 

Concentration in Writing and Reporting


This concentration is designed to provide students with the knowledge and values necessary to understand the roles and functions of writers and reporters in journalistic media and to provide them with the skills and practice necessary to excel in such roles.

Concentration in Editing


This concentration is designed to provide students with the knowledge and values necessary to understand the roles and functions of editors in journalistic media and to provide them with the skills and practice necessary to excel in such roles.

Concentration in Design


This concentration is designed to provide students with the knowledge and values necessary to understand the roles and functions of visual communicators in journalistic media and to provide them with the skills and practice necessary to excel in such roles.

Choose Three Hours from the Following:


Concentration in Photojournalism


This concentration is designed to provide students with the knowledge and values necessary to understand the roles and functions of photojournalists and videographers in journalistic media and to provide them with the skills and practice necessary to excel in such roles.

Concentration in New and Emerging Media


This concentration is designed to provide students with the knowledge and values necessary to understand the roles and functions of new media journalists and to provide them with the skills and practice necessary to excel in such roles.

Concentration in Public Relations


(Note: Beginning Fall 2016, students will no longer be admitted to the Public Relations Concentration.)

This concentration is designed to provide students with the knowledge and values necessary to understand the roles and functions of public relations professionals and to provide them with the skills and practice necessary to excel in such roles.

Students pursuing a Public Relations Concentration must take JOU 3920 as their Media and Society course in the Journalism Core.

Concentration in Broadcast News


This concentration is designed to provide students with the knowledge and values necessary to understand the roles and functions of journalists in broadcasting/electronic media and to provide them with the skills and practice necessary to excel in such roles.

Concentration in Sports Media Relations


This concentration provides insights into the roles and duties performed by sports media professionals by offering courses that enable students to examine and practice skills related to the fundamentals of sports media relations, which includes working with the media, athletes and coaches, managing crisis situations, recording statistics, writing game reports, marketing teams, organizing press conferences, and managing game events.

Students pursuing a Sports Media Relations Concentration must take JOU 3953 as their Media and Society course in the Journalism Core.